First I must confess that our experience on this trip was made much better by our gradual change from being inside cabin cruisers to the Suite Life. So, take my review with a grain of salt knowing that the Suite perks on NCL are amazing. We plan ahead to afford a Penthouse Suite for these perks and would highly recommend them. Had we been in an inside cabin we would have spent a great deal less, had an equally great time, but missed out on the perks. That said, here you go.

Embarcation was a dream. We arrived at port about 10:30, having stayed the night before just over the GW Bridge in Ft. Lee N.J. The drive down the Hudson Parkway was uneventful until we shot past the entrance to the parking deck. Our vacation began perfectly with a quick U turn complete with a honk and hand gesture from a genuine NYC cabbie! We checked our bags at the curb after parking on the second level of the parking deck. (prepaid $245 and parked on the top level, being careful not to park under a light. Cruise Critic reviewers had advised this to avoid bird poop!)

After a brief wait in the VIP lounge (about 30 minutes) we were briefed by Ruth the concierge. checked in at the desk quickly and were issued our key cards. As a group we were escorted on board by a staff member and taken to Cagneys. We were seated between two families that were our initial entertainment. On the one side a woman talked incessantly for the whole time we were there seemingly about anything that came into her head-rarely pausing except to eat, and then continue talking. The dad on the other side of us had extensive questions for the server about dietary restriction, explaining in great detail about how their son was "nearly a vegetarian" asking whether there was any dairy in anything, for olive oil for the plain pasta they ordered for him. After all of this, watching this young man eat a large plate of fries with ketchup as his parents ignored him was delightful. Read more