We are onboard the maiden voyage of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima. Of course, we plan to do, see, and eat everything over this 8-day cruise and share it all with you. For now, we wanted to give you our first impressions of the new vessel with this exclusive first look at Norwegian Prima.
First Look at Norwegian Prima
A Brand-New Class of Cruise Ship
While Norwegian Prima is smaller than NCL’s Breakaway-Plus Class of ships, Norwegian Prima has a diversity of venues and public spaces.
According to the company’s CEO, Harry Sommer, the design goal was to have travelers feel like they are at a high-end resort anywhere in the world, not a cruise ship. With a modern design and sleek esthetics, NCL delivers on that goal.
Enhancing the outdoor spaces, Ocean Boulevard replaces the beloved Waterfront. It is still home to several bars and lounges, along with some plush outdoor seating areas.
Further, Ocean Boulevard comes to life with art installations, cantilevered glass walkways, and even ocean-facing infinity pools.
The three-story Penrose atrium feels like a modern-day boutique hotel. Along with support services, it includes shopping and lounges in a chic and welcoming layout.
Certainly, Norwegian Prima has a more upscale feel and décor than any other Norwegian Cruise Line ship. The layout gives the ship a more intimate feel as well.
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Public Spaces on Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Prima features a moderately sized pool on deck 17 and the Wave waterslide one deck above. While this main pool area is smaller than some competitor cruise ships, there are two additional infinity pools on the Ocean Boulevard.
Along with these spaces, there are additional sun decks 18 and 19. So, sun worshippers should have plenty of open space. Or, cruisers can upgrade to the Vibe Beach Club for $249 per person.
This aft located club is rather spacious with two hot tubs, plenty of loungers, and a signature bar with health conscience cocktails. Hands down, this Vibe Beach Club is the best rendition on any NCL cruise ship.
The comfy and elegant Observation Lounge returns to Norwegian Prima as well. Although, this version did feel a bit smaller. Still, there are plenty of forward-facing views, a bar, and light bites found here.
Likewise, Norwegian Prima is home to the Galaxy Pavilion. This technological marvel boasts virtual reality and digital games, along with two escape rooms and a TopGolf Swing Suite.
Norwegian Prima Dining
When it comes to dining concepts, Norwegian Prima is a mix of old and new.
Freestyle favorites including Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro, along with two of our favorites Onda by Scarpetta and Food Republic, can be found on Norwegian Prima. Additionally, there are some new dining venues debuting on the ship.
Palomar is a Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant. Unfortunately, Heidi is not a big fan of seafood. For those who are, you can’t go wrong with a menu that includes oysters, grilled octopus, dover sole, and sea scallops.
Additionally, Hasuki is the Japanese-style steakhouse. While it has a new name, it appears to be mostly identical to the Teppanyaki restaurants found throughout the fleet.
We have plans to sample as many of these venues as possible over the next several days.
So far, we have been able to sample many of the casual eats. Again, these restaurants on Norwegian Prima offer some familiar favorites with some new additions.
The Local Bar and Grill on deck 8 still serves up hamburgers, chicken wings, and some new items like sausage sliders. Now, this venue has a more laid back, beachside vibe, complete with al fresco dining. We really like the separation of the bar and restaurant, along with the addition of live music in the bar.
Similarly, the Surf Side Café on deck 17 is the cruise ship’s buffet. This venue is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With a salad bar, pizza station, pasta station, and grilled items, there is plenty of variety.
There’s also our favorite new casual dining spot, the Indulge Food Hall (more on this below).
New Restaurant Concepts on Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Cruise Line’ main dining concept has been completely re-imagined on Norwegian Prima. Now, the ship has two different restaurants, Hudson’s and The Commodore Room, both with varied decor. Hudson’s is the larger of the two venues serving sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside great ocean views.
For dinner, NCL has ditched the rotational menu idea. Now, there is one set menu for the cruise. Not to worry though, these menus are quite large and feature a variety of upscale items. Options every night include coconut shrimp, California rolls, beef wellington, and veal oscar, among other favorites.
Then, there is the brand new Indulge Food Hall. Perhaps borrowing a bit from Virgin Voyages, this venue offers quick service options with tableside service.
In the morning, you can get grab and go selections, which include a mix of freshly made breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit, breakfast pastries, and other small plates.
For lunch and dinner, cruises can order from one of the 11 stations via a tablet on each table.
Most of these items are complimentary. Cruisers can grab a pulled pork sandwich from Q Texas Smokehouse with a touch of the keypad. Or, sample Indian favorites at Tamara, like the chicken tikka. Other standouts include the pad thai with shrimp from Nudls and the totopos from the Latin Quarter.
At the Indulge Food Hall, the portions are just the right size so you don’t feel bad ordering multiple items to try.
Onboard Activities
Perhaps the biggest draw for families is the array of activities on Norwegian Prima.
Taking the wheel from Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima now boasts the largest race track at sea. This three story racetrack offers over 22% more track space than the previous record holder, with 14 hair-raising turns.
New on Norwegian Prima is the You and the Track experience. For $20, you get three attempts to beat the best lap time of the voyage. The winner receives some NCL prizes.
In addition, Norwegian Prima now features two new thrilling dry slides. Descending from deck 18 to deck 8, The Drop is the first free-fall slide in the world. The slide is not for the faint of heart as riders will reach g-forces equivalent to an F1 race car.
Nearby is The Rush, a pair of twisting slides that are honestly a lot like the Ultimate Abyss on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-Class ships minus the special effects.
Putters will love the new Tee Time mini-golf course as well. This extravagant Vegas-themed course is one of the most elaborate courses you will find on a cruise ship. But, it will cost you extra money. Currently, Tee Time pricing is set to be around $5 a person.
Further, cruisers can test their aim at the new Bull’s Eye. This al fresco lounge offers five semi-private dart lounges for up to 6 players. You don’t even have to keep score, as the touch screen and digital displays take care of all that for you. Again, the Bull’s Eye is an up-charge. Pricing is expected to be about $15 a person for an hour rental.
Finally, on the starboard side of Deck 18 is The Stadium. Here, cruisers can enjoy a variety of complimentary table top games, like pickleball, foosball, and even beer pong.
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Norwegian Prima Nightlife
When it comes to libations, there are a variety of brand-new bars and lounges found throughout the ship.
Your new pre-dinner spot is the Belvedere Bar on deck 6. This swanky lounge serves up modern twists on classic cocktails and some signature libations.
On Deck 7, eco-friendly cruisers will want to sip a sustainable cocktail at the Metropolitan Bar. The venue features zero-waste cocktails, including the signature “Primadonna”, as well as various other sustainable craft cocktails and biodynamic wines.
The Soleil Bar comes to life with lush seats and amazing wake views. It is like your own private yacht club at sea.
Likewise, Rock and Roll fans can rejoice as Syd Norman’s Pour House is back on Norwegian Prima. Home to live music, and the ship’s standard bar menu, it is one of the liveliest spots on the ship.
Further, Norwegian Prima’s theater has been completely re-imagined into a one-of-a-kind 3-story transformational space, offering a variety of configurations. The signature production here is the 75-minute, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. We have reservations for this show later in the cruise.
Several game shows will also take place on Norwegian Prima as part of LIVE on NCL. We were able to experience the Price is Right. We can attest that this cruise ship version of the popular daytime game show is every bit as energetic, lively, and fun. So be ready to come on down!
Recap First Look Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Prima is certainly elevated from the other ships in the NCL fleet. The upscale, premium design and décor coupled with several new experiences and attractions, make this one ship you need to try.
Among our favorite spaces so far is the Ocean Boulevard. This new take on the promenade deck offers ocean views from just about everywhere. Not to mention, the nearby Indulge Food Hall is a big hit for us. We like the variety of the venues, and the food quality has been superb. Hopefully, in warm climates, cruisers can disperse outside to alleviate the crowding.
On the other hand, we did have higher hopes for the main dining room. Our couple visits so far have been pretty average. But, we plan on making a few additional stops to truly test out the entire menu.
The new bars are fun and lively. Although, some spaces get crowded quickly, like Syd Norman’s Pour House.
Further, our stateroom is a vast upgrade to typical Norwegian Cruise Line balcony rooms. The modern design is clean and functional. The space is roomier too with a queen bed, desk, and loveseat. Although, there could be more storage space.
The bathroom offers an oversized standup shower with an innovative partially sliding shower door. The balcony is somewhat more spacious too with two comfortable chairs and a table.
Admittedly, there is still a lot more to explore, and we can’t wait to experience everything Norwegian Prima has to offer. We suspect you will feel the same way if you decide to tested out this brand-new mega ship.
Be on the lookout for a more comprehensive look at the ship coming soon including our signature review, restaurant and bar guides, and more.
Comments
Did you enjoy our first look at Norwegian Prima? Do you plan to cruise on this ship? Drop us an anchor below with your reactions to this brand-new cruise ship.
You Mentioned you made reservations for the Donna Summer show, is the required?
I enjoyed your review very much. We are booked on the Prima for April 30, 2023. Was nice to know about the extra charges for darts, tee time, was wondering about that. Would you happen to know if the beds in balcony cabins are all next to the balcony? That’s what it looks like in the pictures I’ve seen, just curious. Thanks you for all the information and enjoy the rest of your cruise.