Stunning ship, perhaps not enough public spaces

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 24

Review summary

Note - I sailed to Halifax on the 10/6/22 Inaugural Cruise First, let me say that Prima is a uniquely beautiful ship. Every space is designed to a five-star standard. There is tons of natural light, spacious corridors, and spaces you wouldn't find on other ships. You get a feeling of contemporary glamour throughout the vessel, from your cabin to every public space. Plus, the staff were also incredible and made the experience a true pleasure. All the new features on Prima were genuinely useful - not gimmicks. Indulge Food Hall is a super fun idea, the Galaxy Quest VR & Prima Speedway were a lot of fun for all ages, and even small improvements - like the infinity pools and telescopes on Deck 8 - made for a great experience. We were in a balcony cabin, originally 9132 but later 10118. Like the rest of the ship, these cabins were beautiful and spacious and the outdoor chairs being wicker and padded rather than the usual metal and plastic made it extra comfortable. Unfortunately, 9132 is directly above the main theater which meant that the music and bass line was so loud we were unable to sleep - it shook the whole room. Luckily they switched our cabin and after that there were no problems with noise. This was an inaugural cruise and so I imagine some of the noise will be reduced before regular sailings - but I would still avoid deck 9 if you're a light sleeper. My main complaint about Prima - really my only complaint - was that there is not enough public space. My voyage was not full capacity, but the breakfast buffet, Indulge Food Hall, and observation lounge were packed each day. I waited until about 6pm on embarkation day and it was already challenging to get dinner reservations and impossible to get tickets to the shows. This was a cold-weather voyage, but I can tell that it's going to be a battle to get sun loungers when the ship sails to the Caribbean/Mediterranean. Overall, just not enough public spaces were dedicated to those not willing to pay extra for specialty amenities. My recommendation would be that Prima is an incredible ship that you should sail on - but only travel either 1.) in the off season, or 2.) in The Haven, which has specially-reserved spaces. If you decide to sail in peak season in a regular cabin, be prepared to spend sea days in your room, eat at odd hours, and reserve entertainment/activities immediately when they become available.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

New York, New York

Disembarkation

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