BostonGal35

our cards are always marked VIP, since reaching sapphire.  not sure why.... 

we avoid school breaks and holidays, we always get seats at the bar or in the lounge, and always get chairs by the haven pool.  we never have to wait for any of the meals, either.

alot of folks in the large suites with balconies seem to rarely leave their rooms or they have kids that want to be doing things in the larger pools/waterslides/etc.

Anyone have a good tour provider/experience for Cornerbrook?  We have tours set at all our other stops but this one.  Thanks!

here's my review:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=710948

On 1/19/2024 at 11:53 PM, news70 said:

just trivia q : does Prima have running track on the top deck as other NCL cruise does ? thanks 

there is no where to run or walk the deck!  Another complaint.  deck 8 walks sort of around but you have to weave in and around people at the pools and dining outside indulge.

Many of you inquired about my review in other threads!  Enjoy!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=710948

5 hours ago, bluefish17 said:

Isn't that true for all outdoor spaces on all ships? I would say though that I think this Prima class is better suited to warm weather cruising.

yes, but the other ships, the Haven has a retractable roof.  one can still use the pool, hottubs, deck area, etc. in cold or rainy weather.  we would have had no where to go in inclement weather.  im sure they assume many will sit on their covered balconies but we are people who never use the balcony. its boring!

also, aft haven rooms on Prima overlook sunbathers and a bar down on 8.   you dont get the nice wake view and feeling of serenity and privacy.  we never book these, but i would think regular aft cruisers would be greatly disappointed by this.

8 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i think the clearest solution to this problem is to sail the ship they built in climates that are generally better suited to capitalize on the number and variety of outdoor spaces. NCL seems reluctant to take that approach with the prima. reviews of the prima for caribbean itineraries are far better than for its icelandic and norwegian journeys. there is a reason for that!

people will freeze on this ship in northern europe.  and then they'll bring her to NYC im sure.   i disagreed with Getaway being in NYC because the Haven courtyard has no retractable roof thus rendering that courtyard useless in the cold/rain.   we were lucky with weather, but seriously, if you are paying $8k for haven and it rains, where do you go and what do you do on a sea day?  the balconies are quite large (at least in Haven) but we never use ours as we prefer to be out and abotu socializing rather than hiding in our room all week.

Haven doors arent, but we just taped ours on.

yes you can wear jeans and shorts, collar no collar.

42 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Looking forward to your review. Sounds like your experience on Pr1ma may have been different to me as we enjoyed our trip. Though, my husband said we don't ever need to go back onboard Pr1ma (or V!va). I would...but looks like Breakaway/Breakaway Plus for us. Maybe Aqua will better suit his (and your) desires. 🙂 

the biggest annoyance was the layout and lack of indoor spaces.   so we will not even bother with Viva or Aqua (unless they redesign Aqua based on Prima/Viva feedback!    We did have a great time (its a cruise, right?).  Service and food great, just not the ship for us.

we were on same sail, in the Haven - would not do this ship again either!!!  Even the Haven was oddly designed!

People love to hate the Epic.  We tried it, and loved it!

I recall a lot of hatred of Breakaway when she came out.   We tried it, and loved it!  Sailed it like 5 times!

Prima.  Veteran NCL'ers hate the Prima.  We tried it, and we too hated it!!!!  And we were in the Haven!  I just wrote up my review, should be posted in a day or two.

2 outta 3 aint bad...

keep in mind that the Pier/Pike Place Market and even Westlake mall area is not very safe.  homeless and tents all along alaskan way and Pike Place even in the 90's was always one of the sketchier areas despite being a tourist area.

i concur with Vacation44.

ill be in a nice midship balcony for a 5 day sail in November.  I also did an 8 day solo sail in a balcony room with a Vibe pass and it was fine.   while we do miss the Haven when we arent in it, we are experienced enough with NCL to know how to make the most of dining and entertainment coupled with latitudes benefits to still have an enjoyable sail.  

id be lying if i said i didnt bid on those two balcony sails.   that said, it seems like the math works out such that a min bid is not that far off from just paying the full price and then guaranteeing your Haven stay AND you can pick your room.

Ive *heard* that the caribbean can be a great place to find nice jewelry at much better prices than the US.  Can anyone recommend a reputable jewelry store they have visited in any of the caribbean ports?   we'd be looking specifically for wedding bands (his plain, mine would have stones).

18 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

@BirdTravels, your photos are so helpful!  

 

DH, who loves a good burger, suggests to others that they ask for the Pretzel Roll bun with the lunch Brie Burger.  (See the bun with the fish sandwich.)    Says it holds up much better.  

 

That's what I love about the Haven restaurant and what I have learned here on CC.  If they have the ingredients, they are happy to specialize your order.      For me, I want extra Avocado and some cream cheese in my omelet.  So  good😋

my fiance was able to get lobster in his omelette in the haven.  

37 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

You won’t have this problem if you do it right. 

Agreed, we always do the easy walk off and being off the ship early helps.  i think we also may have ordered it for the marriott across the street and had them meet us there.

we've had luck with getting an extra appetizer in lieu of dessert.

we use a voucher at Teppanyaki and Moderno as its flat fee.  we use FAS at Cagneys, Ocean Blue, etc.

i sailed in March on Getaway, and my bags arrived before sailaway.

i personally dont sleep below Deck 8.    i think youd be ok under aqua as its carpeted.  

Tito's is disgusting and Absolut is what kids in college drink.

they used to have all the flavors of grey goose back in the day.  then the cut down to just the plain.  now this.

honestly, some days, i wish theyd revert back to the days when you had to buy the package.  making it free for all has just lessened the quality of everything (pre-mixed, watered drinks at pool bars for example).

15 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Buy the cruise. Watch pricing for drops. Rebook. 
 

There may be a sale where a guest n2 is free. There maybe a sale where guest 3 and 4 sail free. 

this.

also, June is busy/peak season.  i did this sail in October which is much less crowded and usually a tad cheaper.

34 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

This is where I stayed and it was fabulous. Even though I was alone, I splurged on a large corner room with a view. Great to walk everywhere. Very easy to/from port and then to airport. 

yes, we did the corner room as well.  absolutely would stay there again if we find ourselves in Copenhagen!