good service and port variety

Our third cruise and first NCL, others HAL  in Europe and Alaska.  The embarcation and disembarcation were very smooth and fast, the latter particularly if a dock porter handles your bags and flags down a taxi sans the long taxi que.

The room was a very large handicapped one, comfortable, and with a very pleasant and consciousness steward.  Everything in good working order, and very quiet (9719).

We ate 30 times I'm the Venetian main dining room.  All breakfasts, all but one dinner and several lunches.  Service was good on the whole.  We were glad we took advantage of the ability to book this restaurant prior to embarcation and got our early seating that worked well with the first show, table for two, and window views most times.  The food at dinner was not of HAL standards ,  particularly the buffet which we tried twice for lunch and found only good fruit, salad makings, sandwiches ,ice cream and my husband states hamburgers, that we would eat.  The main dining room was much better and breakfast was good and a lovely way to start the day.

Excursions were a NCL excursions were a reasonable price and you really needed to book something in the tiny ports.  Time in port was good and we had some wonderful lobster, PEI mussels in white wine, blueberry pie, and of course great food in Quebec City and Boston.

Entertainment was hit and miss.  Except for The Elements show and the Illusion/magician,  the regular troops, including second city were very Motown loud and not very funny, BUT their smaller performers:  Jose and Patti, Harry O Donohue ,a very funny Irish singer/musician( both of who did the large show room too)  we're absolutely the best afloat.  The Celtic musicians and piano bar were talented.

We are Hilton Honors gold members and used the Hilton Logan for a night in Boston before and after and it worked well.  Beautiful views of the city, complementary upgrades to lounge,buffet breakfast, very  late check outs and early check in, prompt courtesy van service including to the blue and silver lines and water taxi, and and a very short taxi ride to and from the cruise port.