We sailed on the Norwegian Star out of New Orleans on March 3, 2013. We chose this itinerary because it offered a few ports we'd never been to, and the dates worked out perfectly given spring break (my husband teaches at a university). However - we did not want a wild and crazy spring break! This cruise gave us a great mix of adventure and relaxation, with just the right amount of "party scene."
Booking was a bit annoying. We initially had booked an inside stateroom, about 6 weeks prior to sailing. (We often book "last-minute" to get good rates, and our schedules are pretty flexible, so it works.) About two weeks prior to sailing, we saw the balcony prices come down significantly, so hubby decided to pay extra to upgrade us. We have never had a balcony before - always go inside - so the idea of a balcony was quite exciting!! However, the NCL rep on the phone insisted no balconies were available (even though NCL.com showed many available). It took a few calls and a good hour on the phone to book the upgrade.
I am glad that this worked out for us, as the balcony was wonderful. I loved seeing the huge, bright sun every morning. It felt great waking up in that room. We also enjoyed the great views - watching other boats go by at sea, sail-away and arrival at each port, having wine out there before dinner.