This was my first time cruising with NCL, and I had high hopes since the Luna is a newer ship. I'm…read moreused to getting information about themed nights and activities at least a week before sailing so I can come prepared. I didn't get any of that.
I forgot to check in online, so I checked in at the terminal. That process was seamless, and the person who helped me was super nice, which I loved! Boarding was another story. You get a group number, but there's no display showing which group is being called. You just have to listen and hope you hear it. The waiting area was small, so lots of people were standing.
Once on board, the ship was bright and pretty, and I immediately headed to the bar, haha! I had an inside stateroom, which was decent for just me. A friend with a balcony room asked to move after we had already sailed away. She was told they'd let her know if someone didn't show up. Ma'am, we've already left! When exactly are they not showing up? Haha. Her balcony was spacious, but you couldn't see much unless you were standing.
I had the Free at Sea drink package and regret not getting Plus from the start, since adding it later (with Starbucks and other perks) was much more expensive. My booking also included three specialty dinners. Reserve those BEFORE boarding or good luck!
Overall, I was underwhelmed. The entertainment was meh, and the food didn't wow me anywhere. But the fries? They NEVER missed! The buffet was surprisingly small for a ship carrying over 3,000 people. They even opened two nearby restaurants for extra seating. There was minimal order, and some people were plain rude, but that part happens everywhere!
The Luna Theater was also too small. People arrived 30-45 minutes early just to find seats, and sometimes we had to stand to watch. With shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., having dinner reservations at 7:30 or 8 made things even trickier.
The three-floor atrium often had singers on Deck 6 and Deck 8 at the same time. Because it's open, the music blended together unless you stood close to one group. I wasn't impressed by the DJ either. He played YMCA FOUR times in one night! Haha. On a Caribbean cruise, I expected more Caribbean music and vibes.
The main pool was tiny for the ship's capacity. I couldn't get in once during all seven days. Maybe if I'd gotten up at the crack of dawn, but no! There's no indoor pool except at the spa, which costs extra. On the bright side, the water slide was SO fun! I got nervous when I started slowing down, but it worked out, haha. Highly recommend! There's also an arcade, miniature golf, and an observation deck where we played card games a few times. Great spot to hang out.
Some areas aren't tall-people-friendly, including the metal detectors when returning from ports. My very tall friend hit his head somewhere on the ship and ended up with a wound. That deserves attention.
The private island was my favorite part! Perfect weather, a lovely beach, and plenty of pool and beach space.
Special shoutout to Michelle and Robinne! Michelle served us lunch on embarkation day and was immediately warm, funny, and wonderful. Whenever we saw her, we knew we'd be treated right. Robinne at The Local was also great!
Unfortunately, disembarkation left a bad taste. I left a bag with all my electronics behind Starbucks and realized it after exiting the ship. Yes, that was my mistake. But the staff were dismissive and rude, with dramatic responses I neither needed nor asked for. Everyone kept sending me to someone else. I eventually had to leave and file a Lost and Found claim. Hopefully I get it back.
One more heads-up: room service was $10 per order, with a two-item-per-person limit. Soda or water ordered that way was charged separately, even with my drink package.
All in all, I'd probably cruise with NCL again, but I do ask that they do better.
