zackarykeef

I’ll try to get the review out before you sail! And if you’ve never sailed NCL before, you should have the best experience, as you aren’t comparing to other NCL ships! Hopefully it turns you into an NCL fan!

This is what I’m saying! I don’t think they’re THAT much smaller, not to mention the Joy/Encore/Bliss have a higher guest capacity. People are just quick to forget and criticize IMO 🤷🏼‍♂️

I just got off Prima 12/10. I’ll be doing a full review in the next few days, but I loved it. Speaking to those on our sailing, many were happy as well. It seems a lot of the issues from early sailings have starting working themselves out. If you check the other social media site, for every negative review/post, there are 100+ comments underneath stating the exact opposite and that people loved it. The ship is stunning…and I wasn’t in Haven. We had no problem getting reservations on the ship. I walked into every main theater show shortly after they began just to check them out and see if people truly were unable to get seats as they’re saying, and the balcony was always almost completely empty. I feel people are unable to secure a standard reservation and then just throw their hands up and complain without actually checking. Syd’s is the same size as the Breakaway/+ class…the seating is just poorly designed. I was also able to get in for SRO without waiting in line. Yes, the comedy club is a little small, but honestly…the comedians were so bad, it didn’t matter 🤣 I don’t think it’s claustrophobic at all, and feel many of the bars are actually larger than other ships. I wouldn’t stress. Remember that the CC community is only a very small percentage of cruisers, so those complaining are an even smaller percent. Not to mention that the majority of people on here are long time cruisers that, let’s be honest, are resistant to change…no matter what people say. You’ll have a great time, and 💯 the best crew at sea I have ever experienced. Already trying to book Prima or Viva again soon!

💯 the black cod skewers. They’re so good we usually get a few orders. They melt like buttah. The pork belly is good, as are all the rolls. Honestly, everything is good. I live in Miami, and we love Pubbelly (the parent restaurant of Food Republic), so I was so excited when NCL announced this. It’s always a favorite, on land and now at sea!

Yeah, I’m with you. I only want to cruise with Vibe, so this is a huge blow for us. I do like having the availability online, but I wish they would make it so you could see if a cruise had availability before booking. With my job, I can never book far in advance, so this is going to be an ongoing issue for me, which could cause me to sail X and MSC more as well. I think a search filter like “Vibe Available” would be helpful. Especially if say, the week I’m looking at one ship has availability and another doesn’t, it would help my decision. I don’t want to make final payment just to find out Vibe is sold out. I do recommend you take the time to check the app and website often. With your cruise coming up, people always have last minute issues/cancellations, and passes become available. That’s how we got 1 of ours, and we met several people in Vibe who did the same. And lastly…post in your specific roll call here or a group on the other social media site. I seriously posted as a joke asking if anyone wanted to give up their pass, but that is how I scored mine on boarding day. Good luck!

This is the case. 100% of passes are available online, so if it says unavailable, it’s sold out. I and multiple others showed up early to try and score some at Guest Services…sold out. This was just last week on the 12/3 sailing. One couple got lucky and got the last two passes when they boarded…someone cancelled last minute, and they were literally guests 3 and 4 on the ship. So good luck! Thankfully, I was able to use my charm and a bit of luck to score a pass a different way, and it totally made my trip! Prima Vibe is the best!!

Thanks for reminding me to report back! Here’s the final verdict… 1) NCL puts 100% of Vibe passes up for sale online. If it says unavailable…it’s sold out. 2) The ONLY way you can buy passes on board (which would be at Guest Services) is if someone cancels last minute. I know this because we were told there were none available, as were multiple people we spoke with. However, there was one couple in Vibe who literally were the 3rd and 4th people on the ship who went straight to Guest Services and scored the last two passes. 3) How do I know this? We ended up in Vibe! I checked religiously 4-5 times daily in the weeks leading up to the sailing, and randomly one day, it said available…so I scrambled and was able to purchase 1 (someone had obviously cancelled). I got EXTREMELY lucky as I posted in the FB group for our sailing as a joke several days prior to the sailing asking if anyone wanted to give up their Vibe pass, and another guest (who became a good friend) messaged me at 2:00am before sailing stating that her boyfriend would not be coming since he was sick. We met up on board and were able to have concierge transfer his pass to me. All I can say is…get it ASAP. 💯 worth it, and I don’t think I would sail Prima without it (personally). Feel free to ask any other questions…I’m going to post a full review soon!

…and btw…the Pr1ma reviews are unfounded. It’s 😍😍😍.

Boarded Pr1ma today…have had multiple mixed and layered shots, inside and outside of Vibe. Just had green tea shots at Belvedere without mention of any strange policy. Just sayin 🤷🏼‍♂️

I board Prima tomorrow…I’ll also report back tomorrow. Maybe just for y’all I’ll order a mixed shot as my first drink 🤣

Anyone know if there’s something going on this weekend or if it’s just a simple repositioning? We disembark 12/10 in Miami, and the next sailing is 12/11 from Orlando. Seems odd, but what do I know. Wonder what disembarking will be like if no one is getting on after us 🤷🏼‍♂️

To piggyback off of what @SeaShark said…my friend and I are sailing on Prima in a week, so I wanted to look into this. She’s actually also currently on Getaway, so I asked her. There has been no issue getting mixed shots on her sailing, so…just fyi. She’s probably doing a mixed shot as I type this somewhere off the coast of Bonaire 🤣 But, by all means…continue getting your panties twisted in a bunch 🤷🏼‍♂️

Will do! I’m hoping someone who has sailed recently will report back!

In mine (there are two of us), when I go to Vibe, one name says “purchased” and the other says “unavailable,” so I’m trying to figure that out…

I don’t understand people complaining about NCL’s drink package. 1, it’s always “included” save for the grats you have to pay. 2, it includes almost everything, save for some expensive wines/champs and cognacs/bourbons. 3, other lines’ drink packages suck. Celebrity includes drinks up to $12, and then all drinks at the bars in the menus are $13, obviously on purpose. RCCL’s is SO expensive, and they never run promos including it. I paid about $1200 extra to add two beverage packages on my one RCCL cruise, which essentially doubled the price. The first drink I ordered was a mai tai…and was told it wasn’t included. WHAT?! I felt so limited in the drinks on that line, and i spent a fortune on the package. It literally keeps me from sailing RCCL because it adds so much on top of the fare. I also don’t understand someone who said NCL is charging Reagent/Seabourne prices LOL If that were the case, I would be on those lines. That’s just silly. By the time I price other lines out and add beverage packages, NCL is almost always cheaper (other than maybe MSC, who, as mentioned prior, charges the entire drink price if over the $15 limit).

Does anyone know where Vibe passes were sold? I know you can purchase them online, but have heard both guest services and Improv for on board. I feel guest services is the standard textbook answer for landside CS because they don’t actually know…

I thought basically everything was included with premium plus, other than some full bottles of wine/champagne?

I’m curious where OP lives to make all these assumptions re: LA and Miami. OP is making all the points in favor of LA (a city), then comparing it to all of Florida (a state). I live in downtown Miami across from the cruise port. Miami is basically LA minus Hollywood plus South American influence. It’s 💯 opposite the rest of the state of Florida. Similar to how LA is opposite much of more rural CA. Miami is full of fitness, health, ultra-rich, influencers, LGBT, etc…it’s literally like LA. The comparisons in OP’s post just don’t make sense…unless of course you want to compare LA with Ocala or Miami with Sacramento. So, with easy access to all of the Caribbean with much better ports, plus easier accessibility from Europe and the large UK market on Virgin, Miami is the obvious choice 🤷🏼‍♂️

Hello! Has anyone been personally able to secure Vibe passes on board right after boarding when it said “unavailable” online prior to sailing? There is every answer under the sun out there, from yes they are, no they aren’t, only if not sold out prior, etc…all from people who “heard” it from someone else. We are sailing soon, and online it says unavailable. Hoping they only sell a % of total online prior and reserve some for onboard purchase, similar to show and restaurant reservations, so I’m just seeing if anyone was personally able to purchase them on board. Thanks in advance! Happy cruising! 😎

Hey, all! Quick question…our check-in opened, and the FAS+ option is in there. We are debating it, but want to finish check-in. If we complete check-in without purchasing it, can we add it after? Not sure if it’s now or never. Thanks!

Anyone sailing on Prima 12/3? I can’t wait to see her! We’ve been talking about this ship for a while. I don’t care what the negative reviews say…she’s going to be great!

Hey! Anyone else on the new ship? Can’t wait!

Yes! Cannot thank you enough for this tip! It was amazing! Had you not mentioned it, we never would have known. None of the staff mentioned it, and I found it odd that when they would escort us off at ports, they would just push the elevator button like any other guest, causing it to stop at multiple floors. We found ourselves leaving the YC group and going to the other elevator bay to use our card, and always made it before them 🤣 I guess that brings me to the elevators, as I forgot to mention them. They seem to be a point of contention for this ship. Yes, the aft elevators are quicker...because not as many people use them. And I don't know why, as the view is stunning. We obviously didn't use them as much being in YC, but if you're not in YC, they are quicker. This is what I'll say about the elevators. The system is smart. It really is, and it's a great system. What's not smart are the passengers. If you press your floor and it tells you a car, IT WILL COME. The problem is that people are impatient and if the car isn't there in 20 seconds, they push it again. And again. And again. And then suddenly, all the cars are being called and it gives you the dreaded "X" with "no cars available." People...just push it once. It will come. If everyone did this, people would rave about the system. The YC perk is nice though. The extra minute you spend waiting for a dedicated elevator is made up for with the express service to your floor. Thank you again!

Ship: The ship is stunning. It really is a masterpiece in design, and I loved the layout. The two-story TSL/YC restaurant is gorgeous, and is a major upgrade from the Meraviglia class. The One pool deck is HUGE, and that was greatly appreciated. Outside of YC, the splendor continues. The pools are designed nicely, including the aft infinity pool and side pools. The Bridge of Sighs and the aft glass elevators are stunning...probably one of the best aft designs of a ship I've seen. The waterslide/kids' area is amazing. The waterslides are FAST and were a blast, even for adults. The inside NYC theme is nice, and the main atrium with its SIX Swarovski staircases is grand and elegant. One of the best places is Le Cabaret Rouge...also one of the best venues I think I've seen on a ship, from the futuristic walkway entrance to the multi-level, dimly lit cabaret vibe of the inside. Loved this ship! Debarkation: In YC, bags needed to be out by 2am the night prior, which was not an issue. We were allowed to get off any time we liked in the morning after having to vacate our staterooms by 8:00am. Again, perks of YC...loved being escorted to the front of the line and off the ship. Slightly confusion landside when getting our luggage, as there is no sign for YC...just numbers from the rest of the ship tags. Note--your luggage will be the first section, group A. Quickly through immigration, as we have US passports, and no customs other than the "are you bringing anything back?" question by the immigration officer. We were off the ship and being picked up within 20 minutes. Final Thoughts: Amazing. Cannot say enough great things about YC. Would I sail MSC outside of YC? I'm not sure. Right now, if the prices are right, we will still sail YC, and look forward to trying Explora (there are some cheaper dates, I checked!). Despite the minor inconveniences, it was much needed and a lot of fun. We cannot wait to return! Again, any other questions, feel free to ask! Happy cruising! 😎 ~Zack

Ports: I’ve been to these ports numerous times, but my husband had only been to Ocean Cay. For this reason, we did get off and do something at each stop. Everything was done on our own, as I think it is much better value and personalized experience. If you aren't nervous about missing the ship (I never have in all of my cruises), I highly suggest doing a little research and booking your own! Ocho Rios: We took a cab to Dunn's River Falls. I know it's touristy, but as he had never been, I wanted to show him. It really is beautiful, and I recommend everyone do it once if stopping in Ocho Rios. We first ziplined over the falls, which is new since I was there last. It was awesome! Three bridges and seven lines...great staff and great views. We then climbed the falls and relaxed in the water. This was such a good day, and I highly recommend going on your own. We found an awesome taxi driver who dropped us off and set a time to come get us, and he was right on time. We bought out own entrance tickets once there. We were able to climb the falls on our own and at our own pace. This meant not guide and no long lines of hand-holding like the other tours where you have to wait for everyone else. Not to mention...I think in total we spent $80 per person for this day, and the ship excursion was $130-140. This was a win. Grand Cayman: We had no issues tendering here, as I have heard before. This may also be a YC reason lol We decided just to go to Seven Mile Beach, as the previous day was active. I have went to see the stingrays multiple times in the past...several times with the same company on a catamaran, and one other time via jet ski. It's always awesome, and I really wanted to show him. However, many companies still aren't up and operating yet after COVID, as traffic to the island isn't fully back to normal. I couldn't find a private tour I liked, so beach it was. $10 roundtrip to the beach with all facilities...it was nice and relaxing. The tender line to get back on was horrendous, so I was extremely thankful we were in YC and got to bypass that. I highly recommend just being prepared when returning to the ship. Cozumel: I booked a snorkel tour with Mystic Snorkel, as I have sailed with them in the past. Highly recommend! Only $65 per person, and it was just the two of us, our guide, and the captain! Quick $10 taxi to the marina, and we had a private 4 hour snorkel tour. Two reefs, beach/sandbar at El Cielo, as well as the starfish sandbar. We saw so much, including so many stingrays at the beach that we didn't even miss the stingray tour in Grand Cayman! Refreshments, fruit, beer, gear all included. We were able to go at our own pace and do pretty much what we wanted since it was just us. I cannot recommend them enough! Be aware that MSC ports at Punta Langosta as opposed to the International Cruise Terminal. I hate Punta Langosta. It's a maze where they strategically have you walk all the way down and up and over and back down and all the way back through shops, and then you get to do it all over again in reverse when returning. Just plan for some extra heavy walking time. Ocean Cay: It's a relaxing beach day. What can I say...it's a beautiful island, and it was nice to see how much it's filled in since over a year ago when we were there. Yes, the beaches are rocky. They blasted the island out of rock and coral, so it's to be expected. Definitely bring water shoes if you have weak soles. I do think this is something they should remedy in the future...they need to import some more sand for the YC and outer beaches. The best beach is for sure the Lighthouse Beach by the ship, but it is the most crowded. Bimini Beach to the north is beautiful with calmer water, but it is still rocky. Snorkeling to the right by the rocks was amazing. However...be warned: you must be a strong swimmer. It's swim at your own risk, and as always by high rocks, there is a very strong backcurrent. You don't realize how far out you've been sucked, and when you try to swim back, you get nowhere. You need to swim over parallel to the beach towards the middle and then in to shore to go around the current. We were back on the ship in the afternoon so didn't participate in the evening beach parties, etc. Spa: With YC, we had the thermal suite included. It's very nice, and we went daily. My main complaint was the other passengers. Loud, laughing, obnoxious, chatting in groups in the halls--not very relaxing at all. Many were clearly just there to "try it out" and would go in a sauna/steam room for 30 seconds and leave...in and out, in and out, in and out. We watched one group chat and go in and out of the steam room multiple times for 30 minutes, chatting in the doorway with it open and they kept letting all the steam out. That was frustrating, but the facilities itself are nice. We got a couples massage with our OBC and 10% for YC...the massages were great. The room itself was basic and not very zen-like compared to other lines, as you could hear so much noise from the hallway. Regardless, we left feeling pampered and relaxed.