ThyriC

Please allow me to ease your mind.  Labadee is beautiful, Nassau is beautiful.  There are wonderful activities to do in these locations.  
I think a lot of the complaints may come from people who have been to these locations multiple times because especially Nassau is on a LOT of itineraries.  If you're a multiple time cruiser and Nassau appears for the 47th time on your itineraries, you may have a bit of destination lethargy.  And when this lethargy occurs, people get more critical of the location. 
If its your 40th cruise, and you've been to Nassau your past 39 cruises, yah you'll probably make a ship day of your port day in Nassau.  
But this is your FIRST!  Dont second guess yourself.  You're going to have an AMAZING time.  Its beautiful there.  Relish in your excitement.  Do all of your planning.  And dont second guess yourself again.  You've nothing to worry about.  
No cruise ship pulls up into a port that's broken down with thieves and worse rubbing their hands together like evil villains just waiting to be delivered victims on a platter.   
You're smart, you've done your research.  No need to second guess things just because of a few negative comments.  For a first timer or even 5th timer, Nassau is a wonderful beautiful place to explore.  

Please allow me to ease your mind.  Labadee is beautiful, Nassau is beautiful.  There are wonderful activities to do in these locations.  
I think a lot of the complaints may come from people who have been to these locations multiple times because especially Nassau is on a LOT of itineraries.  If you're a multiple time cruiser and Nassau appears for the 47th time on your itineraries, you may have a bit of destination lethargy.  And when this lethargy occurs, people get more critical of the location. 
If its your 40th cruise, and you've been to Nassau your past 39 cruises, yah you'll probably make a ship day of your port day in Nassau.  
But this is your FIRST!  Dont second guess yourself.  You're going to have an AMAZING time.  Its beautiful there.  Relish in your excitement.  Do all of your planning.  And dont second guess yourself again.  You've nothing to worry about.  
No cruise ship pulls up into a port that's broken down with thieves and worse rubbing their hands together like evil villains just waiting to be delivered victims on a platter.   
You're smart, you've done your research.  No need to second guess things just because of a few negative comments.  For a first timer or even 5th timer, Nassau is a wonderful beautiful place to explore.  

The one exception being if you have purchased The Key, where they will take carry on luggage directly to your room and you can get to it after 1pm. But you'd still want to keep anything valuable or necessary with you. This won't apply to many, but it's one of the perks I did like.

Anything you want to use prior to about 4-5pm on embarkation, you'll want that in your carryon.  Also remember you'll be carrying whatever you carryon with you from 10am to 1pm if you embark as early as is possible.  So you want that luggage bin approved carryon luggage?  Its coming with you all through the ship as you explore, go eat something, go to the pool, etc.  
I recommend your carryon be something the size of a backpack and MAYBE a tote bag at the most.  When you start dragging luggage all through the ship, I think it winds up dragging you down for 3 hours.  
Also remember any wine or a 12 pack of soda/water that you want to bring, MUST be in your carryon luggage.  So consider the weight of that as well if you bring 2 bottles of wine and a 12 pack of soda.  That's a pretty heavy load and that's before you add anything like swimwear, medications, change of clothing, etc.

A way around the power strip/surge protector problem is that many devices we use these days are USB charged.  A USB charging bank has yet to be on the prohibited list (may only be a matter of time)  If your device is USB charged, plug it into the USB bank instead.  If you travel with a laptop, use the laptop's USB ports for charging your USB charged devices, and if you bring a laptop with you (I dont travel without my laptop, one of these years I'll do a fully unplugged from the outside world cruise but... not today LOL)  you can bring a USB hub with you.  I have a cheapy one I got at a trade show or was a promo or something, I forget where I got it from but its promo branded and has 4 USB ports on it.  Slam that into the laptop and I've expanded 1 USB port to 4 USB ports and all of them can be used to charge stuff (camera, phone, gopro, tablet, nintendo DS, vape pen for designated location use only!).  A small USB hub should cost under 5 bucks, you dont need bells and whistles.  Same with a USB charging bank.  You dont need one with power levels or charging statuses, or a massive bank.  4 ports should be more than enough for all of your charging needs.  I also highly recommend bringing a USB adapter.  I have one from my company (I have a ton of promo gadgets/gizmos for some reason) and it converts from standard USB to Lightning, mini USB, and like 5 others.  That way the number of charging cables I need to bring are at a minimum.  And I'm going to throw out this recommendation for cable management when travelling.  I color code my individual charging cables with a small piece of colored tape.  I keep a piece of paper with the colors for the cables and their associated device, and I check in the cables when packing to leave for the cruise, I check them out when I unpack, then check them back in when returning.  I havent lost a charging cable yet when using this method.  Helps around the home too when wanting to locate charging cables and all of them wind up looking alike and you wind up with a drawer full of a tangle of charging cables.  
Also, dont be afraid to ask your cabin steward for a power strip once onboard.  They have a limited number of power strips onboard (same with extension cords for CPAP users)  If you're a CPAP user and need the extension cord, dont forget to fill out the special medical needs form!  This will make sure your CPAP machine has the necessary water and extension cord.  
Another way to get an extra plug out of your cabin, normally the older cabins have 1 US outlet and one .... not US outlet (sorry dont know what they're called).  A travel adapter will allow you to use both the US and the non US outlets, maximizing what outlets you do have access to.  

OH and before I forget.  When you're using the WiFi onboard, practice the same safety with your personal information that you do on land, even more so in my opinion.  Even when connecting to Voom, protect yourself.  I like using a VPN (there are several low cost or free ones available, a popular one is NordVPN) to protect sensitive information such as any website you need to log into with a username and password.  
Yes it will be tempting to check your bank balance online while travelling.  Its a good thing to keep track of your spending!  BUT, assume that everyone on that public WiFi is looking directly over your shoulder when you log into websites.  Even if your bank protects your account with a PIN and a secret picture/phrase, still assume someone's looking over your shoulder.  Practice strict security with your data especially when travelling.  This goes for hotel, airport, coffee shop, cruise terminal, etc wifi.   Just having a login page to get onto the paid wifi isnt enough.  Checking your bank balance or other sensitive information via phone or a secure encrypted app from your bank is FAR more secure.   
This isnt meant to scare people (ok maybe a little fear is a good thing when it comes to securing your personal information), but you dont know everyone on that cruise ship, or in that port.  Wifi is a wonderful thing.  But you dont know who else is on that wifi network like you do at home.

If there are any disabled cruisers wanting any info please just ask, my wife is a wheelchair user so we have lots of experience from cabins to ports and excursions.

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

One of my tips is if you do specialty dining, half the portion you're given and ask them for a to-go box immediately.  Out of sight out of mouth!  Or ask for a child's portion.  That way you can still enjoy all of the wonderful tastes and not feel deprived when there are amazing smells wafting around, but still keep to your goals.  
Drink at least 2 glasses of water before food goes into your mouth.  Helps to fill up your stomach.  Veggies first, then protein, then starch, then fats.  Ask for a double helping of veggies!  More veggies on the plate, the less deprived you feel.  
Dessert options stick to sorbets and fruit.  You can also ask for a sugar free option as well.  They'll definitely have these for diabetics.  And they do help with feelings of deprivation.  If everyone at your table is snarfing down cake, and you're sitting there with folded hands sipping away on water.... that's a fast track to binge eating later.  
The biggest thing with the food, fill up on hearty fibrous veggies like broccoli, spinach, etc.  Lettuce isnt going to fill you up and make you feel satisfied in the long run.  Not to mention there's a lot of temptation on that salad bar.  Dressings, bacon, eggs, legumes... they all taste wonderful but they're calorie killers on the salad bar.  Tell them to remove the bread basket from the table.  Out of sight, out of mouth!  
Big thing for me and dieting is not feeling deprived of food.  It sure sounds easy just to eat less, but when you're in a high temptation environment like a cruise, just eating less is an unrealistic expectation.  Salad is wonderful dont get me wrong, but its not going to fill you up unless you have those hunger busting fibrous veggies in the salad.  They help fill you up and help you stay full!
 
Now, for the exercising.  Walk everywhere.  The elevator is your friend only when carrying your luggage.  Otherwise, stairs all the way.  Do the dance lessons onboard.  They help keep you moving!  At the pool, jump on in and play!  I think as adults we've really neglected the power of play.  Play keeps us active so let loose!  Feel free to enroll in a spinning class if your fitness level is up to spinning.  Aerobics classes, free weights, machines galore.  Hop on the treadmill or elliptical and enjoy the amazing views.  You'll completely forget that you're exercising when enjoying such amazing views.  
 
Now for the overall health.  Get good rest.  Easier said than done when you're excited on your cruise!  But remember, healthy mind healthy body!  Reward yourself with a massage or facial or other spa treatment.  Sticking to a diet on a cruise is hard work!  So have that reward massage!
 

One of my tips is if you do specialty dining, half the portion you're given and ask them for a to-go box immediately.  Out of sight out of mouth!  Or ask for a child's portion.  That way you can still enjoy all of the wonderful tastes and not feel deprived when there are amazing smells wafting around, but still keep to your goals.  
Drink at least 2 glasses of water before food goes into your mouth.  Helps to fill up your stomach.  Veggies first, then protein, then starch, then fats.  Ask for a double helping of veggies!  More veggies on the plate, the less deprived you feel.  
Dessert options stick to sorbets and fruit.  You can also ask for a sugar free option as well.  They'll definitely have these for diabetics.  And they do help with feelings of deprivation.  If everyone at your table is snarfing down cake, and you're sitting there with folded hands sipping away on water.... that's a fast track to binge eating later.  
The biggest thing with the food, fill up on hearty fibrous veggies like broccoli, spinach, etc.  Lettuce isnt going to fill you up and make you feel satisfied in the long run.  Not to mention there's a lot of temptation on that salad bar.  Dressings, bacon, eggs, legumes... they all taste wonderful but they're calorie killers on the salad bar.  Tell them to remove the bread basket from the table.  Out of sight, out of mouth!  
Big thing for me and dieting is not feeling deprived of food.  It sure sounds easy just to eat less, but when you're in a high temptation environment like a cruise, just eating less is an unrealistic expectation.  Salad is wonderful dont get me wrong, but its not going to fill you up unless you have those hunger busting fibrous veggies in the salad.  They help fill you up and help you stay full!
 
Now, for the exercising.  Walk everywhere.  The elevator is your friend only when carrying your luggage.  Otherwise, stairs all the way.  Do the dance lessons onboard.  They help keep you moving!  At the pool, jump on in and play!  I think as adults we've really neglected the power of play.  Play keeps us active so let loose!  Feel free to enroll in a spinning class if your fitness level is up to spinning.  Aerobics classes, free weights, machines galore.  Hop on the treadmill or elliptical and enjoy the amazing views.  You'll completely forget that you're exercising when enjoying such amazing views.  
 
Now for the overall health.  Get good rest.  Easier said than done when you're excited on your cruise!  But remember, healthy mind healthy body!  Reward yourself with a massage or facial or other spa treatment.  Sticking to a diet on a cruise is hard work!  So have that reward massage!
 

You can also reward yourself with another cruise. 

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

And just to reiterate the importance of booking something like this when you see a price you're comfortable with.  On my Grandeur sailing in October, the price went UP!  To $75!  So now I'm watching and waiting for it to go back down and then definitely snagging it.  I love the ship tours.  Especially the bridge.  And seeing the bridge on different ships is awesome too.  Like seeing it on Allure is very different from seeing it on Grandeur, how everything is laid out.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt I think though that every good community starts with a good leader.  Normally a community starts mimicking the leader.  When leadership is positive and welcoming and their energy is contageous and upbeat, the community will reflect that.  If a community's leader is toxic then the community will be toxic.  If the community is critical, reading like a bunch of Yelpers trying to appear to be food critics, then you reap what you sow.
I know when I went to that other site, the reviews of pretty much every cruise line short of something like Viking were crazy critical.  If they didnt get a new and different towel animal every day of their cruise, they'd start screaming that their cruise was RUINED!  Ruined I say!  (I really did see a review of a ship criticizing the towel animal situation)
Being critical can be a good thing.  If something went terribly, by all means say so.  But if your parsley on your dinner in the MDR isnt perfectly placed and you race to customer service demanding a full cruise refund and they refuse because its a silly piece of parsley.... then you're being unreasonable.  If there's raw sewage pouring into your cabin, and the cruise line refuses to move you or fix it or offer something, then yes you're well within reason to criticize.  

@Matt really runs a class act here.  People here are wonderful and welcoming.  We dont care if there are 450 questions about the drinks package, or shore excursions or the Royal Up program.  We dont care if newbies to cruising ask what ships to avoid, or which ship is the "good one".  People here are so kind and opening.  I've never felt the need to go to the "other" place when all I need really is right here.  

@Matt really runs a class act here.  People here are wonderful and welcoming.  We dont care if there are 450 questions about the drinks package, or shore excursions or the Royal Up program.  We dont care if newbies to cruising ask what ships to avoid, or which ship is the "good one".  People here are so kind and opening.  I've never felt the need to go to the "other" place when all I need really is right here.  

@Matt really runs a class act here.  People here are wonderful and welcoming.  We dont care if there are 450 questions about the drinks package, or shore excursions or the Royal Up program.  We dont care if newbies to cruising ask what ships to avoid, or which ship is the "good one".  People here are so kind and opening.  I've never felt the need to go to the "other" place when all I need really is right here.  

@Matt really runs a class act here.  People here are wonderful and welcoming.  We dont care if there are 450 questions about the drinks package, or shore excursions or the Royal Up program.  We dont care if newbies to cruising ask what ships to avoid, or which ship is the "good one".  People here are so kind and opening.  I've never felt the need to go to the "other" place when all I need really is right here.  

Please do not fill a bucket of ice from a freestyle machine.  They are out of ice enough without people filling up buckets.