This was my 96th cruise and 13th with NCL. Booked Family Suite 12516 Port side forward deck 12. We sailed Sunday, Nov 27th. We chose NCL as Tampa is closest to my disabled friends home in Venice, Florida and we had already been on the Carnival and Holland America ships from Tampa this year..

3 gentlemen total in party. I am 64, my cousin is 59 and the handicapped traveler who celebrated his birthday on the trip turned 68. He also paid for the cruise as he does every year in exchange for companionship and our caretaking due to old age physical problems. He has his own portable wheelchair but is able to walk short distances.

We arrived at the pier in Tampa at noon. Usual backup of cars waiting to unload. got in line and in less than 5 minutes unloaded 2 psgrs, wheelchair, 5 suitcases and 2 carry-ons.left them at the pier while i went across the street to park in covered garage for $105 dollars for 7 days. short walk back to pier and then an elevator up to ck-in. since we had a suite and we are all repeaters we were shuffled off to priority ck-in which , unfortunately was understaffed ( 2 on duty, later 3) and sat for 30 minutes before our turn came. then given an escort to handle the wchr and onto the ship and our suite. Very impressed with it. I bring a tape measure with me and the approx dimensions were about 18 feet by 22 so very roomy. 4 closets, 22 drawers, 50 inch flat screen, safe, huge bathroom (not handicap accessible but separate shower and tub plus 2 sinks.) luggage arrived piece by piece despite priority stickers and one case held back due a Swiss knife in it so had to go to guest relations to claim. The young male from India who waited on me was not helpful at first ( towing the party line) but when I threatened to stand there in the middle of the atrium and yell at the top of my lungs about their incompetence until they brought my case he backed down. he went to get it and brought 2 female security thugs to witness the opening of it. the problem was the small Swiss Army pocket knife! they also noticed that i had portable fans in that suitcase ( in case the air conditioning doesnt work well enough ) so they confiscated them for their "electrician to look over" to make sure it was the right voltage and gave me a receipt. by the time I returned to my suite the phone was ringing and they told me they were bringing all 3 fans back asap. the concierge, butler, and steward all came to introduce themselves as well. Read more