The cruise is a standard South/West Caribbean-bound one week and we embarked in Miami on Nov 13. Ship is full, if just before the peak season. I arrived the cruise terminal at 1pm, a busy time, and yet I was already in my cabin in a mere 20 minutes. NCL is the absolute best in this aspect, others may take one to two hours and they should learn from NCL, but I suspect that in Italy they want to hold passengers in the terminal unnecessarily for a very long time so that they can hard sell packages (or at least you need a drink). Security exercise was also simplified and good except that on this occasion the session started late with everyone sitting there for nothing for some 20 minutes. Disembarkation was painless.

The ship's facilities are similar to Epic, with similarly named features. The top decks are less spacious but cabins are an improvement. The standard balcony double was bigger and better laid out than on Epic. The balcony was the tiniest but I never use it (except that it seems that you do need one). I paid a reasonable supplement for single use, and am happy that I was still given an onboard credit of USD100, as a member, for such a good fare.

Incredible number of eating and bar options, many of which you don't need, but in any case many outlets are revenue generating with good patronage. The greatest improvement of this ship's design over Epic is the availability of a 'Waterfront' walk on Deck 8, with cafes and restaurants where you can eat outdoors. There are three main restaurants, free, and getting a single table is never a problem even for lunch, compared with getting one at Princess, on which you will be bluntly told off if at lunch or afternoon tea (and because of this I vow not to cruise with them again as I don't like canteen service). Waiter service is with good attitude but they aim to serve a fast meal, and are sometimes technically not very professional. Soup could arrive before you have eaten you appetizer, and the waiter will just 'put it there'. Read more