This is the first time my husband and I took any of our grandkids on a cruise with us. We took our 11 year old granddaughter. My sister, her husband and adult son also came. It was their first cruise. We were looking forward to seeing the Prima since we read so many reviews, both good and bad. We had a great time and would go on the ship again. Some of our favorites were the infinity pools, indulge, Hasuki, the entertainment, the promenade and the food.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived via GoPort shuttle at about 11:30. Our luggage was offloaded and whisked away as we headed toward check- in. Wait in line was minimal, less than 10 minutes, and we walked from the counter onto the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
All of the food on board was good to excellent. Service was slower at busy times, but that is to be expected. We never had what I would consider bad service, and all of the staff were upbeat, helpful and pleasant.
My sister has food allergies, and they were very accommodating.
The Commodore Room
5 out of 5
Good food and service. They have the same menu as Hudson’s, but different atmosphere.
Indulge Food Hall
5 out of 5
The things we liked best about indulge food hall were, as a group of 6, we could each get what we wanted, or share dishes to try things, or get seconds, or just get appetizers, or just get pickles. food service was fast, and delicious! Would love to see this venue in more ships.It is true that it’s busy, but we had no problem getting a table. We mostly avoided the busiest “normal “ dining times. The ice cream and dessert bars were to die for!!
Hudson's Main Dining Room
5 out of 5
Food and service were both excellent. It is true that the menu did not change, but that gave us opportunities to try different dishes on different days. All we’re good.
The Local Bar & Grill
5 out of 5
Had breakfast here several days. Also lunch a couple of times. Good food and good service. Liked the healthy options available.
Surfside Café & Grill
5 out of 5
Great food. Very busy, but additional seating was available if you didn’t mind walking a ways. Loved the Asian night.
Hasuki
5 out of 5
Hasuki was a highlight of our eating experience. We took our 11 year old granddaughter and she was delighted with the entertainment provided by our chef as he cooked our meal. The food and service were both excellent!
Cagney's Steakhouse
5 out of 5
Food and service were great. Would highly recommend.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We loved the infinity pools and found there is almost always one in the shade and one in the sun. We preferred the shady side, which was also less busy. There were times you couldn’t find a seat close by. But if you walked around the deck, there’s was always a seat somewhere.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The musicians around the ship were all very good. I think what kind of music you like is a greater determination of if you liked them. We spent significant time at the Penrose atrium area. Seating was hard to come by. We enjoyed the music more when we could see the musicians. At times, we had to sit on the 2nd or 3rd level where we could not see, only hear them. This takes some of the joy out of the experience, but the musicians themselves were very good.
We were able to get into the Donna summers show and loved it. We also saw the “rock concert” in the theater and loved that also. Some of our group went to the comedy shows and enjoyed those also. We were not able to get into price is right, but did see deal or no deal.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff were upbeat, helpful and friendly. Our room steward, Freddie, was amazing. He brought a coffee pot (we requested) and made sure we had coffee. He came back each evening to pull out the bed for our granddaughter, and even arranged her character pillows on the bed for her.
Anytime we asked for assistance, staff were helpful and polite.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Ship was spotless and shiny. They were constantly cleaning it.
The layout was confusing at first, but we learned to like it as you could find seating that was away from the crowds all around the ship.
We loved the 8th floor promenade deck and walked it often. At night you could really see the moon and stars in the darkest parts of the walkway.
If I were to criticize any part of the layout, it would be the atrium because of the lack of visibility of musicians.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin was clean and well decorated. We loved the extra room in the bathroom. The padded seats on the balcony were a welcome change. I love starting and ending my day spending time on the balcony,
Ship tip
Book all of your restaurants and entertainment on the app prior to your cruise as soon as they are available. Utilize the stand by lines, if you couldn’t get a reservation. When on the ship, Hook up to the free ship wi-fi (in airplane mode) so you can communicate with others in your group.
We did the river tubing. The river is in a wooded area and lined with bamboo in many spots. The river had many speed’s including rapids. We had a great time. The guides worked hard to keep us all together and away from rocks and branches. There were people along the way with tables set up in the water selling beer, water and soft drinks. Not something we’re used to seeing in Michigan.
We did the Dolphin Swim with Stingray Sandbar excursion. We were loaded into a boat and went to the stingrays first. The waves were huge (they told us this is not normal), so we had to keep an eye on them or get knocked down. We enjoyed the waves! The stingrays were huge! We got to hold, pet and kiss them. Would highly recommend this tour.
Then we were loaded onto a bus and went to the dolphins. We signed up for the deep water adventure, so got to hang onto their flippers and swim with them! Very fun. Our 11 year old granddaughter loved this, so did we.
We went on a kayak tour in the beautiful waters surrounding this island. Had an amazing time with our guide Carl. Then we headed to the beach, bars and restaurants. Good food, good music and ample seating. Had a great time!
We did the Playa Mia Deluxe Beach Break excursion. The beach was beautiful, warm with access to non- motorized water toys. Others could be rented. We swam first in the ocean, then in the pool. The food was good, and the beverage service excellent. We had a good time!
Disembarkment was orderly, but busy. We easily found our luggage and transport to the airport. We used Ncl transport. It took about 45 minutes to totally get from our cabin onto the bus. Given that the ship holds 4,000+ passengers, that’s not too bad.
My only (selfish) complaint is that we had to be off the ship so early.
Appreciate your detailed and informative review. Happy Goport is still working well. Glad you enjoyed your cruise and have brought new cruisers into the family.
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