Our trip began on Sunday December 13th with our stay at the Best Western Atlantic Beach Resort in South Beach the night before our cruise. We highly recommend this hotel if you are looking for a beach front hotel. Make sure you ask for an oceanfront room as these have the largest balconies and best views. We were sailing today for our 3rd cruise. Along with us was my Mom and her husband David and it was their fist time cruising. This is our first cruise with NCL and we were happy with the cruise. We stayed in Penthouse Suites number 9002 and 9202. These rooms were amazing!! Embarkation was so smooth. Penthouse and owners suites get VIP treatment everywhere on the boat. At embarkation we were checked in at 12:15pm by Virginia and Chris(concierge and butler) and were on the boat eating lunch in Cagneys within 20 mins. Cagneys is only open to suite members for breakfast and lunch so double bonus. When we finished eating it was almost 2:00pm and our room was ready. We enjoyed the sail away party from our rooms due to being at the front of the boat we were able to see everything we wanted to see. Yes the boat still has all the Hawaii look to it. But it was still very nicely decorated. Every night the Suites receive treat of either sweet treats or cold hor'dourves. Every other afternoon we received a fresh basket of fruit for our room along with out treats. The additional bunk bed room and closet in our rooms was very helpful for extra storage. I have picture from our trip located at http://travel.webshots.com/album/575987115flRPvq?vhost=travel For breakfast we ate at Cagneys, the buffet, and one day even had breakfast ordered and set up on our private balcony (a very nice touch) For Lunch we had the buffet, Cagneys as well as the main dining room. For dinner we at the buffet and dining room. We were not impressed with the buffet. We are used to a Carnival Line buffet that seems to be endless. There was very very few options to choose from on the NCL sky buffet, simply because at any given time on the boat there is about 5-7 different places to eat vs 1 to 2 on a Carnival Boat. Cagneys was the best of all places to eat for breakfast and lunch (which remember is only to suite members, so no lines, no wait and great service). Freeport was our first stop on this cruise and it was okay. There is a 20 min ride to Port Lucaya which is the really the only place to shop and eat on the island. The line for taxis is ridiculous and unorganized. They try and put as many people in one taxi as possible, so very stuffy and uncomfortable ride. Wednesday was Nassau. We have been to Nassau before and we always enjoy it. We took an excursion on the glass bottom boat. Well worth the $25.00. There is a short narrated ride to the location for viewing. Once there you are able to go downstairs and view the great sea life view glass viewing at the bottom of the boat. We got back on the boat after our shopping in port. We purchased a Marah Lago Larmiar necklace and well worth it. This piece of jewelry is very rare and gorgeous and getting to meet the creator was excellent. Tuesday night for dinner there was a 20 min wait. As we were waiting to eat we caught up with the best Concierge you have ever met. Her name is Virginia Disorio(sp) She said "oh no suite members don't wait" we were pushed in front of the entire line for the second time this trip and were sat and served immediately. We watched a Broadway show and it was nice. Very small production compared to what were used to on Carnival, but still a great show. Thursday was Great Stirrup Cay NCL Private Island. At this port you must use tender boats and we went downstairs at 930 to get off the boat and the line was so disorganized and was up two flights of stairs. We received a letter from Virginia the night before letting us know that when were ready to get off the boat to see her and she will take care of it. So we did and again we were rushed to the very front of the line and boarded immediately. By this time I'm sure not everyone is enjoying us being pushed to the front of the line, but this is what you deserve for the money you pay to be a Suite member. Bringing your own snorkeling gear for this stop is the best way to go. They only charged us for 3.00 for renting a life vest which is mandatory for snorklers and divers. Snorkeling was excellent. We found some excellent reef and fish. It took me a while to get used the snorkel gear. The bbq was excellent on the island. Our stay was cut short on the island due to a bad storm coming in. But we were able to snorkel for almost 3 hours. This was my favorite stop of the entire trip. There were plenty of beach chairs and activities for everyone. The hammocks and tables were a great place to relax a little way away from the beach. So our final night we ate dinner and tried to enjoy a show at the Captain Cooks bar but there was not enough seats for everyone. So we relaxed and enjoyed the balcony for a short while. We truly enjoyed this cruise. Although the food was a bit of a let down we still had a great time with my family. Now for disembarkation we were advised by Virginia to meet her in the lounge and she would help us out. The line was at least 30-45 mins to get off the boat and that was at 900am. Virginia once again put us in front of the line and were escorted right off the boat. A serious downfall to leaving the port was trying to get a taxi for the our stay at the hotel after the cruise. Our hotel did not offer a taxi. We had 4 of us and rather large suit cases and we needed a van. The taxi line was so crazy and disorganized and on top of it all it was raining. Once were in the taxi and back at the hotel were were happy. If you are looking for a great hotel to stay at before or after your cruise check out Homewood Suites by Hilton, it is at the airport and they have an airport shuttle. It was amazing hotel and it only cost about $98.00 and more than worth it. If you have any questions at all regarding the cruise please feel free to email me and I will do my best to answer them. Please remember to view my pictures at http://travel.webshots.com/album/575987115flRPvq?vhost=travel

Signed Stephanie Lewis Stephanie_2130@hotmail.com