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

[snorklinbarb]

Correction to post above, too late to edit.  Meant to say Improv Comedy does take reservations but Syd's does not.

 

BTW, I couldn't get reservations right away for Orlando's comedy hour.  So a couple of days later checked my TV and bingo, 8 pm reservation available one of the last nights!

 

Like the Bird, I thought Prima was magnificent, loved the decor (with some exceptions), larger very pretty neutral cabins with a nice mural over the bed and couch wall in balcony and over the bed in an interior.  Even the kleenex boxes and trays for coffee are upgraded, everything very high quality on the ship from glasses to dishes to cutlery.  I agree Onda and Le Bistro's lack of carpet makes for some bouncing noise off the walls.

 

Biggest issue I heard (and experienced) was navigating and not getting lost.  Turn the wrong way on deck 7 towards Bistro and there's a blank wall.  Everything fans out to the sides of the ship and is not designed forward to aft with venues in between like on the Jewel class or even Away.  Takes some getting used to.  I figure by the 3rd new build I might be less geographically challenged.

 

Having sailed NCL for years and all the ships except Star and POA, I think Prima is a step up in quality, food is excellent, service with a smile from some of the best hand-picked crew.  Change is not so easy for some of us "mature" cruisers (like Bird said) and adjustments have to be made as to a particular bar or venue.  Only you can decide if you want to try it out or focus only on some of the issues (complaints) raised here.  

 

Kinks were in the IT system, be it wifi or my TV that finally required 2 techs to take it all apart.  I know they are working night and day to remedy the glitches.  iPads in Food Hall were down at least one day so I ordered off of a paper menu, just circling my choices (portions are big!).  I was told venue will remain complimentary but one never knows.  It's great fun and the Indian food in particular from "Tamara" was delicious and varied!  Dinner menu is different in Food Hall from lunch.  

 

Hudson's is a gorgeous MDR.  Not sure on a longer cruise if set menu  would be so exciting but the food was excellent with huge portions.  I didn't try Commodore but it's quite pretty as well.  

 

I haven't seen (or heard onboard) any "complaints" that would cause people to say "one and done" or "never again."  People joked most about the "elevator lady":  "The lift is going up.  The lift is going down."  British accent as well, I think.  

 

Team is really working so hard to give us a great experience.  I couldn't figure out why "Hero" cards were not out on the counter but rather behind (so I had to ask for some).  Some guests have no clue they even exist or what they are so suggested they be much more visible.  Usually one is delivered mid-cruise to cabin but I didn't get one.  Not sure what others experienced?

 

Will be getting on Escape this week in Eur. so will be fun to "compare and contrast."  That ship doesn't have an Observation Lounge.  The one on Prima is indeed smaller but never saw it crowded except for Latitudes party.  BTW, we had one party Silver and up - had it been a longer sailing they would have split it into two.  Hence, the Lounge was really packed.

 

One has to weigh all this vs. pricing which is holding very solid.  Prima has been described as the "Ferrari" of the fleet.

[BirdTravels]

As I keep pointing out, the Prima is closer in passenger count to a Jewel-class ship than a Breakaway+ class ship. So, people should be comparing the Prima to the Jewel/Pearl/Gem than the Escape/Joy/Bliss/Encore. 

[KmomChicago]

On 10/14/2022 at 7:42 AM, BirdTravels said:

Again, this is the same on cruise lines with big ships. You have a reservation system for crowd control. You have big venues like a theater. And small venues like a comedy club. Even for the main theaters, ice rinks, and Aqua theaters, there are never enough seats (like the titanic) if every single passenger wanted to go. 
 

So, this is how most cruise ships work. Like it or not. This is not just the Prima. 
 

Just like there is insufficient capacity if every guest wanted to ride Dumbo at Disneyland.  

 

I get what you are saying here.  Having sailed Oasis of the Seas once, we knew the score in advance and we did get reservations for everything we wanted to see, by planning ahead and booking asap once onboard.  However, if we had not done that, and had missed any of our entertainment choices as a result, I would have been pretty upset and it would have impacted my overall impression of the value of the cruise. 

 

On Carnival Mardi Gras we didn't have this issue - to be clear, they don't have the res. system, but just linewise, we got into everything we wanted as well, but we were only at 2/3 capacity on the second sailing right after the resumption of cruising last summer.  Honestly I am not at all sure we would enjoy CCL Excel class nearly as much when it's completely full.  

 

Thank you for posting this review of this new ship with highlights of all the details and all the things you liked. The interior decor is lovely throughout. I love the food court idea being essentially the next generation version of a buffet with a lot of international choices. I thought the nightly MDR menu looked very good and I know plenty of people who would get that steak every night of the cruise, plus I liked the look of the meatless dishes, among others. 

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by KmomChicago

[Cruising Lynne]

On 10/14/2022 at 2:01 PM, aubreyc1988 said:

Kind of in a panic, are you telling me (according to my research) that the mojito bar is not on Prima? How have I missed this...omg Idk if I can sail NCL without a raspberry mojito...

Hi Aubrey. I thought I saw some people walking around with something that looked like a mojito, but I do not know what bar they could have gotten it at. It seemed to me that there was a push toward more of the sustainable options and drinks made with Norwegians own brand of rum. I did not see any menus that had painkillers or mudslides listed, but I could get them at certain bars. Atrium bar, pool bar. and The Local seemed to have the most ingredients for the cocktails that I am used to on other NCL ships.. I did enjoy quite a few of the new drink  Bananarum-ble. They were yummy and did not taste too much like banana which I was worried about. There are a lot of different bars to try on this ship. You may find a new favorite at one of them.

 

I feel like the ship had more pluses than minuses so don't be afraid of the "meh" reviews. After reading Bird's live you will know what to expect, and I am sure you will adjust accordingly. I had fun and for the first time in a long time I came out of the casino ahead!

 

 

[PistolPete13]

I think everyone is forgetting that this was a 5-day cruise (only 5 nights of potential entertainment) which I think is unusually short for a cruise originating from NYC.  A more typical 7 night Bermuda cruise would have spread the audience out a bit more for the shows.

I'm really curious how the current 12-day cruise is going for those on board in terms of show reservations.  Too bad there is no one doing a live review here for that.

Edited October 18, 2022 by PistolPete13

[KmomChicago]

On 10/14/2022 at 9:21 AM, Red-Sol said:

Aubrey when does your Discount FCC expire? And when must you decide by? For me personally I would nearly always coose NCL over Royal just due to the vibes of the ships...but free is good too.

 

I've been on RCI twice in the past 5 years, Carnival 6x, all different ships, have not tried NCL yet but looking.  What is the difference in the RCI and NCL "vibe?"  We like Carnival's vibe just slightly more than RCI because we are insanely laid back and casual people and we love the Fun Crew at daily trivia. However, Oasis of the Seas - pre renovation - was by far our overall best cruise, because of the ship itself, including all the incredible entertainment at night. We were on a full sailing and we did get in to all of the shows we wanted, which was all of the shows.  We also loved all the included food options.  We were less impressed with Adventure of the Seas, though really it was very nice and the entertainment was again excellent, food fabulous in the buffet but otherwise not memorable. 

 

I'm just trying to figure out, if / when we make the jump to NCL, is Prima the best option? I thought it would be but the reviews are not blowing me away. Would Breakaway Plus be better for us? Carnival Mardi Gras was our second best cruise ever and our second favorite ship after OAS. 

 

On 10/14/2022 at 9:27 AM, aubreyc1988 said:

 I would agree with you about NCL having a better vibe...RCI saving grace is their production shows on the big ships but their bars and restaurants are not very good. 

 

Over the years I have seen many reviews claiming NCL has the better food than RCI, and some saying the opposite. The Indulge Food Hall does look right up our alley and the set MDR menu looks great as well and like a game changer. 

 

On 10/14/2022 at 10:52 AM, JCDCA said:

The Royal cruise sounds over 1000 cheaper all in so if money is a consideration should be a no brainer.  I agree the NCL vibe at night is better than Royal.  But surprised by the food comparison.  I’ve enjoyed Royal food more than NCL.  In comparing the specialties for example Chops has always been better than Cagneys to me.  Have you tried 150 Central Park?  Probably my favorite restaurant on either line.  You should do Symphony, not Allure.  Allure is the only Oasis class ship not to have been refurbished.  

 

Interesting to hear about Allure being less than - because of the lack of refurb. We didn't know any better when we booked OAS and it was still awesome.  Ship looked good, seemed well maintained. We didn't have one of those purple slides that people say burn the crap out of you if you slip off the mat, nor any pool water slides, but we loved Central Park and the massive Solarium and some of the other zoned neighborhoods so much we hardly noticed.  Is there a schedule for a major drydock for Allure?

 

On 10/14/2022 at 10:59 AM, aubreyc1988 said:

I've recently "Re tried" all of Royals dining, on Liberty and Allure. The only place i felt that the food was very good was in the MDR. The variety of "Free" food seemed better on NCL. However, food isn't a huge player in my decision. The biggest reason for me doing NCL is because it's a cruise I'd be paying for, I could go basically any week, vs being restricted to what Casino Royale is offering me...and it's a bright and shiny new ship with that new ship smell lol

 

Interesting - I could have eaten every meal at the Solarium Bistro on OAS but I know they have cut back the service and options from our sailing, and they removed the free burger joint up by the basketball courts.  Buffets on both OOS and AOS were excellent IMHO, but this was a few years ago now.  Food is not that big a deal to us either - we eat too much no matter how "inedible" the fellow passengers claim everything is - but we enjoy the variety when it's there. 

 

On 10/14/2022 at 9:29 PM, BirdTravels said:

The Bird was on the Wonder of the Seas recently. It was the newest cruise ship earlier this year and still the biggest. With nearly double the capacity of the Prima, her comedy club was not whole heck of a lot bigger. 

 

This is true.  The comedy clubs are apparently going to continue to be tiny on all ships, all lines, because the comics like it.  The key is whether there are enough shows to eventually accommodate demand. 

[aubreyc1988]

1 hour ago, KmomChicago said:

 

I've been on RCI twice in the past 5 years, Carnival 6x, all different ships, have not tried NCL yet but looking.  What is the difference in the RCI and NCL "vibe?"  We like Carnival's vibe just slightly more than RCI because we are insanely laid back and casual people and we love the Fun Crew at daily trivia. However, Oasis of the Seas - pre renovation - was by far our overall best cruise, because of the ship itself, including all the incredible entertainment at night. We were on a full sailing and we did get in to all of the shows we wanted, which was all of the shows.  We also loved all the included food options.  We were less impressed with Adventure of the Seas, though really it was very nice and the entertainment was again excellent, food fabulous in the buffet but otherwise not memorable. 

 

I'm just trying to figure out, if / when we make the jump to NCL, is Prima the best option? I thought it would be but the reviews are not blowing me away. Would Breakaway Plus be better for us? Carnival Mardi Gras was our second best cruise ever and our second favorite ship after OAS. 

 

 

Over the years I have seen many reviews claiming NCL has the better food than RCI, and some saying the opposite. The Indulge Food Hall does look right up our alley and the set MDR menu looks great as well and like a game changer. 

 

 

Interesting to hear about Allure being less than - because of the lack of refurb. We didn't know any better when we booked OAS and it was still awesome.  Ship looked good, seemed well maintained. We didn't have one of those purple slides that people say burn the crap out of you if you slip off the mat, nor any pool water slides, but we loved Central Park and the massive Solarium and some of the other zoned neighborhoods so much we hardly noticed.  Is there a schedule for a major drydock for Allure?

 

 

Interesting - I could have eaten every meal at the Solarium Bistro on OAS but I know they have cut back the service and options from our sailing, and they removed the free burger joint up by the basketball courts.  Buffets on both OOS and AOS were excellent IMHO, but this was a few years ago now.  Food is not that big a deal to us either - we eat too much no matter how "inedible" the fellow passengers claim everything is - but we enjoy the variety when it's there. 

 

 

This is true.  The comedy clubs are apparently going to continue to be tiny on all ships, all lines, because the comics like it.  The key is whether there are enough shows to eventually accommodate demand. 

 

The different vibe is hard to explain but I'll give some examples. ALSO, please remember that this is only my opinion and is based off of my last two RCI cruises this year and my last three NCL cruises in 2021

 

Most of the time on NCL, when returning to the ship after a day in port, they have cool washclothes for everyone to wipe their face, cold water/flavored water,  sometimes even freeze pops. Really nice touch that I haven't seen RCI.

 

The staff on NCL in GENERAL seem more enthused. The only exception to this is the MDR/Room Attendant staff on Royal, they do amazing jobs. But the bartenders/cruise entertainment staff are where I think RCI is failing the most in terms of staff. No one is ever RUDE but they do not seem to be super happy either and don't have the joy NCL's bartenders/cruise entertainment staff do. Also, NCL has some really innovative sea day activities (In terms of trivia and game shows) that I think RCI could learn from. Some examples, Dollar bill folding, this trivia I did where everyone had a buzzer and it was sort of like a game show where everyone worked together, free craft activities for adults, etc. Bartenders on NCL will remember your name after the second time you stop at the bar and will love to have you stay and chat for a while. Bartenders on Royal will maybe give you a small smile, make your drink, then ignore you the rest of the time while  you sit at their bar even though they are not busy. Is any of this bad service, not really but it's just a different from NCL

 

The decline in food on Royal is recent, I think.  Before sailing RCI this year, I would have told you the food is probably comparable (When thinking back to my pre-covid Royal cruises) but now I would tell you that it is NCL's is much, much better.  I was *especially* disappointed in all of Royal Caribbean's specialty dining. A good example of this is how I don't really like La Cucina on NCL...but it's literally better than ANY of the specialty dining I had on RCI...in terms of presentation, taste, menu variety, service, etc. Imagine how much better the really popular venue's on NCL seem to me.

 

All that being said, in a more "Feelings" sort of way, NCL has this freestyle vibe where it's just more casual. It's just too hard to explain. Definitely give NCL a try. Idk if I would do Prima as my first NCL, not sure if @BirdTravels agrees. I haven't been on Prima so I can't recommend it but my recommendation NOW would be: Joy, if not joy then Bliss, if not Bliss, then Encore. 

[Sugar Magnolia]

4 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

 

The different vibe is hard to explain but I'll give some examples. ALSO, please remember that this is only my opinion and is based off of my last two RCI cruises this year and my last three NCL cruises in 2021

 

Most of the time on NCL, when returning to the ship after a day in port, they have cool washclothes for everyone to wipe their face, cold water/flavored water,  sometimes even freeze pops. Really nice touch that I haven't seen RCI.

 

The staff on NCL in GENERAL seem more enthused. The only exception to this is the MDR/Room Attendant staff on Royal, they do amazing jobs. But the bartenders/cruise entertainment staff are where I think RCI is failing the most in terms of staff. No one is ever RUDE but they do not seem to be super happy either and don't have the joy NCL's bartenders/cruise entertainment staff do. Also, NCL has some really innovative sea day activities (In terms of trivia and game shows) that I think RCI could learn from. Some examples, Dollar bill folding, this trivia I did where everyone had a buzzer and it was sort of like a game show where everyone worked together, free craft activities for adults, etc. Bartenders on NCL will remember your name after the second time you stop at the bar and will love to have you stay and chat for a while. Bartenders on Royal will maybe give you a small smile, make your drink, then ignore you the rest of the time while  you sit at their bar even though they are not busy. Is any of this bad service, not really but it's just a different from NCL

 

The decline in food on Royal is recent, I think.  Before sailing RCI this year, I would have told you the food is probably comparable (When thinking back to my pre-covid Royal cruises) but now I would tell you that it is NCL's is much, much better.  I was *especially* disappointed in all of Royal Caribbean's specialty dining. A good example of this is how I don't really like La Cucina on NCL...but it's literally better than ANY of the specialty dining I had on RCI...in terms of presentation, taste, menu variety, service, etc. Imagine how much better the really popular venue's on NCL seem to me.

 

All that being said, in a more "Feelings" sort of way, NCL has this freestyle vibe where it's just more casual. It's just too hard to explain. Definitely give NCL a try. Idk if I would do Prima as my first NCL, not sure if @BirdTravels agrees. I haven't been on Prima so I can't recommend it but my recommendation NOW would be: Joy, if not joy then Bliss, if not Bliss, then Encore. 

 

This is very helpful. One thing I want to add. The Joy does not have the thermal spa suite, in case this is important to you.

 

[firstimecruiseronncl]

12 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

No one is ever RUDE but they do not seem to be super happy either and don't have the joy NCL's bartenders/cruise entertainment staff do.

I have to agree with this. I usually sail NCL. I've sailed 3 Carnival ships and I just tried RCI in June and Sept. I felt the bartenders did their job by getting the drinks but had no interaction with the customers. The bartenders on NCL interact with you and it makes the experience so much more enjoyable. 

[aubreyc1988]

4 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

This is very helpful. One thing I want to add. The Joy does not have the thermal spa suite, in case this is important to you.

 

Oh Thank you, I forgot the Joy doesn't have the thermal spa because I do not enjoy it personally. 

 

Reasons for the Joy over the others, For @KmomChicago, the Joy has Spice H20, Adults only area during the day. This area has a HUGE hot tub, maybe the biggest I've ever seen on a ship. The main spaces on the ship, at least to me, feel a little bigger as well (the whiskey bar is HUGE on the Joy) But Bliss is a close second...Encore is last because it doesn't have a Spice H20 at all.

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Oh Thank you, I forgot the Joy doesn't have the thermal spa because I do not enjoy it personally. 

 

Reasons for the Joy over the others, For @KmomChicago, the Joy has Spice H20, Adults only area during the day. This area has a HUGE hot tub, maybe the biggest I've ever seen on a ship. The main spaces on the ship, at least to me, feel a little bigger as well (the whiskey bar is HUGE on the Joy) But Bliss is a close second...Encore is last because it doesn't have a Spice H20 at all.

That is a good way to distinguish between the Breakaway Plus ships. The Joy is a great ship for those warmer climate cruises. The Observation Lounges on those ships are special too, great for cooler climates. 
 

[Red-Sol]

@KmomChicago Aubrey gave you a very good explanation regarding vibe differences between Royal and NCL Something I have experienced regarding the feelings on sailing both lines. NCL both passengers and crew alike know how to have fun and interact with each other. For some reason on Royal the mood is much more somber (I don't know why as their ships are quite spectacular) Bottom line is NCL cruises are more fun and people are genuinely happy being on them.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Red-Sol

[debenson0723]

44 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

 

The different vibe is hard to explain but I'll give some examples. ALSO, please remember that this is only my opinion and is based off of my last two RCI cruises this year and my last three NCL cruises in 2021

 

Most of the time on NCL, when returning to the ship after a day in port, they have cool washclothes for everyone to wipe their face, cold water/flavored water,  sometimes even freeze pops. Really nice touch that I haven't seen RCI.

 

The staff on NCL in GENERAL seem more enthused. The only exception to this is the MDR/Room Attendant staff on Royal, they do amazing jobs. But the bartenders/cruise entertainment staff are where I think RCI is failing the most in terms of staff. No one is ever RUDE but they do not seem to be super happy either and don't have the joy NCL's bartenders/cruise entertainment staff do. Also, NCL has some really innovative sea day activities (In terms of trivia and game shows) that I think RCI could learn from. Some examples, Dollar bill folding, this trivia I did where everyone had a buzzer and it was sort of like a game show where everyone worked together, free craft activities for adults, etc. Bartenders on NCL will remember your name after the second time you stop at the bar and will love to have you stay and chat for a while. Bartenders on Royal will maybe give you a small smile, make your drink, then ignore you the rest of the time while  you sit at their bar even though they are not busy. Is any of this bad service, not really but it's just a different from NCL

 

The decline in food on Royal is recent, I think.  Before sailing RCI this year, I would have told you the food is probably comparable (When thinking back to my pre-covid Royal cruises) but now I would tell you that it is NCL's is much, much better.  I was *especially* disappointed in all of Royal Caribbean's specialty dining. A good example of this is how I don't really like La Cucina on NCL...but it's literally better than ANY of the specialty dining I had on RCI...in terms of presentation, taste, menu variety, service, etc. Imagine how much better the really popular venue's on NCL seem to me.

 

All that being said, in a more "Feelings" sort of way, NCL has this freestyle vibe where it's just more casual. It's just too hard to explain. Definitely give NCL a try. Idk if I would do Prima as my first NCL, not sure if @BirdTravels agrees. I haven't been on Prima so I can't recommend it but my recommendation NOW would be: Joy, if not joy then Bliss, if not Bliss, then Encore. 

Excellent comparison and I agree with everything you said.  Did an RCL cruise in May, same itinerary I did on the Bliss 5 months prior, and it was like night and day. Bliss is my favorite ship that NCL has and I always recommend it. While the Prima is a beautiful ship with an amazing crew and food, it was just missing something to me (and that's just me, I know many loved it). Hoping to do the Joy in February and then I will  have the Big 3 under my belt.

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, firstimecruiseronncl said:

I have to agree with this. I usually sail NCL. I've sailed 3 Carnival ships and I just tried RCI in June and Sept. I felt the bartenders did their job by getting the drinks but had no interaction with the customers. The bartenders on NCL interact with you and it makes the experience so much more enjoyable. 

Carnival bartenders are usually extremely social and chatty with the guests as well. I do understand and did experience the very slightly more aloof customer service on RCI vs. Carnival. Still very courteous but they don't make you feel like you are their friend. 

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, Red-Sol said:

@KmomChicago Aubrey gave you a very good explanation regarding vibe differences between Royal and NCL Something I have experienced regarding the feelings on sailing both lines. NCL both passengers and crew alike know how to have fun and interact with each other. For some reason on Royal the mood is much more somber (I don't know why as their ships are quite spectacular) Bottom line is NCL cruises are more fun and people are genuinely happy being on them.

 

I noted the same difference between CCL and RCI - sounds like vibewise NCL is closer to what we do enjoy about Carnival.  There was less of a sense of totally relaxed fun somewhere in the slightly more formal atmosphere on RCI - still we would definitely do another Oasis class cruise, and I would be interested in Quantum and Icon class.  We usually cruise more for the ship than the ports, so the feel onboard is important to us. 

 

I was thinking Epic, Breakaway, or Breakaway Plus probably suits our preferences the best of NCL options but then had high hopes for Prima and its pre-sailing hype. I'm also a notorious cheapskate, however, and the newest ships usually come with a premium price tag I tend to avoid.

[aubreyc1988]

15 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

I noted the same difference between CCL and RCI - sounds like vibewise NCL is closer to what we do enjoy about Carnival.  There was less of a sense of totally relaxed fun somewhere in the slightly more formal atmosphere on RCI - still we would definitely do another Oasis class cruise, and I would be interested in Quantum and Icon class.  We usually cruise more for the ship than the ports, so the feel onboard is important to us. 

 

I was thinking Epic, Breakaway, or Breakaway Plus probably suits our preferences the best of NCL options but then had high hopes for Prima and its pre-sailing hype. I'm also a notorious cheapskate, however, and the newest ships usually come with a premium price tag I tend to avoid.

 

So the biggest negative (for me) for Breakaway vs Breakaway plus is that Breakaway, Getaway, Escape do not separate the smoking/non smoking casino with a separate room for the smokers. Even if you do not gamble, decks 6-7-8 are open decks and the casino smoke travels and smells dreadful on these ships. Now, I will still sail any NCL ship but the NS casino is a huge factor for me. 

 

Seeing as Prima was built with the same smoking casino room design as Plus class ships, I am hoping the Breakaway class will be retrofitted soon (maybe after they recover a bit more from pandemic) 

Edited October 18, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[PistolPete13]

2 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

 

So the biggest negative (for me) for Breakaway vs Breakaway plus is that Breakaway, Getaway, Escape do not separate the smoking/non smoking casino with a separate room for the smokers. Even if you do not gamble, decks 6-7-8 are open decks and the casino smoke travels and smells dreadful on these ships. Now, I will still sail any NCL ship but the NS casino is a huge factor for me. 

 

Seeing as Prima was built with the same smoking casino room design as Plus class ships, I am hoping the Breakaway class will be retrofitted soon (maybe after they recover a bit more from pandemic) 

On the Prima Casino floor smoke was never an issue unlike some of the larger NCL ships.  Just my experience.

[aubreyc1988]

1 minute ago, PistolPete13 said:

On the Prima Casino floor smoke was never an issue unlike some of the larger NCL ships.  Just my experience.

yep. That separate room on Bliss, Joy, Encore, Prima does wonders.  

[KmomChicago]

1 hour ago, PistolPete13 said:

On the Prima Casino floor smoke was never an issue unlike some of the larger NCL ships.  Just my experience.

 

This is a nice to have but we barely gamble so not much of a factor for us.

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

All that being said, in a more "Feelings" sort of way, NCL has this freestyle vibe where it's just more casual. It's just too hard to explain. Definitely give NCL a try. Idk if I would do Prima as my first NCL, not sure if @BirdTravels agrees. I haven't been on Prima so I can't recommend it but my recommendation NOW would be: Joy, if not joy then Bliss, if not Bliss, then Encore. 

The Prima is the “new toy” and you’ll pay a premium price to sail on her. The Bird agrees that a large, but slightly older ship like the Bliss, Joy or Encore would be a good starting point. Passenger count wise, they are similar to Quantum class ships on RCCL. (The Bird sailed on the Quantum of the Seas (just before the fire) to Alaska - a wonderful trip). 

[Red-Sol]

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 

I noted the same difference between CCL and RCI - sounds like vibewise NCL is closer to what we do enjoy about Carnival.  There was less of a sense of totally relaxed fun somewhere in the slightly more formal atmosphere on RCI - still we would definitely do another Oasis class cruise, and I would be interested in Quantum and Icon class.  We usually cruise more for the ship than the ports, so the feel onboard is important to us. 

 

I was thinking Epic, Breakaway, or Breakaway Plus probably suits our preferences the best of NCL options but then had high hopes for Prima and its pre-sailing hype. I'm also a notorious cheapskate, however, and the newest ships usually come with a premium price tag I tend to avoid.

 

Yep definitely a premium right now for Prima. Of the NCL ships that I  have actually sailed on myself I would try and steer you towards either the Bliss or the Escape. Those are two vey fine ships that we really had a great time on. Being a cheapskate myself I would recommend booking any cruise on NCL inside 120 days if you can. even 60 days out or less is probably the best. The only drawback is you may not have a perfect selection of cabins at that time...but you will nearly always find reduced fares. NCL claims they don't reduce fares anymore during that time...but they do. 😉

[BirdTravels]

So, What if I get sick or hurt while on a cruise ship (one too many Adult Beverage Package drinks and you fall off your bar stool)?  The ship has a fully equipped medical center with multiple nurses and doctors to tend to you 24/7. 

Select from a menu of services (like a Spa Menu). 

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by BirdTravels

[Sugar Magnolia]

27 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

This is a nice to have but we barely gamble so not much of a factor for us.

I am not a gambler either. However, what @aubreyc1988and @PistolPete13 mentioned about having the smoking part of the casino in a separate room on the Prima and the Breakaway Plus ships made a huge difference not just in the casino area, but also in the Atrium and other public areas.
 

For instance, on the Breakaway the Shanghai Noodle Bar is right next to the casino so you can smell the smoke as you are dining at that restaurant. Also, after dining in the Manhattan Room which is aft on the Breakaway, you have to walk forward through the cigarette smoke in order to get to the theater for the show. This would not discourage me from sailing on the Breakaway, but I do find ways to avoid walking through the casino area like walking across on a different deck because the cigarette smell is strong. 
 

[aubreyc1988]

1 minute ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I am not a gambler either. However, what @aubreyc1988and @PistolPete13 mentioned about having the smoking part of the casino in a separate room on the Prima and the Breakaway Plus ships made a huge difference not just in the casino area, but also in the Atrium and other public areas.
 

For instance, on the Breakaway the Shanghai Noodle Bar is right next to the casino so you can smell the smoke as you are dining at that restaurant. Also, after dining in the Manhattan Room which is aft on the Breakaway, you have to walk forward through the cigarette smoke in order to get to the theater for the show. This would not discourage me from sailing on the Breakaway, but I do find ways to avoid walking through the casino area like walking across on a different deck because the cigarette smell is strong. 
 

Also, if you were doing a Breakaway Class ship in Europe...their cigarettes are different than the US...stronger smell imho. 

[CruizinSusan70]

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

I was thinking Epic, Breakaway, or Breakaway Plus probably suits our preferences the best of NCL options but then had high hopes for Prima and its pre-sailing hype. I'm also a notorious cheapskate, however, and the newest ships usually come with a premium price tag I tend to avoid.

Don't forget the Escape.  It's a BA plus ship that has Howl at the Moon.  It's also slightly older than the Joy, Bliss & Encore, but newer than the Epic, BA or GA. 

It could be at the right sweet spot price wise instead of the sticker shock of the Prima or Viva.