We chose this cruise because of the itinerary. As frequent (Platinum) and long-time cruisers of NCL and other cruise lines, we expected more from our experience. Our balcony cabin was very antiquated, décor in the bathroom looked like something out the '80s. Size not as large as we remembered in past cabins on other NCL ships. Safe located in bottom of closet, very inconvenient. Food in main dining rooms adequate, at best. However, food in specialty restaurants, especially Le Bistro, was very good. Entertainment very good in main theatre and in bars. Tours were mostly good, although lunch served in Invergordon terrible. This was all the good part.

Our air travel to and from, arranged by NCL, was a nightmare. Weather delay at the onset, missed connection in Philly and lost luggage. However, this was not the fault of NCL. Towards the end of the cruise, we noticed our return airline tickets were booked for 1 day after the ship was docked at Southhampton. When we inquired at customer service, we were told it was a special rate and not able to be changed. We had no place to stay the night before these return flights and asked for help with booking a hotel in the terminal. We were told they could not help us, we would have to find our own hotel and pay for it. The rep then ushered us over to a computer and said help yourself! So at the end of our London tour, we were dropped off at Heathrow and had to make our own way to the Hilton Hotel, where we had booked a room. During our stay, we attempted to check-in online for our return flights on Virgin Atlantic to JFK, then on to Tampa via Delta. We were unable to do so. The next day at the airport, we were again unable to check-in. At customer service they informed us that we had no flights booked, that our original reservation had been cancelled and refunded!!! What a shock! So there we were, stranded at Heathrow! The Virgin Atlantic staff were very helpful and sympathetic, however, our only choice at that point was to rebook our flights, one-way, and pay for it ourselves to the tune of $4,921.75!! So we got on the flight. Towards the end of that leg of the return trip, 2 Virgin Atlantic crew members informed us we would not make our connection at JFK to Tampa......but they would book us on a flight the next day and put us up at a nearby Radisson Hotel at no cost to us. We finally arrived home back in Tampa on Sunday, 8/4 - exhausted and so disappointed.