Overall a great cruise and we made the most of it. I think NCL is experimenting with a few things and obviously the Prima is the first of a new design and a few quirks are to be expected. There is more of an emphasis on self service than I am used to and as a result it was a bit different feel. Not bad, just new and/or different.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Horrible weather- downtown was flooded and high winds actually snapped a mooring line earlier in the morning. Given that Prima doesn’t have its own terminal and the chaos of the issues with the weather, embarkation was better than one might have expected.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
This is subjective of course, but there are some definite highs and lows with this category.
PROS: Plenty of options and variety. Specialty dining is clearly the push and the service and food was noticeably better than the rest of the fare around the ship. Le Bistro is perhaps the best dining and service we’ve experienced on any cruise we have been on.
The Indian food at Indulge is fantastic and main dining was solid and had enough options to satisfy even the pickiest eater. We appreciated the anytime dining with no set times and we loved that you could get something to eat 24/7 as “The Local” is always open.
CONS: While there’s a lot of variety, the food is not very memorable. Certainly there were a few items, but overall it was average. It’s just a personal thing, but with iPads for ordering and a very flexible dining timetable I found I missed the connection I’ve had on other cruises in getting to know the staff and them knowing me…again just a personal observation.
The bars are plentiful with variety, but I personally preferred “Proof” as the drinks seemed better prepared overall.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There is a wide variety of offerings to entertain yourself onboard. Just note that many of them are additional cost. The go karts, VR, escape room, mini golf (very enjoyable), darts are all up charges. I appreciated that there were several wine tastings, whiskey, scotch and selections that I have found missing from other cruises in recent years. The Thermal Spa (while pricey) is worth the cost. The space is beautiful. On busy days it was a perfect escape to relax and enjoy the quiet and stress relief.
Plenty of trivia, bingo and other offerings made for a plethora of choices.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We did not partake of all the shows and offerings, but what we did experience was quality. If you can find room, be sure to check out “Rumours” a Fleetwood Mac tribute. The talent was outstanding. There was a Bob Marley tribute that had me singing along and dancing to every note and word.
Unfortunately the comedians were not scheduled as often as I would have expected and when they were, the space was again an issue.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
This is perhaps the most difficult item to critique. Everyone was pleasant and service was fine. The challenge I found was two fold. First, outside of our cabin steward, we made no connection or had memorable interactions with anyone. Johnex our steward was great…Aran and Christina at “Proof” were lovely and Eduardo who assisted with excursions and tours was wonderful.
Secondly, I’ve experienced a situation I’ve never encountered before on a cruise. On several occasions I found myself saying hello or good morning to a crew member I was passing well before they acknowledged me. And more than once I received no response at all. Not a big deal, but enough I noticed it.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Some spaces should have been designed to incorporate more people, specifically the Improv and Syd Normans. Outside of these oversights, the ship has a wonderful flow and design. It is not like other ships in that there is no grand promenade and endless shops of items. This ship has a wide variety of smaller settings and areas that provide different feels and vibes. Additionally, it’s entirely possible to find quiet and less congestion as a result.
The staterooms feel spacious and the bathrooms are a bit larger than some we have had on other ships. Plenty of space to store your bags under the bed and ample closet space.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Comfortable, well lit and doesn’t feel it’s size. Plenty of storage.
Ship tip
The Observation deck on floor 17 serves breakfast if you want something light and casual with a great view. Especially nice if the buffet is packed.
Love this port and the local beer. We did the dune buggy, nature park & beach break. Only thing I would change is we should have been taken to the nature park first. Hard to pose for pictures if you’re covered in mud from the previous stop…bring a change of clothes and closed toed shoes.
The port crew and customs were fast, easy and little to no trouble. The problems with disembarking lays fully on NCL. When called for your departure time, they had everyone line up and take part in an endless line that snaked from the atrium on deck six, through the casino, through the theater and then down the stairs and out. It was easily an hour in line and once off the ship it was maybe ten minutes until we were on our shuttle. I believe the problem lies with no assigned departure like on other lines we have sailed. So there is no “set” number of guests to assist as guests can select their departure time. Assigning departure times and the number of guests at any one time I believe would help.
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