Norwegian Introduces Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima set the standard for the line’s new class of cruise ships in 2022. The first of six Prima-class ships, the opulent ship provides a variety of facilities and activities that are sure to suit cruisers looking for the best of the best in the latest and greatest cruising experiences.

If you’re considering taking one of this new cruise ship’s upcoming world tours, here’s everything you need to know. Everything is set out for you — stateroom options, restaurants, activities, family-friendly areas, and more — so you can easily plan your next cruise.

But, before we get into the specifics, here are a few short numbers to help you compare Norwegian Prima to your other favourite cruise ships.

• Gross Tonnage: 142,500
• Length: 294 metres
• Passenger Capacity: 3,099 at double occupancy

While the ship is not as enormous as some of the other mega-ships that have lately sailed the oceans, Norwegian Prima has the benefit of being the first to provide a variety of first-at-sea experiences.

These sorts of activities, such as the ship’s three-level racetrack, three-story theatre-slash-nightclub, and the world’s fastest freefall drop dry slide, are guaranteed to entice both long-time and first-time cruisers.

The Norwegian Prima was delivered to the Norwegian Cruise Line in July 2022. The ship is the first of the new Prima-class, the cruise line’s first new ship class in over a decade. Fincantieri shipyard built the ship.

The ship also has several novels, first-of-their-kind venues and attractions, which contribute to the ship’s extraordinary construction. These include the 44,000-square-foot Ocean Boulevard that runs around the whole ship, the first sculpture park at sea, and more.

Staterooms

Norwegian Prima has a variety of stateroom options, including a few that you’ve probably never seen before. Because the ship is new, anticipate modern and sleek features that will make you feel like you’re vacationing in a luxury resort rather than drifting at sea.

Norwegian Prima staterooms are classified as…

• Interior staterooms
• Studio staterooms
• Oceanview staterooms
• Balcony staterooms

The studio staterooms are the ship’s most notable new feature. While they aren’t spectacular, they are a novel choice that will appeal to lone travellers.

The smaller accommodations are comparable to the inside cabin arrangement you may have seen on cruise ships in the past, but you also have access to a studio-guest-only lounge, where you may mix and mingle with other single travellers. These staterooms have a soothing, light blue and neutral colour scheme.

If the ship’s new studio cabins seem identical to inside staterooms you’ve seen elsewhere, the real interior staterooms on Norwegian Prima are a significant advance.

Interior staterooms are luxurious, sophisticated, and surprisingly spacious, with enormous beds, entertainment centres, vanities, closets, and other amenities that make you feel like you’re staying in a nice hotel suite rather than your usual interior cabin.

Oceanview staterooms have a similar look but significantly greater space, including a living area, workstation, and bar. Each bed is flanked by a huge circular window.

Meanwhile, the balcony staterooms provide even more floor space, with access to the furnished balcony via floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The neutral colour tone featured in the interior and ocean view cabins is upgraded in the balcony staterooms, with splashes of lively colours and wall paintings.

Suites

The suites on Norwegian Prima are divided into three categories:

• Club balcony suites
• Traditional suites
• The Haven suites

Club balcony suites are comparable to balcony staterooms, but with more space and access to additional Club-level privileges. Depending on the suite, classic suites include greater rooms, balconies, multiple bed configurations, butler and concierge service, and more.

The most tempting choice, of course, is Norwegian’s Haven, the ship’s VIP section with its own private sundeck and other public areas (for the first time ever, all of these public areas will feature sea views).

Rich, dark colour palettes that give the interiors an exquisite and upmarket atmosphere distinguish from the other suites of the Haven’s rooms.

You may anticipate lavish luxuries such as jetted showers, three bathrooms in a single suite, a dining room, an outdoor hot tub, and more depending on the Haven suite you book.

Restaurants

If you’re tired of the same old dining options on every cruise ship, Norwegian Prima’s culinary experiences will definitely blow you away. The ship adds nine additional food and beverage options to the cruise line’s menu for a more diverse selection.

In total, both new and familiar dining options are included:

• Palomar, the line’s brand-new Mediterranean seafood restaurant
• Hasuki, a new take on the classic cruise line hibachi restaurant
• Nama, a new sushi house
• Hudson’s, the reinvented main dining room with 270-degree ocean views
• The Commodore Room, the secondary main dining room, for upscale cuisine
• The Surfside Cafe and Surfside Grill, for self-serve casual eats
• Indulge Food Hall, the new and first Norwegian Cruise Line food hall with 11 different options
• The Haven Restaurant, for VIPs, eats in the Haven suites area of the ship
• Cagney’s Steakhouse, a long-time Norwegian favourite for American-style steakhouse fair
• Food Republic serves international cuisine
• The Local Bar & Grill, for pub-style food and beers, 24 hours a day
• Le Bistro, the line’s signature French restaurant
• Los Lobos, a new Mexican restaurant
• Onda by Scarpetta, an upscale Italian and seafood restaurant

Bars and Lounges

Just as Norwegian Cruise Line updated its dining list for this cruise ship, it also added some new features to its line-up of bars, lounges and watering holes. Here’s what you can expect:

• The Metropolitan Bar features zero-waste cocktails and sustainable wines
• The Belvedere Bar, for new takes on classic drinks
• The Penrose Atrium, a three-story, glass-walled spot to take the entire ship in, drink in hand
• The Whiskey Bar, a separate bar within the Atrium, where you can find whiskey-themed drinks
• The Observation Lounge, for taking in the sights off-deck while enjoying a drink and the company of your fellow cruisers
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge, for cigars and drinks
• The Prima Speedway Bar, where you can have a drink after visiting the first three-level racetrack at sea
• The Waves Pool Bar, for poolside cocktails
• Vibe Beach Club is a refined, adults-only atmosphere with lots of bubbly and no kiddos
• Luna Bar, where you can enjoy a cocktail while exploring the new Indulge Food Hall
• Soleil Bar for outdoor drinks with a view
• The Studio Lounge, for light drinks and light bites
• Syd Norman’s Pour House, for both music and drinks
• Indulge Outdoor Lounge, for drinks while you kick back on the sun deck
• The Haven Lounge & Bar, a VIP space for Haven guests only

Entertainment and Activities

As you can see, Norwegian Prima has a lot to appreciate, and it doesn’t stop with your cabin or suite or the various dining and drinking options. You’re not going to spend your whole trip lazing in your room or eating and drinking your way around the ship.

There are so many more things to do on Norwegian Prima that you should look at them. The following is only a sampling of what you may expect to discover on the Norwegian Prima.

Prima Speedway

Prima Speedway is the first three-level racetrack at sea. The racetrack is more than 400 metres long and 22% larger than Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships’ past racetracks.

This circuit is the place to go for high-energy thrills, with racers reaching speeds of more than 48 kilometres per hour.

Broadway-Style Performances

The first Broadway-style performance aboard Norwegian Prima is “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” a Tony Award-nominated production that serves as the ship’s headliner during its inaugural season.

The concert will take place in a new, three-story theatre with loads of special tech features that make for an immersive experience, and it will contain a variety of songs from Donna Summer’s career.

Game Shows in Real Time

Gameshows are available on almost every cruise line, but on Norwegian Prima, the game show experience is elevated to a whole new level with the interactive LIVE on NCL format, which allows passengers to participate in their favourite game shows and compete for prizes.

The Price Is Right, Supermarket Sweep, Press Your Luck and Beat the Clock are among the featured game programmes.

The Plunge

Another high-adrenaline attraction is The Drop. The 10-story dry slide is the first free-fall dry slide to attain G-forces greater than those experienced in an F1 racing car.

The Pavilion of the Galaxy

There are practically infinite ways to have fun in The Galaxy Pavilion. The Pavillion is an enclosed space where visitors can escape the heat and discover up to 14 activities, including virtual gaming, escape rooms, and a Topgolf Swing Suite.

Waterslides at Aqua Park

The Tidal Wave water slide, which is part of the ship’s Aqua Park and lets visitors on inner tubes catch a wave, is another new feature for this ship. The Drop and The Rush, two waterslides planned to debut in the ship’s Aqua Park, are also among the fastest water slides at sea.

Of course, the pool deck on this ship will include a regular pool, infinity hot tubs, a children’s section, and other facilities.

Improv At Sea

Want to see a performance but aren’t a fan of Broadway musicals? If you prefer humour to choreography, Improv at Sea, the ship’s comedy club, is the place to be.

Mandara Spa

For additional options to unwind rather than exercise, visit the all-new Mandara Spa, where Norwegian is introducing even more innovative services for cruisers.

The first charcoal sauna at sea, as well as an ice room, experience showers, a floating salt pool, and an infrared sauna, will be available at this spa. There are also new spa treatments offered.

It’s Tee Time!

On a cruise ship, you’ve never seen a mini golf like this. The brand-new mini golf course is tech-heavy and interactive, making it a delightful experience you’ll want to repeat throughout your trip.

Venues for Children

Do you need some peace? Your cruise does not have to be entirely family-oriented. During a sea day, everyone may go their own way and enjoy the ship’s amenities for all ages. Splash Academy, a Norwegian Prima kids’ facility, provides programmes and entertainment for elementary-aged children.

Norwegian Prima Cruise Lines

Norwegian Prima’s debut sailing season began with a series of eight-day trips in northern Europe, followed by Caribbean cruises in autumn 2022, before returning to Europe in summer 2023.