PRIMA LIVE...HAVEN a Good Time! March 19-26, 2023

[SGCruiser2013]

Hello CC friends! All hail the great recent Prima threads from @sid_9169 and Sistah @Greenpea2 (and others)! I've read them with delight. And since we're lucky enough to try out the Haven this trip, of course I've read the definitive Haven Secrets thread from @Sthrngary and feel like we are ready to give this a go! 

 

A little background: DW and I are heading to the Caribbean with the parentals, let's call them DDyo and DMa. Celebrating an 85th birthday of he-who-must-be-named and so we are doing it Haven-style. We have two HE cabins and will be ruling over Deck 14. We are periodic cruisers - each couple averages 1-2 per year - but we are NCL inexperienced! First time for DDyo and DMa and we were last on the NCL Epic (not Haven) long ago when entertainment was Blue Man Group, a Cirque show and a great MJ tribute. 

 

Why we like to cruise: to getaway from the hustle (or try to at least), to try specialty restaurants, to enjoy the entertainment and games, to explore the ships, to drink margaritas, sometimes to enjoy ports and to have new great shared experiences as a family. So that's what we'll be doing for the next week! On this cruise, we all have FAS+ and want to see if we can try it all - specialties, slides, BTS, go karts, arcade games, bingo and maybe even the uber-$ darts. We'll see! 

 

We successfully made advance reservations for dinner at Hasuki, Le Bistro, Palomar and Cagney's. We have Donna Summer and Price is Right Live tix. All of us have done these Ports before, however, we have newish shore excursions planned in Cayman and Jamaica. In Cozumel we will likely just have Margs locally and at GSC currently just thinking about traveling in for lunch. 

 

We are traveling in tonight to the safe confines of a Marriott brand hotel in Cocoa Beach and will travel over to the Port in the morning. I like to take & post pictures, so will endeavor to do so here. I am also happy to answer questions if I can so feel free to post 'em if you got 'em! 

[Sthrngary]

5 minutes ago, SGCruiser2013 said:

I've read the definitive Haven Secrets thread from @Sthrngary and feel like we are ready to give this a go! 

@SGCruiser2013 Have a wonderful time.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Lupush]

We'll see you on board!  I'll be in the Haven as well.

[david_sobe]

Cant wait for this.  Have a great time. Hope you take lots of pictures to share with us 😁

[Greenpea2]

So excited to cruise the Prima again virtually with you! It will be awesome!

 

[SGCruiser2013]

4 hours ago, Lupush said:

We'll see you on board!  I'll be in the Haven as well.

Awesome! 

[Lupush]

7 hours ago, SGCruiser2013 said:

Awesome! 

Stinks that the weather is supposed to be crappy tomorrow, but I’m sure we’ll make the best of it.

[Kierste]

Darts are $20 for the hour, not $20 per person, and you can have up to 6 people. So when you book, book just for 1 person, but bring your party to the checkin time. We felt it was fun to do for $20… enjoy!

Edited March 19, 2023 by Kierste

[SGCruiser2013]

Spent an excellent night at TownePlace Suites in Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach. Nice clean hotel and breakfast included. 
 

 

 

[SGCruiser2013]

SMOOTH……trip to MCO last night from the hometown. For transport, we used Orlando Transfers LLC. Driver met us on time at baggage claim and had a great ride to the hotel.

 

DINNER last night was at Sage Bistro which the hotel concierge recommended. Looked like a local place and was only a mile from hotel. We thought it was great. No pics (sorry) but we had salads and for entrees: Coconut Shrimp (outstanding), Triple Tail special (good), Shrimp pasta (outstanding) and Seared Tuna (good). Staff was quite friendly - would recommend!

[SGCruiser2013]

EMBARK Amazingly easy boarding. Took the hotel shuttle ($10) which dropped the four of us off at the Prima. Shuttle at 10:30 and dropped at 10:45. We were escorted into a short security line and then into the Haven lounge.

 

 

The croissants are real.

 

When we entered the lounge we were given a number but not really told what to do with it. So we checked in, took about 5 quick minutes, and got our boarding cards. Then, we juiced and croissants for another 10 minutes before heading on to the ship. As we were eating croissants, they “called our number” to check in. Oops. Sorry #45, we accidentally jumped you 😉

 

A 5 minute walk and elevator ride and we were at the Haven lounge and restaurant. We quickly dropped our carry on bags in our stateroom, and got ourselves a table for lunch. All told about an hour from hotel shuttle to Haven restaurant. Awesome! More pics when better Wifi. 

 

[SGCruiser2013]

The croissants….I agree they are yum and they look fantastic but only an 8/10 on taste for me.

 

[SGCruiser2013]

LUNCH at Haven restaurant. Fritto misto was 💯 and Cobb salad was 8/10. Pics and menu…

 

 

 

 

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, SGCruiser2013 said:

The croissants….I agree they are yum and they look fantastic but only an 8/10 on taste for me.

 

Hello my Precious.  Daddy has missed you at breakfast.  We will meet again very soon.  LOL.

[SGCruiser2013]

THAT SHIP HAS SAILED and onward we are to Cozumel. 
 

 

Explored this beautiful ship this afternoon. Met our Butler and cabin steward, both extremely nice. Went through (ridiculous) old school in person muster drill. Didn’t we learn how great it was not to do that anymore? 
 

Crowd size is impressive. The atrium, waiting and bar areas super crowded. Seaside buffet? Good golly. But we managed to grab an ice cream swirl. Met Rommel at the Haven bar and jumped right into the Veuve by the glass. We will have dinner tonight at Haven restaurant.

 

Some pics to follow.

[SGCruiser2013]

From around the ship:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SGCruiser2013]

A few more:

 

 

Syd’s

Le Bistro

Nama

Hasuki

 

Hudson’s

 

Observation Lounge

 

Edited March 19, 2023 by SGCruiser2013

[sns1009]

We're thinking of booking a Haven room on the Prima next March. Can't wait to follow along! Thanks for taking the time to do this 🙂 

[GALSews]

39 minutes ago, SGCruiser2013 said:

From around the ship:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am wondering how well all this outdoor space will work in Iceland and Norway? In particular, the food court, where I believe a lot of the seatng is outside. I guess I'll learn in June.

Edited March 19, 2023 by GALSews
Left a lot of words out

[romalley99]

3 hours ago, GALSews said:

I am wondering how well all this outdoor space will work in Iceland and Norway? In particular, the food court, where I believe a lot of the seatng is outside. I guess I'll learn in June.

 

if you mean the outdoor spaces, it didn't work quite well at all in Iceland/Up North. It was always way too cold to be outside and pushed the crowds inside. The Indulge Food Hall was crowded on sea days to the point where you'd wander for an hour+ before finding a table. However, I love the ship in the warm climates! 

[sharonann24]

We are also on Prima in July in Iceland so I am watching as well.

[SGCruiser2013]

My first impressions on this topic is to agree the inside space is more limited and potentially crowded when the ship is full. Yesterday was embarkation so maybe a special situation but both Indulge and Seaside were incredibly crowded. It was cold in Canaveral yesterday so not much outside was being used. 
 

Today, in transit to Cozumel is a sea day and it’s currently a bit rainy with weather supposed to improve this afternoon. So I will try to snap some pics of Indulge and the boardwalk areas to gauge crowd levels. 

[SGCruiser2013]

DAILIES 1! Here was yesterdays daily.

 

 

 

 

[SGCruiser2013]

DINNER 1 WINNER 1 We had dinner last night at the Haven restaurant. Great start! pics and menu below…

Steak tartare was killer

 

Prime rib rare no veggie just like I asked

 

DW had filet and lobster, loved it

 

Chocolate cake dessert w ice cream 8/10

 

Caramel butterscotch cheesecake, was 7/10

 

 

 

[SGCruiser2013]

ENTERTAINMENT 1 Last night we had an Improv at Sea performance but in the Prima theater. Was family friendly. Guy was funny…but does anyone else like “family friendly” just a little less than not? Ha. Felt like he was ready to go a couple steps further a few times which woulda been funny. Of course, I understand and there is in fact a 10pm comedy tonight that is 18+. 
 

The Prima theater had lots of people but didn’t seem crowded. At least for this performance. Really nice theater.