Family of 6 chose this cruise because of the ports and the time of sailing (vacation days) and because we wanted to spend pre cruise in London. Check in at ship was fast and boarding, luggage to stateroom, excellent. We are experienced cruisers but first time on NCL. As stated in other reviews of this cruise there were problems on the old ship Spirit. Left port well after intended time but the only sea day was day 1 so it really didnt matter. We had balcony rooms on 9 th floor... our rooms were small, balcony tiny, but we were prepared for this. The problems on this ship were about staff management. Clearing of tables in Raffles was so slow we often sat at dirty tables with other's dishes pushed to the side. getting off to our private tours at most ports was ridiculous...tickets given for that procedure were a joke as there was only one gangway available when docked and ship excursion folks got off first. On tender days the lines backed up and time was limited in port. The worst mess was when passports were handed back. One ship staff member was assigned this task and too many rooms/decks were called at one time. I waited in line for over an hour only to find our passports in different boxes. Other staff were called to help out eventually when the one person got overwhelmed but the boxes of passports were jumbled. A Mess. Our room steward was great and we found a waitress in Windows that was terrific...food was mediocre at best altho at The Bistro...it was very good...and the steakhouse. We'll pass on NCL in future.