My 32 year old daughter and I took this cruise to relax and celebrate her newly acquired PH.D. We live 20 minutes from the port and both did not want to fly anywhere, or go on a trip that involved a ton of planning and touring. We were in need of sleep and simple fun. I am a Gold Latitudes member and know what to expect from NCL. We stayed in a mini-suite and got the drink and dining package as a part of the price we paid.
In no way would I recommend that anyone flies from anywhere to take this cruise. It is great for locals, but certainly does not offer anything "special" that is worth a plane ticket. For us, it was fun, easy, campy, funny and strange. There is no dress code anywhere (even though they say there is) the ship is old and somewhat frumpy, and the entertainment (with the exception of a Russian aerial act) is so ridiculously poor that we laughed at the lack of choreography, ability to dance, old tired costumes, and outdated references. The food on the ship is fine, certainly not a cruise for foodies. The dining package for 4 nights was included, but not something I would recommend buying if it isn't included. The drinks were fabulous; we totally enjoyed going to different bars, trying the drinks, and talking to the bartenders.
What is fun about NCL? You can dress as you want, eat when you want, sleep when you want, walk laps around the ship, take dance lessons, sit on your balcony and read, and not worry about anything. I love the diversity of people, cultures, ages,and sizes on the ship. The staff are mostly kind, calm, and friendly.
Our cabin was in a perfect mid-ship location on the 11th deck. There is plenty of room to put away your things. The balcony has two chairs and a small table. Unfortunately, people smoke on their balconies and that was a real disadvantage for us.