The staff was generally helpful and friendly. The food was a disappointment. The service in the Grand at night was overly slow the staff couldn't keep up. During the day for lunch was entirely different. There were wait times but not extreme. The outdoor buffets were excellent. Cagney food was excellent but the wait staff were overloaded and not very attentive. Less of a problem with early dinner times. Bar Service and casino staff excellent. Entertainment was good. Trivia was fun but nobody cared that cell phones were used by some making trivia more like google. Ncl was gracious enough to show NFL playoff gsmes. A total bonus. Balcony room was clean, bathroom clean. Floor rug seemed overworn and moldy. Considering the first day we drove through the bomb cyclone the ship seemed like it was a routine trip. Definitely could have used more shore excursions and one more stop. I have sailed on the Gem many times and will miss her in NYC.
Clean, comfortable beds although they were separated one bed had a light at the top making sitting up and leaning on the headboard impossible. Shower clean. As usual an abundance of hot water. Balcony could have been swept. Room rug seemed old. Cabin steward kept the room spotless.