14 cruises on NCL and I've never had any problems with the Advanced Registation or booking excursions online...so I guess it's where, when and which ship you are on....but then maybe I've just been lucky....Happy Sailing..
Dave, be sure your friend does that "Advanced Guest Registration" no matter how many times he has to go back and try again. It can only handle a certain # of people at any given time so it will either not respond or let him in from time to time. Then it goes down for a couple of days at a time about every other week or so. He'll thank you for that tip when he sees what those who didn't do it or gave up trying have to go through at the pier.