Norwegian Prima is the first ship in Norwegian Cruise Line's Prima/Leonardo Class ships. Weighing in at 143,535 tons, the Prima is situated between the Gem Class and Breakaway Class of NCL from a size perspective. The ship is new and was just delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) at the end of July 2022. It is obvious that externally the ship is very modern and futuristic looking based on her bow, funnel and stern design. The ship does not have a traditional bow and actually slopes backward, almost like an X-bow design.
Internally, the Norwegian Prima is unlike the other ships within the NCL fleet. The ship is filled with many intimate spaces which allow passengers to be disbursed though-out the ship. Gone are the massive showrooms which are replaced by the Prima Theater and Club. The 700 seat venue performs many duties including acting as the ship's main show lounge for evening performances of "Summer-the Donna Summer Musical, staring Kimberly Locke from American Idol" until January of 2023. The Prima Theater and Club transforms late night into the dance club with DJ music and during the day hosts a multitude of activities, such as the Price Is Right Live Show. The 3 Deck Penrose Atrium is packed with high-end shops, the reception desk, the future cruise desk, bars and live music. There is a Comedy Club, Cigar Lounge, Casino, Barber Shop, Internet Cafe, a virtual library, where guests can use their e-reader, phone or tablet to checkout any of the library's extensive collection of books and magazines, as well as a Photo Gallery for those captured memories.
The Norwegian Prima has 19 bars and lounges. Bars are located poolside, in showrooms, lounges, restaurants, the Cigar Room and more. Some bars specialize in whiskey, wine, beer and general liquor. There is also The Local Bar & Grill which is the ship's 7 X 24 dining establishment. You will never go thirsty on-board the Norwegian Prima.
NCL has always been a pioneer when it comes to dining and dining experiences. They were the first to offer open seating dining on large cruise ships and the first to create various international eateries on board their ships. Dining in some of these specialty restaurants is included in the cruise fare, while others require an additional cover. The Norwegian Prima is no different offering, Italian, Mediterranean (New), Japanese, Mexican, French, Pub Food, Cagney's Steakhouse, the Surfside Cafe Buffet, and a New eatery called Indulge. Indulge offers food selections made to order from 11 different types of cuisine, including Texas BBQ, Indian, Chinese, Spanish, deli, Grilled favorites, soups and salads, and desserts. You can mix and match, choosing items from each menu to form your meal or to sample between you and your table mates. The majority of the Indulge Food Hall is free except for Coco's Desserts and Starbucks. It should be noted that your food is ordered via a tablet located on your table and the wait staff will bring your food as soon as it is ready. It was mentioned that on average you need to wait approximate 4-6 minutes for the freshly prepared food to arrive - not long at all. The Indulge Food Hall dining experience is new to NCL (but was originally introduced on Virgin Voyages to the cruise industry). Indulge seemed extremely popular on my Norwegian Prima visit.
The Norwegian Prima is jam packed with activities offering something for everyone. Here are just a few of the activities.
Norwegian Prima has many types of staterooms to offer passengers including inside, outside, balcony; multi-room suites with balconies and the multi-bedroom exclusive ship within a ship concept - "The Haven". All staterooms are well appointed, neat and clean with sufficient space for up to 2 weeks travel. In most staterooms, the beds can be configured as a queen or 2 twins. Each stateroom has a small sitting area, dressers, desk and under bed storage as well.
Accommodations include the company's signature luxury ship–within-a-ship complex: The Haven by Norwegian; along with Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; and many options for families, multi-generational groups; spa enthusiasts and more.
The bathrooms are larger than those found on most other cruise ships - Nicely laid out, the bathrooms have a sink, storage, shower and toilet. There are shelves and/or a small cabinet
for toiletries storage.
The differences between most staterooms is the square footage, location and the connection with the outside. Larger rooms are more expensive. Staterooms with aft or bow views demand a premium.
Suites and the Haven - cost more than balconies, which cost more than outside staterooms, which cost more than inside staterooms. Solo cabins are also sold at a premium - but not as much as
other cruise lines charge.
It is all up to your preference and budget.
The Haven (High End Suites) is arranged differently than on other older NCL ships, The 107 Haven Suites span 8 decks along the outside of the ship. The balconies tend to be larger for these suites. Some suites are multi-room and offer private bedroom(s) and sitting areas. There is a private elevator to get to deck 16 & 17 where the Haven resident's private restaurant, bar, Infinity pool, hot tubs, sun deck and more are located.
The Mandarin Spa is a sanctuary located forward on the ship. Here guest can treat themselves to various Spa treatments included Stone Therapy, Deep Muscle Massage, Aroma Seaweed Massage, Bamboo Massage to name a few. Spa guests can also relax in the the Vitality or Salt Floatation Pool where they can immerse themselves in the tranquil sounds of the two-story cascading indoor spa waterfall. . There are various Saunas as well as The Ice Room and Thermal Stone loungers you can enjoy.
The Norwegian Prima is a very kid friendly ship, with an extensive kids program. The ships kids program is held in separate spaces and the children / young adults are divided into 3 age groups with age appropriate activities. The little ones may dress-up like pirates and take part in the ship's parade, while older kids may take part in a ship wide scavenger hunt. For younger kids there is also the splash-academy as well as a good size water park with jets of water shooting up from the deck. Activities are available for a good chunk of the day and into the evening hours. In addition to the organized children's program, there are many sports oriented activities and other family related activities to keep everyone busy outside of the kids program. There is a Virtual Reality video arcade (available for a fee) where kids can fine tune their gaming skills. Mini-golf, ping-pong, water slides, dry slides, the Prima Raceway (fee), and more.
Please note that some activities listed above (like the more dramatic slides) have minimum height and age requirements and not all children will be able to participate.
In conclusion, the Norwegian Prima represents the next generation of cruise ships. The Prima has the feel and decor of a land-based resort. The ship is packed with amenities that will appeal to the family market. Some notable amenities include: the Prima Speedway, water slides, free-fall slides, pools, whirlpools, Ocean Boulevard, a plethora of dining options, bars and an array of entertainment options.
The food is very tasty with a wide selection of international, vegetarian and meat options. Indulge Food Hall and the Mediterranean Restaurant are nice additions to NCL's current line up of cuisine. The food presentation is outstanding.
With 13 categories of staterooms/suites, there is surely an accommodation to please everyone. The Prima's staterooms and bathrooms are larger than those found on most mass market ships.
The Haven guests have spacious accommodations with a bedroom, living or sitting room, large bath and balcony. Haven guests have a dedicated dining room, lounge, bar, hot tubs and infinity pool overlooking the wake of the ship. Concierge service is available. The Haven is ideal for those looking for a more upscale experience.
Overall the Prima has something for everyone and is sure to please the entire family.
Norwegian Prima Basic Stats Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Name: Norwegian Prima Ship Class/Group: Leonardo Class Builders: Fincantieri Shipbuilders, Marghera, Italy Yard #: 6298 Length: 965 Feet Width: 133 Feet Draft: 27.85 Feet Speed: 20.5 Knots Year Built: 2022 Refurbished: N/A Year Entered Fleet: July 29. 2022 Country of Registry: Bahamas Tonnage (GRT): 143,535 Pax (basis 2): 3,099 Max Pax (w/Uppers): 3,894 Passenger Decks: 20 Number of Crew: 1,506 Officers' Nationality: Norwegian Cruise/Hotel Staff Nationality: International
13 Stateroom Categories Total Passenger Staterooms: 1,646 Haven: Owner Suites: 6 Haven: Courtyard Penthouse Suites: 58 Haven: Suites: 43 Balcony: 1,030 Window: 124 Inside: 385 Crew Cabins: 912
Entertainment Summer - Donna Summer the Musical Though January 2023 Noise Boys - Tap Dancing Show Casino Live Music Disco/Nightclub Go Cart Speedway - 3 Levels Mini Golf, Foosball, Ping Pong, Beer Pong, Shuffleboard... Galaxy Pavilion Virtual Reality Arcade / Rides Large Screen TV for Outdoor Movie Viewing Comedy Club Show Lounge / Theater - Seats 700
27 Regular and Specialty Dining Options Hudson Main Dining Room - Free Commodore Main Dining Room - Free Indulge Food Hall - 11 Cuisines - Free Le Bistro French Cuisine - Fee Los Lobos - Mexican - Fee Surfside Cafe' - Buffet - Free Hasuki - Japaneese - Fee Cagney's Steakhouse - Steak & Seafood - Fee Local Bar & Grill - Pub Fare- Free Food Republic - Various Int'l Cuisine - Fee Palomar - Mediterranean Cuisine - Fee Onda by Scarpetta Italian Restaurant - Fee Room Service - Fee
Spa / Wellness / Fitness Fitness Center Full Service Spa - Fee Massages: Deep Tissue, Seaweed, Stone, Bamboo, More - Fee Spa Pool with 2 Story Waterfall Spa Thermal Suite - Fee Thermal Lounge Chairs - Fee Sauna/Steam Room Beauty Salon - Fee Yoga Palates Fitness Track
Pools & Water Attractions 2 Infinity Pools 4+ Hot Tubs Kids Aqua Park Water Slides - The Wave - Tidal Slide Dry Slides - The Drop - Free Fall Slide Dry Slides - The Rush - Racing Slides Private Infinity Pool For Haven Guests Private Whirlpools for Haven Guests
Public Rooms 19 Bars/Lounges Prima Theater & Club Penrose 3 Story Atrium Comedy Club Cigar Lounge Barber Shop Shops/Boutiques Galaxy Pavillion - Virtual Reality Arcade Vive Beach Club Starbucks - Fee Digital Library Internet Center Reception Desk Next Cruise Desk La Terraza - Outside Area The Concourse - Outside Area Photo Gallery
Children / Teens Organized Age-Specific Activities Outdoor Children's Play Area Dedicated Teen Center Teen Programs Children's Pool Youth Staff Babysitting Available
Other Facilities / Services Elevators Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques Concierge Desk Infirmary/Medical Center Safe Deposit Boxes
The Haven - Luxury Suites Complex 107 Luxury Suites - Span 8 Decks Separate Infinity Pool Concierge Desk Separate Dining Room Separate Whirpools & Sunning Area Separate Bar Separate Elevators Priority Boarding, Shore Excursions and Disembarkation
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