AKR2011

Yes, same stories and the captain was Prom King for the 72nd week in a row or something. It was still very enjoyable and fun. The Prom Queen was crying happy tears and it was a beautiful moment, but I didn't want to take photos without her permission.

Thank you for reading, and I'm glad that we were not the only ones struggling! There is definitely room for improvement when Prima goes into drydock eventually. I wonder if the issue with the slides is the mats. A different kind of fabric may help push you through quicker and faster? As for the golf, it just needs a lot of help. That's sad since it looks so cool and inviting. We love mini golf and play everywhere that we travel. As silly as it sounds, this experience was something that we were really looking forward to, so it was sad that it wasn't great.

I promise that I will finish this review over the weekend. I'm sorry for taking so long. I will leave you with the Day 14 dailies. Cozumel is always a favorite port of ours, so stay tuned! ❤️⚓ Ashley

We originally booked Los Lobs for 6:30, but we moved it to 5:30 to accommodate the show at Syd Norman's. This was the final one, and it was Rock the Prom at 9:30pm. There was just one show, and this was the last time that the cast would be performing together. I went down after dinner and the line had started, It was 6:45pm. I know, this is nuts. I did not care. There were six people waiting, and they each had people coming with them. So I did what anyone would do. I grabbed a cocktail and joined them in line. Eventually, Alex tagged me out and I went to The Metropolitan for a few more drinks and to listen to Nikola play. He was our favorite lounge singer, so we always enjoyed being able to catch him here at night. Then I went back to the line around 8:00, and by 8:45 the doors were opened. The line was all the way down the hall. All night people passed by in shock and commented about how many people were lined up so early. All of us in line just laughed it off as we drank cocktails and chatted with each other. Chairs would have been nice, even those obnoxious folding ones from the atrium, but we made the most of it nonetheless. Rock the Prom was an incredible show! We were still dressed up and fit right in. The cast sang all of the best 80s songs, and they told humorous prom stories in between. There was even a woman in the audience who won the Prom Queen title, and she and her husband shared a sweet dance for us all to watch. The cast was emotional since this was their final show ever and were getting off in Galveston with us, but they held it together. The show was a full hour, and we even had an encore! We were exhausted but pumped up again and unable to sleep. SO of course we had a few cocktails and games before finally retiring to bed. ❤️⚓ Ashley

We spent most of today playing board games and Trivia. I also made it back to Hudson's for my favorite Peanut Butter Cheesecake at lunch. At Progressive Trivia, our team was still in the lead and hopeful for the finals that would be coming up in a couple of days. I took a nap after that competition and returned in my fancy clothes for Bean Bag Toss. I don't know why we missed a photo opportunity, because I have to say that we looked great! Tonight we had dinner reservations at Los Lobos, and we sat outside to enjoy it. We had not been here since 2016 on our Dawn repo, and I was very excited about the meal. The tableside guacamole is the greatest that you will ever eat. I also ordered the chicken tortilla soup, which was equally delicious. We tried the queso and were not as impressed, but we were also already getting full. So much in fact that I could only manage a few bites of my amazing burrito. We tried to eat churros for dessert, but we were so full. This was our favorite meal of the entire trip, and we wish that we booked it twice. Next time we will do that. Once just for appetizers and once just for the mains and dessert. ❤️⚓ Ashley

There is so much to do in Jamaica. This is why I always love visiting. There are at least 6 other places on my list to visit there. I hope we get to go back sooner rather than later. The Bob Marley Tour is absolutely on that list!

Where it's wave over wave, sea over bow I'm as happy a man as the sea will allow There's no other life for a sailor like me Then the sail the salt sea boys, sail the sea There's no other life than to sail the salt sea - Great Big Sea I love a good sea day, and we had one today! Despite being up crazy late, I was up to watch the sunrise and listen to my sea chanties. For those who love the sea, shanties are work songs, and many go back hundreds of years. Stan Rogers sang some amazing ones in the 80s, Great Big Sea started playing them in the 90s and 00s, and today The Longest Johns and The Wellerman continue to keep them popular. I love them all and maintain a huge offline playlist on my Pandora Premium account. I included the daily on this post and will continue with the rest of the day on my next post. ❤️⚓ Ashley

Back on board, we unpacked our souvenirs and admired our new towel animal before grabbing a couple os drinks. Then I went to the escape room with a few cruisers that I met earlier on. There are two rooms, and we did The Pearl, which can be done in any order. There were a bunch of different challenges with the end goal of putting an artifact together. It was a little confusing and we needed a couple of hints, but we completed the room with 8 minutes to spare. This was very well done and definitely the best escape room that I have ever done on NCL. I've previously done the Escape the Big Top one and the tabletop Bamboozled one. They have another as well, but I didn't go back. Alex isn't into escape rooms, so he was happy that I found some people to go with. I am interested in trying the other one if we get back on board The Prima again. I don't remember what we had for dinner, but we definitely lined up early at Syd's. Tonight was Rock the Pourhouse II. A few songs were repeats, but we didn't care. Once again the case out on an incredible show, and we went out for cocktails after, closed down The Observation Lounge, and ended up at The Local for a nightcap and a hotdog. We were getting to the end, and we were not ready at all. ❤️⚓ Ashley

School is kicking my butt! Also, January is that month that never seems to end. But I am back to tell you all about warmer times on this cold day. Day 12 was Jamaica, and we were docked in Falmouth. This was new to us since we previously docked in Ocho Rios twice before. Jamaica is one of those places where people always warn you about venturing around on your own. We have always had a tour, and this was the third time in a row that I booked with Yardi. I read about the company years ago when we first went, and we had a wonderful tour of these beautiful little waterfalls. No one else booked and we had an awesome guide, so it ended up being private. Then we booked with Yardi again to visit a plantation, and the same thing happened. So obviously, I was ready to book again and find a new place to go. Although most Yardi Tours start in Ocho Rios, they have a handful that begin in Falmouth. We met this awesome guide full of enthusiasm in port and we jumped into a van with about a dozen others that were headed to Dunn's River Falls. I know this is a popular place, so if you want a smaller tour, this could be the one for you. The guide in the van shared a ton of information and showed a love for her country. We were incredibly impressed. Then we stopped on the road where Alex and I were led to our personal guide of the Jamaican countryside. So again, we had a private tour! Our guide today was a little green, but he was professional and kind, and he explained that the dock in Ocho Rios needs to be fixed. This is why ships cannot port there, but Ocho Rios is where all of the tourism is. They have had to modify tours, because it takes over an hour to get to that end of the island. Let's hope they fix that dock! We drove to an overlook for photos, and then we stopped at a coffee plantation. I wish I had taken pictures here, but the owner of the plantation was very kind and shared with us why Jamaican coffee is some of the best. I do not drink coffee, and the bugs were attacking me here. That is why I have no photos. Alex loves coffee and really enjoyed learning about the process. He also found a couple of new birds for his Life List. I eventually retreated to the van to escape the bugs while Alex continued listening to the plantation owner. Our next stop was school. We were given a tour and had the chance to interact with students and teachers. I was cautious about taking photos, and we really enjoyed our time here. Then we stopped for Jamaican jerk food at Scotchies. Alex and I ate here on one of our other tours, so we knew that was delicious. Portions are smaller these days to cut costs, but there was plenty to eat, and it was just as good as before. We drove through the area known as Fern Gully next, and I wish that we could have stopped here. It is a beautiful spot that is very dark as you drive through these huge ferns. Then we went to a gift shop to pick up some seasonings and coffee to take home. All and all, this was a really nice tour. We were told that there would have been more stops and more time to do things if we had been able to dock in Ocho Rios, but we still had a great day. ❤️⚓ Ashley

This really was the absolute greatest cruise that we have ever taken. I cannot say enough wonderful things about it. January is also a long month that always seems to go on forever. Having a cruise in there made a huge difference in my mental health. I would love to do this again if possible.

Wishing you all a fabulous cruise! I got lucky and found this thread. I'm trying to finish my review and school is kicking my butt. Man I wish I were back at sea instead. Wishing you all safe travels and shenanigans ❤️⚓️

We relaxed on sea days, so that really helped. I really appreciated that there were sea days mixed in well with port days. This was the perfect itinerary!

I wish I had the original one I booked printed up. I gave it to them when I checked in. There was no compensation and this was a first for me. It won't stop me from booking with Shore Excursions Group again. I didn't file a complaint or anything, just wanted to share my experience. They emailed me this: Thank you for booking with us! Our local representative in Curacao, Curacao has reached out to us about your East Side Tour and Liqueur Tasting Tour. The tour description for this tour has been updated to the following: Embark on a captivating 2-hour journey through the vibrant history and stunning landscapes of Curacao. This tour offers a taste of the island’s rich culture, from unique attractions to breathtaking scenery, and includes a special liqueur tasting experience. Join us to explore Curacao’s hidden gems and enjoy spectacular views at every turn! Start your adventure in Willemstad's Scharloo District, once home to Curacao's wealthy merchant class. Wander among the beautifully restored mansions, including the famous Wedding Cake House, now housing the National Archives. These historic structures, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, offer a glimpse into the island's vibrant past and showcase Curacao's rich cultural heritage. Explore a unique row of colorful, one-story houses arranged in a stepped formation, each designated as a historical monument. Though their precise construction date is unknown, these charming houses were carefully restored in 1986 to preserve their cultural and historical significance, offering a vibrant glimpse into Curacao's architectural heritage. The tour's highlight is a visit to the historic Chobolobo plantation house, a beautiful Dutch colonial mansion transformed into a liqueur distillery. Here, you'll witness the traditional distillation of authentic Blue Curaçao Liqueur, aged in barrels over a century old. Enjoy a sample of this renowned liqueur, offering you a flavorful taste of Curacao’s local culture and craftsmanship. Next, ascend to the Table Mountain and Spanish Water viewpoint for stunning views of the harbor—perfect for unforgettable photos. Then, journey across the remarkable Queen Juliana Bridge, the tallest bridge in the Caribbean, towering 185 feet high and weighing 3,400 tons. With its four traffic lanes, the bridge offers sweeping panoramic views of the city and the harbor entrance, showcasing Curacao’s beauty from above. Your tour ends with a scenic drive back to your cruise ship, cherishing the memories of Curacao's rich historical charm and breathtaking natural beauty. That one paragraph is a bit misleading. We did not wander around and did not make any stops in town. Oh well. The guide was really great, and that made it worth it.

We are about to hit the half, and I need to pay more attention, so I am going to end it here and pick up more tomorrow. I try to take a break from school on Mondays, so hopefully I can knock out a couple more days for you all. I also have to work late, so we shall see. I am going to leave you all with the net Freestyle Daily. Jamaica is always a fun port for us, so stay tuned! ❤️⚓ Ashley

I only have one photo from today, my cute little towel animal. I know that we played Trivia and the Yes or No Game Show in the morning. Then I went out to sock up the sun and go down the waterslide. I laid out for a while on a lounger listening to music on a top deck that was close to the slide. I asked a deckhand how the slide worked and what to do with my things if I were to go down. This super kind crew member encouraged me to go and held all of my things while I did it. Then he encouraged me to do it again! This is what I loved about The Prima crew. They were incredibly kind and went out of their way to make your day. I had a blast on the slide. It went fast but was super refreshing in the heat. I apologize, but most of the rest of my day was a blur. I know I dried off quickly and went to Progressive Trivia where we were actually in first place! We ended up staying at the atrium for more games and after I showered and changed we eventually went to evening trivia with our new cruise friends and had dinner with them at the buffet. This was the only night we had dinner there, and it was not our favorite. The food was mostly a repeat of what they served at lunch. It wasn't bad but it was nothing exciting. Tonight we had the 9pm Bossa Nova Beat show, and no photos were allowed at all. Alex and I went to the old Burn the Floor on The Escape years ago, but this show was a huge step up. We were thoroughly impressed and really enjoyed it. The singers and dancers are incredibly talented, and we wish we had seen them more than just here and in the Broadway Cabaret earlier in the week. After the show, we grabbed a couple of drinks and retired to bed a little early. We had an early port day tomorrow. ❤️⚓ Ashley

This game is getting intense, but I am going to try to post at least one more day here. It was a sea day! ❤️⚓ Ashley

Back on the ship we showered and went to Trivia, and then we ended up napping before grabbing a quick dinner at Indulge. We were exhausted from our day in the sun. Alex and I wanted to get to the acoustic show at Syd Norman's so we took turns waiting in line and getting drinks at the bar for the later show. The ship also featured Wheel of Fortune tonight, but we are not big on game shows in the theater, so we skipped that. The Syd's show was absolutely amazing! Again, I cannot say enough about how wonderful this cast was. We gained an hour of sleep tonight as well, which we were quite thankful for after our long day. We barhopped a bit and then headed back to the cabin after closing down The Observation Lounge. ❤️⚓ Ashley

We booked a 6-hour hiking tour today with Shore Excursions Group that included lunch and time to swim at a lagoon. All tours met right at the port, and when we checked in we were told that there was only one other couple booked. Throughout our time on the ship playing Trivia, Bean Bag Toss, and other silly games, we kept seeing a younger couple that looked really fun. We kept wanting to chat with them. Then they just happened to be the ones to book this our with us! We had an awesome hike where we saw birds and other wildlife, and our guide was fabulous. Then we had about an hour to just lounge around in a lagoon that had maybe a dozen other people. It was so peaceful, and we all bonded. From then on, we were friends and spent more time together. We hope to meet up on land in the future too. I am so thankful for this special day. We probably could have stayed at the lagoon longer, but we were hungry. Our guide took us to this beautiful resort where we had burgers in literal paradise. The tour company takes people here with the hope of the resort that the visitors will want to stay there. Lunch was delicious and we had a great time together. I cannot recommend this tour enough! ❤️⚓ Ashley

We went to Aruba on Day 10, and this was probably our favorite port day of all! If you chose to stay on board, there was plenty to do of course. ❤️⚓ Ashley

Back on the ship, our room steward left me a new friend, and we went to play some Board Games Trivia and Bean Bag Toss with all of our friends. We also had some treats from Cruise Director Alvin. This was the second time that we have cruised with him, and we are fans. He spoke with us a couple of times while we lined up for Syd Norman's, and he apologized for the layout of the ship. Alvin is hoping that cruise directors get more input in future builds. He knows that the atrium doesn't work for games and that a large venue is needed for them. He also knows that Syd Norman's and Improv at Sea are way too small. With any hope, he will get his wish in the future. We had an early dinner and then lined up for the early comedy show of John Wessling. He was a little funnier than the first comic, but we still didn't think that he was great. Oh well, we gave it a shot. Then we went to "Sing It If You Know It" in the atrium. We love this game show and try to catch it when we can. I wish I had taken photos, but we had a lot of laughs, a ton of singing, and a massive conga line. We had a blast! Then we ended the night with more cocktails and games, but we retired somewhat early. Tomorrow was another early port day. ❤️⚓ Ashley

Our one and only stop was the Blue Curacao Factory, and I'm glad that we had gone previously. There were a couple of big tour groups there when we arrived, and it felt very rushed. When Alex and I went before it was later in the day and I guess the tour groups had gone through already because we had the place to ourselves. Still, there was time to learn a little about the history and grab a drink. There used to be a restaurant/bar near where I live that made a Red Devil. It was my favorite cocktail...and then they closed a few years later. They made it here, and it was so delicious! Back on the bus, we learned the history of Blue Curacao, which comes in lots of colors that all taste the same. It is a citrus-flavored liqueur that came from a bitter orange brought to the island that they could not find any other use for besides turning it into alcohol. It was colored in different ways, but the Elvis movie Blue Hawaii made the blue one famous and the rest is history. Our guide on the bus was a lot of fun and full of lots of information for us. He also did a quiz at the end of the tour with the winner receiving a flag of the country. I miss-typed because we did technically have one more stop that I forgot about. We had 15 minutes to get out at the beach. We could stay if we wanted to take a cab back, but the bus was leaving in 15 minutes. Most people did not get off. We did and grabbed a few photos of the beach and a couple birds. It was way too short of a time, Overall, this tour was not the greatest, but the guide was very good and it was a small group on the bus, so that was a plus. I would definitely choose a different plan next time, but we made the most of it and had a nice day overall. ❤️⚓ Ashley

It has been a super busy weekend. My nephew was competing in a karate tournament a couple hours away, so my parents came into town and we ended up having a long day with family yesterday. That meant that I spent all day doing homework, and now the Bills are about to play! But I am going to try to multi-task here for a bit and get you all a couple more days of my review. Day 9 was Curacao, and this was our second time visiting here. The first time we rented a car and drove to the western side to climb the highest peak on the island. They won't let you climb unless you start early in the day due to the extreme heat. After we hiked, we went to the caves and Blue Curacao Factory. That was an awesome day, but we didn't get a full island tour. Today we booked a tour with Shore Excursions Group. It was scheduled to leave 45 minutes after we ported, but we arrived early and were able to get some time to walk around the port. Then we joined our tour, and there were maybe 15 or so on the bus. When I originally booked this tour there were a few stops. Unfortunately, they updated our tour afterward and we only had one stop. That being said, our tour guide on the bus was very informative and pointed out all of the sites as we drove around the island. ❤️⚓ Ashley

Perhaps. I am incredibly busy!

It seems that I live quite close to you (I actually work in Monticello!) and I have attended many shows at Bethel. It is always a great time! The museum is always fun to take visitors as well.

Friday is often our virtual game night with friends and weekends are for homework, but I will be back to continue this review as soon as I can. I will leave you all with the Day 9 Freestyle Daily. ❤️⚓ Ashley