Review of the Norwegian Prima: A 10-Day Cruise of Iceland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, and England
When my husband saw that one of Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ships had a summer Iceland and Norway itinerary, we knew we wanted to be on it.
I have wanted to visit Norway and Iceland for years. But for some reason, Iceland just never worked out, and figuring out where to go in Norway felt intimidating. So a cruise seemed ideal!
We made our reservation in August 2022 and spent the next year counting down to our 10-day cruise in late July/early August on the Norwegian Prima around northern Europe... and the cruise was just as stunning as I'd imagined it would be.
With so many different ports, this review is a long one... so let's dive in!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
thoughts on the prima:
The Prima is truly a beautiful ship. Even the bathrooms throughout the ship were so pretty! (Which seems like a silly/weird thing to even notice, let alone say, but... it's true!)
I started to get worried about our cruise after reading what felt like one negative review after another of the Prima, particularly with regard to crowd management.
But I didn't really find that to be a problem. The first few days of our cruise were chilly and misty, leading everyone to stay inside, but I didn't feel as though the ship felt overly crowded or like we couldn't find seating (though we might have had to wait a few minutes for a space to clear, like at Indulge Food Hall).
So while the Prima does seem better-suited for a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise, it ended up working great for our northern European one (especially once we got what seemed to be unexpectedly nice weather in Norway).
In fact, my only complaints about the deck plans were that 1) there wasn't a jogging deck and 2) you have to walk through the (potentially very crowded and very busy) Surfside Café and Grill on Deck 17 when heading to the Observation Lounge from the aft (back of the ship).
If you do feel like the inside space is too crowded, there's likely an overlooked space nearby! Here are some tips I gathered from other reviews and from our experience:
- If the bar for the Local on Deck 8 is busy, try the Luna bar inside Indulge.
- If the main bar at the pool on Deck 17 is busy, try the bar inside Surfside.
- If the area around the main pool on Deck 17 is busy, there's a sun deck on Deck 18 that seemed to be a hidden secret. It's on top of the Observation Lounge toward the bow (front of the ship). While it's only 50 feet from the main pool, it was also a lot quieter!
- If you're looking for a quiet bar, try the Belvedere on Deck 6 (which only seemed to get busy around dinner time) or the Metropolitan Bar on Deck 7 (which was busy our first night but nearly empty the following nights).
A second set of stairs in the Atrium overlooking Decks 7 and 8 (you can somewhat see the glass walkway outside on Deck 8)
Soleil Bar was at the aft (back of the ship) on Deck 8, near Indulge Food Hall. It wasn't open for the first few days of our cruise, though (likely because the weather meant most people were inside)
Our view from our balcony on Deck 11
One of the infinity pools on Deck 8 — they're heated!
Our balcony room on Deck 11! We had initially opted for an oceanview room with a window but put in a bid for a balcony room that was accepted.
We lay our suitcases flat and slide them under the bed to maximize space/act as additional drawers.
The furniture on our balcony was much nicer than what we had on previous cruises!
Here's part of the Studio Lounge, which requires keycard access (aka your cruise ID indicates you have a studio room).
We sailed with a group of 7 total, and one member of our group was staying in a studio room, all of which are off of hallways that connect to one private common area (only for other studio guests) to relax, watch TV, and grab drinks or light snacks... without any crowds.
A great way to meet other people cruising solo if you'd like!
Some of the seating in Studio Lounge dining area
dining
NCL offers "freestyle" dining, meaning that you can eat where you want, when you want, as opposed to being assigned meal times like some other cruise lines.
My husband and I have always been very happy with the food on all of our cruises with NCL. (We've cruised the Jade in Greece, the Encore in Alaska, and the Sky in the Caribbean.)
But, again, after reading some negative reviews, I was feeling apprehensive.
Fortunately, neither I nor my husband had any complaints about the food on the Prima!
There were a few times where other members of our group did feel as though their noodles were over- or undercooked or their meat had some gristle, but as one of them said, "You won't — you can't — go hungry on this ship!"
Why? Because you can flag any issues with the staff to fix, opt for another meal (whether in the same restaurant or another one), or ask to make a substitute to your meal!
- Some of the Main Dining Rooms are sit-down restaurants with a menu where you order an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, but NCL will let you order multiple dishes (I believe you can order multiple appetizers at once but only one entrée at a time).
- One member of our group really wanted to order a certain meal but didn't like the side it came with, so he was going to order a different meal until he realized he was allowed to request a different side.
We love NCL for the freestyle dining. However, many of the restaurants do have certain hours, so be sure to check them in advance (which you can do on the website, on the app, or in the Freestyle Daily newsletter left at your cabin door every day).
The complimentary dining includes the Commodore Room (a Main Dining Room with waiter service on Deck 6); Hudson's (a Main Dining Room with waiter service on Deck 7); Indulge Food Hall (Deck 8); the buffet at Surfside Café & Grill (Deck 17); and the Local Bar & Grill (divided into a restaurant with waiter service and a bar, both of which are open 24/7, on Deck 8).
Click here for more information on Prima's complimentary dining, including sample menus!
Then there are specialty restaurants (like French, Italian, and Mexican, among others), which require paying à la carte unless your cruise reservation includes a night or two of specialty dining.
Click here for more information on Prima's specialty dining, including sample menus!
We primarily ate at Hudson's, the Commodore Room, or the Local, and we never had to wait more than 15 minutes, even when we had our full group of 7.
Everyone in our group had a dining package that included at least one specialty restaurant, so we chose Le Bistro, and everyone was extremely satisfied with their meal (and the service). My parents received one more specialty dining restaurant (due to their room type) and picked Cagney's Steakhouse, and they came back raving about the meal.
We always get the beverage and dining package that includes drinks up to $15, and we've never gone over that price. My husband was very happy that the Whiskey Bar on Deck 8 used Woodford Reserve in the old fashioned (and he said it was the only place on the ship where you could get Woodford Reserve under the $15 limit).
My favorite drinks were strawberry daiquiris, Moscow mules, and Mudslides, while the rest of our group enjoyed the Mango Meltdown and Tequila Sunrise!
For the occasions I didn't want alcohol but still wanted fun drinks, I inquired about mocktails and was told by a bartender that they could make anything I wanted, so I had a few virgin daiquiris and Mudslides.
And I tried to end every day with a hot fudge sundae from the Local :)
The menu by the pool. My husband tried a few of the Sail & Sustain drinks (like the BananaRuma) and thought they were pretty tasty!
One of the Main Dining Rooms had this risotto ONE time and it was so good, I kept checking the menus for it the rest of the trip
The menu for specialty dining Le Bistro, also available here
Duck breast at Le Bistro
Dessert at Le Bistro: Pear with spices, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
Watching women play in the World Cup while having a hot fudge sundae... because sundaes are for the girls :)
Another hot fudge sundae
[DJ Khaled voice] Another one
entertainment
It's been my experience that the entertainment on NCL is always impressive, and the Prima was no exception.
When it comes to reservations, NCL opens up a limited number of slots for dining and entertainment in advance of Embarkation Day and then releases the rest of the slots on Embarkation Day. (Wondering when you can pre-book? Find out here.) So we reserved a spot for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and The Price is Right before embarking.
Both shows had incredible production, and the Summer singers amazed my whole group, as did the host for The Price is Right.
As always, my husband wanted to attend everything, so in order to save seats, he would head down to the venues early so that he was there when the doors opened for The Not-So Newlyweds Game, Perfect Couple, karaoke, magic show, etc. So even though the venues like Improv at Sea and Syd Norman's Pour House were small, we always had seats.
For a 10-day cruise, it does feel as though there should be at least one more show, so I hope NCL adds more in the future. But we were very happy with all the shows we did attend.
Our group was also so impressed with Simon Akinwolere (the cruise director) and his assistant cruise director Alexis, both of whom were hilarious, clever, and quick on their feet (especially when dealing with some unpleasant guests!).
tips and general info:
- If you can, I'd recommend exploring the ship deck-by-deck once you board. It'll just help your sense of direction for the rest of the trip, and it's fun to see your home away from home!
- BUT if there are any reservations you still need to make, do them right away! You can make reservations at the kiosks or in person.
- Whenever my husband and I board early and knock out both of the above bullets with time to spare, we like to grab a spot at the pool or in the hot tub (and try to beat the rush).
- Your room will likely not be available immediately, and it may take time for staff to bring your luggage to your room, so pack anything you anticipate needing in a separate bag before embarking, since you may not have access to your luggage for several hours. (E.g., you may want a swim suit, sunscreen, sunglasses, charger, headphones, or a book.)
- Bring any medicine you might anticipate needing, like a decongestant or aspirin. Medications will be much more expensive on the ship.
- Remember that if you want to try something at a meal or swap out a side, you can ask your waiter!
- The NCL app is helpful (though could definitely be better).
- The ship has its own Wifi, which you can use for free with the app.
- We were able to send iMessages to other Apple users while connected to the NCL Wifi (with or without internet). But if your group has any Android users, then you can purchase the messaging feature on the app for $10 per person.
- If you want to go to other sites or use other apps, NCL will prompt you to officially start your paid minutes (I always visit loginnow.com to start my time), and you do have to log out once you're done (not just exit out any apps or Safari pages) or else the minutes will keep counting down.
- Pay attention to ship time versus port time, as well as when you have to be back onboard the ship. Some of our phones didn't update when we switched time zones (due to being on airplane mode), but we were paying attention so we caught it.
- You will likely find external vendors offer similar but more affordable excursions as the ones offered by NCL. The trade-off is that booking through NCL offers more peace of mind if your excursion is late to return to the ship or what to do if the ship leaves without you.
- While the ship will have American outlets, hotels in Iceland and England will not, so if you're spending a few days in Iceland before the cruise or staying a few days in England after, pack adapters!
- And pay attention to the voltage off the ship! I completely forgot to bring my T3 travel blow dryer, which is dual voltage. I only brought my L'ange Hair blow dryer, which worked great on the ship but not in the Iceland hotel! (Both links are affiliate links — it looks like my T3 was discontinued, so here’s T3's updated version, with auto dual voltage for when you travel!)
- The front row of the theater was good for things like the Summer musical, but I'd recommend sitting a few rows back for bingo (we had to crane our necks to look at the screen) and maybe even The Price is Right (we sat approximately 5 or 7 rows from the front and it was perfect).
- The arrows in the carpet of the ship point forward, toward the bow! (In the past, NCL's carpet featured fish.)
- Read the Freestyle Daily every day! It's NCL's daily cruise pamphlet that gets delivered to your door every day with information for the next day. Not only can you see dining hours, there's SO much information about upcoming activities and events!
- The fitness center is located inside the spa (I assume to try to entice people to book some treatments upon walking through). Perhaps as a result, the fitness center seemed much warmer than on other ships, so I'd recommend keeping your water and towel handy.
itinerary:
If you book your airline travel through NCL, I can't stress this enough: If you can, choose to arrive at least one day early, if not two. That way, if anything goes wrong, you still have a buffer and can make the cruise.
This was our second time booking our flights through NCL, and both times it went well, so my husband and I were happy customers.
But two members of our group who also booked their flights through NCL had a more stressful experience. They were at the airport when the first of their 3 (!) flights was canceled, and NCL told them to talk to the airline to figure it out themselves.
We were then worried the airline would refuse to speak to them, since NCL had booked the itinerary, but fortunately the airline was able to put them on a different flight. And their new itinerary even made it to Iceland 5 minutes earlier than they were originally supposed to! But I'm not sure they'd choose to book flights through NCL again after the experience.
- Embarkation Day: Reykjavík, Iceland (depart 6pm)
- Day 1: Isafjordur, Iceland (this was canceled due to dredging, so we had a Sea Day instead)
- Day 2: Akureyri, Iceland (arrive 6am, depart 4pm)
- Day 3: Sea Day
- Day 4: Ålesund, Norway (arrive 11am, depart 10pm)
- Day 5: Olden, Norway (arrive 8am, depart 6pm)
- Day 6: Bergen, Norway (arrive 8am, depart 5pm)
- Day 7: Sea Day
- Day 8: Amsterdam, Netherlands (arrive 7am, original plan to depart 5pm)
- Day 9: Brussels, Belgium (this was canceled due to the damaged port, so we had an overnight in Amsterdam instead)
- Day 10: London, England (arrive 6am — we were off the ship by 7:30am or so)
what i packed:
- Tops (aka lots and lots of layers. With unpredictable weather, I wanted to be able to add or remove clothing if I were cold or hot)
- L.L. Bean 3-in-1 fleece with jacket (affiliate link)
- L.L. Bean rain jacket (affiliate link)
- Old Navy puffer jacket
- Barbour jacket (affiliate link)
- 5 sweaters
- 2 Old Navy flannel button-ups
- 2 Gap long-sleeved tees in black and white (affiliate link)
- 2 J. Crew turtlenecks in black and white (affiliate link)
- Amazon vest (affiliate link)
- Bottoms
- Mango skirt (affiliate link)
- Old Navy black jeans (affiliate link)
- Old Navy blue jeans
- Express white jeans
- Amazon one-size-fits-all fleece-lined leggings, which were so comfy and so warm! (affiliate link)
- Amazon leggings (affiliate link)
- Zella leggings (affiliate link)
- Abercrombie high-waisted black jean shorts (affiliate link)
- Old Navy high-waisted white shorts (affiliate link)
- Dresses
- Lulus off-the-shoulder dress (affiliate link)
- Amazon ruffled shoulder dress (affiliate link)
- Lulus maxi dress (affiliate link)
- Shoes
- Merrell hiking boots (affiliate link, also available here and here)
- Allbirds wool runners (affiliate link)
- Sam Edelman combat boots (affiliate link)
- Hunter packable short rain boots (affiliate link)
- Tory Burch sandals (affiliate link)
- Steve Madden sandals (affiliate link)
- Old Navy rubber flip-flops (affiliate link)
- Swim
- Target swim suit (affiliate link)
- Summersalt swim suit (affiliate link)
- Accessories/extras
- Exercise clothes
- Hiking socks (affiliate link)
- Beanies (affiliate link, also available here)
- Gloves (affiliate link)
- Sunglasses (Iceland gets 20-22 hours of sunlight in summer)
- Waterproof phone pouch (for the pools/hot tubs, kayaks, or lagoons/waterfalls)
- Sleep eye mask (so you don't wake up with the sunrise at 4am if you don't want to)
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm/chapstick
- No-rinse detergent for washing clothes in your bathroom sink on the ship (I mostly do this for my exercise clothes so that they don't sit around before going back in my suitcase)
- NCL does offer a laundry service but for a fee
- Lotion!!! You will wash your hands a lot (to try to prevent norovirus or COVID), and the ship soap does not seem to contain any moisturizing properties whatsoever
- Any over-the-counter medication you might use, like Ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, Dramamime, Nyquil, etc
- Phone battery brick so you don't have to return to your room to charge
- Lanyard for your cruise ship card (affiliate link)
- Hanging toiletry bag (affiliate link) to have more counter space
- Hair wrap to try to dry hair faster (affiliate link)
- Quick dry towel (affiliate link) for the kayaks or lagoons/waterfalls
- L'ange Hair blow dryer (affiliate link)
reykjavík pronounced ray-kyuh-vik
What we did
My husband and I left D.C. in the evening and landed in Reykjavík at 9am the next morning.
For our first day (the day we arrived), we had initially booked a Golden Circle tour that started at 12noon, but it was canceled at the last-minute.
So instead we signed up for a puffin- and whale-watching tour at the harbor, explored Reykjavík, and grabbed some lobster soup at the Sea Baron (also called Saegreifinn).
For our second day, we booked a private tour of the South Coast through Arctic Adventures with other members of our group, who had flown in that morning. Our guide Alvaro was lovely, and our tour included the Seljalandsfoss (which you can walk behind) and Skogafoss waterfalls; Reynisfjara black sand beach; and a hike on the Solheimajokull glacier.
We ended the evening with dinner at Messinn, which was incredible. Every single person in our party of 7 said their meal was delicious.
The next day, our boarding time was 1:30pm, but we arrived around 10:30am and were on the Prima by 11:30am!
- All day tours around Iceland (you can rent a car to drive yourself or purchase a tour — we chose to purchase a tour because we didn't want to deal with the hassle/time to rent a car, and we'd rather relax/nap on the drive than worry about navigation, weather, or jet lag)
- The Golden Circle tour is a 186-mile loop that often includes three popular sites: Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area, and Thingvellier National Park. People often add Blue Lagoon or the Kerið volcanic crater, too. And you can purchase the option to scuba dive between tectonic plates at Thingvellier! I was dying to do this but it didn't work out with our schedule. Next time!
- The South Coast tour often includes the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls; Reynisfjara black sand beach; and a hike on the Solheimajokull glacier. Some people add the Solheimasandur plane wreck.
- Blue Lagoon (or any of the other lagoons — Secret Lagoon and Sky Lagoon were recommended)
- I've read that you need to protect your hair by either slathering it with conditioner (provided by Blue Lagoon) in advance or not getting it wet, but others say that's a myth.
- Blue Lagoon is close to the Reykjavík airport (KEF), so check to see if it makes the most sense to visit on your way to or from the airport.
- Climb to the top of the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík.
- Entrance is free, but you'll have to buy a ticket to climb the stairs or take the elevator to the top.
- Hike Glymur Waterfall, an hour outside of Reykjavík.
- If you're visiting from May through mid-August, go on a puffin-watching tour.
- Visit Settlement Exhibition or Volcano House to learn more about Iceland's history and geology.
- Take a photo on Rainbow Street, with Hallgrímskirkja in the background.
- If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes — that's how unpredictable the weather is in Iceland and how quickly it can change!
- Breakfast
- Hungry Chef Café
- Sandholt Bakerí
- Braud & Co
- Lunch
- Icelandic Street Food
- Old Iceland
- Apotek Restaurant
- Kaffi Loki
- Dinner
- Messinn (5 stars out of 5!!)
- Sea Baron (aka Saegreifinn)
- Harbor Restaurant
- Hlemmur Food Hall
- Tapas Barinn
- Grillmarkadurinn
- Miscellaneous/quick bites
- Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
- Black Box Pizza
- Icelandic Street Food at Laekjargata 8 Street food
- Snaps Bistro
- Donuts!
- Koku Kompaniio
- Bernhoftsbakari
- Le Kock
- Bars
- Jungle Bar
- Irishman
- Pablo Disco Bar
- Kex Lebowski
- Slippbarinn
isafjordur pronounced ee-suh-fyor-dur
Isafjordur was supposed to be our second port, but it was canceled a few weeks in advance due to dredging issues.
Here are the recommendations I found while trying to decide how to spend our time:
- Visit Dynjandi Waterfall
- Take a puffin-watching boat ride to Vigur Island (also called Puffin Island) in the Westfjords of Iceland. (You can also bird watch in general here.)
- Hike Naustahvilft Valley
- Visit the Arctic Fox Center
- Kayak
akureyri pronounced ah-kuh-rare-ee
What we did
Akureyri is Iceland's second largest city (after Reykjavík), with a population of approximately 18,000 people.
My husband and I booked a tour through Viator (affiliate link) to see Lake Mývatn and the Skútustaðagígar craters; the geothermal area at Námaskarð Pass (hot springs and steam vents); the lava formations at Dimmuborgir; and Godafoss Waterfall.
Although the tour was long, I really liked it. It covered a lot and provided a good opportunity to see Iceland's diverse geography. And we learned so much about Iceland's history from the tour guide, including that Iceland converted from paganism to Christianity in 1000 CE — with 3 conditions: People could still 1) "expose" "surplus" babies; 2) eat horseflesh; and 3) worship pagan gods in private...!
The only thing I would change about the tour is that I would have liked more time at each stop! Which is I guess at least a sign of good choices for the tour.
Things to do
- Travel to sites like Godafoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss waterfall, or Ásbyrgi canyon.
- There's a sightseeing route called the Diamond Circle that includes Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss waterfall, and the Ásbyrgi canyon, as well as the town of Húsavík.
- Take a boat tour to Hrisey to see puffins/birds.
- Visit Kjarnaskogur Forest.
- Visit the Arctic Botanical Gardens.
- Hike Mount Sulur.
- Go whale watching.
- Visit Santa's House in Akureyri.
- Apparently the traffic lights in Akureyri have hearts in them, if you want to check!
Restaurant recommendations
- Bláa Kannan
- Kaffi Ilmur
- Rub 23
- Bryggjan
- Strikid
alesund pronounced al-luh-suhnd
What we did
My husband and I opted against doing an excursion and planned to just meander through the city. So we chose to walk approximately 45 minutes from the ship to the aquarium Atlanterhavsparken, aka Atlantic Sea-Park. (It's also possible to take the Hop-On Hop-Off bus directly from the cruise terminal, but we wanted a chance to stretch our legs.)
I generally find zoos and even aquariums to be depressing, but the Atlantic Sea-Park is one of the largest saltwater aquariums in Scandinavia. We got to see penguins, seals, and otters (all of which were in outside enclosures)!!
We then took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus from the aquarium to the Aksla Viewpoint. I could have stayed here so much longer just looking out over the city! (And there's a café called Fjellstua, but we didn't stop to eat.)
We then walked down the 418 steps back to town (which seemed like the better way to go, since many folks walking up the stairs seemed to be regretting their decision) to explore.
The rest of our group booked NCL's "Land of the Trolls" excursion, which they really liked despite what they described as terrifying hairpin curves on the road, haha!
Things to do
- Ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.
- Visit Atlantic Sea Park (Atlanterhavsparken).
- Take in the view from the Aksla Viewpoint.
- Visit the Sunnmøre Museum, an open air museum to see farmhouses and boats.
- Visit Giske and Godøy islands and climb to the top of the Alnes Lighthouse on Godøy.
- Visit the Art Nouveau Centre.
- Kayak.
Restaurant recommendations
- Zuuma
- Real American Steakhouse
- Cinque Minuti
- Molo Brew
- Fisketorget
- Sjøbua
- Lamella for ice cream
olden pronounced old-en
What we did
I knew I wanted to hike at least once while in Norway, and Olden was the perfect place for it!
So my group and I hiked approximately 6 miles to the Mt. Huaren overlook. The terrain itself was easy (it was mostly paved except for the final .2 miles or so), but it was such a steep incline that I'd rate it as fairly moderate.
On the way down, we took the path to the town. We did some sightseeing and window-shopping and then walked back to the ship. Olden was beautiful but seemed small, so we were happy to sit outside on the ship and just take in the views.
Things to do
- Hike Huaren
- Ride the Loen skylift (I wish we'd done this!)
- Hike Mt. Hoven
- Take the sightseeing bus to the Briksdal Glacier (which I believe you can hike)
- Book a Via Ferrata Loen tour
- Hike the Tystigbreen glacier
- Kayak
Restaurant recommendations
- Yris Cafe & Restaurant
- Molla Guesthouse
- Hoven Restaurant (in Loen)
- Café Gobeten (in Innvik)
- Aabrekk Gard (in Oldedalen valley in Stryn)
- Stryn Kaffebar & Vertshus (in Stryn)
bergen pronounced bur-gn
What we did
My husband and I took a "chasing waterfalls" tour (affiliate link) through Viator. We visited 3 waterfalls, including another one you can walk behind.
Apparently Bergen is the rainiest city in Europe... so we got extremely lucky with perfect weather!
Our tour lasted 8 hours or so and dropped us off at the wharf upon our return, so we walked through the town back to the ship, stopping to grab snacks, people-watch, and take in the sights.
The rest of our group did NCL's "Norway in a Nutshell" excursion, which also lasted approximately 8 hours. They really liked it and took some great photos!
Recommendations + tips
- Hike Mount Ulriken (or take the cable car) for views of Bergen and the water.
- Ride the funicular to Mount Fløyen.
- Visit the the Gamlehaugen (the official residence of the Norwegian Royal Family in Bergen).
- Check out the colorful row houses at Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf.
- Explore the University Museum of Bergen.
- Visit the Maritime Museum.
- Explore the Botanical Garden.
- See Bergenhus Fortress.
- Visit the Leprosy Museum.
- Visit the Market Square to try fresh seafood.
- Ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.
Restaurant recommendations
- Ægir brewery
- Daily Pot
- Bryggeloftet & Stuene Restaurant
- Dr. Wiesener
- Trekroneren (hot dog stand)
amsterdam pronounced am-stir-dam
What we did
While the rest of our group took a 90-minute "Waterways of Amsterdam" canal tour, my husband and I visited the Anne Frank House. This was our second time, and it was just as powerful and emotional as the first time. (The rest of my family had later ticket times for the Anne Frank House than we did, so we saw them entering the museum as we were exiting.)
After, my husband walked to the Verzetsmuseum — the museum of Dutch WWII Resistance. I'd always wanted to visit, so I was thankful we had the time to visit this trip. I definitely recommend going, I learned so much. It's hard to believe how much courage Europeans had fighting back against the Nazi regime.
I'd recommend checking in advance if there are any events taking place during your time in each city. It was actually Pride Week in Amsterdam during our time there, so a lot of the areas had fences and barricades up for events and crowd control. It made it hard to get a sense of the city, so I was glad it wasn't our first time in Amsterdam.
My dad loved watching the ship navigate the locks as we were sailing out of Amsterdam... he was sending us all updates, complete with photos!
Things to do
- Visit the Anne Frank House.
- Per the website: "Tickets only available through this website! Every Tuesday at 10am CEST all tickets become available for a visit six weeks later."
- Update as of 9/19/2023: The Anne Frank House used to save 20% of tickets to be released in batches the day of (that's how we managed to get tickets on our first visit to Amsterdam) — but it appears as of 2023 it no longer offers that option and ALL tickets become available 6 weeks in advance. We set a reminder on our phone this time so we wouldn't forget when they become available or miss the window!
- Note that your ticket will have a 15-minute window for you to enter; our ticket was for entry at 12:30-12:45pm. We entered right at 12:30pm and were walking out of the museum by 1:30.
- Visit Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (Museum of WWII Resistance) or the Jewish Historical Museum.
- Visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, or Rijksmuseum.
- Take a canal tour.
- Try the Heineken Experience.
- Tour the Royal Palace.
- Tour the "church in the attic"
- Visit the Tulip Museum.
Restaurant recommendations
- Hap-Hmm
- Moeders
- Stork
- Wilde Zwijnen
- Box Sociaal
- Café de Oude Wester (nearby the Anne Frank House)
brussels pronounced bruss-suls
I was thrilled we found an Iceland/Norway cruise that visited Belgium. Sadly, our port ended up getting canceled, so we had an overnight in Amsterdam instead.
Although we didn't end up stopping here, here are the recommendations I found:
- Take a tour to Flanders Field in western Belgium (this is what I was hoping to do because of its WWI significance and the poem In Flanders Field).
- Visit Grand Place Cantillon Brewery (aka Brasserie Cantillon).
- See Manneken Pis (which is kind of weird... but apparently a tourist must).
- Visit the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.
- Visit the Place Sainte-Catherine Jardin du Petit Sablon.
- Tour the Palais Royal.
- Visit the Palais de Justice Atomium (+ restaurant).
- Tour Cinquantenaire & Triumphal Arch Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
- Eat at Maison Dandoy.
Amsterdam was our last real port... the next day, we woke up in Southampton, England for Disembarkation Day!
My husband and I elected to take our luggage off the ship ourselves, so we were off by 7:30am or so and on the shuttle to the Southampton Airport by 8am.
And with that, our 10-day adventure across the Norwegian Sea came to an end. It had been well worth the wait.
Would I sail on the Norwegian Prima again? Yes, absolutely.
While I can understand other people's complaints about the ship, the issues they described either didn't affect us or ended up feeling insignificant to our overall experience.
I also really loved this itinerary... especially Norway (if you couldn't tell from all the nearly identical photos).
Whether you're thinking about booking an NCL Northern European cruise, wondering about the Prima, or planning to visit any of these countries on your own, I hope this review helps! Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments!
love from
Thank you Sarah for your thoughtful insights. My husband and I are going on the Prima next week! I can’t wait! ~ Jennifer
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it! Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions... I hope you have the best time!
DeleteWe took the same cruise just an earlier sailing. We spent 2 days in Akeryrui, took the same tour and loved it. We went to Flamm instead of Olden and did go to Brussels. The ship broke away from the moorings while we were on our trip to Brussels and had to sit on the buses till they could figure out how to get us back safely aboard. Loved the ship and the cruise. Will take another cruise on the Prima, probably 2025.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear other people liked the Prima! I really feel like the ship is getting a lot of unfair criticism.
DeleteHow did you like Flam? And I'm jealous you got to see Brussels, I was really looking forward to it. Glad you weren't injured!
Thank you for reading my review and for leaving a comment -- I really appreciate it!
Love Flamm. Took the railway to the top. Stopped at the waterfall along the way which is incredible, especially when the singing Huldra, beauty to lure you into the forest, came out. The Grand Centre in Brussels is incredible as was the Manneken-Pis, little boy peeing, the national symbol of Belgium.
DeleteGreat review! I have read many reviews of this cruise (we’re going in the opposite direction July 2024), and yours is the most helpful. Really appreciate the detail you provided. I plan to go to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam so I’m glad you included the ticket information. If I can budget another pair of Allbirds (my fave travel shoe), I will use your affiliate link. Your wardrobe is adorable; I am just a little old for some styles. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading and for the extraordinarily kind words, I'm thrilled to hear you found my review helpful!
DeleteHere is more information about how to obtain tickets for the Anne Frank House: https://www.annefrank.org/en/museum/tickets/ Our tickets were for entry from 12:30pm-12:45pm and we entered right at 12:30 and were walking out of the museum by 1:30pm. PLEASE NOTE -- when I went to pull the website link for you, I could no longer find the language about the tickets released the day of (the website used to say 80% of tickets for any date went on sale weeks in advance, with the remaining 20% of the tickets becoming available online on the day itself), so I did some digging and it appears they now release 100% of tickets in advance and no longer save 20% for the day of!! I will update the blog with that information but wanted to make sure I shared it with you directly, too, so that you knew to set a reminder to purchase 6 weeks in advance! My apologies for any confusion!
And +1 to your comment about Allbirds! I have worn mine everywhere, even Disney, and they stay comfortable. I even got my mom a pair for Christmas one year!
Thank you again for your comment, it really does mean a lot to me. Please let me know if you have any questions about the ship or itinerary!
Wow, thank you for the updated Anne Frank House ticket information. I am following your suggestion with a calendar notation for ticket release!
DeleteGrand circle tour was long and somewhat disappointing. South Tour looks much more scenic than what we experienced on the grand circle. Norway was awesome, ship was beautiful. Donna summer review was not a winner, looked like a high school musical. Rumors show was the best, don't miss.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback! That makes me feel a little bit better about our Golden Circle tour getting canceled, though now I wish I'd made time to see the Rumours show!
DeleteI still can't get over how beautiful Norway was. When did you sail?
And thanks for reading and for commenting!
Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed review! My family of 4 is set to sail on the Prima July 2024, and I am debating if we want to keep this itinerary with the Isafjordur port being unlikely to happen or if we should look at other options instead. Thanks again for the feedback!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, while I was really looking forward to both Iceland and Norway, it was Norway that truly took my breath away. So if you still have stops in Norway (and Belgium?), I think it's worth it, even without Isafjordur! Though it's possible they may have the dredging completed by July 2024.
DeleteAlso, thank YOU for taking the time to read AND comment... I really appreciate it!
This is great!! I'm so grateful! Thanks for taking all your time to publish your trip in such detail.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and for commenting! Please let me know if you have any questions about the ship or itinerary, I'm happy to answer anything I didn't get cover in the post!
DeleteThank you so much for your detailed review, it is very helpful. We are looking to book a cruise September 2024, but the reverse itinerary. Which side of the ship would be the best to book a balcony stateroom? Did you like deck 11 for your room, which side was it on and were you forward, mid or aft? Thank you for your opinion.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for being here :)
DeleteI think the reverse itinerary will be better because you will gain hours rather than lose them!
I'm not sure I'd say there's a side that's better - the ship docks on both sides. I would just watch out for staterooms marked "partially obstructed," since that could be an indicator of the water or dry slides.
And I really liked being on Deck 11! I dislike spending time waiting for elevators and like stretching my legs on the boat, especially with so many big meals, so I prefer to walk or take the stairs whenever I can... and being on Deck 11 felt perfect for that because it felt so in the middle of everything -- I could easily take the stairs down to Deck 8 to get to the Infinity Pools or Indulge Food Hall, or I could take the stairs up to Deck 17 for the Observation Lounge.
Thank you for your thoughts. Happy travels!
DeleteI thought of one more thing that might be helpful! I've heard people sometime complain about noise in rooms with balconies or near the elevator, but we never hear anything (despite occasionally sleeping with our balcony door open to hear the waves). We were farther from the elevators this time, but even when we're right off the elevator lobby, we don't hear anything.
DeleteI asked my mom, who was on Deck 9, how she liked it or if she heard any noise, and she said that while she didn't hear any noise, she did wish they'd been a little higher up for better views.
Hope this helps, and happy to answer any other questions that come up for you!
Thanks for the detailed review. We are wondering about the Vibe area on the ship. We have been told the weather maybe too cool to enjoy it. Most of our traveling companions are doing the spa for a week. I like that the Vibe has it's own private bar and hot tub. What do you think, we are going July 25-August 4th. Do you think the weather will prevent us from using the Vibe?
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for reading and for commenting!
DeleteThat's a great question about NCL's Vibe Beach Club. Here are my thoughts... My husband and I debated purchasing passes but ultimately decided against it (not everyone in the rest of our group would have wanted to spend the funds), but I remember seeing the space (maybe from the stairs/decks above? Can't remember) and thinking it was a really beautiful space, lots of room, a private bar. It was VERY empty the few times I checked it out, I don't remember seeing anyone in the space, just NCL staff chatting to each other as they set things up or cleaned the bar.
SO, it's up to you. It's a gorgeous space that's definitely intended for warmer weather itinerary. But if it's warm enough, that means other people have the same idea. On the Iceland/Northern Europe itinerary, it probably wasn't warm enough to REALLY make the most of it... but then again, you might have the space to yourself because everyone has the same thoughts about it not being the right weather. And on our itinerary, there were definitely days we spent by the pool relaxing and drinking (though only one of those days I actually wore a swimsuit), and my husband tries to spend time every day in a hot tub. So it could be worth it if you're someone who doesn't like crowds or waiting for a lounger or fighting for hot tub space.
I asked my husband, to get another perspective, and he said, "If it's the Iceland itinerary, I don't think it's likely to be warm enough for it to really be worth the cost. In a warmer weather itinerary, I think it would be a great buy."
FWIW, if it had just been my husband and me, I might have pushed a little harder for us to buy the passes, but we didn't want to be separated from the rest of our group.
I also checked some Reddit posts for additional opinions and found these comments:
- "We upgraded to the Vibe Beach Club on the Prima for our sail out of Reykjavik to Southampton and it was completely worth it. The temps were in the 40s - 50s in Iceland and the hot tub made us completely forget about it....until it was time to get out. Small.price to pay, though. We asked our cabin steward for robes (recommended to do so) and we would just hop out, wrap up in the robe and high-tail it back to the room. Much nicer to towel off in the room We counted perhaps 30 different people over the course of the 10 days. There was always room in the hot tub and a place to sit."
- "If anything, it’ll be better. We had vibe access during a summer cruise on the Escape and while the loungers, umbrellas and bar were all nice, it was frustrating that the only water feature was a hot tub that was useless to me since we were in the Caribbean."
I know this is long but I hope it helps!
Hi Sarah! I've really enjoyed reading this thorough review. My son and I are doing this trip in reverse as a high school graduation trip next summer. The Golden Circle tour is exactly what we want to do in Reikjavik, especially the dive between the tectonic plates. Can you share the name of the company you used?
ReplyDeleteI also noticed you guys did a lot of independent tours (vs the ships). Were you ever concerned about not making it back on time and missing the ship departure time? Thank you!
Hi there, the trip sounds like such a lovely experience for y'all!
DeleteWe booked both our Golden Circle and South Coast tours through Arctic Adventures. I think for our Golden Circle tour, they coordinated with another company to handle it (our final details were through BusTravel Iceland), but everything for our private South Coast tour said Arctic Adventures (and we had the BEST time -- our guide was lovely and knowledgeable and went above and beyond ensuring we had a positive experience).
When we were considering snorkeling Silfra, I read these blogs that I wanted to share in case they're helpful for your planning!
- https://www.theblondeabroad.com/snorkeling-silfra-fissure-iceland/
- https://www.onegirlwholeworld.com/europe/silfra-snorkeling-iceland/
- https://www.ourescapeclause.com/thingvellir-silfra-snorkeling-iceland/
And to answer your second question: While running late IS always a risk when booking excursions through external vendors, we personally weren't worried. The way we look at it, most of these companies have been coordinating their schedules with the cruise ships weekly or even daily for years and their businesses wouldn't survive if they didn't get you back in time. And there were always at least a few other people from our ship, which also gave me comfort/peace of mind. But if you are worried, you can always look for excursions that end much earlier than you need to be back on the ship, to ensure you have a buffer/plenty of time!
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions, and thank you for reading and commenting!
Thanks! Super helpful and I will definitely check out those links. He is PADI certified but momma can barely swim, so I want to make sure he goes down with a group that includes an experienced dive master. Good perspective on the cruise excursions, I didn't think about it this way.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to thoroughly detail this particular cruise and the excursions!! We are leaving in June to go on almost the exact trip, but we are leaving out from London. Question for ya, was the weather ever nice enough on the ship to lay out in the sun or was it always kinda too chilly for the outdoor pools? I really feel overwhelmed with trying to pick the right excursions, I just don’t want to miss out but also don’t want to be on a rushed schedule the ENTIRE time!! Also, is tipping a thing in the different countries? I heard they usually don’t tip in Iceland, but not sure if it was true. Do they take the US Dollar if so? Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteHi there! You are going to have such a great time, I really think going from London to Reykjavík is the better direction.
DeleteWe definitely spent time outside by the outdoor pools! It was a little chilly and misty in Iceland, but we got (perhaps unseasonably) warm weather in Norway. There were definitely a few days where we were all sitting in lounge chairs by the pool in normal clothing and even one day (in Ålesund) where I put on a swim suit to sit outside (though I think I kept a towel nearby for when the sun dipped behind clouds so the air felt colder). And my husband used the hot tubs every day.
It's my understanding that tipping in Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, and England is nowhere like it is in the U.S., though I do think American tourists are slowly starting to spread our tipping culture (or maybe that's just because tip touch screens are so easy to implement). In my experience, you don't need to tip in Iceland (your bill may already include a service or gratuity charge), in Norway (which is already a pricey country), or in the Netherlands (where it's appreciated but not mandatory), but in England it's becoming more common to tip 10% or round up a restaurant bill. You should be able to use your credit card in most places (check if your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee, which is often 3%!), but if you're paying in cash you'll likely need to pay in the local currency.
I completely get it about the excursions -- if you can, I would have at least 1-2 cities where you don't have an excursion so you can just explore at your own pace. There are also excursions that are much shorter/don't take up the whole time on land, so you can get those in while still being able to wander solo.
I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Hello Sarah, great commentary and photos. I am cruising the opposite itinerary from yours and am hoping we cross the Arctic Circle north of Iceland…did you?
DeleteHi there, I actually couldn't remember, so I asked my husband. He said yes but that as far as he could remember, the ship didn't acknowledge it in any way (e.g., no announcement that we were crossing the Arctic Circle in case anyone wanted to take a look). So I'd recommend paying close attention and if possible confirming with a crew member when the ship is expected to cross.
DeleteI hope you have a wonderful trip!!!
Hi there! Loved reading about your trip and thanks for providing so much info and tips! Have a few questions for you regarding Norway excursions at all 3 stops: 1. In Alesund, we were thinking about booking the Hjorund Fjord Cruise offered through NCL. Heard it's the prettiest of all the fjords? Any feedback here? 2. In Geiranger, we are debating between visiting the Herdal Farm Tour vs doing the RIB Boat Tour on the Geiranger Fjord. Any feedback from these tours from other guests on your cruise? 3. In Bergen, we cannot decide if we should do Norway in a Nutshell or finding a RIB boat tour of the fjords. So hard to decide where to do boat tours vs on-land tours. Although your chasing waterfalls tour sounds great, we are worried we will be sick of waterfalls after spending 4 days in South Iceland before the cruise. Lastly, is it totally safe to book outside tours...heard stories that some people miss their boat cruise vs through NCL, they will hold the boat until you return. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSorry, forgot to ask if you heard any feedback on these two Iceland excursions through NCL: Dynjandi Waterfall & Local Village in Isafjordur, Iceland AND Jewels of the North in Akureyri, Iceland.
Delete1. ÅLESUND: I'm unfortunately not familiar with the NCL Hjorund Fjord Cruise BUT I did some digging and found this post by someone who toured Bergen, Ålesund, and Geiranger on the Prima who did this tour!
Deletehttps://journeyswithsteve.com/three-days-in-spectacular-western-norway/
"The initial part of the journey took us along the waterfront residential areas of Ålesund, followed by quaint and colorful farms and villages. The further we traveled inland, the mountains became more dramatic, reminding me of the Swiss Alps, with occasional waterfalls cascading down the mountains. My only disappointment with our excursion is the size of the boat, and the number of people on the tour. It felt like there were too many people booked for the size of the boat, and many of the people had to sit inside on the lower level away from the windows. We were lucky that we could grab a spot on the open deck to witness the beauty."
I'll add that no matter which tour you end up booking, I hope you have time for the Aksla Viewpoint in town... I could not get enough of that view!
2. GEIRANGER: The same blogger above reviewed an RIB Boat Tour in Geiranger (though it sounds as though he booked through Viator, not NCL):
"RIB Boat tour – A great way to experience the fjord is to take a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) tour. A RIB boat is a lightweight, open air high performance boat that has inflated side air tubes to provide resilience at high speeds. The tours allow passengers to get close to the mountain sides and see the fjords and surrounding scenery from right on the water. The tours can range from one to two hours. Our group had an amazing time taking the 90 minute tour, listening to our guide tell the facts and stories of the fjord and history of the area."
3. BERGEN: Completely understand about the waterfall concern! My travel companions did the Norway in a Nutshell tour in Bergen, and they really liked it (and did see at least one waterfall). My mom said: "Yes, I definitely would recommend it! I remember it being a little scary for me, I think the train had some sheer drop-offs, but the views were amazing."
4. NCL tours vs. non-NCL excursions: I would never want to state that it's 100% safe to book excursions outside the ship. You're right that booking through NCL offers more peace of mind in case anything goes wrong (but the trade-off is that NCL's are usually more expensive than ones offered by third parties). However, we've never had a situation where we were worried we wouldn't get back in time. My husband's view is that if these companies have been doing these tours for years, they won't take any risk, as they don't want any reputational damage and for business to suffer if they can't get people back in time. But if you're going to book third parties, I would only pick reputable ones that have stellar reviews and that give you enough of a buffer to give you some peace of mind.
Continued...
Delete5. ISAFJORDUR: I found this comment about the Dynjandi Waterfall & Local Village tour on Reddit:
"For Ísafjörður we did the Dynjandi Waterfall & Local Village. Beautiful scenery. The village was cute and fun. The tour guide at the village lived there but he can be very busy so I’m not sure if you’ll get a chance to have him tour the town and his fish making factory."
And I found this comment on a Cruise Critic review:
"The Northwest is where even Icelanders consider remote and unbearable. It’s colder and geologically older, and in many ways it resembles Norway because of the many fjords. The star attraction in the northwest is Dynjandi, the crown jewel of Iceland's countless waterfalls because of its extraordinary scale and unique layered drops. Though it's only a short 40-minute ride from the port, it appeared that it did not get the attention it deserves among fellow passengers. Isafjordur is more an expedition and adventure hub than a leisure destination, so if you are not interested in Dynjandi, there aren't an awful lot of things to do other than mountain hikes and bird-watching trips. Parts of the mudslide dams close to the town centre also serve as an observation deck to offer a better view of the town."
6. AKUREYRI: I looked up the NCL Jewels of the North excursion and it sounds as though it features many of the same spots we went to (the waterfall Godafoss, the craters of Skútustaðir and Lake Mývatn, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, and the hot springs at Namaskard). So while I don't have feedback on that specific tour, I absolutely think all of the locations are worth visiting! I only wished we'd had longer at each stop.
Speaking of Lake Myvatn, find out if midges (gnat-like bugs) will be in season at the time of your cruise. They were AWFUL, just constant swarms around our head. If they are in season (I believe May/early June and then late July/August, but I'm not sure), I HIGHLY recommend a mosquito net hat! (I think the gift shop at the lake sells netting, too.)
--
I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi. We are taking this cruise in May 2024. We are new to cruising so found this very helpful. One question is how dressy are the restaurants on the ship? We will try minimize buffets and have 2 ala cart restaurants included in our package. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you love cruising! We took our first cruise in 2021 and were immediately hooked, we're about to book our 6th!
DeleteThat's a good question about dress code for the restaurants. I feel as though people are pretty casual but put together (e.g., no ripped or hole-y jeans).
To double-check, I looked up what the NCL FAQ says about dress code:
"Dress cruise casual anytime during the day, in the buffet and in most specialty restaurants. For women, it includes summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, shorts, jeans and tops. Khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts are fine for men. Swimwear is acceptable at the buffet and outdoor restaurant, but a shirt or a cover-up and footwear are required.
Be sure to pack a sweater — the air conditioning can be chilly. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear shorts in all our restaurants.
Please Note: We want you to be comfortable, but tank tops for men, flip flops, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips are not permitted in main dining rooms or specialty restaurants.
Dress smart casual in our more upscale specialty restaurants. For women, it includes slacks or jeans, dresses, skirts and tops. For men, it's jeans or slacks with a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes."
I hope this is helpful!
Thank you for such a great review. We sail this same itinerary on Sept 22 (but Geiranger instead of Olden). We are staying 3 nights in Reykjavik prior and staying 3 nights in London after cruise. Your review has given me so many ideas as to what we want to see. We are looking for tours that do not require a lot of walking as my in-laws will also be on this trip. I am also looking for waterfalls for my mother-in-law to see. Our main reason for this trip is to chase the Northern Lights (my mother-in-laws dream is to see them).
ReplyDeleteI have heard great things about Geiranger!
DeleteI think 3 nights in Reykjavik is a great amount of time, I wish we'd had one more day.
If you need London ideas, I've written about 2 trips here:
https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2022/09/travel-diary-london-england-including.html
and
https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2023/02/travel-diary-4-days-in-london-england.html
Highly recommend Churchill War Rooms, we've gone on both our trips to London! If anyone in your group is a Harry Potter fan, the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour is worth it, although it's outside of London and requires some travel.
And you can search NCL excursions on the NCL website by activity level (on the left-hand column). They're ranked 1, 2, or 3 in terms of difficulty, and each excursion should say what to expect in terms of the terrain, amount of walking, etc. You may also be able to search third party excursions by difficulty level. You might also be able to rent scooters from the ship (we tried to look into it for my aunt after we boarded, but they'd all been reserved by then), although I'm not sure you can take them off of the ship. Personally, I always like the Hop On Hop Off buses - pretty much guarantees you'll see all the "must see" spots, it's an opportunity to rest your legs, and you can listen to the audio to learn about the city you're visiting!
I hope you see the Northern Lights, that is one of my dreams as well!! Some day!
Hi Sarah, We are booked on this cruise for this summer. Your blog post has been extremely helpful! I was wondering if you had any recommendations on dining times-we also are interested in attending the shows in the evenings. We are usually early risers so we do not want to be eating after the shows and I cannot find a schedule with times for the entertainment and don't want to miss out nor be eating too early or too late!
ReplyDeleteSo it really depends, but I feel like shows started anywhere from 6:30 to 9pm, so you’ll probably be safe in general if you aim for 5pm or so. However, the ship will leave the ship’s Freestyle Daily newsletter at your door every evening, and you can check that for show times the following day and plan your day that way!
DeleteI hope you have the best time, please let me know if you have any questions!
(FYI, I deleted my original comment because for some reason I wasn't signed in, and I didn't want to confuse you by having it look like another anonymous user had answered.)
Hi there, I wanted to follow up and let you know I posted a follow-up Q&A on the Prima, and in it I include some photos of the Freestyle Daily that might be helpful for you!
Deletehttps://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2024/04/norwegian-prima-q-answering-questions.html
Here are some of the show times according to the newsletters from my trip:
- Summer: The Donna Summer Musical started at 6:30pm with another show at 10pm.
- The Price is Right started at 7pm with another show at 9pm.
- Shane Hampsheir: Bublé & Friends started at 9pm.
Hi Sarah, we are considering booking this cruise for July 2024. Can you let me know if you booked a room in The Haven or if you booked a regular balcony or suite. Most of the better reviews I see online are those that booked in The Haven so I'd be happy to know that you booked outside The Haven and still had a wonderful experience.
ReplyDeleteHappy to answer this one :) We booked a regular cabin, no Haven!
DeleteThank you. Appreciate the feedback and all your information about this cruise.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if you have any other questions, I'm happy to help! I can try to track down some Haven reviews from the Prima if you'd like.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have a question about Reykjavik.. We scheduled the Golden Circle Tour, but my family wants me to change it to a South Coast Tour. I know you went on the South Coast tour. Did you happen to feel like it was a lot of time waisted because it took too long to get there by vehicle? I didn’t know if we only have one day in Reykjavik, if it’s worth the time. If so, do I need to pack anything specific for the glacier hike?
I wouldn't say that I felt like it was a lot of time wasted, but it WAS a lot of time in the car. However, that didn't bother us because my husband and I had just landed the day before, so we were still adjusting to the time change, and the other 3 in our group landed that very morning (our tour picked them up at the airport) -- so we all took advantage of the time in the car to nap!
DeleteYou don't need to bring anything special for the hike, my husband and I brought our own hiking boots (because we knew we wanted to hike in Norway, too), but the others in our party rented hiking boots from the tour organizer, which worked out fine for them (and my husband and I could have gotten away with sneakers on the hike in Norway, since it was mostly paved).
I find the Earth Trekkers blog to be enormously helpful, they've done the Golden Circle tour so you might be able to read through their different experiences to see which you would prefer! https://www.earthtrekkers.com/iceland-travel-guide/
Great review … we are considering this cruise for June 2025. Wondering what we should budget for the extra excursions. We are Canadian so with the exchange this is already a very pricey trip!
ReplyDeleteHi there, I'm happy to try to help!
Delete- Our Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon admission was 28,900 ISK each (before it was cancelled and refunded).
- Our private South Coast tour was 237,450 ISK for 5 people, which included our glacier hike and gear. (I think it was 170,000 ISK for 5 people without the glacier hike.)
- Our Akureyri tour (booked through Viator) was probably 150ish USD each.
- We did not do an excursion in Alesund but paid for our aquarium tickets and the Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
- We did not do an excursion in Olden but hiked on our own. However, NCL did offer an excursion for this hike, and we crossed paths with them toward the top. But we were glad we didn't pay.
- Our Bergen tour (booked through Viator) was probably 150ish USD each.
- We did not do an excursion in Amsterdam but paid for the Anne Frank House and the Verzetsmuseum (Museum of Dutch WWII Resistance).
Meals in the countries on the itinerary (particularly Iceland and Norway) can be pricey, but if you're looking to save money, you can at least eat breakfast and dinner on the ship. In some ports (like Olden), I think we could have easily gotten back on the ship for lunch and then disembarked again in time.
I hope this helps, please let me know if there's anything else I can answer!
Going on this cruise but out of London end of may. Will you post again your excursions you chose to do in each spot traveling with 2 sons 17 and 20. Hoping the fjords dredging to be finished. Is this a time you said the gnats were in season? Also wondering about the weather ?
ReplyDeleteThat's going to be such a nice trip with your sons!
Delete- We purchased a Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon tour in Reykjavík through a third party (Arctic Adventures): https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/golden-circle/golden-circle-afternoon/
- We purchased a private South Coast tour in Reykjavík through a third party (Arctic Adventures).
- We purchased a highlights sightseeing tour in Akureyri through a third party (Viator): https://bit.ly/448GeGL
- We did not do an excursion in Ålesund but visited the aquarium on our own and rode a Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
- We did not do an excursion in Olden but hiked on our own. However, NCL did offer an excursion for this hike, and we crossed paths with that group toward the top.
- We purchased a waterfall tour in Bergen through a third party (Viator): https://bit.ly/3DT6J8h
- We did not do an excursion in Amsterdam but visited the Anne Frank House and the Verzetsmuseum (Museum of Dutch WWII Resistance).
The other people in our party did 3 NCL excursions (in Ålesund, Bergen, and Amsterdam).
For the midges at Lake Myvatn, I THINK they're in season May/early June and then late July/August, but I'm not sure). There is a gift shop at the lake that I believe sells mosquito netting if you end up wanting it!
I thought the weather on our cruise (July 27 through August 6) was excellent. It was a little dreary and overcast on our stops in Iceland, but the weather in Norway was perfect, same with Amsterdam. Partially because of the weather and partially because of the waterfall mists, I think I always carried a light jacket or rain jacket with me but there were plenty of times I didn't need either (as you can tell from the photos where I've taken them off!).
Thanks for all the info! We're doing this cruise this summer. Do you by any chance have pictures of the Freestyle Daily for each day? - Tara
ReplyDeleteI do have nearly all, if not all, of the Freestyle Daily newsletters (I am sentimental and like to save them), but I'm not sure if I can add images to a comment, and each Freestyle Daily is at least 4 pages (2 pages front and back). Let me try to figure that out!
DeleteI just realized, I've been meaning to make a follow-up Q&A post featuring all the questions I've received on this post, so when I do, I'll include photos of the Freestyle Daily and will drop the link to the new post here!
DeleteHi Tara, I just published the Q&A that includes some photos! https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2024/04/norwegian-prima-q-answering-questions.html
DeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for this post! It has been extremely helpful as we plan our trip. We have booked our air through NCL, adding on the two extra days allowed on each end. However, they will not tell us our flight schedule until approximately 30 days before travel. I noticed you did both the Golden Circle Tour and were also planning the South Coast. They both seem to be full days. Did you have enough time once arriving in Reykjavek?
I'm so glad my review was helpful for your planning!
DeleteWe arrived at KEF in Reykjavík at 9am, so we used Arctic Adventures to pick a Golden Circle afternoon tour that departed at 12noon (the other option was 8am) and lasted for 6 hours: https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/golden-circle/golden-circle-afternoon/
Our South Coast tour the next day was a private tour (also booked through Arctic Adventures), so we were able to customize the pick-up more than if it'd been a regular group tour. The guide picked us up in Reykjavík at 8:30am, then went to KEF to pick up our remaining guests, who landed at 9am.
We were VERY lucky in both cases that neither flight was delayed!
We stayed at the Fosshotel Reykjavík: https://www.islandshotel.is/hotels-in-iceland/fosshotel-reykjavik/
ReplyDeleteI forget why we picked this hotel, but we had no complaints! Room and bathroom were both fairly spacious, and the lobby was really nice -- lots of sitting room -- with a restaurant and beer garden attached. The only potential negative is that it's not in the main area but in the business district. However, it was still walking distance to the main area (around a 25-minute walk), and we love to walk (especially when the sun is still out at 10pm!), and I'm sure it was cheaper than staying in the main area.
Hi there - what time could you get on the ship? We are flying on a red eye and want to see if we will be able to get on and have a nap before the ship leaves port.
ReplyDeleteHi there! Our boarding time was 1:30pm, but we arrived very early (at 10:30am) because my husband likes to try to get aboard the ship as early as possible, and we were on the Prima by 11:30am! I don't know if it's always so smooth, but this was one of the better embarkation experiences we've had with NCL.
DeleteHi Sarah! Thank you soooo much for the detailed and interesting review. There are generous informations! We do this cruise on opposite way next August. There is something I wonder that you might help me with. I want to book some excursions that are not sold by the ship. I wonder... how long does it takes approximately to get off of the ship when we are at port of call? In the NCL informations, I read 2 hours but it seems a lot to me. But I'm new to cruise, maybe it's normal, I don't know. Also, I booked an interior room because it's cheaper and I said to myself that if I want to see the landscape, I would go on decks. Now I read *many* complaints about the lack of space for observation on the ship. Based on your experience, should I keep my first idea or I really should bet on an upgrade to at least a window or a balcony? And is it cold to see sit outside during this cruise? Thank you for helping if you can! Caroline
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, I hope you have a great time on your cruise.
DeletePer my understanding, with regard to disembarking, the ship does need time after docking in order for the local port authorities to clear the ship and allow passengers to exit. However, the "arrival times" listed on your itinerary factor that time in and thus should be the time you're allowed to disembark the ship. Because of lines of other passengers waiting to disembark, that CAN be a lengthy process, but in my experience, I don't think it's ever taken us more than 30 minutes (if that) to exit the ship! The 2 hours that you're seeing online may be referring specifically to Disembarkation Day, the final day of the cruise.
When it comes to the "lack of space for observation," if I had to guess, I would guess people are talking specifically about the Observation Lounge on Deck 17 -- because it WAS smaller than I expected. However, we were still often able to get seats for our whole group (7 people). That said, there is still plenty of actual observation space on the Prima! It does depend on the weather (if it's TOO cold and misty, people will stay indoors) -- but I would just keep an eye on the weather forecast and pack accordingly (we used towels from the pool to wrap around ourselves as a "blanket" when necessary).
Hi Sarah! This is all such great information. We are going in July / August and are planning on visiting Anne Frank's house but I am curious about the times. Do you remember if ship time was based on Iceland? Amsterdam is two hours ahead of Iceland and so when it says the Prima is there from 07:00 - 17:15, I am not sure if that is local time or an established ship time from when we departed in Iceland. I don't want to get tickets for the wrong time! Thank you so much. - Mark
ReplyDeleteHi! I hope you have a lovely time on the ship, and I'm glad you're going to visit the Anne Frank House. Just don't forget to set a reminder to purchase tickets when they go on sale six weeks in advance of the date you want! Otherwise, you won't be able to go.
DeleteIn my experience with NCL, the ship adjusts so the ship time will be local. We purchased tickets for entry between 12:30 and 12:45pm, and we had plenty of time to get there even though we *walked* from the port to the museum. The rest of my family had 1:30pm tickets, I think, and were able to fit in their 90-minute canal tour beforehand.
Thanks Sarah! - Mark
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! My husband sent me your review back in January when we booked our trip. We will be doing the reverse trip. I can't wait. I have been rereading your review as we get closer to our trip in July. You gave so many great tips and ideas. You gave me ease of mind with booking excursions that are not with NCL. We have been on many cruises but never booked an excursion that was not with NCL. The port times on this cruise are long, so hopefully, that helps with returning on time. Also, most times we have seen dock runners, it is individual people and not a bus load. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI am concerned with amount of clothing I take. I tend to overpack and since the clothing will be heavier (not a Caribbean cruise) I don't want my suitcase to be overweight! I was thinking of taking a Lands End Wanderweight Ultralight Packable Hooded Long Down Jacket and a rain jacket. Do you think that will be enough? I will also pack a sweatshirt or 2 so I can layer.
Thanks again for your great review. I CANNOT wait for this cruise! - Paula
Hi Paula, I really appreciate your comment, I'm so glad you found this information helpful! And you are going to have a great time, especially doing it in reverse.
DeleteRegarding the excursions, I don't think we've ever been on a non-NCL excursion where there wasn't at LEAST one other person from our ship. So I hope that gives you some peace of mind, too!
I am an overpacker, too, so I feel your pain! I definitely didn't need as much as I packed. I think having the down jacket, a rain jacket, and a sweatshirt will certainly be enough, especially since you can layer with the sweatshirt if you need to, like you mentioned. I would just double-check the weather right before you leave to make sure there aren't any surprises, like extremely cold or rainy or hot weather. But we had much warmer weather than I expected, you can see in my photos that although I sometimes started with a lot of layers, I'd end up taking a few off. And the people around me are similarly prepared with layers (in the Norway photos, many folks are carrying rather than wearing their jackets).
I really hope you have the best time, Iceland had such diverse landscapes and Norway was just so pretty!
Thanks again, Sarah! I keep reading and re-reading your review and pick u a new tip each time! You were very thorough! We were supposed to do the Land of the Trolls in Alesund but the road had a rock slide!! so it is closed. Was there much to see walking around the town?
Delete12 days! Can't wait!!!
Yes, I definitely think there was enough to see just in town!
DeleteI always like checking out the stops on the local Hop On Hop Off buses because that's a pretty easy way to get a sense of the highlights (since the itinerary will likely include anything that's worth seeing).
And I LOVED the aquarium (if only for the seals) and could have spent hours at the Aksla Viewpoint, taking in the view (and I believe there's a café there, too). We had no regrets about not doing an excursion!
I hope you have the best time!! Please let me know how it goes!
This review was the best I have ever seen. We have cruised many times but mostly in the Caribbean, but we will be doing this cruise in July 2024 only in reverse. We have never been to Europe or any of these countries and did not see this addressed but will we need to bring any local currency? Thank you
ReplyDeleteI think doing it in reverse is the right move!
DeleteI'm so excited for you, first trip to Europe! I said in another comment that Iceland had so many diverse landscapes, and all of our stops in Norway were stunning in different ways. Plus I just love Amsterdam! (And I'd been really excited about Brussels, still bummed the port was damaged during our cruise).
We did not bring any local currency with us, we used our credit cards everywhere. If you plan to use credit cards, double-check with your financial institution as to whether they charge a foreign transaction fee (if they do, it'll likely be around 3%, which can add up -- but there are some cards that waive the fee). Also, if you do end up using an ATM outside the U.S., it's possible both your bank AND the foreign bank will charge you a fee (usually $5-10 each), so I would also check with your bank about that, just to make sure you don't have any nasty surprise charges at the end of your trip. Lastly, while tipping isn't typically expected in Europe, it does seem as though America's tipping culture is slowly spreading (likely due to having iPad tip screens so accessible). However, expectations are still MUCH lower than in the U.S. because European restaurants pay their staff differently, so if you tip, you do not need to tip as much as you would in the U.S. -- for example, in England, it's my understanding that it's common to simply round up. I would google the tipping culture in each country to help you decide what you're comfortable with.
Are you going to spend a few days in London ahead of your trip? If so, I highly recommend the Churchill War Rooms!! And if you're a Harry Potter fan, you can tour the Warner Brothers Studio where the movies were filmed (though it's not in London proper, it's a bit of a trek).
I have London diaries here in case they help!
- https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2022/09/travel-diary-london-england-including.html
- https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2023/02/travel-diary-4-days-in-london-england.html
- https://www.abreathoffreshsarah.com/2023/02/travel-diary-warner-bros-studio-tour-in.html
And thank you SO MUCH for your kind words! It means a lot to me.
Hi there! I have another question regarding what to wear and pack for excursions in Iceland and Norway. Is it really cold where we need a thermal tights, waterproof pants, and a very thick coat or can you get away with normal tights, layers and a light puffer? And during the daytime on the boat, is it warm enough to wear a swimsuit, swim and wear a light over up? And for the dinners, is it too cold to wear summer dresses and a light cardigan or jacket? Sorry first time on a cruise and I have no idea what to expect. I have been to Iceland before in June and know it’s very cold when the sun is not out. I just want to make sure I pack correctly for this trip. Hoping it’s going to be sunny and a nice temperature but I think this is wishful thinking :).
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, thermal tights/waterproof pants/a thick coat weren't necessary! I'd debated bringing waterproof pants to protect against any mist from the waterfalls, but I opted against it and just having my raincoat was sufficient.
DeleteI did bring fleece-lined leggings, but I think I could have gotten away with normal leggings. I only brought a light puffer coat, a raincoat, and some sweaters, and that was sufficient. During our glacier hike in Iceland, I even ended up taking off my puffer coat and just wearing my tank top (however, I do get hot easily, so YMMV!).
I packed 3 dresses, a swimsuit, and shorts, and I was able to wear the swimsuit in Ålesund (and put on shorts once we got back to the ship), shorts and a tank top for our hike in Olden and a dress once we got back on the ship, a dress in Bergen, and a dress in Amsterdam (though I brought a sweater with me). I will say that the weather was warmer than I'd initially expected so definitely check the anticipate weather before you leave, because I'm not sure if what we experienced was the norm!
For the boat itself, the inside is basically like an air-conditioned store or restaurant. So I think you're good to wear dresses if you have a cardigan or light sweater to throw on top if you need it. My husband loves the hot tub so he spent some time every day in his swimsuit!
So helpful thanks! So with all the pools and waterslides there… do people wear swimsuits on the ship and lay out at all? Just trying to envision this and pack properly! Thanks!
DeleteYes, we definitely saw people in their swimsuits and laying out by the pool, and I sat by the pool in a swimsuit at least once, while my husband got in the hot tub every day.
DeleteThank you for your detailed analysis of your trip. Question for you. How far is the Anne frank museum from the NCL port? We will be arriving in Amsterdam at 8 and I would like to visit the museum first. Thank you
ReplyDeleteI believe we disembarked at Cruise Port Amsterdam, and it was a ~30-minute walk for my husband and me to the Anne Frank House. However, there is also the option to get taxis or buses from the terminal.
DeleteIf you'd like to visit the Anne Frank House, tickets are ONLY sold by the museum (per my understanding, I don't think it's possible to book tours through 3rd parties) and they go on sale exactly 6 weeks in advance. If you don't get tickets in time, you'll be out of luck because they no longer release tickets in batches the day of the way that they used to.
My husband and I set a calendar reminder 6 weeks in advance of our Amsterdam port to be sure that we would remember to buy them, highly recommend doing that!
I am going on this cruise, alone, in September 2024. Thank you so much for sharing this wealth of information to which I will keep referring
ReplyDeleteI hope (and think) that you will have the best time!
DeleteAre you staying in a studio? The Studio Lounge was really nicely decorated, spacious, and relaxing, and it seemed like a great way to meet other people cruising solo if you wanted to!
Please come back and let me know how your cruise goes!
One question. How far is the cruise port from downtown Reykjavik and is there a shuttle service?
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's about a 10-minute drive or an hour-long walk.
DeleteI'm not sure about the shuttle service -- we ordered a taxi through our hotel, if I remember correctly. I tried to take a quick look online but found some conflicting information, so I think your best bet is checking directly with NCL!