Background Information: My husband and I are both in our early 30s and we were among the few New Jersey residents on our voyage. This was my fourth cruise (two previous cruises on NCL), but this was my husband's first cruise.

Travel to Port of Embarkation: Due to reading cruise critic, I discovered the idea of traveling to the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken, NJ and taking the ferry to Manhattan. First of all, this avoids all NY and tunnel for people traveling outside of NY and second, it is less expensive. A roundtrip ferry tickets cost $11 (a coupon is available in the entertainment book for buy one get one free) and parking is $66 for the week. We walked to the pier (about 10 minute walk), but a taxi would've only been $5.

Embarkation Process: We arrived at the pier at noon and the first group had already started boarding. We waited about 40 minutes before the let us into the registration line because of a computer malfunction on the NCL end for registration and key card. Once in that area, there was a separate latitudes line (much shorter) breezing through and we were on the ship and eating lunch by 1:25pm. The rooms were ready by 2:00 pm. Read more