Embarkation: We arrive and Pier 88 via car service at 11:50 AM. We went through a few security checkpoints and found the latitudes check-in line (which was actually longer than the non-latitudes line). We were please that the pier has been renovated and the check-in procedures much easier than with our prior NCL cruise from New York in April 2006. Our check-in proceeded quickly and we were given Number 15 - the number was actually called just as we finished getting our keycars/sea passes. We were on the ship by 12:15 PM. We sipped our two glasses of "bubbly" in the atrium (watched a bit of the NFL playoff game on the huge jumbotron TV) and then proceeded to the Grand Pacific for a great, leisurely lunch. By the time we finished lunch, our cabins were ready.

Cabin: We had a minisuite on Deck 11. We found the layout very nice for the two of us. My wife was pleased that the layout was somewhat better and more organized than the minisuite on the Dawn. There was plenty of closet space and about seven drawers for our clothing, etc. The balcony was a nice size, with two chairs and a small table.

Weather: We were amazed that on the first morning at sea the temperature was 68 degrees at 8:00 AM. As this was January 5th, I anticipated having to wait until at least the afternoon before we could venture outside. People were in the pool and hottubs on the first morning. Overall, the weather was great for 9 of the 10 days; it was basically party cloudy and in the upper 70s and breezy. The made our beach days very comfortable. The only "bad weather" day was our final sea day when it was cloudy, rainy, with temperatures in the 50s. Read more