Deciding which cabin to select for a cruise can be difficult. For our recent cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand new Norwegian Prima, we were sailing as guests of the cruise line so were assigned a Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin, cabin 9148.

Reviewing the deck plans, this portside balcony cabin is considered a BF category balcony stateroom. This balcony stateroom is located forward on Deck 9 and offers 231 square feet of space with a 45 square foot balcony.

For cruisers comparing the different stateroom options on this ship, we have put together our Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin Review.

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Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin Review

We have sailed on several other Norwegian Cruise Line ships in the past. However, knowing that Norwegian Prima was advertised as having the brand’s largest ever balcony staterooms, we were interested to see how this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin compared.

Our cabin was conveniently located near the forward bank of elevators. Being on Deck 9, it was close to Ocean Boulevard on Deck 8 as well as many of the restaurants and bars on Decks 6 through 8.

Further, we never had much of an issue securing an elevator up to the top deck amenities.

Located on Deck 9 forward, this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin was right above the 3-story Prima Theater which did provide a bit of an issue with noise. The Prima Theater transforms into a nightclub in the evenings with party hits thumping until the wee hours of the morning. After we brought this to the attention of Guest Services, the noise levels were much lower on subsequent evenings.

Layout of a Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin

At first glance, the increase in square footage is noticeable when comparing Norwegian Prima to other ships in the NCL fleet. Further, the décor is very modern with a neutral color palette, pops of blue, and upscale finishes.

Immediately entering our Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin, the bathroom was to the right. Across from the bathroom was the closet with three separate storage areas.

Beyond the bathroom and closet was a loveseat to the right and the desk to the left.

The bed was on the right (forward) wall. There was a small night stand on each side of the bed. Both sides of the bed had a lamp with a USB and USB-C outlet, and one side had a power outlet as well. Across from the bed was the television.

Finally, there was the balcony. At 45 sq. ft., the size of the balcony is what we have come to expect from mega-ships. There was enough room for 2 adjustable chairs and a small round table.

Inside the Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin

Bathroom

The bathroom in this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin is a nice upgrade from comparable cabins on other NCL ships. There is adequate space and upgraded finishes. The décor is modern and sleek with the same beachy wood tones and pops of blue as the rest of the cabin.

The creatively hinged shower door made it easy to get in and out of this oversized stand up shower. There is also a large vanity area with three shelves above and two below for additional storage.

Always a bonus in a cruise ship bathroom, there is a hand soap dispenser as well. The shower itself includes a shampoo dispenser and shower gel dispenser along with a shave bar and two small shelves.

Overall, there was adequate storage for the week. It also helps that we always bring an over-the-door shoe organizer to store toiletries and other small items.

Closet

While the closet space might be bigger overall, the actual storage space is still lacking in this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin. There are three smaller closets with a clothes rack and hangers. The closest nearest to the entrance is an open space with a clothes bar and one storage cubby below which we used to store shoes.

The additional two closets each contain a clothes bar and two wire baskets below which we used to store undergarments and such. However, aside from these wire baskets, there were no other drawers or shelves for storing packing cubes. None of the closets were full length either making it difficult to hang longer dresses.

The safe was also housed in one of these closets.

While not ideal, we were able to creatively unpack and store our belongings for this 8-day trip. It did help that there were a few hooks adjacent to the bathroom door for hanging things like bags and coats.

Main Cabin Area

The main area in this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin provides a premium feel. From the neutral color palette, to the creative art display above the bed, to the simple yet elegant finishes, this cabin feels like an upscale hotel room.

The sitting area was adequate in size. The loveseat provided plenty of space for two adults, though there was no coffee table.

The desk was pretty typical in size as well with a mirror, two small shelves off to one side, and plenty of charging outlets. There was one European outlet, one U.S. outlet, 1 USB, and 1 USB-C on one side of the desk, as well as two additional U.S. power outlets on the other side of the desk.

The desk also housed the mini-fridge and the hairdryer.

The desk did not contain any storage drawers, but one of the nightstands near the bed was larger with two drawers.

The bed in this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights on the ship. We also appreciated the USB outlets near the bed for charging our phones and watches overnight.

Balcony

Like most NCL standard balcony cabins, the balcony itself is a tad on the shallow side, but we did appreciate the upgraded and comfy chairs. These chairs were the perfect spot to enjoy the ocean breezes.

There was certainly enough space for the two of us to enjoy the sail in and out of ports. It was also a great spot to get some work done in the afternoons.

Overall, the balcony was average-sized and what we have come to expect from a contemporary cruise line.

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Recap of Our Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin Review

Similar to our experiences on other NCL cruise ships, the Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin is the perfect mix of size and value. It provides all the necessary amenities, adequate space, and access to a balcony without breaking the budget.

Our stateroom had easy access to the stairs and elevators; though, the location near the theater did provide some level of noise in the evenings.

In terms of size, this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin does offer more space in the main cabin area and the bathroom than other ships in the fleet. It also has more upscale and inviting décor akin to premium cruise line cabins.

We also appreciated the number of outlets in the stateroom. These certainly come in handy for the modern day traveler with multiple devices.

Overall, this Norwegian Prima Balcony Cabin was an ideal accommodation for our 8-day cruise on the line’s brand new ship.

Comments

Have you sailed in a balcony cabin on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship? What is your preferred cabin category when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your review of this stateroom category.