jw,
"I just got back from Palma with MyTravel (A320) in the early hours of this morning."
Middle of the night=night roster=reduced staffing. Lack of drivers = lack of steps
It happens
everywhere , not just at NCL.
As for weight, I was on a "split" flight [Manch-Brum-Malta-Brum-Manch]. On the Brum-Manch leg the pax were asked to sit in the first 10 rows "to balance the aeroplane"
watp,iktch