Norwegian Prima’s First US Sailing - Bermuda Short Break *LIVE*

[shof515]

7 minutes ago, Starr2015 said:

4) 3 hours into boarding...not departing...boarding...all comedian shows were 'sold out'. I get the comedian venue is smaller, but for all the shows to be immediately booked leaves many people out.

unfortunately this is not unique to prima. similar problems has happen on other breakaway/breakaway plus ships

[Starr2015]

I love all the pictures and Bird, a lot is amazing. My room is a family Oceanview on 5 and the view is beautiful. At the end of a hall by the crew area it is quiet but a nice walk! Did you check out 8 yet? Look down on the Ocean walk area at night. It was amazing and the sculptures are great at night with the lighting!

[Starr2015]

2 minutes ago, shof515 said:

unfortunately this is not unique to prima. similar problems has happen on other breakaway/breakaway plus ships

Really? Maybe because I last sailed about 2017 this was not an issue. But I believe that was the Gem. I never expected it!

[aubreyc1988]

Following along, hoping to sail on Prima in the winter sometime 🙂

[dandelpino]

10 minutes ago, Starr2015 said:

If you are a smoker, be prepared to be confined.

 

Sounds like a dream as a non-smoker. Just off the Breakaway and it reeked of cigarette smoke down the whole length of 15 starboard because of the smoking area there midship and in the entire 6,7,8 open centrum area because of the casino. 

 

Smokers are a small minority onboard these days and it seems unreasonable that the most commonly used public areas have to constantly smell like smoke so you guys don't feel 'discriminated' for your optional personal choices.   

[aubreyc1988]

3 minutes ago, dandelpino said:

 

Sounds like a dream as a non-smoker. Just off the Breakaway and it reeked of cigarette smoke down the whole length of 15 starboard because of the smoking area there midship and in the entire 6,7,8 open centrum area because of the casino. 

 

Smokers are a small minority onboard these days and it seems unreasonable that the most commonly used public areas have to constantly smell like smoke so you guys don't feel 'discriminated' for your optional personal choices.   

hear hear! After sailing on Allure last week, was *really* missing that NS casino. 

 

Is the smoking area outside on Prima sort of sectioned off by partitions as well, sorry if it's already been said. 

Edited October 11, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[BirdTravels]

41 minutes ago, Starr2015 said:

I am on this sailing of the Prima. These are some thoughts from my experience so far by Day 2:

 

1) If you are a smoker, be prepared to be confined. Despite a large outdoors area and wider spaces, you will find that smoking is close to impossible. You have a small space outdoors on deck 18...only accessible by steps from deck 17. You can smoke cigars but not cigarettes in the cigar lounge on Deck 7 mid. But the casino on deck 6 has the sectioned off area for smoking. That would not be an issue except to stay you must play. So someone who is disabled or just cannot walk stairs is discriminated against. Someone who has a gambling issue is trapped. 

2) The signs along the ships are awful. Why can there not be a post to show what direction to go for your rooms? Oops wrong side, turn around. Port or starboard, I have 0 clue. Don't realize the deck stops abruptly, get turned around.

3) It feels like everything is a cash grab. The way the store is designed (btw did anyone find the main store yet?) is broken up unlike other ships. What do I mean? Well the watches and other high end stuff is....drumroll....next to the exit of the casino and not near the main store. 

4) 3 hours into boarding...not departing...boarding...all comedian shows were 'sold out'. I get the comedian venue is smaller, but for all the shows to be immediately booked leaves many people out.

Than you for your thoughts on my thread, Star.
 

1) that is similar to other ships and is good for the majority of the passengers who are not smokers. 

 

2) The signage on this ship is similar to that on most ships on most lines. 
 

3) Kiosk type stores are common on big NCL ships. Making use of open spaces in main halls. Hint: the cheap stuff is in the halls. 
 

4) As the Captain informed us, traffic in the port was delaying both the Disney Magic and Prima. We left 2 hours late (not 3 hours). 
 

wrt shows, that is common on most cruise lines. The comedy shows are in small venues (can’t build two theaters), but the comedians will appear in the main theater. You can always standby for any show. 

[BirdTravels]

32 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

hear hear! After sailing on Allure last week, was *really* missing that NS casino. 

 

Is the smoking area outside on Prima sort of sectioned off by partitions as well, sorry if it's already been said. 

Yes. Similar to Encore and Bliss with small smoking casino. The main casino is non smoking. 

[aubreyc1988]

@BirdTravels

 

1) how do you like the new waterfront? Big improvement?

2) Game shows in atrium still a thing or have that moved that elsewhere

3)How has the food been so far? Do you like the food hall concept? Specialty dining been a hit?

4) With the addition of the waterfront being larger, does this help the congestion in the pool deck areas?

5) Sorry if I missed you saying this, but did you purchase Vibe? If so, what was the cost and do you think Vibe is a good buy on Prima?

Edited October 11, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[bones774]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The Observation Lounge provides beautiful forward facing views on comfy sofas, and day beds. 

Until the slobs get there and put stinka---s feet up and drool all over while taking up the whole space.

Thanks for review.

[gatorchinsky]

22 minutes ago, bones774 said:

Until the slobs get there and put stinka---s feet up and drool all over while taking up the whole space.

Thanks for review.

Looking at the photos of the observation lounge I thought the same thing. People are going to camp out on the daybeds and take naps. I really don’t see how anyone would want to lay down in a public space and nap.

[bones774]

9 minutes ago, gatorchinsky said:

Looking at the photos of the observation lounge I thought the same thing. People are going to camp out on the daybeds and take naps. I really don’t see how anyone would want to lay down in a public space and nap.

Looks fantastic, gonna be like the pool, people putting their books there to hold a spot all day.

[cruiseny4life]

40 minutes ago, bones774 said:

Until the slobs get there and put stinka---s feet up and drool all over while taking up the whole space.

Thanks for review.

 

16 minutes ago, gatorchinsky said:

Looking at the photos of the observation lounge I thought the same thing. People are going to camp out on the daybeds and take naps. I really don’t see how anyone would want to lay down in a public space and nap.

Agreed! In September on the Getaway, we found outdoor day beds on the Haven sundeck. My husband was working on one half, I was trying to enjoy the view from the other half (I don't work on vacation anymore). It was never comfortable, partly because we were in public, but also because you truly have to be laying down with pillows (not provided) to be comfy on the day beds. 

 

I'd much prefer sofas, chairs, perhaps some sort of reclining chair or ottoman, but no day beds please. 

[bones774]

3 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

 

Agreed! In September on the Getaway, we found outdoor day beds on the Haven sundeck. My husband was working on one half, I was trying to enjoy the view from the other half (I don't work on vacation anymore). It was never comfortable, partly because we were in public, but also because you truly have to be laying down with pillows (not provided) to be comfy on the day beds. 

 

I'd much prefer sofas, chairs, perhaps some sort of reclining chair or ottoman, but no day beds please. 

Hey Birdtravels, take some pics please, maybe we start making a rogues gallery and shame these people a bit.

[cruiseny4life]

3 minutes ago, bones774 said:

Hey Birdtravels, take some pics please, maybe we start making a rogues gallery and shame these people a bit.

If you're talking about those working while on vacation...yes please! I'm so glad I changed jobs so I won't be shamed. 🙂

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The mini freestyle machine!

Make sure you don't get addicted to the coke. 😉

[CruizinSusan70]

2 hours ago, Starr2015 said:

I am on this sailing of the Prima. These are some thoughts from my experience so far by Day 2:

 

1) If you are a smoker, be prepared to be confined. Despite a large outdoors area and wider spaces, you will find that smoking is close to impossible. You have a small space outdoors on deck 18...only accessible by steps from deck 17. You can smoke cigars but not cigarettes in the cigar lounge on Deck 7 mid. But the casino on deck 6 has the sectioned off area for smoking. That would not be an issue except to stay you must play. So someone who is disabled or just cannot walk stairs is discriminated against. Someone who has a gambling issue is trapped. 

2) The signs along the ships are awful. Why can there not be a post to show what direction to go for your rooms? Oops wrong side, turn around. Port or starboard, I have 0 clue. Don't realize the deck stops abruptly, get turned around.

3) It feels like everything is a cash grab. The way the store is designed (btw did anyone find the main store yet?) is broken up unlike other ships. What do I mean? Well the watches and other high end stuff is....drumroll....next to the exit of the casino and not near the main store. 

4) 3 hours into boarding...not departing...boarding...all comedian shows were 'sold out'. I get the comedian venue is smaller, but for all the shows to be immediately booked leaves many people out.

1) Not applicable, non smoker

2) Look down at the carpet.  On the other ships the fish swim towards the front of the ship except for the rebellious fish that goes against the flow.  I believe there are arrows or some other new design that designates forward.

3) Cash grabs are going to be even more prominent because of the billions lost to Covid.

4) That's how things roll these days.  The standby line opens up 10 minutes prior to showtime when any reservation holders fail to show up.

[Quencups]

Following!!!....Thanks for the great review, Bird....have a wonderful time!!!

[CruizinSusan70]

55 minutes ago, gatorchinsky said:

Looking at the photos of the observation lounge I thought the same thing. People are going to camp out on the daybeds and take naps. I really don’t see how anyone would want to lay down in a public space and nap.

Saw it every day on our last NCL cruise which was February of 2019 on the Bliss.  Expect to see it again on the Encore in January as well as the Prima at the end of this month as well as February and March.

[CruizinSusan70]

1 hour ago, aubreyc1988 said:

@BirdTravels

5) Sorry if I missed you saying this, but did you purchase Vibe? If so, what was the cost and do you think Vibe is a good buy on Prima?

The Vibe cost is a sliding scale depending upon the length of your cruise.  A 7 day cruise is 229 pp.  We're on the 11 day repo from Galveston to Miami and it was 289 pp.  We booked it.

You can now book it ahead of time on line.  Check out various YouTube videos.  Looks really nice.  Much bigger than most ships.  

[Steff79]

do they have ship models again? staff said they become new in the usa

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

@BirdTravels

 

1) how do you like the new waterfront? Big improvement?

2) Game shows in atrium still a thing or have that moved that elsewhere

3)How has the food been so far? Do you like the food hall concept? Specialty dining been a hit?

4) With the addition of the waterfront being larger, does this help the congestion in the pool deck areas?

5) Sorry if I missed you saying this, but did you purchase Vibe? If so, what was the cost and do you think Vibe is a good buy on Prima?

@aubreyc1988

The Ocean Boulevard is interesting. I will post pics later in the cruise. Since the pool deck is itty bitty tiny, a lot of the lounging is now on Ocean Blvd. And the tiny infinity pools (one of which is broken).
 

NCL has turned Ocean Blvd into a replacement sun deck. There is very little under cover seating which is unfortunate. Little covered space to sit and read. And since everything is outside, like the Haven, you are at the mercy of the elements. This makes it usable 25% of the time… to cold, too hot, to sunny, too windy, too rainy. Looks good in marketing, but less in practice. And, now most of the Balcony rooms have no view down at the water… if you thought the roof of the Waterfront was bad, the Blvd sticks way out. 
 

The Penrose Atrium is now 3 stories. There is a small stage on deck 6 for live music. You can hear the music on 6 7 8, but only see the performers and dance on deck 6. 
 

The food hall food is great. It is really high labor. The order pads are the same as Food Republic and are already charging by the dish (all zero cost for now). Soon….

[aubreyc1988]

29 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

@aubreyc1988

The Ocean Boulevard is interesting. I will post pics later in the cruise. Since the pool deck is itty bitty tiny, a lot of the lounging is now on Ocean Blvd. And the tiny infinity pools (one of which is broken).
 

NCL has turned Ocean Blvd into a replacement sun deck. There is very little under cover seating which is unfortunate. Little covered space to sit and read. And since everything is outside, like the Haven, you are at the mercy of the elements. This makes it usable 25% of the time… to cold, too hot, to sunny, too windy, too rainy. Looks good in marketing, but less in practice. And, now most of the Balcony rooms have no view down at the water… if you thought the roof of the Waterfront was bad, the Blvd sticks way out. 
 

The Penrose Atrium is now 3 stories. There is a small stage on deck 6 for live music. You can hear the music on 6 7 8, but only see the performers and dance on deck 6. 
 

The food hall food is great. It is really high labor. The order pads are the same as Food Republic and are already charging by the dish (all zero cost for now). Soon….

So you think Food Hall will cost money soon...

[shof515]

1 minute ago, aubreyc1988 said:

So you think Food Hall will cost money soon...

knowing how much cash grab both the prima and ncl is right now, it wont be surprised if it will cost money in the next few years

[Steff79]

if they charge for food hall that would be a ko to not book the ship again,

because the surfside is so small, that it will be much more chaotic when they charge for food hall.