Seriously NCL? Prima Accessible Cabins Huge Disappointment 😞

[pcakes122]

Well, sadly today I cancelled the Prima Haven cruise I booked (looked forward to and paid for) last year because, based on the cabin tour video I watched, the ONE Haven accessible cabin design is a big FAIL for disabled people with mobility issues.

 

Overall, while the Prima seems to have about as many accessible cabins as the Breakaway/Plus class ships, in comparison I think the Prima options are just terrible. 

 

I am disabled and travel with a chair and motorized scooter. I also rent a recliner/lift chair when I cruise.  I am Diamond with NCL (i.e., I've been on LOTS of cruises) and I have never had an issue with accessible accommodations in any NCL cabin class on any ship (and I've been on every class of NCL ship in most categories.)

 

Full disclosure, I book my NCL cruises through the casino.  Normally I am offered either a Suite or Haven cabin, but because of Prima (crazy) pricing my casino offer was for a Club Balcony.  At the time I didn't even ask if there WERE any accessible Club Balconies on the Prima (spoiler alert - there are not) because I knew I would want to upgrade to the Haven.  I booked cabin 10954 (Haven Aft Penthouse with Master) the ONLY "accessible" cabin in the Prima Haven at a $2,500 (😲) upgrade price.  I expected that it really wasn't going to have a separate "master" because that makes sense for an accessible cabin (we need FLOOR SPACE.)

 

So, here's a screenshot of the main living area in Cabin 10954:

 

Hello??? How is a disabled person expected to manuever a chair in that space?  If they remove the table and side chairs do I watch TV by pulling my chair up and be practically nose to the screen? (Sounds comfortable lol) If I put my rented recliner in front of the TV, how do I wheel past it? Also, because of my issues, I frequently eat meals in the cabin. How does that work on the little round cocktail table? Speaking of tables - are those lamps built into the low round bedside tables? I not only have a C-Pap but a bunch of other fun disabled-people stuff I need on the side table.  What isn't shown in this photo is that the desk with the phone is behind the person (nowhere near the bed.) Yes, there's a portable phone, but it needs to be charged to work. I won't even get started on the bathroom because I'm just over it at this point.

 

When I realized this wouldn't work for me, I said to myself that I will just accept the Club Balcony comp and forget about the Haven upgrade. Well as we all now know , there are no Club Balcony accessible cabins on the Prima. OK, so maybe I'll take a Balcony. Well, I think there's already been lots of discussion about how the drop slide blocks balcony views on all the accessible cabins. 

 

So clearly I needed to cancel. I switched over to the Joy. For reference, here's some photos of the ACTUALLY accessible Haven cabin on the Joy.

 

 

Bottom line, I know that Prima and Viva are clearly not for me, but I'll live. However I am sharing this as a heads up to other disabled folks looking to book Prima and in hopes that NCL sees this and recognizes that, as a loyal (disabled) NCL customer,  I am extremely disappointed that accessible needs were not more thoroughly considered in this ship design.

Edited November 9, 2022 by pcakes122

[Two Wheels Only]

I just watched the video from the screenshot that you posted. In your opinion, would eliminating the "2 TV unit" thing at the foot of the bed and putting the sofa at the foot of the bed help? One large TV on the wall could be seen from more of the open space area.

 

 

[pcakes122]

4 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

I just watched the video from the screenshot that you posted. In your opinion, would eliminating the "2 TV unit" thing at the foot of the bed and putting the sofa at the foot of the bed help? One large TV on the wall could be seen from more of the open space area.

 

 

Yes, I'm sure - but that wood wall/shelf thing is fixed.  As you probably noticed in the video, there is another TV mounted on the other (bed) side of it.  With this being the one accessible cabin in the Haven,  why in the world would they design it where something/anything would have to be moved (including furniture!)  This cabin should be one big open space (comparable with the Joy -  that cabin design is exactly the same btw on every Breakaway/Plus class ship.  It works perfect. 😊)

[Two Wheels Only]

I knew that the one currently installed couldn't be removed. I'm thinking more of the future ships in the class. It should still be early enough to make changes of that type.

 

From what I've been reading, there are many changes that should be made for the next ships.

[Cruising Lynne]

That cabin layout is awful , especially for an accessible cabin. I watched the video and besides the area in front of the couch being too small, I thought that the space in front of the closet was not very wide. 

We sailed on Prima in October in a regular balcony cabin and it felt more spacious and open. I am guessing an accessible balcony stateroom would be better for you, but then you would not have the suite benefits that you enjoy. 

 

I certainly hope NCL changes these rooms on future Prima class builds.

 

I thought the ship had many nice features, but definitely a few areas that need to be re-done for better flow and more seating (Surfside Cafe) etc. I loved the Food Hall, but that is another area that could be difficult to maneuver through with a scooter or wheelchair. The eating side of the Local felt like a tight space for accessing a table with a wheelchair. I hope that these issues are brought up as more handicapped people cruise this ship and give feedback on their post cruise surveys.

 

 

[cruiseat50]

15 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

Hello??? How is a disabled person expected to manuever a chair in that space?  If they remove the table and side chairs do I watch TV by pulling my chair up and be practically nose to the screen? (Sounds comfortable lol) If I put my rented recliner in front of the TV, how do I wheel past it? Also, because of my issues, I frequently eat meals in the cabin. How does that work on the little round cocktail table? Speaking of tables - are those lamps built into the low round bedside tables? I not only have a C-Pap but a bunch of other fun disabled-people stuff I need on the side table.  What isn't shown in this photo is that the desk with the phone is behind the person (nowhere near the bed.) Yes, there's a portable phone, but it needs to be charged to work. I won't even get started on the bathroom because I'm just over it at this point.

 

You can rent a recliner?  How and where do I find this information?  Is there a website?  

[GeezerCouple]

10 minutes ago, cruiseat50 said:

You can rent a recliner?  How and where do I find this information?  Is there a website?  

 

One can rent all sorts of special needs equipment, including a full hospital bed, etc.

I thought it was the same place one rents the little scooters and wheelchairs.

 

GC

[pcakes122]

19 minutes ago, cruiseat50 said:

You can rent a recliner?  How and where do I find this information?  Is there a website?  

Yes! Not sure if I can link, but Scootaround rents regular recliners, lift chairs, hospital beds, etc. and works with NCL to have everything set up in the cabin before you get there. 👍🏻