My husband and I have cruised around 9 times on various cruise lines, including NCL. We arrived the same day of the cruise in Honolulu. We went straight to the cruise ship, it was early, around 12:30pm. We managed to get a taxi outside of the airport for about $25 for both of us (had heard horror stories of the cost, but we did ok) The charge can vary for taxi's from the airport, so might want to look into Robert's Hawaii Tours they can pick up for around $9 each with limited luggage pre ordered on their website, if you arrive and try to do it, it can cost double that with the same people. As we were latitude members it was a very easy check in process. I noticed that it would have been that way anyway, no major crowds as with previous check- in's with ports that have multiple cruise lines. Received a fresh flower lei from the cruise line. My husband received a Hawaiian necklace appropriate for a male.

Boarded around 1:30 after waiting in a port warehouse type building that was air conditioned. Went up to the buffet onboard (aloha buffet) as we hadn't eaten anything since the night before. Good food turnout. Waited for the room to be announced that it was ready. When it was called we went and inspected the room (stateroom 9582) This was the first time we had a balcony, room was about what we expected, balcony a nice size, bathroom small, a little dated, did not like the shower with no shower doors (only a curtain). Bed was not very comfortable and the pillows were dreadful, I brought my own with me. The TV in the room was a small flat screen not as depicted in photo's on NCL's website. Cases stored under the bed (3 large cases), the usual storage areas onboard in a small room.

The ship itself was a smaller ship, with only 3 shops plus the photo store. One jewelry store and two others that sold a variety of things, prices were not too bad, I remembered everything else for this cruise, but the morning we left, I forgot to pack my toothbrush and wide tooth comb. So had to purchase them onboard, cost about $6 for both. This type of cruise is not one for relaxation too much if you are the adventuresome type, with virtually a new port every day, we were off the ship pretty much every day, all day! Read more