david_sobe

If they are charging for a round of darts and mini golf, it would be impossible not to believe the Indulge Food hall will not be an upcharge. But lets wait and see. If history is our guide we should know something around the 4 sailing. 😉

I could agree with you. However half the ship comes here to blast the cruise line because their travel agent did not answer the phone and couldn't book them on another flight home leaving them stranded. They are all treated horribly once the captain makes that announcement. Then the next cruise passengers all want endless OBC because the ship sailed late. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Its too early to tell but most are betting on charges. They have a BBQ and Rotisserie place. I would be shocked if NCL did not charge for those places. When the Breakaway debuted, Margaritaville was free and included. After the popularity was too much to handle, a fee was added. You are kidding yourself if you think NCL is not going to charge for all that good Indian food, BBQ food, specialty Chicken etc. Lets wait and see I dont think you can compare the food at O'Sheehans and the Food Truck Hall. O'Sheehans is frozen fish and chips, fake cheese nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. The Food Truck hall specializes in meats which is nothing like O'Sheehans. We go through this with every new NCL ship. If history is the judge, there will be an upcharge. Its not new nor should it be surprising. Lets see how long it stays "included."

The Prima VIP cruise also had no upcharges for the Food Truck hall.

I sort of like them. They are different though. The Master bedroom appears to be very large, just as big as an owners suite. Gone is the bathroom/shower with the ocean picture window though. However you get a giant balcony that goes across both the master bedroom and living room. The second bedroom is a real bedroom with a real bed. Adults no longer have to sleep in a bunk bed. The second bathroom is so nice too. Notice these suites now sleep 6 instead of 5. The sofa pulls out with a real mattress that sleeps 2. The living room is a bit smaller but you get that long hallway that makes it feel larger IMHO. Its a much more practical use of space that most families will appreciate. Those that only traveled with one guest maybe will miss the giant marble bar, bathroom with picture window, etc. But I think most people will appreciate the extra space where its needed.....the bedrooms.

With your kids I vote Getaway. For me personally, I would take the Gem in a non-Haven aft suite and enjoy the tranquility of a smaller ship. The Getaway has a great water park for the kids.

I've always enjoyed a Tide pod on my pillow at night.

NCL is going to have to update their website with the cabins that have the slide through the balcony and alert travel agents so people know what they are getting. If the suite was discounted enough maybe it would not bother me so much 😁

NCL: For your convenience, a tube slide will run through your balcony 🙂 The obstructed view is a downer but would you not hear endless people and children screaming all day?

I wrote that at 5am. I was not putting down the Yacht Club. My choice of words should have been better. Many complain on celebrity that the Yacht Club limits their roam of the ship since they are not booked in suites. I was trying to do a comparison.

They definitely went with a minimalist, hip, urban kind of look for the Haven. Yes Hudson's looks more glamourous for sure. I think it could be for 2 reasons. NCL created a much more relaxed and casual Haven experience for its guests. Since the Haven is so large and huge, it could be a bit tacky to have all those luxury upgrades in such a large place. Hudson's the MDR went for a more traditional glamour cruise ship dining room. However if you look at Taste and the Manhattan Room on the newer NCL ships, those dining rooms are just as glamourous as the Haven on those ships. I think NCL went for a more relaxed, resort kind of feel for its Haven. If you are only looking for glamour, Prima is the ship where if you have a pass for Vibe, you may not even need the Haven. Vibe looks like the Retreat on Celebrity and if you dine in Hudson's, you will have all the glamour you like 🙂 My concern is having a Haven so large with so many people, will it not feel intimate and private? Have they turned the Haven into the Yacht Club which is just a part of the ship for suite guests to wander about. I also am curious what's its like to have to take elevators to the Haven instead of just walking out your door down the hall to the restaurant, etc. With it being so big, have they defeated the purpose of the Haven? The Haven suites are more casual too. Gone are the big marble bars in the 2 bedroom suites. However they did add a real second bedroom with a real bed.

Simple way to wrap this up. If you dont want to cruise to Bermuda and dont like something about their port then DO NOT take a cruise that goes there. There are plenty other cruises that dont go there. It would be like someone railing against the Cuban government and then taking a cruise there (when the cruise lines went). Spend your money on where you want to go.

I got sunburn once in Nassau. You have no idea the stress it put me through. If NCL does not stop porting in the Bahamas, I will no longer sail with them.

It definitely does not. You can see that especially in the Haven suites/cabins. Gone is the spill over luxury for a modern, minimalist chic look. If it was not for the bigger space you could think it was a standard room with a larger balcony. The 2 bedroom has cut back on luxury features like a giant marble bar but has increased sensibility of a real second bedroom and a real bed that could sleep 2 adults easily.

Observation Lounge

Extensive walk through of the Prima Haven. Very spread out and large. However it does not have the upscale feel as other NCL ships. It fits right in with all the other upgrades of the ship which are all nice. Having a Haven poolside bar is HUGE. Finally!!!!!! The main dining room looks nicer or just as nice as the Haven IMHO.

One reason why the Breakaway/Getaway are some of my least favorite ships. The Haven is an afterthought and big steps back from its predecessor Epic. Besides the tiny restaurant, it's courtyard is small and the Haven sundeck has no water features. If I was considering the Haven on any NCL ship these ships would be last on my list. The Escape corrected most of these shortcomings in the Haven. Then Bliss/Encore took the Haven to another level. Now Prima took it even higher. But anyone that has sailed Bliss or Encore or even Epic in the Haven and sailed Breakaway or Getaway, they will be surprised.

The food truck hall and its food looks incredible. However we know NCL and its a matter of time they start charging for this food. We remember during the first sailings of Breakaway Margaritaville had no charge. The popularity of these places will eventually get a charge. Go Carts were only a few bucks or free during the first few sailings of Bliss too. Loving all the videos

Boarding the Prima

I would also add if you are platinum the 2 extra specialty meals may not be what everyone wants. You get 2 plus 2 others. But maybe people want to eat at a specialty restaurant every night. However if you stay in the Haven it may not be worth it to leave the Haven every night for dinner when you paid for your own private restaurant.

For some this may be worth it, others not so much. Younger people probably cant live without streaming. I dont care to stream anything while cruising. I wish NCL's original drink package included water like other lines. The only perk I see with the premium package is water but its not worth $50 per day 🙄

If you can, never book a cruise during Xmas or holidays. Been there done that. If you have options book in January/February when prices are at their lowest. I was looking at prices the other night and believe it or not studio prices are similar for Encore and Prima. Go figure! They had a sailaway rate inside room on Prima for $988. I thought that was pretty good considering how new and nice the inside cabins are on Prima. Now that price was only for one week, the other weeks were hundreds more and not sail away rates.

Prima Haven area and Vibe

I was on deck 17 Haven on Encore and yes you feel all the motion of the ship. On rough nights you will feel every bump. Its just the nature of not only being forward but up so high on 17 and 18. I love on Prima and new ships the Haven is now aft. It would not prevent me from booking again but like any ship, the higher and more forward you are the more you feel the water.