Jensen Huang on How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Drive Decisions Stanford Graduate School of Business

Table Of Content

• What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete the course, and
• Co-evolution of problem and solution
• The 5 core principles of the design thinking methodology
• What can design thinking do for your business?

What happens when a major sporting goods company decides that it is finally time for a change? The R&D team at Wilson put their minds together and came up with a pretty ingenious design. If you don’t have solid answers to these questions based on actual interactions with multiple people, you should develop deeper empathy by doing Exercise 2.

What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete the course, and

Defining the problem and problem statement must be done in a human-centered manner. HCD has a much narrower focus and aims to create and improve products. Systems thinking looks at the larger picture and aims to change entire systems. Download print-ready templates you can share with your team to practice design thinking today. The key mindsets that ensure a team can successfully implement design thinking are.

Co-evolution of problem and solution

This iterative approach enables designers to continuously improve and innovate, ultimately leading to more effective, user-centered solutions. This is one of the main benefits of the five-stage model. Knowledge acquired in the latter stages of the process can inform repeats of earlier stages. Information is continually used to inform the understanding of the problem and solution spaces, and to redefine the problem itself. The design thinking process should not be seen as a concrete and inflexible approach to design; the component stages identified should serve as a guide to the activities you carry out.

The 5 core principles of the design thinking methodology

Read on for a deep dive into the theory and practice of design thinking. If you find that you’ve not run experiments lately, plan to run some today. To do that, you may need to become more comfortable with simple, low-resolution, prototypes, since they are a viable path to fast and frequent experimentation. Generally there are two ways to describe Design Thinking; (i) as a step-by-step process with design activities, and (ii) as a general pattern of thought.

Empathy

The goal is to ultimately overcome cognitive fixedness and devise new and innovative ideas that solve the problems you identified. Continue to actively avoid assumptions and keep the user at the forefront of your mind during ideation sessions. Why would you undertake a deep study of engineering design, or the design process, when you could go about design on your own and learn from your own experience?

Empathize with your users.

Design Thinking Needs To Think Bigger - Fast Company

Design Thinking Needs To Think Bigger.

Posted: Mon, 01 May 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The first one covers core functionality, such as size and speed, and is frozen early on. It should come as no surprise that car manufacturers have started following a similar approach, updating vehicle software remotely postsales based on designers’ and engineers’ continuing review of driver data. However, the best companies continue listening and iterating long after the initial conceptual phase, remaining invested in improving customer experiences postlaunch. To keep us from getting carried away with our own interests, design thinking stays firmly user-centric. Every ideation session, experiment, and prototype is rooted in customer needs. By better understanding your audience, you’re more likely to serve a better user experience that people will actually want and recommend to others.

Many of the engineers that then became engineers at NVIDIA were playing with it. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. It’s moving from a nascent practice to an established one, and with that comes interest and critique.

What can design thinking do for your business?

The final stage is “Deliver,” where the team tests the concepts and implements the most viable solution. “Hand” signifies the practical execution of ideas, the craftsmanship, and the skills necessary to turn concepts into tangible solutions. This includes the mastery of tools, techniques, and materials, as well as the ability to implement and execute design ideas effectively.

This image uses a lot of proportion and scale to emphasize the different sizes of elements. It gives a sense of clarity to the size of Big Ben in the distance to the market stalls that are closer. Rhythm is like a combination of pattern, movement, and repetition. It creates a visual tempo that is consistent and systematic.

The story symbolizes the struggles we face where oftentimes the most obvious solutions are the ones hardest to come by because of the self-imposed constraints we work within. With this in mind, it may be more correct to say design thinking is not about thinking outside the box, but on its edge, its corner, its flap, and under its bar code—as Clint Runge put it. Design thinking is more than just a process; it opens up an entirely new way to think, and it offers a collection of hands-on methods to help you apply this new mindset. Learn more about design thinking in the full-day course Generating Big Ideas with Design Thinking. Jakob Nielsen says “a wonderful interface solving the wrong problem will fail." Design thinking unfetters creative energies and focuses them on the right problem. This is the most important part of design thinking, but it is the one most often forgotten.

Innovation doesn’t follow a linear path or have a clear-cut formula. Global design leaders and consultants have interpreted the abstract design process in different ways and have proposed other frameworks of design thinking. Don Norman, a pioneer of user experience design, explains why the designer’s way of thinking is so powerful when it comes to such complex problems. Wicked problems demand teams to think outside the box, take action immediately, and constantly iterate—all hallmarks of design thinking. The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. In another example from the education field, Peruvian entrepreneur Carlos Rodriguez-Pastor hired design consulting firm IDEO to redesign every aspect of the learning experience in a network of schools in Peru.

The prototyping phase brings your ideas into the physical world. A prototype is a rough version of your idea used to test your solutions. The key word here is “rough” — these don’t have to be elegant, as long as they capture the essence of your idea. A prototype can take the form of a paper model, a 3D print of a product, or even a model with Lego bricks.

In theory, any solution is feasible if the organization has infinite resources and time to develop the solution. However, given the team’s current (or future resources), the team evaluates if the solution is worth pursuing. The team may iterate on the solution to make it more feasible or plan to increase its resources (say, hire more people or acquire specialized machinery). Design thinking offers practical methods and tools that major companies like Google, Apple and Airbnb use to drive innovation. From architecture and engineering to technology and services, companies across industries have embraced the methodology to drive innovation and address complex problems. Design teams use design thinking to tackle ill-defined/unknown problems (aka wicked problems).

For instance, consistency ensures that controls remain uniform throughout a design, while proximity suggests related items be grouped. Visual hierarchy places importance on presenting the most vital information at the top. By understanding and applying these principles, designers can create intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and practical designs that cater to user needs and preferences. A design-led approach to product creation means that design happens throughout development, not just at the early concept phase.

How to Illustrate Characters: 30 Tips for Iconic Character Design

Table Of Content

• Key components of good character design:
• Step 4: Start with thumbnails (a lot of them)
• In this article
• Create clear silhouettes
• Gather character reference materials.
• Best Watercolor Paints For Artists in 2023

Use rough sketches and notes to explore their appearance, background, and motivations. This initial stage is an opportunity to brainstorm and harness all your creative ideas. Consider the setting of your character—does it unfold in a fantasy realm, a distant future, or an ancient era? Explore diverse personality traits that suit the character's role. Another helpful tip is to list out keywords that describe your character.

Key components of good character design:

Although many of the well-known characters from cartoons, advertising and films look straightforward, in actual fact, a vast amount of effort and skill will have been exerted to make them so effective. (To start making your own creations, you'll probably want some software – get Adobe Creative Cloud to get cracking). The hero Harald is a harmony-loving character and therefore not as much in asymmetry as his mother is. She is supposed to look cranky, and the asymmetric shape of her head and eyes will help to show her inner tension.

Step 4: Start with thumbnails (a lot of them)

Character Art Tips from Igor Golovkov - 80.lv

Character Art Tips from Igor Golovkov.

Posted: Tue, 19 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Just don’t get too attached, as the separation will hurt too much. One of the hardest parts to any form of creative outlet is to be honest with yourself about how the artwork is going. Self-criticism is an art in itself and takes years to master, but openly engaging with your own flaws and recognising that something isn’t working out is a tough but necessary part of character development. I like to then write 50 words about them, a sort of synopsis of their entire life that I’ve invented in the space of five minutes. Develop a backstory, a family tree, write as much down as you can within five minutes and by the end of it, you should have formed some kind of character.

In this article

When you get to the coloring stage, Miniverso Studio offer sound advice, “the ‘for fun’ final stage has arrived! Play your favorite song and look for the most welcoming place; in this phase, the final artwork is the reward for your hard work”. The other great thing about alternate versions is that you're testing your original character art in different environments. See what seems to work best according to the right conditions.

Create clear silhouettes

The character concept is a lot like the destination your ship is steering towards, and for that reason, you should pay particular attention to this step. Unfortunately, there’s not always a straightforward way to know whether you’ve chosen the right destination. Creating art is a process of blind feeling, aesthetic judgement and trial-and-error. The creative brief, if you are given one, is a good place to start. The client should have provided you with information about the context for the character, the target audience, and the preferred style. Stepping outside of the norm with your character design ideas won't just help reinforce their look, but will also make them more memorable to your audience.

Gather character reference materials.

This brings us to the next important step, which is making different views as reference materials. References are absolutely crucial when it comes to character design. Depending on what type of character the artist will be designing, they need to do a lot of research on the real thing before even starting to sketch. Whether it’s a hedgehog, a sphynx cat, or an eagle, you could try watching a documentary on the animal, read some information about it, and utilize Google for images.

Best Watercolor Paints For Artists in 2023

She looks great, but she’ll also offer Melinoë an assortment of hexes to aid her fight. This is a standout design from the technical test, and her elegance honestly reminds me of Alucard from the Castlevania anime a bit. Out of all the redesigns we’ve seen so far, I like Hypnos’ the most. In Hades, he had a very implike expression that made him seem a bit quirky. Now we get to seem him cuddled up with gorgeous long locks, and he looks like a straight-up angel.

The character design process is incredibly intentional and requires equal amounts of artistic and storytelling skill. The next time you see a great character design, try to narrow in on what makes it great and the choices a character designer made to make it so. Before any line can be drawn, character designers must study and prepare. A huge part of this preparation is having a comprehensive understanding of things like anatomy, shape language, psychology, color theory, and story. This video below on anatomical shape language is one of many resources beginner character designers have on improving at their craft.

For an even more precise tool, you can also look at the color balance, which allows you to fine-tune the level of cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green, and blue in each color swatch. 🎨 The complementary colors of yellow, blue, and red are purple, orange, and green respectively. In a lineup, you place your characters next to each other on a baseline to compare their dimensions, just like suspects are lined up in front of a witness. You can either do this by putting together character trios, quartets, quintets, and so on, or you put them in a classic lineup. Even if your background is not done yet, make it a mid-tone grey to understand how your lights and darks look against it. Light colors tend to be reserved for ‘the good guys,’ hero qualities, cute personalities, and pure intentions.

Messy rough sketches; trial, and error; countless deleted layers, we all know the drill. It takes a lot of experimentation to get the results you’re really proud of. With this in mind, last time we covered the process of character design and outlined some of the best practices. Today, I’m going to develop the topic even further by listing 9 valuable character design tips that could help you improve your work process. Gather various references from different resources to get character design ideas going. These references can be from any medium like animation, photography, cinema, comic books, or paintings.

Think of as many emotions as you can and write a list of them. Al is an illustrator at GraphicMama with out-of-the-box thinking and a passion for anything creative. In her free time, you will see her drooling over tattoo art, Manga, and horror movies. The overall construction will make sure your base shape stays strong and will determine the proportions. For example, if the project is an educational presentation aimed at fourth graders, it will require a cute and cheerful character that will appeal to the children. Its overall mood must be very warm and welcoming, even silly and fun.

When you’re in the coffee shop, on the bus, or simply in the elevator next to your neighbors who have just returned from the grocery store. Learn to notice these poses, body language, and expressions and try to exaggerate them in rough sketches to convey feelings. Even the roughest outlines and shapes can speak loudly about the character’s personality and make them feel real and relatable.

When designing a character, it is easy to get carried away with color creating vibrant and complex color palettes. But remember that typically, the simpler your color palette is the better. Senior artist at Framestore Dan Mason talks through 2D and 3D techniques to create interesting and emotive character designs. With feedback in hand, it’s time to head back to the drawing board and make revisions or final tweaks. Once you’re happy with the final result, your character should be ready to leap off the page and into people’s hearts. Getting familiar with some color theory and picking your colors carefully is a good habit to cultivate and can be an important part of making your characters pop.

What’s important is these characters and mascots are what drives the story forward and get people invested in it. A common and effective approach is to begin by sketching silhouettes. Silhouettes give character designers a blueprint that can be iterated on with more detail. This video below by kimby arting demonstrates this thumbnail trick along with a few others. When creating a distinct character silhouette, it’s important to have a solid understanding of shape language.

Just like I mentioned in the previous tip, using references is a way to break something complex into simple patterns, shapes, and lines in order to understand how it works. In case you already have the basic idea of what your character is going to be, this makes it much easier. Your research will include browsing through images of existing sea animals, sceneries, items, color palettes, and everything that will help you create a moodboard. Browsing through already existing works of artists can be also a very valuable experience in gathering ideas, unlocking patterns for successful sea creature design, their overall aesthetics, and more. Once artists are satisfied with their thumbnails and sketches, they begin finalizing the character design.

One of the most important parts of nailing your silhouette is being conscious and intentional about the shape language (also known as shape motif) you use. Most famous characters have distinct silhouettes that makes it possible to recognize them in any context, even if you alter the original style of illustration. To cultivate the images inside your own head, what better way than to read? Anything from dense-nonfiction about the flora and fauna of Madagascar, to science fiction, fantasy novels, or graphic novels can spark your imagination.

How to Design a Character: The Creator's Guide to Amazing Characters

Table Of Content

• Step 4: Facial Features and Expressions
• Add color
• Artemis
• top character design tips for animation
• Include silhouettes
• Have an open mind

Sure, a professional character designer with decades of experience knows how anatomy works and why, for example, fingers bend a certain way when they hold an object. However, they don’t create the same character over and over again. They might have to make an alien mantis-like creature or a character that resembles a certain culture. Reference and research are crucial to finding out how a mantis insect behaves or what elements of said culture stand out. So why did I even start writing this article on how to design a character, you might ask.

Step 4: Facial Features and Expressions

His upper body is much larger and more muscular compared to his legs. This is something that creators usually do for more masculine characters since the upper body strength is a symbol of that masculinity and exaggerating it makes it more distinctive. Once you have your character design finalised, you will be ready to start thinking about what colours you want to use in your illustration. When designing your characters it is helpful to understand some of the key differences between male and female proportions and shape language. Life studies are an age-old artistic practice that is incredibly effective for improving your character design skills. An example of this is the anatomy studies of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Add color

Randy Bishop’s course, ‘Fundamentals of Character Design’ does a great job of going into detail on all these archetypes and how to use them in your designs. Hilda has changed over the years, from book to book, but Pearson explains that no one has pulled him up on it. "I like to think it means the design is strong enough to withstand being pulled in all these different directions," he says. Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

Artemis

When added to an illustration, warm coloured objects will typically feel closer to the viewer, whereas cooler ones will feel further away. A character’s costume and props can be vital to the effectiveness of your design. A good character design is one with a well-considered costume that heavily reflects both their personality and context. When you design a character it is important to know who your audience is. For example, a design that appeals to children may not always appeal to adults or vice versa.

Their shapes are unique and definitive, and this is key to make a character memorable and successful. In this article, we will walk you through these steps and hopefully shed more light on the process of character design. Both traditional and contemporary art can be a great inspiration when creating character designs.

Lilly Singh and Jazza Teach Character Design and Social Media Storytelling - Newsweek

Lilly Singh and Jazza Teach Character Design and Social Media Storytelling.

Posted: Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Shop at Amazon For Art Supplies

It’s important to keep in mind the concept of color psychology and the emotions that color communicates as a tool of conversion. Dynamic characters require more energetic and joyful colors such as orange, while more collected or dark and mysterious characters usually sport neutral and royal colors such as black and purple. The last step in character creation is choosing a suitable color palette that reflects everything the character represents, from its personality to the concept of the project it will be used in.

top character design tips for animation

Take it slowly and reveal your character in parts, showing their attributes and feelings across a breadth of pieces. For a standalone piece, choose your favourite expression and view the work as a snapshot of their life rather than a reveal of the entirety all at once. With all this new information it’s easy to get caught up in the complexities of character. No one walks into a room and speaks about every aspect of their life. This can be a great tool to help you understand the emotions of your character and begin revealing their likes, dislikes and guilty pleasures, all of which will help you layer on a good narrative.

After the first few drawings your design will start to become more original, as you force yourself to play around with scale and positioning past the normal proportions we are used to seeing. Many illustrators work on a freelance basis and, if you’re working from home, it can be pretty isolating. That’s why it’s important to build a network of other professionals in your industry who you trust to give you honest and constructive feedback.

To help make this decision easier you may wish to choose a specific colour scheme for your design. The colours, patterns, textures, and shapes you use in your character’s clothing have the potential to communicate a lot about your character. Before you even start designing your character’s clothing, first do some research into where they live and the type of activities your character will need to perform. A good costume will be functional within the character’s setting. If you're after more design inspiration, check out Rafael Sarmento's Procreate character design masterclass.

You should know absolutely everything about them so that you're able to translate the backstory into their design. Sure, new hero Melinoë’s black magic-inspired gameplay looks great and all, but there’s a lot more to see. With the elements mentioned above, you have part of what you need to bring fascinating and creative ideas to life within the steampunk world. Carving out a unique shape for your character is a key aspect of ensuring they stand out in a crowd of creations. Experiment with diverse body shapes and sizes until you find an outline that resonates aesthetically.

By exaggerating your character's outward appearance, their personality will immediately shine through. And you are that much closer to making your character larger than life. Don’t think your advanced drawing techniques will be enough—although they greatly help. Because people connect to personalities even more than they connect to beautiful designs.

Character Art: Modeling, Fabrics Creation and Production Tips - 80.lv

Character Art: Modeling, Fabrics Creation and Production Tips.

Posted: Thu, 14 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If you land on this article you might be already a character designer or an illustrator who wants to experiment with character design. Maybe you’re just curious and wish to know what character designers do to give life to such amazing creations. Creating a thumbnail is the first time a character designer starts to put their ideas onto paper (physical or digital). This is a safe space where artists experiment and create loose sketches to get an idea of what direction to take. Superman, Bugs Bunny, and Darth Vader are some of the most memorable characters in TV and film.

So accessorise and choose wisely, because they might end up holding a specific item every time you wish to draw them. These relationships don’t have to be restricted to close family and friends; remember that we build relationships daily, no matter how small. The shopkeeper, the postman, or the doctor all have some form of relationship with you as an individual, and can be used to inspire the life in your work. Our relationships are what define us as humans, and your characters can be relayed in the same way. Use your relationships to show this and use people you know to inspire how a character acts. Characters are emotional and your artwork will illustrate a static emotion in time, so I find it best to write these emotions down.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta TV Series 2008

Table Of Content

• Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
• Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s $4.5M home in danger of foreclosure again months after lowering price from $6M
• Become a Bravo Insider
• The RHOA Ladies Speak on Kenya Moore's Double Standard When It Came to Bringing Kids on the Girls' Trip
• Porsha Williams Hints at Where She's Living Amid Divorce from Simon Guobadia (VIDEO)

When it comes to fashion and work ethic, these housewives don't play around and the same goes for their residences. Here you can find all the tea on these housewives and their luxurious abodes. The docs were filed on April 23, according to People and state that the bank could start the foreclosure process once again, even though the house is for sale. If Truist Bank does begin the foreclosure, the family wouldn’t have to immediately vacate the property, per the filing, but it would force them to start repaying their debt.

Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

Truist Bank submitted more documents to the court in April 2024 that gave Biermann and his estranged wife until May 3, 2024, to return to court and sort out what they owe the lender. The estranged duo reportedly owe the IRS $1.1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties, according to court documents obtained by TMZ in May 2023. The back taxes are from 2013, 2017 and 2018, per the filing, which also states that Zolciak-Biermann and Biermann owe the state of Georgia $15,000 for 2018 unpaid taxes.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s $4.5M home in danger of foreclosure again months after lowering price from $6M

It’s also must-watch context to truly appreciate the undoing of Jen Shah in Season 2. Five of this franchise’s six OGs are still on the show today as RHOSLC films Season 5, so the investment is well-worth it to watch these women adapt and unravel. Each and every Salt Lake City Housewife undergoes a stunning metamorphosis, making for a truly dynamic viewing experience. While RHOD was often the unwanted stepchild of the Housewives franchise, it’s well worth a watch.

Become a Bravo Insider

For the first time since the early days of the Obama administration, there isn’t a single Real Housewives franchise airing on Bravo. But fear not, as there’s more than enough Housewives material in the vault to tide you over until The Real Housewives of New Jersey returns May 5. The house features six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, centered around a large living room that opens to the kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and an island bar — the perfect place for entertaining guests.

Can Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore Get Past Their Feelings of Betrayal and Repair Their Friendship?

As the show’s title suggests, the primary production location of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ is the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. However, it was her nearly 6000-square-foot Duluth home that she purchased in 2016 for $1.15 million that was featured during her time on the show. Located in a gated community it included five bedrooms, five bathrooms, several fireplaces, Curbed reports, making for an incredible setting for Williams to film and raise her daughter on her own. Viewers may also remember impressive features such as a three-car garage, a long elegant staircase in the entryway, and the massive kitchen suitable for any chef.

Reunion Part 3

The Real Housewives of Atlanta, abbreviated RHOA, is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on October 7, 2008. Developed as the third installment of The Real Housewives franchise, it has aired fifteen seasons and focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in and around Atlanta, Georgia. Former supermodel Cynthia Bailey departed with RHOA in 2021 after eleven seasons on the show, and by that time her beautiful brick lakefront home was one that viewers were intimately familiar with. "Lake Bailey" as she likes to call it, was purchased by the former housewife in 2016 for $940K after she filed for divorce from her ex-husband, Peter Thomas, reports Velvet Ropes.

The RHOA Ladies Speak on Kenya Moore's Double Standard When It Came to Bringing Kids on the Girls' Trip

The twelfth season saw the departure of DeVoe and the return of Moore as a full-time housewife. Moore and Williams share a bonding experience as new mothers, which simmers down their longtime tumultuous relationship. Burruss focuses on acting while awaiting the arrival of her baby girl after her and Tucker decided to go through the surrogacy process and clashing over differing parenting methods. Bailey is eagerly waiting for her boyfriend Mike Hill to pop the question and attempts to rebuild her relationship with Leakes after not speaking since the season eleven reunion. Moore struggles with being a new mother while also noticing cracks in her marriage. Growing pains her relationship with husband Daly eventually come to a head after the charity event, which leads to Moore filing for divorce before the ladies trip to Greece.

Burruss launches a restaurant with her relatives and prepares to launch a reunion tour for her former girl group Xscape. Burruss invites Leakes to open for the group on the tour but is forced to drop her after a confrontation between Leakes and a heckler creates controversy. Bailey begins to date following her divorce from Thomas but finds conflict with Marcille when she accuses her new beau of cheating on his girlfriend with Bailey. Moore returns married to New York entrepreneur Mark Daly, the legality of which is met with skepticism from Zolciak-Biermann and Hampton. She finds her marriage under pressure due to their long-distance relationship and his reluctance to be in the public eye. Whitfield alienates the other women due to her friendship with Zolciak-Biermann, whose feuds with the other women draw accusations of racism.

Kroy Files for Divorce Again

The singer and actress purchased her 9,220-square-foot Duluth home with her husband, Ralph, in October 2020 for $1.4 million, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For Kenya Moore, a master bath isn't complete without a freestanding tub and a massive LED lighted mirror over the sink. One unique thing about her master bathroom is that it includes a double shower. The master bath gives serene spa vibes that anyone would love to have in their own home. The best part of the Miss USA winner's bathroom might just be her toilet that warms up the seat for you, plays music, cleans you when you're done, and cleans itself.

The show has one of the franchise’s best debut seasons, and the first episode already features a wonderfully bizarre fight that sums up the beauty of Salt Lake City (“You smell like hospital”). Although RHOD struggled to hit the highs of its peers, its second and third seasons are legitimately strong TV, and any Housewives fan should give them a shot. If the deranged nature of Leanne Locken isn’t enough to entice you, consider the firestarting additions of Kameron Westcott (before she jumped the shark by claiming clown emojis are “white face”) and D’andra Simmons. Simmons is a top-tier Housewife, from only having $200 in the bank account to her soap operatic mother. The entirety of Season 3 is all killer, no filler, while Season 4 stands out as a top Housewives season of all time.

Former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Stars: Where Are They Now? - Yahoo Entertainment

Former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Stars: Where Are They Now?.

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:40:25 GMT [source]

And once you’ve gotten all the backstory, dive into Season 5, one of the most dramatic, tumultuous seasons in the franchise’s history. Many would argue you should skip the entirety of RHOM’s original run, but those people are simply wrong. Season 2 of Miami is, without a doubt, one of the best seasons in Housewives history and features everything you could want in a reality show. If you’ve only ever watched the reboot, you need to immediately repent and stream Season 2. The honest truth with RHOBH is you’re doing yourself a disservice to start anywhere but the beginning. While most Housewives franchises take a minute to find their footing and don’t peak for a few seasons, many fans would rightfully argue that RHOBH has never surpassed its monumental first two seasons.

Bailey, a fibroid survivor herself, will be joined by her sister Malorie Bailey and Eugenia Buie, founder of Overcomers Ministry Group and a Fibroid Fighters ambassador, for a panel discussion. The “Don’t Be Tardy” alum, who is also the mother of KJ, 12, Kash, 11, and twins Kaia and Kane, 10, has been battling mounting debt and multiple lawsuits in the last year while navigating her rocky relationship with Biermann. The filing stated that Zolciak-Biermann and her estranged spouse “defaulted on their mortgage,” so the bank “intends to exercise its rights” and foreclose on the home if their debt isn’t paid. Us confirmed in October 2023 that the estranged spouses officially listed their Georgia residence for $6 million ahead of foreclosure. According to Zillow, the seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom property was initially listed at $3.2 million in early October. The following month, Biermann claimed that Zolciak-Biermann was dragging her heels on selling the house to remain in the mansion longer.

Watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta Videos

Table Of Content

• Porsha's Family Matters: Ghost of Porsha's Past
• Kenya Moore Throws Shade at Drew Sidora, Claims Drew Can Learn a Thing or Two About Hollywood From Her
• Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams Explain WHY They Asked Production to Turn the Cameras Off at the Bachelorette Party
• Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey Tell Kenya Moore It's Time to Move on From Marc Daly
• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
• LaToya Ali Reacts to Kenya Moore Having a Crush on Her
• Watch VPR Season 11 Finale with "Never-Before-Seen Content"

Williams then reveals that she is expecting her first child with McKinley and begins to clash with Burruss. DeVoe gets a warm reception from most of the ladies except Hampton who made several comments about DeVoe’s marriage and children. Bailey is navigating a new love interest in Mike Hill while also preparing college bound Noelle for her departure to Howard University.

Porsha's Family Matters: Ghost of Porsha's Past

As for the scenes involving DeShawn’s office, they were lensed on location in DeShawn Snow Foundation. In addition, the cast and crew members set up camp in and around Nene Leakes’ Swagg Boutique at 6590 Sugarloaf Parkway in the city of Duluth. When it comes to money, this hardworking businesswoman proudly proclaims that she is all about getting a check and she does not play around. She secures her bag as a well-known singer and songwriter in the music industry. Ambitious and driven, Burress never passes up a lucrative business opportunity, and the home she shares with her husband Todd certainly shows just that.

Kenya Moore Throws Shade at Drew Sidora, Claims Drew Can Learn a Thing or Two About Hollywood From Her

If you enjoy the suburban sprawl of RHOC, you’ll surely find something to appreciate in her younger sister. Season 3 is an instant payoff, throwing viewers straight into the deep end of Karen Huger’s financial crisis, while introducing us to Candiace Dillard-Bassett. From Robyn Dixon being coined “the dizziest bitch at the table” to Gizelle Bryant’s #taxreform shirt at Huger’s press conference with no press, the first few episodes are packed heavy with iconic moments that are instantly gripping. Originally filmed as an unrelated show titled Miami Social, the show was re-edited to be a Housewives franchise, soft-rebooted in its second season and canceled after a rocky third season, only to be resurrected almost a decade later. The cult favorite Housewives show, often ignored by the masses, RHOM’s rebirth has blessed audiences with some of the best modern seasons. Whether you’re a Bravo super fan or a total newbie, here’s an expert’s guide to diving into to each city.

Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams Explain WHY They Asked Production to Turn the Cameras Off at the Bachelorette Party

If you can watch Season 7 all the way through and not want to continue, well, this city just isn’t for you. After a stint lasting eight seasons, Porsha Williams departed from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" franchise in 2021. Since then, she has added to her real estate holdings as recently as January 2022 when she and her fiance, wealthy businessman Simon Guobadia, purchased a new home for roughly 7-million dollars, as Reality Titbit reports. The newly purchased 50,284 square foot home sits on nearly 2 acres of land and includes five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, a hugely stunning pool, and a massive walkway decorated with sparkling chandeliers. Drew Sidora is one of the newest housewives to receive a peach, arriving on the scene in Season 13 and purchasing her dream home at roughly the same time.

The Atlanta series is now into its fourteenth season, which premiered on May 1. These Atlanta housewives are strong, powerful, and influential, and they don't back down. From on-screen drama to shady confessionals, this group of women brings it all to the table and aren't afraid to step on each other's toes. The Atlanta women have the top looks, the best shade, and some of the most luxurious homes.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Get in on the ground floor of Leakes’ Hollywood ascent and decline, the friendship fallout of Kandi Burruss and Phaedra Parks, and the birth of Moore vs. Williams. There’s great payoff through Season 9 (and 10 provides the triumphant return of Leakes, with a top-tier reunion), giving way to seasons of amazing TV. Once things cool down with Seasons 11 and 12, go back to the beginning to appreciate the show’s roots, now that you’ve developed an affinity with the cast.

If you’re a newer viewer, do yourself a favor and go back to the beginning to appreciate the perfection of Camille Grammer’s villain arc, as well as the Kim and Kyle Richards rollercoaster. It’s almost jarring that this season aired right after RHODC’s own debut and before RHOC Season 6, given how ahead of its time it was, visually. If you weren’t incensed by the early seasons of RHOA due to their older style of filming, jump back in for the introduction of Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams in Season 5. It’s the season that changed RHOA forever (after all, who else did Bravo tap to lead the Season 15 reboot but those two?), and has aged like wine. For shooting purposes, the production team of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ even traveled to locations other than Atlanta, not just in the country but across the globe. Since the city of Athens is Nene’s hometown, its locales are a regular feature in the Bravo show.

After purchasing her new home, the ever-generous Williams has since gifted her former Duluth residence to her mother Diane, according to Yahoo!. The Real Housewives of Atlanta has received moderately favorable reviews from critics and has been recognized as a "guilty pleasure" by several media outlets. However, the series has been criticized for appearing to fabricate portions of its storyline. It has anchored Bravo's Sunday night offerings since the show's third season in 2010,[1] eventually becoming Bravo's highest-rated program by 2014.[2] The series is often regarded as the series that "put the franchise on the map." The current cast consists of Shereé Whitfield, Kenya Moore, Porsha Williams and Drew Sidora. This brunch isn’t just about the heavy stuff — you’ll get to connect with other women, share stories and learn valuable information about fibroids in a fun and supportive environment.

The lake house also includes a sunroom, a furnished basement with a brick fireplace, and a spacious deck, according to Page Six. Her home décor is chic yet serene, and she makes it clear that she wanted to create a spiritual, relaxed vibe for her home in every room. She seems to have achieved that, as the house gives a homey, natural feel. Not to mention the 1.5 acres of surrounding land she has all to herself, as Velvet Ropes points out. "Lake Bailey" resides in Sandy Springs, just twenty minutes outside of Atlanta.

The ninth season sees Fields and Leakes depart the show, the ladder for the first time. Whitfield returns as a full-time housewife, while Zolciak-Biermann and Hampton return in a guest capacity. She has ended her friendship with Burruss and forms a close friendship with Williams (who together are deemed "Frick and Frack"). Williams claims she has a source that says Burruss and Tucker conspired to rape her using drugs; this accusation leads to a feud between them, as well as tensions within the group due to its severity.

The tenth season sees the firing of Parks over fabricating the rape accusation and other aspects of her storyline.[87][88] Leakes returns as a full-time housewife, while Zolciak-Biermann returns as a 'friend' through Whitfield. Hampton and Eva Marcille join as 'friends' through their connections to Leakes. Williams attempts to reconcile with the women over her role in Parks' smear campaign against Burruss throughout the season. While on the group vacation in Barcelona, a fight between her and Hampton results in her going back home early. Leakes nurses her husband through health issues while revitalizing her acting career by doing stand-up.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Season 16 Cast – 3 Stars Exit, 1 Former Star Returns & 3 New Ladies Rumored to Join - Just Jared

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Season 16 Cast – 3 Stars Exit, 1 Former Star Returns & 3 New Ladies Rumored to Join.

Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Check out what's new in Georgia — and get a peek at the season's drama — by watching RHOA's Season 15 trailer below (yes, that was Cynthia Bailey and Kim Zolciak-Biermann you spotted making an appearance). Drew will be joined by fellow newcomer and new friend to the group LaToya Ali, who seems to become fast friends with returning Housewife Kenya Moore. Avery Newmark covers travel, health, events and trending news for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With a dual background in film production and journalism, Avery came to the AJC after working as a video editor. The duo filed for divorce in May 2023, only to reconcile two months later — and then file again in August of that same year.

This one-season wonder lives in infamy as the first Housewives show to be canceled, but don’t sleep on RHODC. Recently added to Peacock, the show’s a hidden gem and a must-watch for Housewives diehards. Mary Amons is the original monotonous Meredith Marks, while Michaele and Tareq Salahi’s grifting is truly inspired, outdoing even Jen Shah in their terrifying ability to live in a constant state of criminal delusion. It’s a shame the show flew too close to the sun, but that makes its short run all the more special. No matter where you start RHONJ, you’re in for a long haul of Teresa Giudice drama, but Season 1 and 2 are some superb television that you need to watch if you consider yourself a Housewives fan. If your only knowledge of Jersey is the Teresa vs. Melissa era, you need to take a step back and remember how it all started—and you’ll get to watch the iconic table flip.

Her master bedroom also includes a huge walk-in closet fit for a queen like Moore herself. The former beauty queen and single mom of one purchased her Atlanta home for $500K in 2015, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The modern white mansion is 7,200 square feet and comes with four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a dedicated glam room with a beautiful blinged-out chandelier, and a massively spacious modern kitchen with an envy-inducing 13-foot quartz-topped island. Most notably, however, is the all-white master bath off the master bedroom. The season received negative reviews from fans of the show due to the uneven editing, lack of group chemistry, and slower-paced episodes. "However, with friendships on the brink, accusations causing a fuss, and divorce news that’s all too much, will these women be able to channel positive vibes?" it asked.

They argued that the foreclosure would have a negative impact on their family. Truist Bank, however, asked a judge that their request be “denied” after the pair failed to make their August 2023 probationary payment on the estate. The TV personality’s two daughters, Brielle and Ariana, shut down the foreclosure speculation during a February 2023 interview with TMZ. Brielle claimed that the news surrounding their family was a big “misunderstanding” that led to a “crazy” foreclosure story making headlines. Longtime friend of the Atlanta Housewives, Marlo Hampton (or "Marlo Fabulous F--king Hampton," as she proclaims in the above sneak peek), will also be in the new season — this time holding her very own peach. In Season 14, we'll get to know Marlo like never before as she shares an intimate look at her life raising her nephews and growing her fashion business, Lé Archive.

Norwegian Sun decks, cabins, diagrams and pics

Table Of Content

• Dining & Restaurant Options on The Norwegian Sun
• BIG picture Norwegian Sun decks
• All about the Norwegian Sun
• Norway Deck
• Staterooms and Suites

If you do want to travel abroad they have ships in Europe leaving from ports like Venice, Barcelona and Copenhagen. Check out all of their itineraries on our site and then call us to discuss the best vacation option for you with our expert cruise consultants. Sure, this ship may not be the largest at your favorite cruise port and, in fact, maybe about half the size of other mega-ships on the seas today — but that’s a benefit. Another unfortunate bit about the casino is the smoking situation. It’s such a small space where smoking is allowed, it’s almost impossible to function as a non-smoker. It feels like the smokers on the ship make use of the casino as a smoking parlor rather than going to other designated smoking areas making the air quality in such a small space, let’s just say, less than ideal.

Dining & Restaurant Options on The Norwegian Sun

These Oceanview Staterooms sleep up to four guests and feature a porthole with an obstructed view, two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate up to two more. Before you experience “Freestyle Cruising” with Norwegian check out this photo gallery which features many of their ships, specialty dining options and innovative staterooms. Great for up to five guests, these staterooms come with two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a pull down bed and a convertible sofa bed. Other suite options include penthouse suites, club balcony suites and owner’s suites.

BIG picture Norwegian Sun decks

Baltimore welcomes its first Norwegian Cruise Line ship - WBAL TV Baltimore

Baltimore welcomes its first Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

Posted: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

You can see all the furniture details on the NCL Sun cabin floor plans in the table above. Stunning in design with ocean views, enjoy fine dining in this Main Restaurant featuring the beautifully crafted menus created specifically for the Main Dining Rooms. These Inside Staterooms are the most affordable way for the whole family to cruise. With room for up to five, you'll have two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to sleep up to three more.

All about the Norwegian Sun

These staterooms are perfect if you want to bring the kids along. They sleep up to four guests and include a sitting area, two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and a pull out sofa to accommodate two more. Not to mention the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private balcony for the whole family to enjoy. With room for up to three guests, these staterooms include two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and some feature a single sofabed or a pullman to accommodate one more. You'll also have a big picture window to enjoy the amazing view.

For the healthier version of cruise passengers (rare, I know), there is a full-size gym that is remarkably well-equipped, and a separate aerobics studio with scheduled classes. The studio is free to use for yoga, stretching, HIIT, etc at your own leisure when classes aren’t being taught. These studios are complimentary and open 6 am until 11 pm (so there’s hardly an excuse!). Teppanyaki – The Teppanyaki grill, again, is always very consistent across the whole Norwegian brand. On the Sun, the space is a bit smaller and in a fully enclosed room with multiple grilles. It’s exactly as expected in all ways including food quality and experience.

In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL, Oceania and RSSC-Regent. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own. These fares typically don't allow you to select your cabin in advance.

Otherwise, we found it sufficient and as expected for a smaller ship. Casino Bar – Just a simple walk-up bar to grab a drink while in the casino. It’s also a good place to get something if the rest of the bars are crowded, as the casino bar is usually empty. The NCL Sun ship was christened traditionally at PortMiami on November 17, 2001, in a dual ceremony - together with the fleetmate NCL Star. Sun ship's godmother was "Miss America 2001" Angela Baraquio (Asian-American). The liner is of the Sky-class NCL vessels, with sisterships NCL Sky and Costa Victoria.

NCL returns to Asia with the Norwegian Jewel ship from Tokyo, Japan

To keep you busy the rest of the time, here are Norwegian Sun’s top activities and entertainment options. Expect a small bar area and entertainment center, with extra floor space around the sitting area. They’re mostly limited to a small window near the sitting area, and the windows are rather high up on the wall. The oceanview staterooms offer a very similar aesthetic, with matching decor. However, you get much more space in the oceanview staterooms than what you’ll find in the interior staterooms. When you want some "me" time, look no further than Mandara Spa®.

Review of Norwegian Sun

The Sun can hold 1,936 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Sun has a space ratio of 40. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average. Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

Please note that the view from your balcony may be fully obstructed or partially obstructed. Your stateroom may be on any deck and assigned up to one day prior to embarkation. These Oceanview Staterooms have room for up to three guests, with two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and a convertible sofa in some to accommodate one more. A Sail Away Oceanview stateroom guarantees an Oceanview stateroom or better! Please note that the view may be fully obstructed, partially obstructed, porthole or picture window.

Elegant interiors, crisp white linens and attentive servers make this an intimate dining experience. By the end of your meal, you might just be proclaiming c'est magnifique. Register with Cruise.com to get access to exclusive rates, discounts and special offers. Splash Academy complimentary programming is available while the ship is in port as well; however, an extra fee of $6 per child applies for supervision during meal times for Port Play Meals. An art gallery is open for browsing during various evening hours, and there are silent and live art auctions throughout the cruise, complete with free artwork, raffles and Champagne. Feel free to pose questions to the knowledgeable art specialists from Park West Gallery if you spot a piece of interest.

Along with a sitting area, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a private balcony with an amazing aft-facing view. Built in 2001, the Norwegian Sun capacity is about 1950 passengers (plus approximately 900 crew), about half the size of most newly built cruise ships. In 2018 the NCL Sun had a complete refit and was upgraded in line with the NCL program called Norwegian Edge, to bring it to the standards of the rest of the fleet. During the renovation, the Sun received upgraded amenities including restaurants, pools, and bars, that you’d expect and want to experience on the rest of the Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship Norwegian Sun Deck Plans Norwegian Cruise Line

Table Of Content

• Oceanview (OX)
• Has anyone ever won an upgrade bid on a stateroom and what was the meter reading////poor, fair, good or excellent?
• Norwegian Sun Decks and Cabins
• Sails To
• Norwegian Sun Cruise

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator. Balcony, Oceanview and Inside cabins have 2 lower beds (convertible to a double) and bathroom (with WC-shower). With Porthole Windows (1 round-shaped window) are categories OF, OG, OH, OI, OJ, and OX. Norwegian Sun's meeting room area offers all the amenities of a world-class boardroom including a stunning view in a professional setting.

Oceanview (OX)

Before booking, read reviews of the ship and specific cabins on websites such as Cruise Critic or watching YouTube reviews. Previous travelers can offer invaluable insight into noise levels, views, and overall satisfaction. Inside cabins on the 'P&O Arvia' cruise ship are a good value accommodation option.

Has anyone ever won an upgrade bid on a stateroom and what was the meter reading////poor, fair, good or excellent?

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels over 7 months of 2025 cruises - USA TODAY

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels over 7 months of 2025 cruises.

Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

Norwegian Sun Decks and Cabins

This is a much easier way to find your ship photos rather than having to search along a wall of photos. The photo gallery also sells cameras, accessories and gifts. For a more formal photography session, the Perspectives Photo Studio offers an array of professional photography settings and options. A Sail Away Mini-Suite stateroom guarantees a Mini-Suite stateroom or better!

Perfect for the whole family, these staterooms accommodate up to five guests. They feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate up to three more. These Club Balcony Suites sleep up to four guests and feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, plus additional bedding to accommodate two more guests. Along with a luxury bath with shower, walk-in closet and sitting area.

selectedDeckPlan.name - Staterooms

Sports Bar offers classic pub fare in a relaxed atmosphere. With popular dishes like the Reuben Sandwich and Fish n' Chips, Sports Bar has all your favourite comfort foods. So try one of our beers or cocktails on tap and catch a game with us.

Activities and Entertainment

Cruise ship hit massive iceberg in shocking video and some passengers called it 'Titanic 2.0' - UNILAD

Cruise ship hit massive iceberg in shocking video and some passengers called it 'Titanic 2.0'.

Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

But be sure to wear clothes that you don’t plan on using again on your vacation! You leave smelling like the whole restaurant and it’s impossible to get it out of your clothes. This space is entirely too small for the size of the ship and a very cramped buffet layout creates lines or confusion among passengers trying to get to different sections. The food overall was usually good, albeit sometimes unusual. As with all Norwegian Cruise Ships, there are free and specialty dining options available to all passengers.

While not substantially upgraded during the 2018 refit, the rooms are spacious and modernized with plenty of storage and everything you’d expect in a typical cruise cabin. The cabins include both 220 and 110v electrical sockets in a couple of areas along with a USB plug on either side of the bed integrated into the lighting. As with all Norwegian ships, passengers enjoy the casual onboard ambience, so you'll find plenty of fun, relaxed cruise mates, many who are loyal to the line and have sailed multiple times.

It's Norwegian's signature dance party where passengers come donned in their best whites, neon glow accessories and dancing shoes. With so many things going on at night in different venues, it means no overcrowding in any given area. If you prefer to spend your days poolside, it's hard to miss the standing-deck-only contests such as the Mr. Sexy Legs competition or the Miss Norwegian Sun pageant. Other poolside activities include sail-away celebrations, live music, ice-carving demonstrations and other pool games.

The food at La Cucina is the most consistent on this ship with the rest of the NCL brand. If you’ve eaten at La Cucina on other larger NCL ships, you should be satisfied with the food quality and preparation on the Sun. Norwegian Sun is a Sun class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.

In June 2022, the ship was sailing along the Alaskan coast when it collided with an iceberg off the Hubbard Glacier. Thankfully, the collision did not cause any substantial damage. The ship shortened that particular itinerary and then, once the ship was docked, it underwent two weeks of repairs before resuming service. The suite decor is more modern than the general stateroom decor. You’ll still find the off-white walls, shiny wood paneling and can lights, but you’ll also get darker, brown, gray and gold color palettes, for an overall more elegant feel. Technically, the current Costa Cruises Costa Victoria ship was also part of this class, but, for the time being, Norwegian Cruise Line only considers Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky as Sun-class ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line generally attracts a younger crowd and Sun's value means there are lots of passengers coming from nearby in the United States. Known for being a family-friendly cruise line, there are younger families mixed with multigenerational travelers as well as some honeymooners and younger couples. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise vacation every step of the way. Our gift shops onboard carry everything you’ll need for fun in the sun.

Norwegian Sun sails on several cruises to exciting worldwide destinations, including Alaska, U.S. & Canada, the Caribbean, South America and Panama Canal. For game enthusiasts, there's even more arcade games in the always-open Video Arcade on Deck 11. An Ultimate Arcade Package is available for unlimited arcade games during the cruise for $8 per person per, day if booked online or $10 per person, per day if booked onboard. Learn how Norwegian Cruise Line takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment, including Broadway productions, comedy clubs, dueling pianos and much more.

The Family Inside Staterooms are a great and affordable way for you to bring the whole family along. With room for up to five, you'll have two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and some staterooms have pull down beds to accommodate two more. Plus you'll have a sitting area and access to all kinds of amenities, like room service and so much more. A Sail Away Balcony stateroom guarantees a Balcony stateroom or better! Entertainment quality is always very subjective, and with NCL cutting entertainment budgets in 2023, it’s a bit of a sore spot with travelers.