Overall, we enjoyed the cruise because of the itinerary, not for the food and service. The included transfer and baggage handling at the Honolulu airport was very good, as was the embarkation. Our balcony cabin was pleasant but small. The toilet never really flushed properly like on other ships. On two occasions, I had to call maintenance because it would not flush at all.
The cabins next to us had the same problem with their toilets. During the entire week there was a widespread sewage stench in our hallway, and in different public areas and hallways. Prior to the cruise, when I read about the plumbing and odor problems that other reviewers had written about, I was hoping that it was an isolated incident due to a temporary plumbing backup. Unfortunately, my husband and I experienced it firsthand. This is no doubt an ongoing problem with this ship, and NCL should be ashamed of themselves for not taking the necessary steps to fix such an unpleasant situation.
Another issue is the extreme cold temperature setting in all of the restaurants, bars, and public areas. We've been on more than 20 cruises on several cruise lines, and I would have to say that this ship is the coldest and thus most uncomfortable one I've ever been on. I'm used to needing to wear long sleeves or a light sweater, particularly at night on a cruise ship, but this ship is like an arctic zone! We even stopped going to the "Gold Rush Saloon" that we liked because of the extreme cold in that bar.