From Premium Flights to Caribbean Shores: Our NCL Prima Cruise Adventure

Flying Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic

In late November 2025, we set off on a wonderful trip, flying direct from Manchester to Orlando with Virgin Atlantic. As Adam is 6ft4, comfort on long-haul flights is definitely something we prioritise - and Premium Economy turned out to be a fantastic choice.

Looking around the cabin, we were fairly certain we were the only passengers not heading straight to the parks - there were Mickey t-shirts and ears everywhere!

The extra space made a huge difference (even for my shorter legs!), and the cabin had a relaxed, comfortable feel throughout the flight. The onboard experience was great too. The food on the outward flight was really enjoyable, and we were even treated to a Magnum ice cream mid-flight - always a win!

There was also a brilliant selection of movies and music to browse through. I happily worked my way through playlists featuring everything from trance and pop to The Cranberries, The Clash and The Killers.


A Beautiful First Morning in Florida

Our first 24 hours in Florida started perfectly.

Within five minutes of arriving at our hotel we heard the classic: “I just love the English accent!” - something we seemed to hear quite a lot during our stay.

We began the day with a sunrise walk along Cocoa Beach. We’re not usually morning people, but watching the sun rise over the ocean made it completely worthwhile.

Afterwards we stopped at a lovely little café for breakfast - burgers, fries and the most delicious mochas (has to be done whilst in the States!). During our wander we spotted a sea turtle moving through the bushes, while at the same time being loudly shouted at by a rather unimpressed squirrel! We also spotted a few osprey flying overhead.

It was only a short visit to Florida this time, but everyone we met was incredibly welcoming. It’s definitely somewhere we’d love to return to.
 

Life Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima

Our cruise was aboard NCL Prima, one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer ships launched in 2022 - and we absolutely loved it.

The ship is modern, stylish and packed with fantastic dining options, entertainment and activities.

We really enjoyed the different spaces onboard, and there was always somewhere to suit the mood - whether you were looking for something lively (NFL and Thanksgiving made for quite the atmosphere onboard, especially in The Local Bar & Grill, where sports games were being shown), or somewhere quieter to relax. I particularly enjoyed the whiskey orchard press in this bar, even though I'm not usually a fan of whiskey. For those who enjoy a Guinness, or even a Baileys, you can also get it here too.

One of our favourite spots was Indulge Food Hall, a collection of small artisan-style food outlets serving everything from tacos to Indian dishes. You simply order via a tablet at the table and everything is freshly prepared. The curries, poppadoms and biryani were particularly good! It was also a lovely, quieter place for breakfast compared with the main buffet.

We also returned to one of our favourite cruise restaurants - Cagney’s Steakhouse - which we first experienced during a previous Norwegian cruise to Alaska. Once again, the steak was cooked perfectly.

Another highlight was Food Republic, serving Asian-Latin fusion tapas-style dishes perfect for sharing. During one of our visits to Food Republic, a small group were seated next to us when a young teenager approached the gentleman at the table beside us and gave him a high five (or maybe it was a fist bump!). We were a little puzzled but didn’t think too much of it at the time. To this day, we still have absolutely no clue who he was.

We only came across about four people from England during the entire cruise, so part of us wonders if he might have been someone famous… but we’ll probably never know!

And if you enjoy activities, Prima definitely delivers.

There’s mini golf, ping pong, game shows and Broadway-style entertainment (Absolutely loved Burn the Floor: Bosanova Beat - an amazing high energy dance show). Thrill seekers can even try The Drop - the world’s first free-fall slide at sea, plunging 10 storeys down the side of the ship. There are also duelling slides and even a three-level race track.

For us though, one of the simplest pleasures was relaxing on our balcony as we sailed into beautiful Caribbean destinations - especially compared to the chilly weather back home. The atmosphere onboard was wonderfully relaxed. You could dress up for dinner or keep things casual, which made the whole experience feel really comfortable.


Great Stirrup Cay - Norwegian’s Private Island

Our first port of call was Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island.

The island is beautifully set up with soft white sands and crystal-clear water - perfect for a relaxing beach day. Food and drinks are easily available, so you can simply settle in and enjoy the surroundings.

We’re not usually ones to spend a full day sunbathing, but after such a busy few months we embraced the slower pace and it was exactly what we needed. Parts of the island were still under development during our visit, but it was already a lovely place to spend the day.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Our original itinerary included Montego Bay, but after a hurricane a couple of weeks earlier the schedule changed and we visited Ocho Rios instead. In a few places you could see areas that had been affected, with rebuilding already underway. It was clearly a difficult time for many, but it really makes you appreciate how resilient these communities are.

We spent the day wandering around the town, discovering colourful photo spots and quirky local shops. There was also a nearby beach where visitors could hire sun loungers and inflatables. We tend to prefer exploring rather than staying in one place, but this stop would be perfect for travellers wanting a relaxing beach day. Next time, we’d probably book an excursion in advance to experience more of the destination.  


Grand Cayman - A Little Slice of Paradise

Grand Cayman quickly became our favourite stop of the entire trip.

After hopping on a local shuttle bus with one of the friendliest drivers we’ve ever met, we made our way to Seven Mile Beach.

At first the main area of the beach was busy with families and couples. But after walking just 7-8 minutes further along the shoreline, we suddenly found ourselves almost completely alone. And it was paradise. Soft white sand, stunning turquoise water, and the most peaceful atmosphere.

We genuinely fell in love with the island and the warm, welcoming people. It’s definitely somewhere we’d love to return to - and I’m still convinced we spotted Zac Efron cycling nearby!

Cozumel, Mexico - A Very Wet Welcome!

We arrived in Cozumel, Mexico. It was the cloudiest day with a bit of drizzly rain, but hey, we were in the Caribbean!

We headed over to the colourful Cozumel sign along the pier to take a quick selfie. Just seconds after we’d taken the photo, a huge wave came crashing over the sign - and straight over us!

There were quite a few people nearby who had witnessed it, and we were all in fits of laughter. Trust our luck - only a few minutes off the ship and we were already completely drenched.

After drying off, we explored the shopping area near the port. It does feel quite purpose-built for cruise visitors, but there were some lovely local shops and even street entertainment.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying some delicious Mexican snacks - even though by this point we’d already eaten our way through most of the trip!

If visiting Cozumel again, I’d definitely recommend booking an excursion to explore more of the island beyond the port area.

Would We Sail NCL Prima Again?

Yes, absolutely!

We loved the ship, the relaxed atmosphere, the food, and the destinations.

It was a brilliant way to experience multiple Caribbean islands in one trip. After the cruise we continued our travels with a few nights in New York before visiting friends in Toronto and exploring the Christmas markets - which I’ll be sharing more about soon. Crazy that we needed to pack for all weathers, from flip flops to thick jumpers.

Cruising is an incredible way to travel, but every cruise line, ship and itinerary offers a very different experience. Choosing the right one can make a huge difference to your holiday.

If you're thinking about a cruise and would like to chat through the options, feel free to get in touch - I’m always happy to help you find the one that’s right for you. :)