NCL Prima eastbound 15 days TA (Live) 27 Apr, 2024 - N.Y. to Southampton via Halifax, Iceland & EU ports - preview intro

[Fogfog]

17 hours ago, mking8288 said:

View of the lifeboat on Deck 6 and the open deck below (Deck 5 with Oceanviews & Inside cabins) where it appeared to be closer for public access unless it is for emergency egress & Assembly Station staging use.

 

Calm seas and barely feel any movements, waves & swells, etc.  Going at 20.3 kts with ETA to Amsterdam as early as 6 AM - per MT - on Thursday vs. 10 AM scheduled arrival 

 

 

 

 

We understood Captn out to mean we arrive at the locks at 6am for the lock transit

[Fogfog]

14 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Sunset was about 9:30 PM and smooth sailing this evening, doing 21 kts w extra calm seas, waves of 1 to 2 m, maybe 4 to 6 ft. at most - approaching the North Sea ahead ~ after midnight.  One hour ahead on the clock again. 

 

 

Was fascinating watching the lighthouses and marines traffic late last night port side. 

[Fogfog]

12 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Why am I not at the Prima Club right now? Because we finished dinner at 10:45pm. 
 

We have a standing reservation for 8:00pm so we were seated immediately. At 9:45pm our dinner plates were still sitting in front of us and dessert menus were nowhere to be found.  I ordered mint tea but was given a green tea bag in hopes that I would not notice that they did not have mint tea available. Green tea would have kept me up all night, so hot water it was for me. Someone else in our group ordered tea with milk but the milk never came. 

On the positive side it was a beautiful sunset tonight with no supplement charged. 
 

Yikes. So sorry. Big difference between green n mint for certain.

 

We had started recruiting folks for Abba, then met a couple from Dublin…got distracted at the bar, in conversation, watching marine traffic and lighthouses. I wanted to move our 4..but by then it was 12:30am. I believe the others made it.

Last night was the night to go out in spite of losing an hour.

 

We have last SD tonight at Palomar

 

Lock transit and Amsterdam tom.
Sent out second laundry yesterday in prep to pack-as we stay over in London a bit. We get the boot before too long.

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

Ok, so I had to look twice ... but probably better than what I've had at home the past week. 

The local place near our townhouse back home does it better too, set lunch special is a bargain.  Just stop reheating leftover for lunch at work 🤗

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

36.2 views.  All waiting for more proprietary pictures of Base Station Zebra.

😆 LOL - how about this smart innovation, bedside for CPAP users, careful when using the slim outlet while turning on/off the main light switch within millimeters away.  

 

Plug a mini charger for the iPhone & if not careful, wake up with it remaining not charged, plug loosen & not connected securely to the power outlet - reason, with the light switch moved to off/on position.

 

A- (minus) for effort.  B- for outcome & usefulness.

 

Edited May 8 by mking8288

[brookie848]

1 hour ago, Dukemstr said:

Do you think we can get two complementary laundry bags, free as platinum latitude members because of the length of the cruise?

We've been told to just write "PLATINUM" on our tag and not to worry about the coupon.

[Levanah]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

I echo your summation:

The fault lies with management. 

 

One of the Asst Mgr (they're been servers & know what's involved before getting promoted) said if they see guests returning & coming in, they are expected to AND should let them in and provide the services. 

 

We're wondering how The Local could possibly handled several bus loads of hungry passengers coming back to the ship after a long tour - the other option being Room Service for a fee, and possibly something in the Haven lounge.  Casino used to have a late night snack at 12 PM, but I heard it's been scaled down 👎 as well.

Have been enjoying your “lives” along with the other pax who have been doing lives as well. Particularly interested since we embark Prima Sunday as you depart.  I hear we will be sailing FULL.

 

I have always believed that when there are operational issues, they usually flow directly from the top but I don’t know if this is the case on a passenger vessel with so many hotel-like departments. From NCL?  From the ship’s captain?  Both?  We are looking forward to dining in Hudson from a window whenever possible (We are Sapphire), and we have always been told to head to the desk and past the line.  We’ll see how that works.

 

I can understand the changed cookie policy but many other operational issues feel like inexperience on the part of staff.    I’d be curious about your view on the overall cause of the issues you’ve experienced during this cruise.  Enjoy your upcoming ports!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Travel essentials at the Prima store

 

 

 

Unsure why cheese doodles aren’t considered a travel essential. 
 

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, Fogfog said:

We understood Captn out to mean we arrive at the locks at 6am for the lock transit

Yulp, until we get to do the Panama Canal, this one will do and should be great to watch - at 6 AM.  Great weather in the morning to watch it from our balconies ...

 

CruiseMapper has a newer ETA now, midnight or 00:00 hour to the sea lock ?  We also increased speed to 20+ kts ... 

 

Edited May 8 by mking8288

[shof515]

29 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Travel essentials at the Prima store

Unsure why cheese doodles aren’t considered a travel essential. 
 

my favorite snack, combos is a travel essential. i see it your picture 

[mking8288]

Calm seas, fair weather but cloudy skies, a bit windy & chilly in the 50's F

 

A different view AFT looking down at the Ocean Walk below our other balcony earlier - plenty of loungers for use today.

 

 

Time to eat a light lunch in the Hudson MDR, will be the last time they open for lunch on this sailing - dinners & breakfast until disembarkion early Sunday morning. 

 

 

 

[Raybancop]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

We should except CruiseNext doesn't really want words to get out to 900+ Platinum members currently onboard, including 300 Sapphire & in smaller numbers, Diamonds - you can stop at their desk & ask about it.  

 

If there's a charge for our two (second) bags from 2 cabins, I will have a word or two with a friend, supervisor at Guest Services to get it waived as well. 

 

I know others had already sent theirs soiled items including undies to be washed ... and I am prepared to report the facts on CC "Live" w 35,000 views - which frankly, is shockingly a huge # with numerous live report ongoing. 

 

Telling it like it is now, not last week, nor from a month ago or how things went on the last TA ... But, 3 free bags on a 12 days TA cruise on the Prima. 

We were on the Encore last year for a 21 day cruise. As a Platinum member we were only able to get one free bag of laundry during the entire trip. We had to take advantage of the $34 special that they offered twice. 

[Fogfog]

Heard some folks using The Drop earlier today.

Nice flat seas.

Going to try that fish you had the other night at Palomar.

 

@Sugar Magnolia did the posse make it to the club or did long dinners time change do you all in?

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

We should except CruiseNext doesn't really want words to get out to 900+ Platinum members currently onboard, including 300 Sapphire & in smaller numbers, Diamonds - you can stop at their desk & ask about it. 

 

I asked the CruiseNext desk how many free bags of laundry I would be entitled to for this 15-day cruise and was told one bag per stateroom. This is after I just purchased eight CruiseNext credits and was thanked for my loyalty to Norwegian as a Diamond Latitudes member.

 

I replied that on a previous 16-day cruise, I was entitled to two free bags. The crew member then handed me one of those free laundry coupons. 🤷‍♀️

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

17 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

 

@Sugar Magnolia did the posse make it to the club or did long dinners time change do you all in?

 

Some of us made it to the club last night, but none of us closed down the joint. I was dancing up on Deck 7 and felt like a go go dancer, not that I have any experience.

 

[ontheweb]

38 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

I asked the CruiseNext desk how many free bags of laundry I would be entitled to for this 15-day cruise and was told one bag per stateroom. This is after I just purchased eight CruiseNext credits and was thanked for my loyalty to Norwegian as a Diamond Latitudes member.

 

I replied that on a previous 16-day cruise, I was entitled to two free bags. The crew member then handed me one of those free laundry coupons. 🤷‍♀️

 

👍, way to go.

[mking8288]

We should just write Platinum free laundry on the slip and outside on the thin paper bag.  The laundry master below deck decides on whether to charge or not, nor the CN Manager.  If charged for the extra bags, I have a name in Guest Services to get that waived, within her discretionary authority. 

 

Lastly, I have extra "coupons," really to use as insert, let me know via a post here.

 

[graphicguy]

On a mission.....just to be clear, cookies on board don't mean much (if anything) to me.

 

But, there seems to be a confusing story by NCL as to where they are...particularly on the Prima.  My last Prima cruise, I had no issue finding cookies in Indulge and the buffet.  But, as others have reported, they ARE having issues finding them.

 

Further, as Henry and others have reported, NCL ship management crew have widely different reports ranging from..."we don't make them any more because people waste them....it's a corporate decision not to make cookies.....order them from room service."

 

I AM PLANNING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

 

It's sort of like our last Mediterranean sailing  when quizzing staff about VAT while in Spain.  Until we got to the bottom of it and made it a point during the M&G, they didn't remove it.  After the M&G when we tried to nail down the NCL policy and how it affected the guests, it was finally removed, FOR EVERYONE.

 

So, either offer cookies or don't.  Going to try to get something definitive when I board Joy next month.  Not taking the excuses NCL has offered so far, because it's lame.  If there is too many cookies wasted, then you better stop offering brussel sprouts and broccoli, too.  Those will definitely go to waste.  Will report back.

[Sugar Magnolia]

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I AM PLANNING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

 

So, either offer cookies or don't.  Going to try to get something definitive when I board Joy next month.  Not taking the excuses NCL has offered so far, because it's lame.  If there is too many cookies wasted, then you better stop offering brussel sprouts and broccoli, too.  Those will definitely go to waste.  Will report back.

 

Godspeed to you on your quest my friend.

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

On a mission.....just to be clear, cookies on board don't mean much (if anything) to me.

 

But, there seems to be a confusing story by NCL as to where they are ... particularly on the Prima.  I AM PLANNING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

 

So, either offer cookies or don't.  Going to try to get something definitive when I board Joy next month.  Not taking the excuses NCL has offered so far, because it's lame.  If there is too many cookies wasted, then you better stop offering brussel sprouts and broccoli, too.  Those will definitely go to waste.  Will report back.

Dan, pin them down.  Bravo. 

 

I see lots of breakfast potatoes and skinny fries being wasted, I swear they are as bad as the ones from McD's ... maybe, central purchasing is sourcing them from the same wholesale vendor vs. supporting local & small businesses near major ports.  Maybe NCL should stop offering home fries too since it's being wasted & feeding marine life instead. 

 

We only found out b/c the niece has severe food allergies, that NCL sourced the Palomar "special bread" from outside vendor & it's not freshly made & baked onboard at 4 AM daily. 

 

Ordering bread for breakfast, if you don't ask for 2 pieces, you'll just get 1 slice ... ditto for crossisant, default order is 1 per order/person at the table.

 

Sylvia ran into Susan & I earlier at Indulge and we had a brief chat about the Prima, and we just both shake our heads about the encounters already mentioned. 

Edited May 8 by mking8288

[Sugar Magnolia]

Code Bravo was called about 10-15 minutes ago...deck 4

[schmoopie17]

1 hour ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

I asked the CruiseNext desk how many free bags of laundry I would be entitled to for this 15-day cruise and was told one bag per stateroom.

 

Wait a minute...

 

Was this because you're the only one in your stateroom...or is this some new NCL way to piss all of their upper tier people off and to save on Tide? Everything I have read up until now said that if both guests in a stateroom were Platinum or above, each person gets one bag. 

 

Our next cruise will be our first as Platinum and are taking carry-ons, which means less clothes and more laundry bags to be filled. 

[mking8288]

@Fogfog Sharon & Robert, enjoy that baked fish (sea brass) at Polamar, it's very good.  Plus, 2 appetizers each and 2 sides each, and 2 desserts ... mamma mia as in OMG 

 

Code Bravo at 17:10 below deck on #3, main laundry ... 2 minutes later, on scene command established on deck 4 ... few minutes later, safety #'s called to report.  That's not good either, at least it's not Alpha and now "stand down" as explained by Alvin, CD - no reason to be alarmed.

 

Going to Commodore Room around 6:30 PM - same as the one & only, last show scheduled for Donna Live, all sold out since last week, booked 2 and can go standby or join virtual queue ... 

Edited May 8 by mking8288

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Wait a minute...

 

Was this because you're the only one in your stateroom...or is this some new NCL way to piss all of their upper tier people off and to save on Tide? Everything I have read up until now said that if both guests in a stateroom were Platinum or above, each person gets one bag. 

 

Our next cruise will be our first as Platinum and are taking carry-ons, which means less clothes and more laundry bags to be filled. 

 

My encounter at the CruiseNext desk could simply be that the staff member is still wet behind the ear.

 

@mking8288 could shed light regarding whether the bag of free laundry is per person or per stateroom. 

 

[GALSews]

1 hour ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

I asked the CruiseNext desk how many free bags of laundry I would be entitled to for this 15-day cruise and was told one bag per stateroom.

Not true, the laundry is per latitudes member. In the list of perks, they clearly list when it is Per Statereoom, e'g. Latitudes Dinner with Bottle of wine.

 

Laundry benefit.

 

Dinner benefit: 

 

We just write on the laundry slip Free, our Latitudes level, and change the name of the person getting the benefit.

 

[mking8288]

I.T. rebooted the onboard system, live status updating in real time for the restaurants this evening - Day 12 

 

Should I grade this a "ya-hoo" or "woohoo" - cheers for finally getting things right. 

 

 

The Prima digital library system via Libby App, remains offline & "under maintenance" until further, indefinite notice" As a preview, it looked promising for sure.

 

Linux USB boot drive didn't do it's magic when I connected to the Samsung Smart TV in the cabin. Will try something else & different to see if I can hook into the set-up screen, etc.