The Prima is a beautiful ship. We had a really wonderful cruise. Kind and talented staff. Great bars throughout the ship. The Observation Deck was outstanding but sadly always crowded during the day. Yes, the ship layout is awkward and less than ideal. It gets better to navigate as the days go on. The atrium, deck 6, 7,& 8, is a new concept and looks lovely but it does lack the shock and awe of the first arrival onto the ship. It was odd to not be able to see the performers from decks 7 and 8 because of the way it’s laid out. Also, the Penrose Atrium Bar is way too small for the number of people it serves. The popular areas get crowded especially if it’s too cold or windy to be outside. The small venues get crowded for popular events but people cycle in and out so there is usually always space. Dining & entertainment required reservations beforehand but were still fairly available if you just showed up to either place. For the theatre, there was a queue and most folks got in. For dinner, all you had to do was call or visit the restaurant and you would very likely find a time. Indulge Food Hall was cool but stalking seating not so much. Avoid popular times and it should be fine. Same with Surfside Grill. The spa can be pricey but it is a nice treat. I bought a pass so when the rest of the ship got overwhelming, I’d go lounge in the spa. I found it was a great alternative to Vibe which sold out prior to embarkation. It was too cold to use the pools but the area was tiny. Entertainment and activities abound on this ship. I found it hard to be bored. Read your Freestyle Daily. Enjoy your cruise!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Fairly seamless. Wait in terminal was longer than expected but painless. I recommend arriving later to board ship right away and minimize time on ship waiting for rooms to be ready.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food was fairly good. Surfside buffet is small but mighty. Food quality was fair. Specialty dining was mostly good. Nama Sushi & Palomar were standouts. Great meals at both.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Excellent all around. There are so many daily activities scheduled throughout each day on the ship. A couple may have a fee attached but mostly all were just part of the daily schedule. I can’t stress enough how much reading the Freestyle Daily newsletter will enhance the experience.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I was awed by the talent on this ship. Powerful. Donna Summer was fantastic. The Price is Right Live was incredibly well done and a joy to experience. The nightly parties in Prima Theatre were spectacular. The smaller venues like Improv & Syd Norman’s also had dance parties or karaoke that were so fun. During the day they had other fun activities taking place. I could not find a dull moment.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Simply superb. The hours they work and the level of service they provide is remarkable. Even when you encounter someone who may not “on”, you have to marvel at what they do.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
A truly beautiful, comfortable, and modern ship. Amazing artwork everywhere. Cleanliness was great throughout with the exception of deck chairs. Many were dirty. There was also notable wear and tear of carpets or missing letters on directional signage. Surprising for such a new ship. The ships layout left a lot to be desired by not allowing for seamless crossover into other spaces and needing to walk all the way around or having to switch stair cases to end up on the right side. It took a lot of time but gets better as the layout is understood early in the week.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Lovely cabin. Bathroom size is comfortable. Shower door should be handled with care. Ours fell off towards the end of the trip. Balcony size, chair comfort, & privacy were even better than expected. A few things are awkward: bed splitting results in side table needing to be moved and taking up valuable floor space. Sofa bed takes up too much space when open. Bed comfort is meh. Linens are really nice. Beds could use more cushioned linens for extra comfort. Room steward, Isagani, was attentive and thorough.
After a great week, it was disheartening that this was completely disorganized. I opted to self-assist and ended up on a line that snaked down stairs and through the casino and around the atrium. I was having the post-cruise blues but by the time I finally disembarked, I was thrilled to be off the ship. I would just check my bag next time and wait it all out.
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