This is true re NCL food. There definitely is more of a variety for free then the Brilliance 3 specialty dining restaurants, MDR, and buffet. We have been on 33 cruises with MSC, Royal, Celebrity, NCL and Carnival. Our favorite is NCL for food followed by MSC, Celebrity, Carnival and last, by a distance, is Royal. My husband really enjoyed the variety on NCL. He hates gimmicky places (le petit chef, Wonderland) and we both hated Blu. I couldn't eat half the menu due to food intolerance and allergy. A lot of food had nuts, shellfish, seafood or mushrooms which was annoying. I would just get the same thing every night either a steak salad or something from the MDR menu. Speaking to wait staff was not always helpful as I got tired of explaining by night 3 so I ate at the buffet if menu was unappealing. MSC YC I had no issues ever at their restaurant.
I also LOVE the thermal spa on NCL. THIS is where NCL excels over Royal. I so wish my cruise on the 28th on the Spirit had the thallosotherapy pool! Both Celebrity and Royal should take pointers from NCL and Carnival Cloud 9 for this option.