NCL Prima eastbound 15 days TA (Live) 27 Apr, 2024 - N.Y. to Southampton via Halifax, Iceland & EU ports - preview intro

[mking8288]

19 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

... wish there were more opportunities for many of us to gather ... just completed the task of packing and preparing for ... disembarkation ... I will muster the energy for the Escape in a few days on a super port intensive sailing. 

Sylvia, power of positive chi and thinking.  Cruising, as part of our lives & passion, knows no boundaries and we just move to the next one, learning something new and meet, get to know new friends.  In between, we will crack jokes and have fun on CC, go with the flow, keep those humors going and know when it is time to say, let it go ... let it go.  @Fogfog Sharon probably feels the same way, and I too wished we had more time to mingle with other CC'ers onboard - more than a few cruisers benefited from the collective efforts to post & share, which started on the roll call. 

 

We got a few extra hours after we disembark to sightsee a bit before heading to the airport to catch our flight ... Station Zebra will have a flyertalk style report on flying Norse Atlantic as I think some are using them to get back to the U.S. later than us - it's a new routing on the Boeing Dreamliner B789, should be interesting as we will be in the bulkhead w extra legroom ... 

 

Wish we could do a B2B this time and find a routing to cross westbound.  A land trip coming up next month and then we haul our bags up the gangway starting in September, plus that other one in October ... just going to keep details undercover for now.  

 

Wish everyone a happy, safe travel & great journey to the next destination.  BTW, it is happy Mother's Day and I know mine is probably smiling from above. 

 

Just think, we all gain an extra hour of sleep tonight, or to party till sunrise & arrival - niece claimed she's not going to sleep 😁 

 

[mking8288]

Today's MDR is another rare one in NCL's rotation system, and as a farewell dinner ... entrees were unusually bigger in portion or serving size. 

 

 

 

Niece's special order: chef's choice, freshly made 👍

 

 

 

 

For those embarking in a few hours and or sailing later this month, crew rotations are happening - you can easily spot them and tell, as they are masking up, until cleared by employees health or HR. 

 

 

You can sense & tell from their fresh burst of energy and enthusiasm, and their smiles.

[Turtles06]

Thank you again to @mking8288 for sharing this adventure with us, and to everyone else on the Prima who contributed as well.

 

To all of you, safe travels home or to wherever you are heading.

[mking8288]

Good morning CC'ers, rise n shine. We've arrived at Southampton & waiting for ship to be cleared, then the express walk off 🫢 

 

 

Edited May 12 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Express called at 6:30 and yellow tag called at 6:50 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Finishing up breakfast 

 

 

 

[Ticatraveler]

Thanks to all for sharing.  We board the Prima in 11 days. We can't wait to see this beautiful ship.

[mking8288]

Jumping around - this is for friends including @Sugar Magnolia we are in Portsmouth this morning 🌅 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Earlier at Berth 103 - pretty long queue for taxis 

 

 

 

[KasaMom]

First time poster - and had to join to thank you @mking8288 and others for the informative live posting. We sail away on the Prima in Sept and with all the mixed reviews about the ship, we were feeling some trepidation but your reviews have restored our faith. Safe travels on the remainder of your journey! 

[Sugar Magnolia]

27 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Jumping around - this is for friends including @Sugar Magnolia we are in Portsmouth this morning 🌅 

 

 

 

 

Right back at you from Southampton

 

 

 

 

[ontheweb]

14 hours ago, mking8288 said:

@ontheweb I refer to the tender dock in questioning whether Prima can use Deck 4 instead of Deck 6 for the much steeper gangway setup, not tendering ... yes, know about the lifeboats onboard aren't approved for tendering. 

 

It's in reply to dex's comment & how I watch many struggled with that steep incline, down & up - imagine your parents or grandparents with mobility or joints issues.

 

The Prima ship model is on Deck 17 Fwd just before the GP and or OL, behind the elevators.  Regards 😎 

Thanks, if we are lucky enough to sail on the Prima again, I will look for that.

 

We did not struggle with the steep incline despite me being in my 70s and DW almost 70. (She had her 70th birthday on our river cruise earlier this year.)

[Fogfog]

Been so busy I’ve been behind in posting.

In LeHavre we along with 4 other CCers went to Mont Saint Michel. left about 8:45 and were back to the ship at 8:45.

2.5 hrs each way.

Had a great guide and it was a fabulous day.

 

Had just a bite for dinner as we had eaten such an amazing lunch. Packed and was sorry to not have the energy to visit with folks. Had just been touring a lot the last several port days.

 

We were up early.  had breakfast, and the rolled off at 7:40 to our transport. Arrived at out London hotel by 9:30.

Managed to see the changing of the guard.💂 

Going to get a bite of lunch.

 

Will have more to share here later.

Great to meet so many and to have shred tours and meals

Shout out to @mking8288 @Sugar Magnolia @Slyfox16 @Raybancop @Taxvp

 

More later.

best

fog

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

@JIMESOPUS you and countless other CCers inspired and encouraged me to share and post on this forum. I won’t list names for fear that I will inadvertently leave out one or two names, but they know who they are…all of whom made appearances on this hot thread. 
 

Special thanks to @mking8288 for tolerating my brand of crazy. I wish there were more opportunities for us to gather. 
 

I just completed the very sad task of packing and preparing for tomorrow’s disembarkation. I am finally exhausted from the last few port days and late nights. Don’t know how I will muster the energy for the Escape in a few days on a super port intensive sailing. 
 

Did you need music again to motivate you to pack? 🤣  (I'm the one who suggested Going to Mexico by the Steve Miller Band). It seems not that long ago you were having trouble being motivated to pack. 🤦‍♂️

[ontheweb]

I am really jealous of you guys who met on the ship. I had suggested in the roll call for our Prima cruise last summer a meet and greet, but basically got no response.

 

I did later when I posted a review in this forum for our cruise, did get a hello from someone who said they had met me at trivia. I did remember them.

[schmoopie17]

Wow...yummy-looking Portugese tarts in England. Nice to know you can get them without having to go to Portugal. 

 

EDIT: Oh wait...Mrs. Schmoopie just reminded me that Costco has frozen ones...and they're not bad. But I'd still rather get them while on a cruise.

 

Edited May 12 by schmoopie17

[mking8288]

2nd touring stop at Chichester w a break for lunch at the Cloisters - part of the cathedral & church👌 how about these Yorkshire Pudding 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12 by mking8288

[mking8288]

An excellent half day tour, personalized guide services by Adrian from Paragon Taxis based out of Southampton ...the VW minivan was very comfortable for 4 of us, with plenty of storage for 4 checked suitcases, 4 carry-on bags and personal bags. 

 

 

Despite some traffic off the motorway and other roads, we made it to LGW just fine a little after 3 PM as arranged ... passing by McK'D's along the way to Washington for Gatwick.

 

 

 

 

LGW's South Terminal drop-off area 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norse's airport check-in will open 4 hours prior at 4:40 PM for our JFK flight. 

 

 

[catgags]

I enjoyed your wonderful report and pictures! I'll be taking my second trip on the Prima in 235 days!! Frist trip out of NYC! 

Safe travels home.

Cat

[marys350]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your half day tour with Adrian from Paragon Taxis. Before Christmas we booked a transfer with him from Heathrow to Southampton with a visit to Windsor Castle on the way for our Prima cruise in June.

Edited May 12 by marys350

[Sugar Magnolia]

8 hours ago, Ticatraveler said:

Thanks to all for sharing.  We board the Prima in 11 days. We can't wait to see this beautiful ship.

Have a wonderful time on the Prima!

 

[odie1024]

10 minutes ago, catgags said:

I enjoyed your wonderful report and pictures! I'll be taking my second trip on the Prima in 235 days!! Frist trip out of NYC! 

Safe travels home.

Cat

BF and I will be on that cruise with you. Our first time on Prima and will also be doing Prima again in August 2025 Southampton to Reykjavik. Looking forward to it.

[Sugar Magnolia]

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Did you need music again to motivate you to pack? 🤣  (I'm the one who suggested Going to Mexico by the Steve Miller Band). It seems not that long ago you were having trouble being motivated to pack. 🤦‍♂️

You are right…it doesn’t seem that long ago when I stared at my luggage at home while hoping it would pack itself. 
 

Knowing that I would be kicked off the ship this morning was a bit of an incentive to pack, but only a bit. What takes a normal person to pack under an hour would take me 3 hours. 
 

[Sugar Magnolia]

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

Wow...yummy-looking Portugese tarts in England. Nice to know you can get them without having to go to Portugal. 

 

EDIT: Oh wait...Mrs. Schmoopie just reminded me that Costco has frozen ones...and they're not bad. But I'd still rather get them while on a cruise.

 

I just scarfed down 3 of those fake Portuguese tarts. There was no time to take pics. I don’t know why @mking8288 felt the need to tempt me. 
 

While in Portugal I eat 2 every morning with my espresso and then maybe 2 more in the afternoon. Then I suffer from severe withdrawal when back home. Costco replicas won’t do. 
 

[catgags]

3 minutes ago, odie1024 said:

BF and I will be on that cruise with you. Our first time on Prima and will also be doing Prima again in August 2025 Southampton to Reykjavik. Looking forward to it.

Great to hear! I'm always in Massachusetts. My SIL ran the Boston Marathon! Great fun!!

My son has lived in MA for 20yrs!! So always making the trip over.

Hope to see in 235 days!

Cat