So, it is our story!
We also got our first reservation flying on the day that the ship leaving the Panama (Colon). It seems like a common NCL approach 😂. It took NCL about 5 (five!) weeks to correct it. Using NCL Air first time, we were quite happy with price-competitive travel reservations, four hours layover in JFK, and a red eyes flight from JFK to PAN. Silly us! Our corrected reservation was made on two different, not code-sharing airlines. Our flight to JFK was delayed for more than 3 hours (technical issues). Neither Delta nor COPA had access to each other reservation systems. They could not rebook us to get to Panama before the ship left. NCL Air was not in help, except they eventually sent us to Costa Rica to join the ship. As a result, we waisted two nights in freezing NY, two nights in much warmer San Jose, CR, missed Panama Canal, spent over $1000, etc. NCL Air do not take any blame for our misfortune. Now we are in communications with AON Travel Protection for expense reimbursement.
P.S. What happened with us would not prevent us from using NCL Air Travel services if the price is right. But we learned our lessons and plan to use two-days pre-cruise deviations.
P.P.S. You make your conclusions.