graphicguy

I don't know about the costs associated with the Broadway type shows vs game shows. Those game shows have to be pricey to produce and license, also, I would imagine. Personally, I thought SIX and Kinky Boots were a let down. No harm, no foul! My tastes are probably different than most, though. Don't care for game shows, either. So, doubt I'll be attending those. The smaller shows in Syd Norman's and The Cavern Club have ALL BEEN EXCELLENT! I'm OK with beefing up the quality of the smaller shows vs the shows in the Big Theaters. That said, I believe the days of Blue Man, Rock of Ages, etc are behind us when sailing NCL. How that evolves is anyone's guess and no one in here knows.

What’s your Latitude status? That will determine laundry discount!

@rbxlady You’re going to love it! 1st two pics are the shower in the primary BR. Last one is the 2nd BR bathroom! The 2nd BR is small but has its own closet!

Good point! Cruise ships who try to be all things to all people will fail at everything. Time and again, I've recommended finding the bar outside of Syd's or Cavern Club. Find a comfy couch or chair. You're overlooking the ocean. If the band(s) playing you'll hear that. You have drinks available to you right there. For some reason, they'd rather. be IN THE CROWD by the main pool. Don't get it. If it's crowded in one place, go to another. It's the same with people who complain that a bar they were waiting at was 3 deep. It's a cruise ship. There's always another bar less than 100 feet away with no lines.

Oh...I know Chief......he is totally motivated by beer and cash. And, he makes no bones about wanting both. 😉

Which is the entire reason I love the ports in the Caribbean.....plenty of beach, sand and crystal blue water to swim in. Easy to find a place to put my towel and not be disturbed, too.

I have sailed MSC, and on NCL Gem. I have not sailed Princess. Trying to recall a time when I thought it was a good idea to find a lounger and lounge by the pool, or get into the pool. It has never been inviting for me. It's generally been this mass of people in various stages of some times beautiful, but most times cringe worthy bathing attire. And, some of the rudest behavior I've ever seen on any cruise ship have been in and around the main pool areas. I don't care if you make the pools bigger, put more loungers around them (they are already too crowded), my enjoyment of cruising does not include hanging out by the main pool areas. So, I've resigned myself not to frequent the main pools on any of the cruise ships, and find other, more relaxed areas on the ships to do my sun bathing and pool dipping.

We can still be friends!!!!!! LOL!

We rarely disagree. On this I must. Keurig machines don’t last and they make bitter and weak coffee. Nespresso Vertuo machines are robust and make delicious machine coffee!

That’s the way I view it, too! I’ve been cruising since the ‘80s. Cruise ship pools were never big, and always crowded. If you want a pool vacay, Sandals would be more to your liking!

It’s been before the Covid shutdown, about 4 years ago on the Vista. Actually got a tour of their brew pub their brewmaster. Interesting! Better or worse than NCL’s? They’re about the same overall! I think their real benefit is having another pub like venue to have a beer!

Buffalo Trace and 1792 small batch are both quite good! Agree about Ten High!

I think the Observation Lounge as better coffee than what you'll find in the Buffet or the pods the come with the coffee maker in the cabin (with the exception of the Haven which has Nespresso Machines, which are quite good). That said, I always opt for this for in room coffee. I use the in cabin coffee maker for hot water and store little boxes of milk in the fridge. https://maxpressocoffee.com

This was on 3 Royal cruises, but there was a couple who had what they alleged was a "service dog" that they dressed up in little outfits and wheeled around in a baby carriage. They would also sit their dog on a dining chair in the MDRs and feed it from the table. I never understood that. If you can't leave your pet at home when you cruise, find another venue that allows pets for your vacation. They should not be allowed on cruise ships. It scares the pet and is way inconsiderate of other guests. Is it Cunard that invites pets to accompany their guests?

If you're spending your time on board for Caribbean Port Days, you should have the pool areas mostly to yourself.

If that's important to you, I would look for itineraries that offer ports with beaches and access to waters for water activities. I would not look to any cruise line for water activities. They offer them. They just aren't the best choice.

Have sailed in the Haven on the Breakaway, Getaway and Epic. Nothing at all bad about the "Away" ships Haven. But, the Epic's was better in every way. That said, it has just been refurbished, too. I'm sure you'll love it. PS...looking at my pics, again...I can still smell the Haven (all good) and remember all those I met and helped me while on board.

The one observation that all the mainstream cruise lines share is the fact that people seem to want to use the pool(s). Cruise line pools are small. They're most like wading pools. 3,000 + people (or a fraction thereof) trying to crowd around and in a pool will always be silly. NCL, and the others, can not make a pool big enough on a ship to accommodate thousands of passengers. I havne't been on the Viva nor the Prima. But, like any new cruise ship, it seems to be split 50-50 to those who like it, and those who don't. If you try to please one side of that equation, you'll disturb the other half. Can't win.

Hate fans like that. I’m a Bengals fan. Other fans try to trash Burrow and Chase! Idjits! I always liked Baker. I thought he was treated terribly unfairly and mismanaged with the Browns. Glad to see him having the success he deserves. He totally dismantled the ‘birds! Oh yeah…loving your review so far!

I can see it now…a kids pool as big as 3 football fields, a buffet just as big, 15,000 loungers…all with towels claiming them. Bars serving only Miller Lite, Jack Daniel’s and sugar drinks with umbrellas! No stairs because the ship is only one deck! Theaters doing nothing but trivia, line dancing and Macarena lessons! Of course, no one would care if it floats or where you could dock it!

The biggest complaints I've read is that the Buffet is crowded. And, that there is too much "outdoor" space. Colder itineraries? Poor weather cruises? OK...fair enough...I get that. But, the alternative is to push everyone inwards which is the opposite of what NCL has been doing for the last 10-15 years on their ship designs. They've been pushing people out doors with their WATERFRONT designs. I personally love that about their recent ships. I do think it's going to take more cruises to get their guests used to the idea of having the Buffet as the big "catch all" dining facility. They have opened up other venues to dine in....which is the purpose behind having a smaller buffet and the Indulge Food Hall. It's going to take a while to get guests to rethink their dining concepts on board a cruise ship. But, if someone likes a more traditional cruise experience, the Prima and the Viva are probably the ones they want to forego. As, from what I can tell, they aren't the ships that are trying to be all things to everyone. Entertainment......I remember when Rock of Ages was performed on the ships. Personally, I thought it was a huge amount of fun given big hair bands were right in my youthful craziness period. Yes, it was a little raunchy. And no, you probably shouldn't have taken your 6 year old to see it. But, I still enjoyed it immensely. Point being, NCL has never been shy about putting on shows that are a little on the PG-13 side of things. I even saw some complaints about Choir of Man because of one scene where the show had men using a urinal. It wasn't facing the audience. So to me, no harm...no foul. But, there were outcries. Great show, BTW! Donna Summer probably won't appeal to me as I'm not a disco fan and may or may not be interested in her life story. I know a wealth of people who are disco fans. They'll probably love it. Don't know if I'll go see it, but that's a personal preference. Doesn't mean it's a bad show. I'll be sailing Prima in a few weeks. I'm very excited. I've sailed the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships quite a bit. I know them. I could probably navigate them blindfolded. So, this new concept is hugely interesting to me. I have a thread I've started where there will be a live review if interested.

I know they used to have servers come around with mini hamburgers, wraps and other lunchy-snacky things upon getting to the Haven while the concierge explained his function, as well as the butler. I haven't seen that since the restart. That would probably take a partial load away from the Haven Restaurant. But, these days, I also board a little past noon to miss the initial rush. I've never had an issue with getting a seat in the Haven Restaurant since I've been doing that. Failing all that, I wouldn't have any issues having lunch in the MDR. That's never really crowded on embarkation day. Have always had good lunch there, too.

Have thought the same exact thing. Or, take a cruise on the water but wants less outdoor space!

I sailed Epic twice. I like it, a lot! It doesn’t have the outdoor spaces like the Waterfront, which are on the Breakaway, B+ and Prima series which I love! But, still a very nice ship!