Luggage Tag Wars: What 15 Cruises Taught Me About NCL

I'm standing in the atrium of the Norwegian Prima, watching a first-time cruiser meticulously arrange three enormous suitcases in a perfect geometric pattern. Each one has a color-coded luggage tag system that would make a project manager weep. I recognize that look on her face—the desperate hope that everything will be perfect. I also recognize the chaos that's about to unfold, because I used to be her. Let me take you back to my first cruise on Norwegian, about six years ago. I was so excited about my Caribbean getaway that I probably spent more time organizing my luggage than actually enjoying myself during the first day aboard. I had purchased these fancy leather luggage tags from some fancy travel store, each one embossed with my initials in gold lettering. I labeled everything with a color-coded system: red for clothes, blue for toiletries, green for shoes. I even included a laminated inventory card in each bag. I was prepared. I was organized. I was absolutely, completely overthinking this. When I arrived at the port in Galveston, I presented my three perfectly tagged suitcases to the porter with the kind of pride you'd expect from someone who just won an award. He looked a…