As the first of six ships in the Prima Class, Norwegian Prima is a 143,500 gross ton ship that is able to accommodate just under 3,100 guests at double occupancy. This new vessel offers guests a plethora of onboard activities, dining options, and one of a kind entertainment spaces. Of course, some of these activities are free and some will cost you extra money. After having sailed on the inaugural cruise, we put together our list of the Best Things to Do on Norwegian Prima.
Free Things to Do on Norwegian Prima
Relax on Ocean Boulevard
On Norwegian Prima, NCL has reimagined its Waterfront by doubling the space and adding a greater variety of experiences and dining options. The new Ocean Boulevard is 44,000 square feet long and wraps around the entire deck.
Ocean Boulevard offers guests a variety of unique spaces to relax and enjoy the ocean. Starting at the forward end of Ocean Boulevard, there is La Terraza. This lounge space is designed to be both spacious and intimate, giving guests a quiet space to relax and admire the views.
Continuing further aft along Ocean Boulevard, there is yet another new space on Norwegian Prima, Infinity Beach. Infinity Beach features two infinity pools, one on the portside and one on the starboard. This design puts these pools closer to the ocean than ever before for breathtaking ocean vistas while lounging in the open-air.
If that’s not enough, at the aft of deck 8 is the Indulge Outdoor Lounge. This relaxation space offers a variety of seating options, the Soleil Bar, and another great outdoor space to enjoy the views. This whole space has an upscale beach club-like feel.
Stroll the Oceanwalk
Also located on Ocean Boulevard is Oceanwalk. Similar to the Seawalk on Princess Cruises, Oceanwalk is NCL’s first glass walkway at sea. These glass walkways make guests feel as if they are walking on air over the water. They also make for great photo spots.
There is an Oceanwalk located on both the starboard and portside of Norwegian Prima offering two different view points. So, whether you are sailing the ocean or docked in a port of call, be sure to stop and enjoy the Oceanwalk while strolling this outdoor promenade area.
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Admire the Art Collection
On the starboard side of Ocean Boulevard, you will find another unique and upscale space on Norwegian Prima, the Concourse. This outdoor sculpture garden features an art wall and six art installations inspired by ancient mythology and abstract forms. These art pieces are valued at over $2 million.
The Concourse is a great space to relax and admire the interactive collection both day and night.
If you are interested in the other art works around the ship, you can make use of the interactive art guide. Simply scan the QR code located next to the art piece, and you will be directed to more information about the work of art. This is a great way to spend a rainy sea day.
Dare The Drop and The Rush Dry Slides
For all the thrill-seekers among us, The Drop and The Rush are certainly two of the best free things to do on Norwegian Prima.
At 10-stories tall, Norwegian Prima’s newest slide, The Drop, is the first free-fall slide in the world. This dry slide plunges 10 stories, reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line.
Across the way on the starboard side, there are two additional dry slides. The Rush is a pair of dueling slides where guests can twist their way down 10 stories. The Rush is certainly less intimidating than the Drop.
Both the Drop and The Rush slides make their landing down on Ocean Boulevard on deck 8. Of note, you are allowed to use a wearable camera on The Rush slide but not on The Drop slide. The height requirement for The Drop is 55 inches and The Rush is 48 inches.
Catch a Wave on The Wave
If waterslides are more your thing, Norwegian Prima has that too. On the starboard side of deck 19, you will find NCL’s first tidal wave waterslide and in fact the only waterslide on Norwegian Prima.
The Wave features gushing surfs where guests can ride an innertube to catch the perfect wave.
Unfortunately, the little ones won’t be able to ride this slide as the minimum height requirement is 51 inches. Though, there is a kids aquapark located nearby for more family-friendly water fun.
Or, there is the main pool located on deck 17. This area features a central pool and two infinity hot tubs with plenty of surrounding loungers.
Have Some Fun in The Stadium
The Stadium is another one of the free things to do on Norwegian Prima. This outdoor space features complimentary tabletop games. There are plenty of options including shuffleboard, pickleball, foosball, and beer pong (minus the booze).
With all the fun activities located here, your teens may never want to leave. We had a great time testing out some of these games, and we think this is certainly an upgrade to the typical sports deck found on most cruise ships.
Indulge at the Indulge Food Hall
Hands down, our favorite casual eatery on Norwegian Prima is the Indulge Food Hall. This aft located venue features 11 different eateries with both indoor and outdoor seating. So, you can choose to enjoy your food at a table, the bar, or perhaps outside in the comfy lounge furniture.
The best part is that most of these food stations are complimentary. Coco’s and Starbucks are the exceptions and are priced a la carte. Some of these stations even offer different menus for lunch and dinner. The Indulge Food Hall is also open for breakfast serving grab and go options.
The Indulge Food Hall features flavors from around the world. Q Texas Smokehouse, a specialty restaurant on a few other NCL ships, has found a new home on Norwegian Prima. This venue serves up Southern comfort food and barbecue favorites. The Seaside Rotisserie offers a wide array of rotisserie-cooked dishes like beef tenderloin, lamb chops, chicken legs, and vegetable kebobs.
Additionally, Nudls serves noodle dishes from around the world, from Italian to Thai cuisines. Tamara serves classic Indian dishes like chicken tikka, tandoori vegetables, naan, and papadum. The Latin Quarter serves classic Latin food with menu selections like totopos, guacamole, and tostadas. There is even a Tapas Food Truck in the Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima.
Take in the Signature Shows
The new 3-story transformational Prima Theater features two signature shows that you won’t want to miss. These shows do require reservations and can currently only be made once onboard the ship.
The first signature show in the Prima Theater is Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. This performance tells the story of Donna Summer’s rise to stardom during the 75-minute production and features more than 20 of the singer’s hits.
The second signature production on Norwegian Prima is Noise Boys. From the producers of The Choir of Man, Noise Boys is a tap dancing, beat-boxing spectacular.
Come on Down
If that’s not enough, the Prima Theater also features LIVE on NCL Game Shows. While the Price is Right was the only one running during our sailing other game shows are said to include Supermarket Sweep, Press Your Luck, and Beat the Clock.
The NCL edition of Price is Right was a lot of fun. Just like the television game show, cruisers get a name tag when entering the theater and have the chance to come on down to be the next contestant. With classic Price is Right games, spinning the big wheel, and the showcase showdown, this is a must-see show.
So, be sure to make a reservation as soon as you board the ship for your chance to win real prizes during this game show.
Enjoy the Views in the Observation Lounge
If you have cruised on any of the NCL Breakaway Plus Class ships, then you have probably spent some time in the Observation Lounge. This redesigned space on Norwegian Prima is all the way forward on deck 17 offering amazing views.
While smaller than its counterparts on other NCL ships, it provides a more cozy ambiance. It also features telescopes, some light bites, and a bar to order up your favorite cocktails while relaxing in this space.
If you are looking for a quiet spot to read a book or check some emails, this is the place to be. Though, the secret is already out, as you need to arrive early to score the prime seats in the house.
Savor Some Upscale Dining
On Norwegian Prima, NCL has revamped the entire main dining room concept. Now, the two main dining rooms, Hudson’s and The Commodore Room, offer a fixed menu for the duration of the cruise instead of the typical rotational menus. This elevated dining menu is expansive, with several premium options for starters, entrees, and dessert. Of course, you can order as much as you want with no additional costs.
At Hudson’s, guests can admire the 270-degree views while enjoying a variety of menu options, like crab cakes, clam chowder, and coconut shrimp for appetizers. For entrees, cruisers can create a customized pasta plate or enjoy classics like New York strip steak, Veal Oscar, and grilled mahi mahi. Hudson’s is also open for breakfast and lunch.
The Commodore Room is the second complimentary main dining room. This venue is smaller than Hudson’s and is only open for dinner. Hudson’s and The Commodore Room both offer the same fixed menu during the duration of the cruise, so it doesn’t really matter which of the two venues you choose. The Commodore Room does feel more like a traditional cruise ship main dining room than Hudson’s though.
Seafood Buffet, Need We Say More?
The Surfside Café and Grill is just one of the casual food options on Norwegian Prima. This complimentary buffet serves up plenty of choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with indoor and outdoor seating available.
On one day of the cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line hosts its famous seafood buffet in the Surfside Café. Shrimp, crab claws, oysters, and other seafood selections are plentiful here. If you are a seafood lover then you will certainly enjoy this seafood buffet on Norwegian Prima.
Pull Up a Seat at The Local
The Local is a favorite on any Norwegian Cruise Line ship. On Norwegian Prima, this bar and grill has been revamped with a new seaside atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating on Ocean Boulevard. The restaurant portion has also been separated from the bar area to provide two more intimate spaces.
The Local offers all your classic pub fare, along with cocktails and a large beer selection. This complimentary venue is open 24 hours a day serving up slightly different menus depending on what time of day you choose to dine. The best part is that all the food at The Local is complimentary. Of course, the bar drinks will cost you extra money though.
New on Norwegian Prima, The Local features live music in the bar area as well, along with plenty of comfy seating options. So, you’ll definitely want to pull up a seat at this venue.
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Rock Out in Syd Norman’s Pour House
Syd Norman’s Pour House is another popular spot on Norwegian Prima.
After initially debuting on Norwegian Breakaway in 2018, this venue makes a comeback. Replacing the Cavern Club on other newer ships in the fleet, Syd Norman’s is your rock club at sea. Here, you can sing along to your favorite hits from the live and interactive band while sipping some cocktails from the bar.
Unfortunately, this venue is rather small and does fill up quickly. So, if you want to catch one of the live shows, make sure to arrive early.
Laugh it up at Improv at Sea
Across the way from Syd Norman’s Pour House is the Improv at Sea. This intimate comedy club features standup performances from two comedians throughout the cruise, so you can spend an evening laughing it up.
Unlike Syd Norman’s though, reservations are required for these comedy shows. Again, these reservations can only be made once onboard the ship. Given that the venue is quite small, you will want to secure your reservation as soon as possible.
Dance the Night Away
The Prima Theater is a transformational space that evolves from a three-story theater with a state-of-the art performance stage to a Vegas-style nightclub with an expansive dance floor. The venue also features a customizable seating layout and moving LED screen for the ultimate nightclub experience.
Following the Donna Summer show, the theater comes alive as the Studio 54 dance club. With disco balls, lighting and special effects, and a DJ, this is the place to dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning.
Several other venues all feature a variety of live music as well, including The Penrose Atrium, Syd Norman’s Pour House, the Metropolitan Bar, and the Improv at Sea. So, whatever your music style, you are sure to find it on Norwegian Prima.
People Watch in the Penrose Atrium
Finally, if you are looking for a chill activity, you could spend hours people watching in the new Penrose Atrium. This expansive 3-story atrium is a modernly designed space featuring a large chandelier and futuristic architecture. Further, it is filled with plenty of lounge space and shopping.
Not to mention, there is the the Whiskey Bar on deck 8 to sip your favorite whiskey selections. Then, there’s Starbucks on deck 7 where you can relax with your favorite espresso beverage. Or, deck 6 features the Penrose Bar. This bar is your go-to for a drink any time of day. It also features video poker machines.
This Atrium feels more like an upscale hotel lobby than a typical cruise ship atrium.
Best Things to Do on Norwegian Prima That Will Cost Extra
Race Around the Prima Speedway
While there are several free things to do on Norwegian Prima, other activities will cost you extra money. At the very top of the ship, you will find one of the more popular attractions, the Prima Speedway. This racetrack on Norwegian Prima is longer and larger that its predecessor on Norwegian Encore. In fact, it is the first 3-level race track at sea.
This aft located speedway is 22% larger, boasting a longer straightaway and 14 turns. So, strap in and get ready to race your friends on one of the most thrilling attractions on a cruise ship.
The current cost of one ride on the Prima Speedway is $15 ($199 cruise length pass) or there is a You and the Track experience for $20 where you get the whole track to yourself to attempt to win bragging rights for fastest time of the voyage.
Sharpen Your Aim at The Bull’s Eye
On Norwegian Prima, you will find new attractions that you won’t find on any other Norwegian Cruise Line ship. On the portside of deck 18, there is the Bull’s Eye. This venue is a semi-enclosed lounge space where you can play an interactive game of darts with friends.
In this swanky new lounge, guests can challenge each other in interactive games like 301, Cricket, and more. The boards even keep track of the score for you and offer instant replays.
The current cost for The Bull’s Eye is $40 for 50 minutes for up to 6 players.
Putt a Round at Tee Time
Right next door to The Bull’s Eye, you will find Tee Time. This interactive mini golf course is styled with a Vegas backdrop and is a fun activity for all ages. Guests even have a chance to win prizes, with the grand prize being a free cruise!
Unlike most cruise lines though, this 9-hole course will cost you extra on Norwegian Prima. The current price is $10 per person.
This course is quite challenging, so you better bring your A-game to the putting green.
Become Immersed in the Galaxy Pavilion
Another familiar favorite from the Breakaway Plus Class ships, the Galaxy Pavilion, is also found on Norwegian Prima. This virtual reality complex is amped up even further offering several interactive and immersive attractions.
Cruisers can experience the only TopGolf Swing Suite at sea, racing simulators, a dark ride, an escape room (with a second coming soon), and more.
Pricing for these attractions is $8 a ride. There are also options for hour passes ($29), day passes ($49), and cruise length passes ($199). The escape room is excluded and is expected to cost $15 per person.
For the ultimate gaming experience, the Ultimate Trio pass is available for $399 and includes unlimited Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, and Darts access.
Dine at One (or More) of the Specialty Restaurants
All Norwegian Cruise Line ships offer a variety of specialty dining. Norwegian Prima is no different. There are 8 themed specialty restaurants offering globally inspired signature menus. All of the restaurants are included in the Norwegian Cruise Line specialty dining package, with a few items costing a supplement if you are using a SDP meal.
Debuting on Norwegian Prima is the new Mediterranean restaurant, Palomar. Also new is a dedicated sushi spot, Nama, located across from the Teppanyaki restaurant. Hasuki is the Japanese hibachi venue on Norwegian Prima. New name, same great atmosphere.
Other familiar favorites found on Norwegian Prima include Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, the newer NCL Italian restaurant Onda by Scarpetta, Food Republic, and Los Lobos.
With so many great options, you will certainly want to dine at a few of these specialty restaurants during your cruise.
Upgrade to the Vibe Beach Club
If you are looking for an upscale beach club experience on Norwegian Prima, you should consider purchasing passes to the Vibe Beach Club.
This adult-only space located on deck 17 aft is an up-charge. Though, there are a limited number of passes available, so you will be in exclusive company. Currently, passes can be purchased for $249 for the week.
The Vibe Beach Club features plenty of comfy lounge furniture, two infinity hot tubs, a bar, and dedicated staff. Upgrading to Vibe gives you a Haven-like atmosphere without paying the hefty Haven price tag.
Rejuvenate in the Mandara Spa
This is a vacation, so why not treat yourself with a day of rejuvenation in the Mandara Spa. This re-imagined space offers typical services like massages, acupuncture, manicures and pedicures, and facials along with some new services as well. You will also find the Salon and Barber Shop here.
However, the Mandara Spa’s thermal suite is the draw for us. On Norwegian Prima, the thermal suite features the industry’s first charcoal sauna. This sauna is just one of the 8 thermal suite offerings. There is also a salt room, steam room, ice room, experiential showers, a flotation salt pool and vitality pool, an infrared sauna, a two-story waterfall, and hot stone loungers.
Don’t you feel more relaxed just thinking about it? Current pricing for this thermal suite is $99 for a day pass, $189 for a 2-day pass, $229 for a 3-day pass, and $339 for a cruise-length pass.
Drink Around the Ship
Norwegian Prima is home to so many new bars and lounges that you will need to complete your own “drink around the ship” to sample a drink from all the signature menus.
While we do miss the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and the District Brewhouse, the cocktails at the new Belvedere Bar and Metropolitan bar are great.
The Belvedere Bar is a contemporary cocktail lounge on deck 6 featuring craft bottled cocktails, like ‘bourbon myth’ and ‘all about basil’. This is the perfect spot to grab a pre-dinner drink before heading to an upscale dinner at Cagney’s Steakhouse or the Commodore Room.
The Metropolitan Bar is NCL’s first sustainably-focused bar, featuring zero-waste cocktails. This bar does have very little theming and no live music, but we did enjoy the croissant mai tai, cucumber cool, and the primadonna.
There’s also the Penrose Bar, the Observation Lounge, the Whiskey Bar, and the Local bar sporting a new seaside theme. Many of these other spots serve the standard menu with our favorite libations being the smoked peach margarita, monkey business, and red bubbles.
If you have either of the NCL beverage packages, most of these cocktails are included.
**Prices listed in this post were current as of this writing. However, pricing is always subject to change.
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