We Spent 9 Nights on One of the Most DISLIKED Cruise Ships - Our Brutal Review 

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Breakfast ending at 9am is wild! That alone would take a star off the rating from me.

If I’m on vacation and can’t have breakfast after 9 I am going to be very very unhappy.

Breakfast rush usually doesn’t even start until 8am unless going on an excursion. Ending at 9am is a sign of cost cutting. ✂️ They know when the rush is but ending early, they're being cheeky.

“I’m sweating like Ronald McDonald in Burger King” 😆😂🤣 Happy Belated Birthday, Ben!

We’d have no chance of making it to breakfast if it finished at 9am! We like to have a lie in and relax on holiday 😅

Yes, 9am is absolutely too early to end breakfast. Dinner on the balcony looked wonderful. We are so happy for both of you.

9am is definitely early for breakfast to finish,on previous cruises that’s the time I sometimes woke up 😂

No 9am is absurd. 10:00 am should be close time. Especially what you pay for Haven. Thank you guys for your review. My wife and I are travel agents and appreciate your reviews.

Breakfast ends at 9am at budget hotels in the US.. and it's always totally slammed at 8:55 lol. I prefer a later breakfast and a snack instead of lunch!

I don't think that 9am for breakfast is early in general, but when they're putting on entertainment until 1 or 2 in the morning, it definitely is!! I'd say 10 is more reasonable on a cruise at least.

"No, no, put your leg down, nobody wants to see your leaning tower..." was not a joke I expected, and made me burst out laughing.

You two are bloody good at this. Well worth watching.

Closing for breakfast at 9am is silly.

David was in rare form with his zingers and I laughed out loud several times. As usual you did a good job of your ship review. I think that inaugural voyages are usually problematic and somewhat subpar. I always wait a year or two before trying a new ship and find the price has gone down, the service is superb, the shows and performers are in sync with each other and the ship is still as beautiful as day one. She still seem like a fabulous ship and those destinations are on my wish list. Thanks guys for taking us along...I'll be on this voyage in a couple years.

I know that there was a lot of negative things on this ship but I must say it still looks wonderful to me . The food aspect is a huge factor for us and just having a lot of outdoor seating . It’s a shame you paid so much money and it wasn’t worth the price but hope you still had a wonderful birthday 🥳 cruise . Great video as always guys .

You guys crack me up! Really love your vlogs for the humor and the honest, balanced reviews. Thank you.

The evolution of cruising and cruise ships has changed a lot since the 1980s. I think most people would've been bored with cruising even in the early 2000s, when the purpose of cruising was just that: to CRUISE, slow down, chill out, reignite relationships with plenty of loving. Dressing up and looking good was a big factor, and eating really good food. Nowadays the energy on most commercial cruise ships especially of those with families, is just too frenetic to achieve the level of chill/nirvana of CRUISING that I know from decades ago. Excellent food and beautiful dining locations, plus comfortable beds in tranquil canins, will remain my top priority. Thanks for your review.

Ben, you crack me up when you spoke Italian...MSC ship names. 😂 Thanks for the laugh and the great video! Hi David. 👋

Just got off an 8 night cruise on the Viva. Absolutely loved the ship and fell back in love with cruising again after a couple of pandemic nightmares.

I've honestly never rushed to a new Ben and David video so fast... I'm normally never this early 😂

“Throw an egg at me and call me an Easter Bunny,” Hilarious!! ❤😂

You both always give such fun, honest reviews! The outside areas are way too small! Happy Birthday Ben!

Ok so I got back from our Prima Haven trip. You guys I swear… that was one of the best vacations we ever had. We had a massive balcony with hot tub and multiple seating. The view from the aft was stunning! Service was A+ and food was outstanding. Considering what other cruises charge I say our Haven experience was well worth it!

Happiest of birthdays Ben! Loved the always honest and through review

Early breakfast ending is such a bummer. Vacation is time to sleep in your rest up

I haven’t been able to see you gents for awhile and coming back to this has made my day. I laughed so hard! One of your best yet. Thank you, and happy belated birthday, Ben!

I like to sleep in on my cruise too unless I have an early morning excursion, cause I NEVER get to sleep in.

You two just make me smile and I love the detail in your videos! Looks like a great time ☺️

Happy Birthday Ben🎈. Thank you for your reviews guys. I love hearing your opinions. I never never think your being negative. I love your honesty. Love to you both.

Agree…on vacation if breakfast is over before 11:30 I’ll be cranky!

I absolutely love your channel!! It’s without a doubt the best cruising channel there is!! The humor you add to your videos always makes me smile. You’re the perfect example of a lovely marriage❤ THANK YOU for all you do.

I love all your videos. They are great! Thank you for the review. The food looked great!

🎉🥳Happy Birthday Ben!🥳🎉Another great video. Thanks for the continued education and adventure. ❤

This came up as a recommendation I wasn’t even looking for cruise videos. I just stuck it on but you two are so likeable so I’m now a subscriber ❤xx

Thanks for the extra video! Repositioning cruises are becoming more and more the thing for me.😉

I agree about breakfast time, recently on our cruise we missed breakfast as well because it ended too early. Loved what you had for breakfast so that might encourage me to get up earlier for sure.

Great video! Your videos are guiding us to what will be our first cruise one day

My first cruise was on the Norwegian eons ago and it was awesome. Glad to see the food is still up to par. Love your videos. You are my new guilty pleasure. ❤🛳️🛟⚓️🚢❤

Great video boys. The food looks amazing - the decor lovely but yeah, the public space - what's that about! Glad it appear that they have learnt and are making the next ships bigger.

Love your videos. Your evaluations are the same as mine would be and I really connect with these videos. Great job!

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

Great reviews, Ben and David, and I agree with you on so many points. We were on Prima in August in Northern Europe. It's a beautiful ship overall and our balcony cabin and bathroom were lovely and spacious. No complaints about the cabin. We felt like MDR food was excellent and buffet food was mostly tasty. Service was excellent. We avoided the nickel-and-diming. Sadly, some great venues like Sid's Pour House are too small, like you reported about the Viva. Many lovely spaces, such as Hudson's MDR. But true, like you stated about Viva, there are areas that are choppy and set up in odd ways. We did NOT like having to pass the "HAVEN ONLY" elevators as we left our aft cabin and had to walk to the next set of elevators. It creates clear "classism" and we just disagreed with that set up. The program was VERY full and offered so much for everyone. Saw "Donna Summer" and it was okay. We are seniors but not on our last leg so we don't use go carts and water slides. Feel like so much space devoted to those items that we don't use. Due to being in Northern Europe, had lots of misty and rainy days keeping the outdoor areas wet. Some days they were completely closed down due to rough seas. We think the Prima should be in warmer climates so all her outside spaces and be maximized.

We've just come off 11 nights onboard the Getaway and have the same problems with that ship. The venues while great are far too small for the amount of passengers and difficult to get in. Lots of things we wanted to see but just couldn't get in. People were queueing for places like Syd Norman's and Illusionarium an hour and a half before they opened. Loads of entertainment took place in the Atrium which was far too small an area. Half the pool deck taken up by the slides.

Only found you recently, but absolutely loving your videos! Have only done one cruise from San Francisco to Alaska . Look forward to more videos as well as having fun going back over previous videos . Thanks again for you energy and content . 🎉

Nice video. Thanks for your review. The outdoor seating with all the lounges and sofas looks really nice. That atrium looks beautiful but I could see what you mean. I appreciate your reviews.

I’ve rewatched this video 3 times and found it so informative each time

Another excellent review! Love the humor!

By the way, my husband and I just love watching you two take cruises together. You're just so sweet and wholesome together. We have never taken a cruise but my oldest son and his wife went on a Disney cruise with their daughter and his mother in law. So we are thinking about taking one for an anniversary. Our 25th is coming up soon.

I have to admit I find all that rather conflicting. I am in love with the ship looks and style, but I think I'd agree with your assessments about certain venues being too small. That's something I noticed about the Norwegian Getaway on our last cruise. Some areas of the ship were empty while others - like Sid Norman's - you couldn't get into unless you showed up hours early. (Something I'm not very good at on vacation.) I really appreciate the brutal review. You two are so positive about everything I take extra notice if you find something lacking. So thank you and keep them coming!

Love your honest review. We took the prima in may, hated the small venues, tiny buffet, lack of seating in buffet and indulge area, no maps, no guidance as to where to go. Only 1 large room, only 1 show. That was my 6th ncl cruise. JUst finished jade in athens, escape to canada, loved the escape

Ben simply cannot say fravorite enough times for me..warms my heart!

Awesome cruise review!! Happy birthday btw..thxx Ben & David!

I just love you guys and enjoy your description of the cruises, food and all your experiences. You are both true foodies…me too.

Outstanding! Never heard of you guys before, this came up on my recommended. Ended up watching the whole thing, which I almost never do.

I have just arrived in KL (late in the night) - & whilst I am pottering about (fiddling with unpacking bits) = such a joy to have you 2 lovely fellows to ‘keep me company’!🎖🎖🎖😎😎😎 Glad Ben had a very happy Birthday!🥂🥂🥂🍾🍾🍾

Thank you so much for your videos. Living vicariously through you!

As always i totally enjoyed traveling with you's ❤️🤗

Happy Birthday Ben!!🎉🚢🍾🥂

Looks like a happy birthday Ben cruise!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for honest reviews.

Well happy belated birthday. Thanks for taking us on your trip.

Love your posts-thank you.

Happy Happy Birthday!! How fun to be on a cruise for your birthday! ❤️🎊🎉❤️

Great food , staff, and ports. They almost have it right. Get rid of loud go carts and make the top deck a spa with hot tubs.😎 Happy Birthday 🎂

Just back from a viva cruise in September, we love NCL but this class of ship needs to find its Mojo and who it is trying to appeal to in our opinion. Our balcony suite was really lovely, spacious, light and great sized shower. The Dining venues were great, varied, beautifully styled and the food was fantastic as usual, and we got our free at sea package as usual, which includes 2 speciality dining bookings each, premium drinks package up to $15 per drink which covers 99% of drinks, $50 dollars off one passengers tour each day, plus basic Wi-Fi for 1 guest. Outdoor space was wonderful but very busy on sea days and it’s the first time I’ve seen some many people booking sun beds early morning then leaving them empty for half the day, so selfish despite signs up saying items will be removed if left alone after 15mins, staff do not enforce this. Agree re venues - too small, and the atrium is lovely but odd design, totally agree with you! The racetrack takes up far too much space! Silly addition, I never saw anyone going in to laser tag either. We ended up staying on the ship on some port days(visited before) and it was fab, felt we had the ship and the infinity pool to ourselves and a respite from very noisy groups who have total disregard for other people. The observation lounge on 17 was our favourite for after dinner drinks,. The crew were fantastic as usual, glad we didn’t book haven this time (too expensive) it really didn’t look up to par compared to the haven we stayed in on on the Bliss last year.Thank you for a great video and review as usual, love you guys! 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 ps happy birthday Ben, my birthday was on board too, wee bit older than you pair 😂 nice wee cake delivered to our table at the le bistro (fabulous food) and the decor felt like something out of the set of beauty and the beast, those chandeliers! Unfortunately we couldn’t get a booking for idols when we got onboard, just playing one night, we tried before we came on board but the British site was saying not available till October! we asked to if we wanted to stand at the back which might be available! and Beetlejuice wasn’t to our taste and got slated from people we chatted to afterwards but that’s just a sample so might be fine. Loved the jersey boys and Pricilla etc which we had seen previously on NCL, yip looks like they are cutting corners. Oops sorry I normally just write a line or two! Ps again we got room service breakfast occasionally and it was served later than 9am - odd for the Haven not to do the same.

I went to Antibes when we tendered in Cannes. It was lovely and there was a small Picasso museum.

Outright ridiculousness to close breakfast time at 9 am...solely, for this reason we'd reconsider this ship and / or the cruise line!

Happy birthday 🎂🎈🎊 Loved the Video ❤

We’ve been on both Holland America and Carnival cruises where breakfast in the MDR ends at 9 am and by 10 at the buffet, which took adjusting to. It might, indeed, be a cost cutting measure

“Throw an egg at me and call me the Easter Bunny.”

I agree about the breakfast timing! A bit late, perhaps but Happy Birthday Ben!

I started by watching these guys review cruises. But now I’m just here to listen to Ben come up with his delightful made-up expressions when he eats something delicious!

I think I preferred the DIY Selfie Rome tour you both did last week than this selfie shore excursion . Love watching you guys

I loved your video, as usual. The food looked delicious. I was in the Prima and it was fantastic too.

Breakfast closes @9am? Whew child who wants to wake up that early on vacation? Guess I’m going for brunch!

It looks like a nice ship, I do like the cabins, but I would not be tempted to travel on it. It is just too big for me. I would prefer a smaller ship, much smaller. Thank you for the video! (I think the reason they moved the statues was because time was causing them significant damage and they needed the protection of a museum.)

just rewatched this cos of your excitement around the birthday!! WELL DONE DAVID!!!!!! Fab sharing your excitement Ben!

9am to end breakfast is crazy. When I was working on ships on a seaday I liked to catch the last breakfast buffet that was open until 11:30

I just love watching you both, such a crack up, you compliment each other 😂🤣😭 Cheers guys👍❤️

9am is like noon when I'm on vacation... SUNRISE watching the ocean sail by.

HAPPY (belated) BDAY, Ben!!! Oh my--we're going on Prima for *14 days* in early December (couldn't resist the deal) and I'm worried it will be a horrible, frustrating 2 weeks. Guess I should've waited to see the broader verdict on this class of ship from those I trust. Oh well, at least it will be warm in the Caribbean! Love and trust your channel, even if the news is bad for me. :(

Hi Ben and David, love all your videos. We were on the NCL Prima in June 2023 and I totally agree with your comments. I loved the food on board however the ship layout and design are terrible and venues are small. The buffet food was excellent however there was never enough seating for everyone. I am glad NCL is taking the feedback and redesigning their future ships. I always look forward to watching your awesome videos and like that you tell the good and bad points of the cruise. 😊

"... it's all the names of the MSC ships, that's all the Italian I know" .... OMG, that got a serious laugh out of me!! After "bellisima" and "magnifica" , I was like, wait a minute .... and then you actually admit it! Bravisimo!😆

I was there this summer. Amazing!

We just got done with our first cruise ever! It was on the NCL Sun. We are older, so we purposefully chose a smaller ship. There was really only one show that we were interested in seeing, and it was different rock songs from the 60s to 90s or so. The dancers were amazing. They really brought the energy. They had the whole place tapping feet and singing. I loved NCL. Their staff was amazing. We had a balcony and went to Alaska. Would have liked to see more of that dance team.

I must say that breakfast for me is between 10 and 11 lol. Or even later. So with it ending at 9am, is way too short. Thanks so much for all these videos guys. Love watching you!!

I have zero interest in ever cruising yet I’ve been watching y’all’s videos all day. So entertaining and Charismatic :D

Hey Ben and David. Happy Sunday. Nice they have a menu and a mini buffet. Can’t go wrong with breakfast. Nice observation lounge with treats. QUESTION: what exactly is free at sea? I actually like the color scheme of the regular cabins and suites compared to the Haven. The room service meal looks great. Glad it’s still warm. 1/2 of me wishes there were microwaves in the staterooms; but the other 1/2 of me knows it would probably be a disaster with the amount of plates etc brought back to the room by some. Great vid guys. Thanks for sharing this wonderful birthday cruise. Have a great week 🤗

I love how cheeky David is, he makes me laugh hahahaha

Hi Boys! Loving your bubbly personalities, funny, jet honest reviews and travel tips! We are considering, to do a Mediterranean cruise, for our honeymoon next year, but never done one before and need your help 🙏🏽 Would you please consider, doing a top 3 and 3 bottom, luxury (less then 800 passengers and premium less then 3.000 passengers reviews, of cruises you have done? Would be very interested, in you opinions and explanation why. Hope you can help. Keep up the good work! Best wishes to you both, from the newly wed boys.

I do appreciate your honesty!

I love your videos, very thorough and honest reviews of ships, facilities and itineraries. However I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a gym facility review on your videos. I do need my elliptical workout in the morning. Thanks guys.

Happy birthday Ben! David you can surprise me with a suite too! I appreciate this video and answers my question of this new NCL ship. I did like everything on NCL Encore to Alaska from last October 2022

I think ending breakfast at 9 am is ridiculous. I’m so pleased the food was good for you as our trip on the Breakaway to the Mediterranean this past spring was AWFUL in all the restaurants including the specialty restaurants. I spent my summers in Cannes growing up and it was wonderful to visit it after many years. But, yes, it is expensive! We found the same problem with the size of the venues on the Breakaway and were never able to get into Sid Normans, or any of the other venues. It was such a bad trip that we were given a FCC. We are going on the Epic next year so I hope NCL redeems itself. I think we only had two shows too that were repeated throughout the 16 DAY cruise to accommodate all the guests because the theatre was so SMALL! Hope you had a great birthday!

Thanks for the vid. I’m sailing in July, hope it all goes well.

We were on the Prima in July on a Northern Europe tour. I wished we could have used those outside space but, since it was the North Sea it was cold. So everyone was inside which made those venues small. I also refused to stand in line to get into a 100 seat music venue. I loved the itinerary but the ship was not suited to the cold in that no outside areas were usable.

Happy Birthday, Ben🎉🎂🍦

I brought my sons 17 & 26 on the Prima. After not cruising for over 20 years, I must say it was very different. I loved it though. Every ship has it's pros and cons. Next is MSC. Keep up the great videos. I learn so much and love your banter. Thank you from Connecticut.

loving this video! you two are so funny

This is very enjoyable video ❤