I was disappointed in my first cruise with NCL. I had high expectations based on inputs from family members’ past experiences on other cruise lines. Initial boarding was behind schedule and very slow. The ship’s condition was well-used and required renovation and a good cleaning. Many of the crew members, although smiley and friendly, were not helpful. Their typical response to questions or requests was "I don't know". The menu selection in the Versailles was lacking. After the third meal, I found regardless of what was ordered, it all tasted the same. The Market Buffet quality was on par with any family buffet restaurant chain – not what I would expect from a cruise. The Ginza restaurant was decent; very busy but this was likely due to its serving edible cuisine. The bar service was much better, however I did notice vast inconsistency between the same drinks from different establishments. Entertainment was poor. My expectation may have been too high; I expected Vegas quality but only experienced small-town local theater. The sound systems in use by the various bands and DJ was equally terrible. This wasn’t the cause of the poor performances, but was a contributing factor. The exception was a violin/cello duo called “Tea for Two”; they were outstanding and should be commended. My cabin Steward was stellar. He was attentive, knew the ship/routine, and did an exceptional job. The crew did a decent job getting passengers on/off board for the shore days. In summary, I do not recommend NCL.