This was our first trip with NCL. We haven't cruised that often and have only cruised with Holland America in the past. I know NCL is more of a 'family' experience but having booked outside school holiday dates we were surprised at the number of children on board. The boarding experience was fine and our luggage was delivered promptly. We popped into the Garden Café for lunch and that one experience persuaded us to buy the Ultimate Dining Card! From the first day we ate in the speciality restaurants. Cagneys was excellent, Jasmine average, Teppanyaki was entertaining but the food was rather under flavoured, Le Bistro was OK but we didn't think it was as good as it could have been. Breakfast and lunch in the Grand Pacific were good.
We booked a 'mini-suite' 11088, which was no different to the regular balcony staterooms on HA. It was either very dated or maybe they're going for a 'retro' look, if so it didn't come off very well! The toiletries consisted of a handwash container on the wall over the handbasin and a shampoo and shower gel container on the wall in the overbath shower. Nothing else. The sliding door to the balcony was not fitted properly and creaked and rattled when the ship experienced slight movement. It had clearly been wedged with various bits of wood in the past and the carpenter's solution was to wedge in yet more wood slivers. If sun is important to you, this stateroom is shaded by the overhang of the Garden Café on the deck above. You can also hear children running up and down.
Our cabin steward did a very good job and the ship appeared to be in good clean condition with plenty of hand sanitisers everywhere.