This was my very first cruise. I live in Florida so pretty much everybody I know has been on cruises. Nobody really recommended NCL. Ultimately, I chose this particular cruise based on price and departure port.
I didn't have the highest or greatest expectations. I just wanted to see Alaska and did not care too much about the cruise details. I did not expect a party cruise (I don't imagine people choose a cruise to Alaska, if they want to party). I did not want an outside or balcony cabin, since I did not think it necessary.
I researched forever, asked people, read a million reviews online. So, that as my background. :-)
Family cabin, supposedly a little bigger than other cabins, There was the bed turned into two twins for our purpose. A couch but no room for a table. Pull down bunk bed, if needed. Plenty of storage. Bathroom clean and sufficient. Two outlets. I brought an extension cord with extra outlets. There's a safe, minibar with the usual hotel prices.
My thought is they could have made the cabin look bigger with a large mirror above the bed but it really wasn't needed. Plenty of room for us. For 3 or 4 it would probably be very cramped.
I heard absolutely no noise from outside or the neighboring cabin. Air conditioner worked fine. The beds were comfortable.
The steward was great.