We just returned from the Norwegian Escape NY to Bahamas (Feb 17-24, 2019) We had a balcony min suite room 10238. There were 2 Adults and 1 child. We traveled during school vacation week there were approximately 5000 people on the ship 1500 where children. Lets start with the boarding process. We did all our cruise documents BEFORE we left home and were given an arrival window of 12-12:30 we showed up at the Manhattan cruise terminal we drove down from MA the night before and stayed at a near by hotel. The terminal itself is DIRTY 2 of the 3 elevators were broken. the only working elevator was very slow. When we made it inside the terminal EVERY passenger seemed to be inline or sitting around waiting to board the boat. We waited in line for over 45 minutes and it did not move. So much for the 12-12:30 window we were told that was the same time frame everyone else was given. it took us only 5 minutes to get through the check in process once we got to the front of the line. Another family was 6 groups ahead of us it took them almost 30 minutes to get everyone checked in. once through check in we had to wait for our boarding groups to be called to board the ship. That was not bad only like 15 minutes. once on the ship we went to get lunch. WELL THAT WAS A PROCESS. they buffett area was NOT big enough to accommodate all the people on the ship. It was like hunger games trying to find a place to sit. People were sitting OUT SIDE (it was 40 degrees in NY) because they couldn't find anywhere to sit. The announcement was made that rooms could now be accessed. So we got to our room. The room was clean and wonderful. I packed items to make out room stay neat and organized while we cruise. (magnetic hooks for the walls and hanging cases for things in the bathrooms as well as suction cup toothbrush holders. There are only 3 outlets in the rooms and they are all in the bedroom area. Glad i had an extension cord packed so i could plug my CPAP machine in as well as my phone next to the bed which i used as an alarm clock and a sound machine. Our Room stewart was named ARMANDO and i swear this man didn't get to sleep. He was always busy cleaning rooms and making beds for what seemed like all the rooms on our side of the ship.

NCL claims to be a freestyle crusie company no locked in dining times ect. well let me tell you that is a crock. the 4 main dining rooms which are included in your vacation were the only thing you didn't need reservations for. The shows??? We have no idea because they needed to have reservations for them and by the time we figured that out all the shows for the entire cruise were booked. Taste and Savor are 2 of the 4 places included for meals. The food is the same at both places. The service is the same at both places.I fell like the servers were over worked as they always had on smiles but you could tell they were exhausted. Some nights the service was FABULOUS other it was lacking and SLOW!!! The Manhattan room is another restaurant which is included. The menu here is the same as Taste and Savor. The Service again was hit or miss. The last place included was O'Sheehans which is an Irish pub style place. We had THE WORST experience here. Our server came over took our drink and food orders then disappeared. 45 minutes later and no drinks, no food, NO ONE came to check on us. i had to go to the greeter and basically make a scene before we got any service. Later we found out our server was at the end of his shift and just left without telling anyone he had started a table of orders. We filled out a comment card and the next day had an invitation to sit at Emelia's section of the Manhattan room she was the assistant matre D for O'Sheehans and part of the buffet and The Manhattan room. The other restaurants on the ship were all EXTRA charge. and if you wanted to eat at one of them you had best make reservations the second you got on board or you were out of luck. I will say that all the food we ate on the boat was very good. Next topic the "kids clubs' what a joke. The kids clubs only hold 120 children! There were 1500 on the boat. You would think the cruise line would see this and make adjustments to the activities schedules to give the other kids things to do. NOPE. So all week kids would be riding the elevators and using them like a toy. Pushing all the buttons and getting off. The POOLS? there are 2 yes 2 pools on this ship they are both small and 1 is for adults the other for children. There are several "hot tubs' on this ship maybe like 12 and 2 of them have working jets. the other had no jets or bubbles. They didn't have enough lounge chairs to accommodate guests so people were fighting over them. The activities on board were either extra cost or boring. We have been on several other cruises as a family and have never been so board as we were on this ship. Now on to the topic of beverage service. It would take 15-30 minutes to get a drink at ANY of the bars. they either had a long line or only 1 person working the bar. The shopping on this boat was a joke. They had a few shops not many and there were not many items in the shops. They had a "watch" store that said 75% OFF. I found the same watch on the ship via the manufactures site for $100 LESS than the supposed 75% off price. NCL offers an app so you can message each other while on the ship which is AWESOME especially if you are traveling with children or another family. Well guess what the app costs $10 per person for the messaging service. I found that yes NCL offers "free items" but they charge for more than you get for the price and the free things. I feel they nickle and dime you once you are on the ship. The only way you can get more is if you pick a haven room they get their own area for dinning and lounging and swimming. Those rooms are crazy expensive. We will NOT be cruising with NCL in the future based on this experience.