This was our first cruise with NCL, and it will definitely be our last.We chose this cruise based on itinerary and dates. On paper the price for a balcony cabin looked very good.

On arrival the cabin bed was a double although I had specified 2 singles on booking. It took over 3 requests to reception and the cabin steward to get them split which was finally done very late at night. The cabin itself was smaller than we are used to, but very clean and well appointed. This lack of communication set the pattern for the whole cruise.

I am gluten (wheat) intolerant and had advised NCL in advance. In the buffet I had to ask 3 chefs for gluten free bread until I found one who understood. They then sent another member of staff to another part of the ship to find and prepare my bread. It took on average 20-30 minutes to be prepared even though I always asked for it on arrival in the Garden Cafe, and I had usually finished my meal by the time it arrived. I asked the chefs if dishes contained wheat, and 2 of them actually argued over whether it did! On other cruise lines GF bread is supplied quickly without fuss, and dishes are clearly labelled GF. The meats were not just rare, they were raw and dripping in blood. I filled up on salad, fruit, rice, chips and jelly. The food was mostly cold or tepid apart from freshly cooked omelets etc. We ate in Cagneys Steakhouse 3 times as we had the speciality dining package and I less worried about dishes with wheat and I could order my meat medium well done. We did not use the main dining rooms. Read more