Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. Maybe our expectations for NCL are much higher due to all of the great cruises we have taken in the past. However, because of the poor design layout of the ship, poor venues, and terrible entertainment we rated our experience much lower than normal.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
As with all NCL cruises, the wait and bar staff are amazing. Main dining rooms and specialty restaurants were great. The buffet was a joke. This is no fault of the crew but rather a poor design by NCL planners. The buffet on the Prima does not offer the plethora of options available on other Norwegian cruises, nor does it offer sufficient seating to accommodate the ships compliment of cruisers. It leads to a very uncomfortable and often chaotic meal time, with cruisers rushing around trying to find a seat. It doesn't bode for having that down time you expect to have on board while vacationing.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The pool is to small for the compliment of cruisers. Entertainment as a whole was poor. Production show was okay. Comedians during the first half were okay. Comedians during the second half were great. Venues are too small and not laid out well on the Prima. Long lines with no where to sit when you get in. As previously mentioned, not a norm for NCL. Rather this is a Prima design issue.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
On other NCL ships, the house band was amazing, stage shows even better, and comedians top notch. On Prima, the entertainment seamed tired, even an after thought. The Cruise Director makes or breaks the entertainment. Unfortunately, the entertainment was at best okay.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
As always, excellent!!
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Cleanliness topnotch. Design abysmal. The Prima is supposed to be designed with customer feedback at the forefront. Unfortunately, I think someone forgot to read the fine print. Venues for shows are not well designed. Not offered enough and too small to accommodate the number of cruisers looking to attend shows.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
NCL got this part right. Cabins are much more comfortable than they ever have been before. I was assaulted while taking a shower by the curtain. Shower is decent size!!
Ship tip
Be willing to be flexible about how you vacation. For example, if you don't want to fight people at the buffet for breakfast, go when they open as opposed to later in the morning. It will make for a more relaxing cruise. Be flexible!
By far the best stop of the trip!! Small island. Lots of snorkeling and scuba diving to be had, plus learning about the island, flamingos, and salt production.
We had a great experience on the Prima. Because of all the included dining, the buffet was not our go-to for meals like it is on some ships. The ship has several small pools instead of one large one.
Sorry it didn't meet your expectations.
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