Mandarin Spa Week Pass: First time I bought the weeklong pass and am glad I did. You will love it if you like to have an elegant calm space with just a few other passengers. The lounge chairs face the front of the ship have the best views. The heated recliners are amazing. There is also a MALE only sauna and steam room which is much larger and comfortable than the free one at the gym. Although there are four free outdoor jacuzzis around the two outdoor swimming pools they are usually crowded and filled with children; not my idea of a relaxing soak. I also liked that the male only dry sauna and steam room in Spa were large and hardly ever crowded. There is also a co-ed jacuzzi and a spectacular co-ed Hydro Therapy pool with jets everywhere. I plan to buy the Spa pass in all future NCL cruises, especially those where there may be children or loud groups. My sailing was from San Juan after Thanksgiving and it was filled with locals traveling in large, and often very loud groups. Hardly any of them made their way to the Spa. Shhhh....!
Rooms: I was on the NCL Pearl recently and the rooms as well as the common areas are identical. This time I had a large picture window and it was just fine. I traveled alone. I find that in most cruises I am hardly ever in my room, so I am not one of those that insists on a balcony or suite. Most of the fun activities in a cruise happen throughout the ship and on the ports-of-call, not in the cabin (honeymooners excepted).
Restaurants: for the first time, I saw a surcharge of $20 for the steak. In recent cruises I always ordered the NY Strip and it was included among the dinner options. Not a big deal, but a change. Lobster also available in the complimentary restaurants for a $25 surcharge.
I have tried the inside cabin, the balcony and now the picture window. Since I don't spend time in the room, what matters most is the location. I did like leaving the window open and awaking to natural light. The balcony does have a little extra space but as I travel solo, inside cabin or picture window are just fine, if I want to enjoy the outdoors, I just go and relax and any of the quieter spots found throughout the ship.
The fifth floor front was excellent in that it was near the front elevators but not below,any of the common rooms. I was also able to walk up two flights to deck 7 or take the front elevator straight up to the Mandarin Spa.