while NCL has done a good job refurbishing this old ship, and runs it well, the entertainment was hit and miss and the food atrocious. Our cabin was one of the most spacious I've had recently, but it was a handicap one. The ship is one of the smaller ones and easier to navigate. It has that old feeling of elegance in the dining rooms and public areas. The staff while sometimes still learning the tricks of the trade tried hard and were affable. However, I sent my compliments to the chef-- he managed to provide the worst food I have ever eaten on a cruise. I did not eat in the specialty restaurants because the menus were as bland as the main rooms. There was no variety, it was not inventive, and the flavors were bland. Steaks were so tough, they were inedible. The buffet selections were cold and service in the dining room so slow, we missed some of the activities. AS an example the menu offered Beef Stroganoff, but any resemblance of the stew beef over vegetables and topped with a dollop of sour cream and real beef stroganoff was purely coincidental. Some of the entertainment was good, but not up to the standards of the Epic, but you do not go to Hawaii for the shipboard entertainment. However, even the professionalism of the shows were marred by the extreme loudness. The amps were turned up to high for the intimate size of the show rooms, and even the pool area, to the point it could damage my ears.

Hawaii has become as overrun and hustling as the Caribbean. However, Roberts tours were excellent with knowledgeable guides with a sense of humor. The scenery is still gorgeous, but Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center have lost the dignity they had in the 80s when I was last there. Recap: the ship is a good try, but needs major changes-- especially in the kitchen.Embarkation and debarkation was very efficient and easy on the passengers.