good family value

Taking a quick vacation before school started.  Took advantage of spending the whole first day on the ship and enjoying the pool and activities.  Got on ship by 11:30 and checked into to room by 1:30.  Definitely enjoyed the free drink package.  Traveling with teenagers (15yr & 19yr) and wasn't aware of the parental consent drinking option but my 19yr old quickly discovered it.  Essentially, a parent can sign for 18-21 year old to drink beer or wine during the cruise and the kid gets a new ID with PC on it.  Just be aware that your teenager may be offered drinks.  My 15yr old was asked if she wanted a drink at the pool without showing her ID.  Not a big problem but be aware.  Food was good-average cruise fare.  Didn't do any of the specialty restaurants.  There is no cell phone usage unless you pay for the packages on the cruise ship.  I did not and liked that my teenagers were disconnected for the week.  However, I would have liked to have cell phone access with my kids and traveling friends on the ship so we could check on location and make plans.  We ended up having a meeting place and confirming times.             ??maybe a texting on the ship for free Norwegian??  Excursions off the cruise ship: At Freeport, we took a taxi to Lucayan beach and had a great day.  Be careful, when you leave the cruise ship, there are numerous pushy locals that are trying to take you to there own 'private beach with internet access'.  The beach in Lucayan was beautiful and you can do may water sports. We did the double banana boat and enjoyed it.  Nice little straw market shopping center across from the beach.  The little ice cream place allowed you to buy ice cream and get internet access, so a good spot to check in on the rest of the world.  Taxi ride was $5 PP each way-no problems.  Nassau was frustrating.  Booked the Atlantis water park excursion through NCL.  The regular passes were sold out to purchase separately and book your own taxi.  All I can say is be prepared to wait..... we waited to catch the bus to Atlantis, then we waited in line to get into the park, then we waited in line to get a locker for our gear (30min), the we waited in line for a tube for the lazy river.  I would recommend streamlining you belongings and buying a waterproof necklace pouch with your credit card, ID, and cell phone/camera.  Buying lunch was a nightmare.  We waited in line to find out it was credit card only-no cash.  We went to the locker and got our credit cards and waited in line and placed our order.  When we went to pay, we had to show photo ID.  So we went back to the locker and got our photo ID.  The food counter workers were mean and not helpful. Food was average and not worth the wait if we had other options.  Couldn't get on the beach-access was closed.  Overall, it was OK to do once but wouldn't go back again.  The private island:  loved it!!  Beautiful location, lovely to rent a floating mat and just lie on the water and relax.  The water was so clear that we didn't need to rent snorkling gear and could just look in the water to see fish and sea turtles.  Totally enjoyed this day.  Back to the ship review: the rooms were old, clean, and small.  The third bed (pull out couch) was small and uncomfortable.  The shows were fun-loved the comedian.  Dancing at Dazzles lounge late at night was great.  NCL cruise was a great short vacation with kids, wouldn't have wanted to do a whole week.