cruise tracker ncl prima

• NORWEGIAN PRIMA

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9823986

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The current position of NORWEGIAN PRIMA is at North West Atlantic Ocean reported 2 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to GSC BAHAMAS , sailing at a speed of 0.1 knots and expected to arrive there on Apr 15, 11:00 . The vessel NORWEGIAN PRIMA (IMO 9823986, MMSI 311001059) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2022 (2 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas .

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NORWEGIAN PRIMA current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of NORWEGIAN PRIMA data.

Norwegian Prima - Current Position

$144 / day #132 of 172 ships

$184 / day #133 of 252 ships

$220 / day #130 of 242 ships

$320 / day #117 of 291 ships

1 : 0.4 #248 of ships

1 : 44.3 #69 of 261 ships

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• Current Position

We are tracking and are calculationg it's position based on its itinerary. Check the following map to see current location. We have also highlighted all ports that is sailing to with markers..

Regarding Covid-19 / Coronavirus: Due to short term route changes, itineraries might have changed and real positions might no longer follow the original route.

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NORWEGIAN PRIMA Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9823986

Where is the current position of norwegian prima presently vessel norwegian prima is a passenger (cruise) ship sailing under the flag of bahamas . her imo number is 9823986 and mmsi number is 311001059. main ship particulars are length of 293 m and beam of 44 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time. book a cruise, schedules, vacation, deckplans, reviews..

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NORWEGIAN PRIMA current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data reported above herein.

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Norwegian Prima

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Get to Know Norwegian Prima

This week, Norwegian Prima — Norwegian Cruise Line’s 18 th cruise ship — will officially set sail from Reykjavik, Iceland . Prima is the first ship in an entirely new class for Norwegian, a class designed to elevate every expectation.

Norwegian Prima — Norwegian Cruise Line’s 18 th cruise ship — officially set sail from Reykjavik, Iceland in August 2022. Prima is the first ship in an entirely new class for Norwegian, a class designed to elevate every expectation.

Norwegian Prima is all about unique experiences of every kind — unparalleled dining, entertainment, activities and relaxation can be found on every inch of the ship. Norwegian Prima is truly like nothing seen on the seas before. To ensure guests experience the absolute best that Prima has to offer, we've created this easy "where to" that highlights some of her most distinct and noteworthy offerings (it sure was hard to narrow down the list).

Download the "Get to Know Prima" Map for a breakdown of the most exciting venues, on the most popular decks.

Ready to start planning? Explore all Norwegian Prima cruises .

Where to Soak Up the Sun

When you imagine Prima, envision yourself swimming on top of the ocean. This ship was built around a myriad of pools, including two Infinity Pools, a main pool, an Aqua Park, a tidal wave slide and countless hot tubs. Prima takes relaxation and water play to a whole new level. Her most unique water features live on Deck 8 at Ocean Boulevard's Infinity Beach , where you'll find two breathtaking Infinity Pools on either side, surrounded by lounge chairs and daybeds. It doesn't get much better than lying in the sun, listening to the waves, then floating in an Infinity Pool as you stare directly into the ocean. Or simply splash off in the convenient cooling pools encircling the daybeds. Because life on Prima is easy like that. Starting on Deck 17, the main pool deck is full of fun experiences as well — it features two infinity hot tubs, a pool bar, a Kid's Aqua Park , a sun deck and Norwegian's first-ever tidal wave waterslide .

Where to Get Your Eat On

Complimentary Dining

With so many dining options, you may not know where to start. We know that our guests want many of their meals to be complimentary, so we've added a host of additional options that allow you to eat in style while saving up for those special nights. Often, cruisers head directly to the buffet on board — Prima's is at Surfside Café , and we've added an outdoor Surfside Grill for a quick bite like hot dogs, burgers and more. But we actually encourage guests to head straight to Norwegian's first-ever food hall, Indulge Food Hall , where diners can choose from 11 stations around the globe. Indian, Italian, Chinese, BBQ, rotisserie, tapas, desserts and more are all complimentary! Then sit inside, outside, or even grab-and-go for a 'picnic' at one of the many lounging areas around the ship. It's so delicious, you'll want to try it right away.

Prima has also unveiled what is likely to be Norwegian's most spectacular main dining room to date — Hudson's . With 270-degree views of the ocean, floor-to-ceiling windows, and modern menus made with the freshest ingredients, you may never want to leave. Our second main dining room, The Commodore Room , offers fine dining in a comfortable atmosphere, with delicious menus (don't miss the chocolate lava cake) and contemporary decor.

Specialty Dining & Drinks

What's a vacation without a few special nights? We've thought long and hard about those indulgent moments on Prima to ensure we're delivering the absolute best. The ship is home to Norwegian's first-ever Mediterranean restaurant, Palomar — a spectacular and stunning seafood-forward eatery. Look forward to opulent dishes like a full salted fish and grilled octopus. Another new element on Prima is a dedication to sustainable food and drink, which can be experienced at the new Metropolitan bar. Craft cocktails that minimize food waste and biodynamic wines will make you feel like you're doing good for the world — while sipping amazing drinks on the ocean. Our popular teppanyaki-style restaurant has been updated and renamed — Hasuki offers all the favorite dishes and excitement, in a more elevated environment. Our classic French restaurant, Le Bistro , has been outfitted with a jaw-dropping hand-blown chandelier, which is not to be missed. And of course, favorites like Cagney's Steakhouse , Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro French restaurant will be on board (with a bit of Prima flair, naturally).

Where to Be Amazed

We promised that Prima would elevate every expectation and she's done just that. Get ready to be entertained from dusk to dawn (and beyond). All of our shows now take place in the new, transformational Prima Theater and Club . This venue is the first in the world that converts from a three-story theater to a spectacular Vegas-style nightclub. Inside, you can be part of The Price Is Right Live , see shows like Summer: The Donna Summer Musical , and party with live DJs and cutting-edge light shows late at night.

When you simply want to grab a coffee or evening drink and spend some time leisurely people-and-horizon-watching, head to the Penrose Atrium . This gorgeous space is three magnificent stories high, with breathtaking views at every angle. And speaking of levels, The Prima Speedway is the first ever three-level race track at sea. It's longer and faster than any of our previous race tracks (which were already the first of their kind), so get ready to put the pedal to the metal.

Download the "Libby app" prior to boarding and enjoy access to tons of free books and magazines while you cruise!

Where to Get Your Thrills

One thing is certain — you will never, ever run out of things to do on Prima. In between sunbathing and swimming, dining around the world, and being entertained from dusk till dawn, there are, of course, an endless amount of show-stopping activities. The new The Rush and The Drop will get your heart racing — they are the fastest dry slides at sea. You'll also want to spend a lot more time on Ocean Boulevard — a one-third mile boardwalk with restaurants, bars, lounge areas and Oceanwalk , Norwegian's first glass walkway at sea. Here, you'll also find The Concourse — a breathtaking, curated, outdoor sculpture garden unlike anything you've ever seen on a cruise ship. If you're into social media, the pictures here will create some serious travel envy.

And if your thrills come from diving into deep relaxation and self-care (we get it), head to the brand-new Mandara Spa & Salon, which showcases a two-story waterfall, salt pools, the first charcoal sauna at sea, and over 50 specialty treatments.

Norwegian Prima offers a variety of itineraries to Europe, Bermuda and The Caribbean . We can't wait to welcome you aboard!

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Norwegian Cruise Line Review: The Prima

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To celebrate a milestone birthday for me and an anniversary for my parents, the three of us took a cruise on Norwegian Prima, the first in what Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) says will be a “new class of ships designed to elevate every expectation.”

I had cruised NCL three times before and was a silver member of the Latitudes rewards program when I booked.

After 12 nights on the Prima going from London to Barcelona via several stops in France, Portugal and Spain, we discovered there was a lot to like about the ship, but there were also several quirks.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

Booking the trip

My family chose this ship and cruise line because of a great itinerary. There were a variety of port stops as well as a day at sea for some relaxing and recharging. As it turns out, one of the port stops we were looking forward to was changed. A few weeks before the cruise, NCL replaced a stop in Porto, Portugal, with one in Vigo, Spain.

Booking can be a bit of a game since cruise lines always seem to have sales and offers they say are for a limited time. On NCL’s site, there’s often a countdown clock showing how long a particular offer will last.

It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy, but it’s important to make sure the deal works for you.

On our booking, we had NCL’s Free at Sea offer, which includes perks such as a “free unlimited open bar” and specialty dining. Here’s the catch: The free open bar isn’t exactly free, and neither is the specialty dining. You have to pay 20% gratuity on what NCL says is the value of the package.

So, for example, an upcoming cruise on the Prima — a seven-day trip from Galveston, Texas, to the Caribbean in February — is about $2,400 per balcony cabin (with two people). Then you add on gratuities for the open bar at $305 and specialty dining of about $40. You’re paying $345 in gratuities for the “free” stuff.

So, if you’re not much of a drinker, you might want to consider declining the free open bar and just ordering and paying for drinks as you want them. That drops that charge for gratuities off your total cruise cost.

I chose to upgrade my package to NCL’s Free at Sea Plus because I needed unlimited Wi-Fi and wanted to have water and Starbucks drinks included as part of my drink package. Those are part of the upgraded package but not part of the basic one. With the upgrade, I also ended up with two more meals in specialty dining restaurants.

After looking at the non-suite cabin types, which include inside cabins, outside cabins with just a window, and balcony cabins, we booked two balcony cabins on deck 12 midship. I need fresh air, and I love the sounds the ocean makes when we’re at sea.

Keep checking on the rates until you make your final payment. If they drop, you can sometimes take advantage of a better deal by modifying the booking.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Online check-in

After booking, it’s time to start planning. Through the NCL website, you can look at and book shore excursions and some specialty dining reservations and entertainment reservations.

Exactly 21 days before sailing, you can check in and will likely receive an email telling you to do so.

To check in online, you’ll need your passport and a credit card to put on file for anything you purchase on board. You’ll also need a photo of your face to upload for security purposes. I had some issues doing this because the photo I tried to use did not meet the parameters, but if the upload doesn’t work, an employee can take a photo at the pier.

During check-in, be ready to pick a time when you want to arrive at the port to get on board. Time slots began as early as about 9:30 a.m. and continued for a few hours.

About a day after filling everything out, you can go in and download the eDocs, which serve as your boarding pass. You’ll need either a printed or mobile copy to show at the embarkation point.

One more thing about check-in: Each piece of luggage you want the porters at the pier to deliver on board to your stateroom needs a luggage tag. If you want personal tags that are pre-populated with your name and stateroom number, you must print them at home.

The button to print them wasn’t obvious, so I had to look for it a bit.

Embarkation

Boarding area/Southampton. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Our cruise was leaving from Southampton, England, a short ride from London, where we had spent a few days. I always arrive at least one or two days before a cruise leaves to give myself some cushion in case a flight is delayed or there is another travel issue.

When I was checking in, I chose a 12:30 p.m. embarkation time because I didn’t feel the need to arrive super early, and cabins usually aren’t ready until at least 1 p.m. anyway. I hate dragging my hand luggage around a busy ship with me.

When we arrived, there wasn’t much of a line, and what was there moved quickly. We handed off our checked luggage to the porters, who put it in a giant pile to eventually go on the ship.

I always take a photo of my bag before I leave it behind so I know what it looks like and how to describe it in case it gets lost.

After a security check and a brief health questionnaire, we were on board and heading to lunch with our carry-on luggage in tow.

» Learn more: How much luggage can you take on a cruise?

The Prima’s atrium. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The Norwegian Prima was built in 2022 and has a capacity of 3,099 guests at double occupancy and 1,506 crew members.

The Prima docked in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The Prima looks a bit different than other NCL ships I had been on in that it is more understated elegance than in-your-face opulence. There were many decorative touches I wouldn’t mind having in my house.

There are two main sets of elevators on the ship, one midship and another forward. A third set is available only to guests who are staying in The Haven , an exclusive area with a private concierge, butler, restaurant, bar, lounge, pool and other perks.

The Haven private area. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

You can look at the triangles on the carpet on the decks with cabins to know which way is forward and which is aft. The triangles face forward.

The triangles on the carpet face forward. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

NCL loyalists know the carpets on other ships have fish, which are always swimming forward. On the Prima, triangles replace the fish to help orient passengers.

Deck 8 with a small pool and seating areas. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Another big difference on this ship versus others with NCL is the pool deck. It’s near the back of the ship on deck 17, and it’s small compared to other ships, where the pool area takes up the majority of a deck.

Splash park. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

There is an aqua park for kids, a waterslide and a few hot tubs and smaller pools and lounging areas on other decks, but no one large gathering place for water and sun fun.

Infinity pool. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Balcony cabin. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

I had a balcony cabin on deck 12 fairly close to the midship elevators. It was somewhere between 231 and 358 square feet with a balcony between 45 and 69 square feet.

The cabin seemed very spacious because the bed was by the balcony, which left a big open space in the cabin. While this was nice, anyone sleeping next to the balcony would have a difficult time getting out of bed without hitting the sliding glass door or the bed.

Hooks on the wall. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

There was a ton of storage both in the cabin and in the bathroom and hooks to hang things on.

One problem for me was that the safe was not big enough for my laptop. On a new ship, this surprised me. I also didn’t like the fact the bed didn’t have a bed skirt and I was always looking at my empty luggage I stored under the bed.

One plus, though, is there were several plugs and USB connections throughout the cabin, including in the bedside lamp so I could plug my phone in near my bed.

Lamp with USB charging ports. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

One problem my parents noticed, though, is there was only one electrical plug near the bed, which could be a problem for people with sleeping machines or anyone else vying for power.

Bathroom. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The bathroom had a lot of space and a walk-in shower.

Balcony. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The balcony had two comfortable chairs and a small table.

Cabin service is once a day, which means no turndown service or towel animals, but you can call the cabin steward if you need anything. Each evening, the steward delivers the Freestyle Daily, which is a printed copy of the next day’s activities and offers.

An electronic panel near the door allows you to turn on a light outside the door telling the steward to make up the room or “Do not disturb.” The same panel controls the temperature. It was nice to have an AC system that actually responded. When I turned the AC down, it actually got cooler in the cabin.

Food and drinks

Norwegian touts its Freestyle Dining as a way to have freedom and flexibility about where and when you eat. There are no set dining times, and while that sounds great, you can’t just walk up and go wherever you want.

I don’t love the idea of having to think ahead about where and when I want to eat when I am on vacation, but I made a reservation for each night so I had somewhere to go.

You can make reservations for specialty dining venues and the main dining rooms before embarkation and while on board at either a dining desk or on the TV system in the room. The TV system allows you to make a reservation, but not cancel one, so I had to wait in the dining desk line anyway.

Only a small percentage of specialty dining reservations are available before getting on board so it seemed like everything was booked. It wasn’t. Once passengers are on board, the remaining reservations open up.

With a reservation, the dining venue holds your space for 15 minutes and then gives up your table, which we learned the hard way one night when we arrived late. Our table was gone, forcing us to wait about 45 minutes for another one.

The Prima has a combination of complimentary and specialty dining, and I did both.

The two main dining rooms, Hudson’s and The Commodore Room, are the free options. They had the same menu, which changed nightly, and the food was good. The menu was a combination of starters, mains and desserts, and you could order whatever you wanted.

They were open at different times, with one also serving breakfast and lunch in addition to dinner.

The breakfast menu at The Local. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The Local Bar & Grill was open almost all day and had pub-like food. We went there often for breakfast and lunch.

Outside the Indulge Food Hall. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

My favorite was Indulge Food Hall with its take on a food truck rally.

Food stations in Indulge. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

There were several stations, some even looking like food trucks.

Tablet ordering system (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Ordering was done on a tablet that had photos of all the items, and a server delivered the food to your table.

The variety was great since there were several stations like Indian, BBQ, Mexican, Asian, Spanish tapas and more. The dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese and the guacamole were my favorites.

Then there was the buffet, the Surfside Cafe & Grill, which was tremendously undersized, always incredibly busy and without enough seating options. While the food was good, the traffic flow was not, and once you had your food in hand, finding a place to eat it was not easy. For breakfast one morning, I balanced my plate on the waitstaff’s cleaning area and ate there.

Now, for the specialty dining options, the Prima has eight where the food and presentation are elevated.

For this 12-night cruise, the Free at Sea package included three meals at specialty dining venues. Additional meals were available as an upgrade — $99 for two more, $139 for three more, and $30 more for each additional meal you wanted after that. The upgrades are per person, so you cannot buy a two-meal package and share it with another person, giving each of you one additional meal.

At most of the venues, the package included a starter, a soup or salad, a main dish and a dessert. If you choose to dine at a specialty restaurant without a package, the pricing is à la carte, with entrees about $40 and appetizers about $20. So if you know you want to dine at many specialty restaurants, the package upgrades are a good deal.

Outside a specialty restaurant. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

I ate at Cagney's Steakhouse, Hasuki for teppanyaki, Le Bistro for French cuisine and Palomar for seafood. The food at all of the specialty restaurants was wonderful, and I was definitely stuffed afterward.

Room service is available 24 hours a day but has an extra cost.

Bar. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The Prima has several bars and lounges scattered throughout the ship. Each had a slightly different feel, from The Local Bar & Grill with its huge TVs, beers on tap and bar food to the aft-facing outdoor Soleil Bar and Indulge Outdoor Lounge with comfy chairs, hammocks and cabanas.

The Starbucks on deck 7 in the main atrium. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

There are even two Starbucks locations that serve up all of the favorites you can find on land.

The Starbucks inside Indulge Food Hall. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Starbucks was part of my upgraded drinks package, so I ordered a lot of the things I had been wanting to try but hadn’t wanted to spend the money on in case I didn’t like them.

Entertainment

You may be used to lots of entertainment in the form of singing and dancing on cruise ships, but the Prima doesn’t have a lot of it. If you like game shows and smaller venues for comedy and music, as well as thrills like go-karts, slides and escape rooms, this ship is for you.

“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” was the only musical production show on the ship and was offered on two nights of the cruise. It was in the main theater, a venue that transformed into a dance club and other things throughout the cruise. Reservations were required, and people started lining up about a half-hour before the show began, since the theater is relatively small for the size of the ship.

A house band often performed in the main atrium area, but there wasn’t much room for large groups to gather and enjoy it. There was also a DJ who rotated between a few locations.

“The Price is Right” in the Prima Theater. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The theater also had game shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “The Price is Right,” which had high production value and audience participation.

The exterior of Syd Norman’s. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Smaller venues like Syd Norman’s Pour House were often packed and rocking.

The upper decks had lots of mostly daytime entertainment options, especially deck 18.

Taking up part of decks 18, 19 and 20 was the Prima Speedway, a racetrack where, for $15, you can zoom around and race others. Sometimes, you could hear the sound of the cars from other decks.

The slides. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Deck 18 also has high-tech mini-golf and darts, as well as the starting points for the two slides, The Drop and The Rush.

Because this cruise was so port-intensive, I didn’t take part in any of the entertainment because all I wanted to do after a day of touring was eat dinner and go to sleep. My parents went to see “The Donna Summer Musical” and “The Price is Right” and thought both were entertaining.

Spa and gym

The entrance of the spa. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

A highlight of the Prima is the Mandara Spa & Salon. It’s huge and beautiful.

Therapy pools with a two-story waterfall. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

To access most of what it offers, including the saunas, pools, salt room, steam rooms and heated loungers in relaxation rooms, you need to buy a pass either for a day or a full voyage.

Salt room. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The number of available passes varies based on the length of the cruise. For this cruise, the pass cost $399 for the full voyage or $99 for a day.

Relaxation room. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Having a spa treatment like a massage does not allow you access to the thermal suite. I had a nice treatment that included a body brush and massage.

If you’re not picky about the treatment you want or when you want it, keep an eye on the Freestyle Daily. During my cruise, the price of specially curated 75-minute treatments went from about $199 down to $139 toward the end of the cruise.

Cardio equipment. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

The Pulse Fitness Center is also large with lots of weights and machines, as well as cardio equipment that faces the bow, giving exercisers a great view while working out. Access is free. Let’s just say I went in only to take a few photos.

The Norwegian app is available to download on mobile devices and is the place to keep track of things like dining times, activities and expenses. To use it on board, you don't have to pay for Wi-Fi, but you do have to be on the ship’s Wi-Fi network.

The Free at Sea package included 300 minutes of Wi-Fi for this entire 12-night cruise, meaning I had to remember to log off to keep from using minutes. My father quickly learned logging off was not the same as just turning off the Wi-Fi on his device after a bunch of his allotted minutes went away fairly quickly when he wasn’t doing anything.

As part of my upgraded Free at Sea Plus package, I had unlimited Wi-Fi, which wasn’t exactly speedy but allowed me to do what I needed, like check and send emails, upload photos and look at social media.

Off the ship

For me, European or other destination cruises are different from Caribbean cruises in that I spend most of my time off the ship. The ship is basically for eating and sleeping.

The ship had a small shore excursion desk where the staff mostly sold ship-sponsored excursions and offered limited information about the ports themselves.

On this trip, I did one ship-sponsored shore excursion to Normandy and the D-Day beaches, which was on the first day. My Latitudes status gave me a 10% discount on the tour itself, and the Free at Sea perk gave me $50 in onboard credit after completing the excursion.

My shore excursion ticket was in my room when I first got into my cabin, and it told me when to meet in the theater. At the specified time, someone called the number of the tour, and I went to the front of the theater to get a sticker with a group number on it and got off the ship.

Soon I was on my way for a daylong tour on a large and full bus. I returned to the ship in plenty of time to shower and get ready for dinner.

For two tours in Granada and Seville, Spain, I joined a small group using a private tour company. I liked the smaller tours and saved some money because they were a bit cheaper than the ship’s tours.

My slight disappointment came in the ports where I had nothing planned. The shore excursion desk didn’t have much information about the ports themselves or what was available.

In Ibiza, I decided to take the $20 ship-sponsored shuttle bus into the center of town. But instead of a drop-off in the city center, the bus stopped in the middle of a road about a 15-minute walk from anything.

In Valencia, several passengers were looking for the hop-on-hop-off bus stop, but nobody could help us find it. Overall, I would have liked a bit more information about the ports from the shore excursion desk.

In all ports, the disembarkation process was smooth and simple. I just had to tap my ship’s card to sign out, and when I returned, I had to go through security like in an airport and tap my card again.

Disembarkation

A couple of days before the cruise ended, I had to choose a disembarkation time and collect appropriate luggage tags from the guest services area.

The earliest time was for people who wanted to take all of their luggage off the ship themselves.

The other times were based on flight time and whether people had a ship-sponsored tour of the city.

I selected 8:45 a.m. because I was staying in Barcelona for a few days and had nowhere to be and no time I had to be there.

Each time had a corresponding color-coded luggage tag. I put the purple tag on my suitcase and left the bag outside my cabin door for the stewards to gather and take off the ship. Again, take a photo of your bag sitting in front of your cabin in case it goes missing.

The Prima was scheduled to dock in Barcelona at 5 a.m., and disembarkation was set to begin as soon as local authorities cleared the ship.

Announcements began at about 5:45 a.m. and continued about every 15 minutes after that.

After a breakfast in the crazy-crowded buffet and one final check of the cabin (which I evidently didn’t do well enough because I left a pair of my good compression socks in one of the drawers), I dragged my carry-on luggage through the hallways and off the ship.

Large crowd in the disembarkation area in Barcelona. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Claiming our checked bags was a disaster. The 8:45 a.m. time slot was last call, so everyone who was still on the ship had to get off. This led to hundreds of people filing down escalators and into a small area where luggage was coming by on a moving belt one suitcase at a time.

This seemed to be more of a port facility issue and not something the ship’s staff could have done anything about except to maybe hold people on the ship for a bit instead of having them disembark into an already crowded area.

Lots of people in a small space got really hot and disorganized, but soon my parents and I had our luggage and were out the door and into a taxi.

People were already lined up to board the Prima for the next cruise. They were ready to get their vacation started.

Overall observations

Ocean Boulevard on deck 8. (Photo by Tiffani Sherman)

Overall, I had a great time on the Norwegian Prima. It had tons of outdoor spaces, but not many large spaces for people to gather. I thought the decor was beautiful and slightly upscale.

The crew was amazing, and after just a few days, the ladies at Starbucks were calling me by my first name when I approached the counter. Most crew members usually had a smile on their face and were willing to help.

I enjoyed too much good food in the free and specialty restaurants and did not spend nearly enough time in the gym or spa.

I didn’t miss the lack of entertainment options because I was spending most of my time either in port, eating or sleeping.

Speaking of sleeping, the beds were amazingly comfortable and the cabin was nicely furnished with plenty of room and storage.

The best part was spending time with my parents and making memories. Cruising is a great way to do that because there are a variety of activities and options available, and everyone does not need to be together all the time.

I’d definitely sail again on the Prima and her almost identical twin, Viva , which debuted in 2023.

(Top photo courtesy of Tiffani Sherman)

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Review: Norwegian Prima

Reviewed by Mercedes Bleth

What is the line?  Norwegian Cruise Line

Name of ship?   Prima

Passenger occupancy?  3,099

Itinerary?  Christening: Reykjavik, Iceland  > Cobh, Ireland > Le Havre, France >  Weymouth, U.K. > Amsterdam, Netherlands

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?  

Norwegian is known as an easy-going cruise line. Their tagline, “freestyle cruising” means that there are no set itineraries for each day, but instead, a wide array of options to choose from. There are also no strict dress codes aboard, so you can leave that tux at home. 

Tell us about the ship in general  

When describing the Norwegian Prima, President and CEO Harry Sommer stated that he envisioned creating something “that didn’t look like a cruise ship.” He wanted it to feel upscale, as if you’re at a luxury resort. And often, while strolling the wide halls of the ship, or viewing a Broadway show at the Prima Theatre, you forget that you’re in the middle of the ocean and truly do feel like you are on the firm ground of a luxury all-inclusive. 

Built in 2022, The Prima is the first of six ships from the Prima Class, which is the brand’s first new class of ships in nearly ten years. The design of the Prima class feels more elevated and modern than the brand’s other ships, from the subtle wave graphics on the outside of the ship to the trendy neutral decor on the inside (excluding the casino and recreational areas, where no neon light has been spared). As the youngest ship in a young fleet, there are many shiny—and innovative—bells and whistles throughout, from a virtual reality arcade room to a three-tiered go-kart racing track. 

Who is onboard?  

Norwegian is a multigenerational cruise line, catering to everyone “from 2-92.” The Prima in particular is very family-friendly, offering a wide range of experiences that can be enjoyed by any age group.

Describe the cabins  

There are 1,586 total suites onboard—107 of them are located in the ship’s exclusive section named The Haven. I stayed in a spacious Balcony suite (of which there are 946) that was designated as accessible. However, a peek into a standard Balcony Suite showed much tighter quarters, though I’m told they’re slightly more spacious than the average cruise line’s. All rooms are decorated in a calm, neutral color palette with modern wall art and plenty of lights, plugs, and a large TV. The subtle decor lets the balcony view really shine.

Tell us about the crew  

You’ll find the Prima crew to be super friendly, casual, and conversational. Everyone is incredibly attentive—put an empty glass down and expect someone at your side in seconds to take it away and offer you a fresh one. Our dedicated steward for our room, Michael, transformed our room each time we left it and kept us smiling with a booming “Hello!” each time we crossed paths.

What food and drink options are available on board?

You’ll have a hard time sampling all of the food available onboard. There are eight specialty dining options that require reservations, six regular restaurants, and room service (available 24 hours a day). During the ship’s christening, reservations to the specialty dining restaurants were hard to come by due to technical issues and scheduling errors, which will hopefully be ironed out when the next group sets sail. 

A highlight among the complimentary dining options is the Indulge Food Hall—a first for NCL—which features eight stalls focusing on different global cuisines. Tamara, featuring Indian cuisine cooked by tandoor, is a can’t-miss. 

From the selection of non-specialty restaurants, I found myself drifting back to The Surfside Café & Grill again and again throughout the day—the options on the buffet are vast and genuinely tasty, and the ocean views from any seat are superb.  

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

Make sure to plan a visit to the ship’s Mandara Spa. The Thermal Suite features sauna experiences ranging from hot salt steams and infrared lights, to refreshingly cold, experiential showers. There are also two shallow soaking pools to enjoy—one acts as a wave pool, emulating the rocking of the ship. But possibly the best part of the spa comes after you’ve finished your soak and sauna. Grab a robe and a cup of tea and head to the relaxation room, where you can recline on heated loungers, all angled towards the front of the ship with floor-to-ceiling windows so there’s nothing but blue ocean views wherever you look.

There is also a wide menu of treatments, from massages to nail salon services. There’s even a barber, should you need a clean-up at sea. 

Activities and entertainment  

You’ll have to work hard to become bored on this ship, which has entertainment stuffed into every corner. On the 18th floor you’ll find The Stadium, which has everything from mini golf to the Prima Speedway, a three-level race track. Draped down the sides of the ship are two giant slides. For those less interested in that kind of adrenaline rush, there’s also a large Virtual Reality game room. At the Prima Theatre, you can catch the Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Story , or a live version of The Price is Right . At night, the theater transforms into a nightclub featuring various DJs. There’s also a large casino on board, if you’re feeling lucky. 

How was the experience for families?

The ship’s accommodations are varying and offer different set ups that accommodate the entire family. For the kids, there is an aqua park on Deck 18, and the indoor “Splash Academy” where they can enjoy creative play, including newly developed hands-on science and arts programs available only aboard the Norwegian Prima. 

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

Prima destinations include Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe departing from her home ports of Port Canaveral, Florida, and Galveston, Texas. The christening journey took us from Reykjavik to Amsterdam, porting in Cobh, Ireland; Le Havre, France; and Weymouth, U.K.

Are there any stand-out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

One of The Prima’s cooler sustainable initiatives is The Metropolitan bar where they create “zero waste cocktails” utilizing ingredients from the ship that might otherwise be wasted. For example, oddly shaped croissants get turned into syrup used in a creative Mai Tai drink, and watermelon tequila spritzs are infused with leftover rinds. 

Other green initiatives include becoming the first cruise line to stop using plastic straws and plastic water bottles, with the goal of completely eliminating plastic in the future. On the ship, you can purchase boxed water cartons, but strangely, they ask guests not to refill their reusable water bottles in any of the dining hall drink stations. 

Anything we missed?

Some of my favorite parts of the ship could be lost amongst the flashier amenities—but shouldn’t be. Take a stroll along Ocean Boulevard, a walkway that wraps around the entire ship. Along the way, you can peer through viewfinders to spot birds and incoming ports, pass by the sculpture garden, and glide over the Oceanwalk: a glass walkway where you can observe the sea rolling beneath your feet. 

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By CNT Editors

I've been on nearly every Norwegian Cruise Line ship afloat; here are my 1st impressions of the new Norwegian Prima

It really is elevated. And elegant. So much so that I'm sort of in shock.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been promising to take things up a notch with its new ship, Norwegian Prima — to "elevate" the experience as compared to earlier Norwegian vessels, as its executives have been saying . But in typical journalist fashion, I've been skeptical.

After five days on board Norwegian Prima in advance of its first sailing with paying passengers, I am skeptical no more.

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The 3,100-passenger ship is loaded with stylish, upscale bars and restaurants. Its cabins are sleek and modern. Its suite complex is next-level.

It has an array of onboard entertainment and amusements that is as impressive as ever, too.

In short, it's like nothing you've seen before in the Norwegian fleet . And I say this as someone who has sailed on every one of the 18 ships operated by Norwegian except two (Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit).

That isn't to say Norwegian Prima is perfect. There are a few things about its design that leave me scratching my head — things that maybe the line can change before it moves ahead with the rollout of five sister ships that already are on order.

But mostly they are quibbles. The bottom line is that Norwegian Prima takes Norwegian cruising to new heights. If you're a fan of the line, this is the new ship you can't wait to book.

Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima after getting a sneak peek at it this week in advance of its first official sailing on Saturday.

Norwegian Prima has an elegant look

From the moment you step on board Norwegian Prima, you notice the difference from past Norwegian ships. It's an elegant vessel of the sort you find in the fleets of Norwegian's higher-end sister brands Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — albeit on a bigger scale.

The entryway to the ship deposits you at the three-story-high Penrose Atrium, which may be the most beautiful atrium of any big ship at sea. It has a curvy, sculptural feel, as if the entire space were an art piece.

Studio Dado, the design firm behind the Penrose Atrium, studied great piazzas around the world, such as St. Mark's Square in Venice, to come up with its layout and look. The design includes offset entrances from other parts of the ship on each level that — like the narrow streets of Venice opening up into that grand gathering spot — give you the sense of stumbling onto something wonderful when you arrive.

The elegant feel of the Penrose Atrium carries over to the many restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that spread out from its three levels (decks 6, 7 and 8). You'll find the equally sculptural Onda by Scarpetta, a high-end Italian eatery, right off its top level, and a string of stylish restaurants with new-for-Norwegian themes not far from its midlevel.

The eateries include Nama, a new sushi restaurant for Norwegian with a high design that is as sophisticated as the sushi it serves.

Also created by Studio Dado, Nama boasts a cream-and-orange color palette and suspended light fixtures subtly inspired by masago (fish eggs) and a reception desk that hints at the marbling pattern found on fish. Among the small touches in the seating area are raised, Japanese-style platforms where diners can tuck their shoes underneath before being seated on floor cushions.

Among other nearby outlets with elevated design is Cagney's Steakhouse. The venue pays homage to 20th-century architecture icon Frank Lloyd Wright with patterned concrete walls and other bold modern architectural elements.

Also striking is Norwegian Prima's version of Le Bistro, Norwegian's signature French eatery. It's built around three massive crystal chandeliers costing nearly $100,000 that hang down all the way to the floor — a showstopper of a design element. Gold-leaf wallpaper lines its booth seating. The overall feel is upscale Parisian apartment.

Notably, the public areas that include these restaurants feel more spacious than many of the other 17 ships in the Norwegian fleet. And, indeed they are. Norwegian Prima was built with a higher ratio of space to passengers, which itself is an upscale touch.

The ship has a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, as well.

Both measures are often used as shorthand for the luxury level and service level of a ship.

This more upscale feel is a sharp turn for Norwegian — but perhaps it should come as no surprise. Norwegian Prima is the first Norwegian vessel designed from the keel up since cruise industry veteran Frank Del Rio became CEO of parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Del Rio, who built the upscale Oceania brand from nothing into a major player in the industry in the 2000s, is particularly known for his high-end leanings when designing ships.

This big ship feels intimate

The public areas of Norwegian Prima may feel spacious. But the ship itself isn't ridiculously giant in the way that many recent megaships from big-ship lines have been — and it doesn't carry the same sort of massive number of passengers.

Going against the always-go-bigger trend of recent cruise ship building, Norwegian has made Norwegian Prima about 14% smaller than its last new ship, Norwegian Encore.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

It's designed to carry just 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. That's 22% fewer people than Norwegian Encore.

The result is that you don't feel like you're sailing with the tourist hordes quite as much as you do on some of the other recent big ships to debut.

This is all relative, of course. Three thousand people on a ship is still a lot of people. But consider that rival Royal Caribbean 's newest vessel, Wonder of the Seas , is designed to sail with 5,734 passengers at double occupancy. It can hold 6,988 passengers with every pull-out sofa and pull-down bunk filled. Wonder of the Seas measures 235,600 tons — 62% larger than Norwegian Prima.

By that measure, Norwegian Prima is downright small and uncrowded for a big ship with a lot to offer (see more on that below).

If you love big ships with a lot going on, but you're squeamish about the idea of sharing it with 6,000 or 7,000 people, Norwegian Prima could be the perfect ship for you.

Prima is packed with activities

Perhaps the greatest design triumph of Norwegian Prima isn't the elevated style of its public spaces. It's that the ship's designers were able to pack so much on the vessel.

Despite its smaller footprint, Norwegian Prima has more food outlets, not fewer, than the last few Norwegian ships. It also has just as robust an array of onboard entertainment, including a real Broadway show (the Tony Award-nominated "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical") in a stunner of a theater that converts late at night into a dance club. In what is a technological marvel to watch, the entire lower deck of seating in the theater slides away to create a giant dance floor.

Norwegian Prima's top deck also still is loaded with family fun zones, including the largest go-kart track at sea (yes, this is a thing, ever since Norwegian began adding them to ships in 2017).

Despite being 14% smaller than Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima has a go-kart track that is 22% larger than the one on that ship. It spreads over parts of three decks — one more than on earlier ships.

Related: Why I loved Norwegian Prima's ridiculously big go-kart track

In addition, the top of Norwegian Prima has a new-for-the-line open-air games zone called The Stadium with a pickleball court, foosball tables, pingpong, bar-style hand shuffleboard tables and other amusements.

There's also a new electronic darts venue called The Bull's Eye where you rent a space to play with your friend, a souped-up miniature golf course, a bowl-style waterslide, a kiddie splash zone and two giant dry-slide drop attractions where you plunge from the top of the ship to the promenade deck below.

In other words, while the interior of the ship has taken an elegant turn, for sure, this isn't a vessel that's just for couples on an upscale getaway. It's still very much a family-focused ship, as Norwegian ships have long been.

My only quibble with all the aforementioned deck-top attractions is that it may be too much. Norwegian has packed so much onto the top of Norwegian Prima that, given its smaller size, I suspect it'll feel a little cramped once the vessel starts sailing with a full complement of passengers. This is in contrast to the spaciousness of the public areas in the interior of the ship.

One factor contributing to what was a "Woah, there's maybe way too much jammed up here" feeling upon first seeing the top deck of Norwegian Prima is that, as has increasingly been the case with Norwegian ships in recent years, large chunks of it are closed off to regular passengers. A not-insignificant part of the top of the vessel is devoted to outdoor lounge areas that are exclusively for use by passengers staying in the ship's Haven suite area. Another portion of the top deck is devoted to the private Vibe Beach Club lounge area. The latter area only is accessible to passengers who pay extra.

Related: How to get the most from Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards loyalty program

One noticeable issue created by the large number of things put up top on the ship is that it's confusing to get around while up there. The deck-top space is broken up into too many sections, without a lot of ways to walk between them. To get from the main pool to the entryway to the go-kart track, for instance, you have to walk through the top-of-the-ship Surfside Cafe buffet. There is no side way around the buffet to reach it.

This, in turn, requires you to run the gauntlet of Norwegian staff at the buffet entrance wanting you to wash your hands every time you want to move between the pool area and the go-kart area. They think you're there for dining.

Unfortunately, I suspect this will create some traffic jams in the buffet once the ship is fully up and running.

The suite complex is the best of any big ship

Speaking of the Haven suite area on Norwegian Prima, there's really nothing like it.

Norwegian has been at the forefront of the trend of big-ship operators putting exclusive "ship within a ship" suite complexes on their vessels, and the line has taken the concept to the next level with Norwegian Prima.

Instead of just covering a couple of decks at the front of the ship, the Haven on Norwegian Prima — designed by the celebrated Italian design firm Lissoni — now fills eight floors of the back end of the ship. The added floors mean it has more suites (107), as well as more expansive interior public lounge, bar and restaurant areas than previous Haven complexes. The new location also allows for a more elaborate and comfortable outdoor lounge and pool area.

This is another part of the "elevation" of Norwegian Prima. For a greater percentage of passengers on this ship than any other big-ship vessel at sea, Norwegian Prima can offer a truly upscale experience in a private, hidden-away complex.

For cruisers who want the sort of luxury experience that normally only is found on small luxury ships but also access to all the amenities that big ships have to offer, this is now the premier offering at sea.

The outdoor lounge area at the Haven includes a stunning infinity pool that appears to flow right off the back of the vessel. Its lounge chairs are plush and upscale. It offers private cabanas.

Inside the complex, there's a private restaurant so you never have to eat in the same room with non-Haven passengers.

I didn't get to spend the night in the Haven this week or experience its amenities firsthand, so I don't know if its bigger size results in any service issues. Will there be more queues for the Haven's private concierge desk than on other Norwegian ships with smaller Haven complexes, for instance? But with roughly 214 guests staying in the complex at any given time, assuming two passengers per suite, it's still an intimate venue.

If you think of it as a luxury ship plopped down on top of a big mass-market ship, it's still smaller and more intimate than most. For comparison, Seabourn Venture, the new ship that just debuted from luxury line Seabourn, is built for 264 passengers.

An unusual new bar promotes 'zero waste'

The Metropolitan bar is billed as the first sustainable bar at sea, and it offers a fabulously odd mix of handmade drinks that incorporate leftover food items on the ship, such as day-old croissants and banana peels.

I tried three of these cutting-edge cocktails during my strange night out at Norwegian Prima's new Metropolitan Bar , and I can attest the drinks taste better than you might first imagine.

Cabins are sleek and modern

It's not just the public areas of Norwegian Prima that are more stylish — its cabins are, too.

Also designed by Studio Dado, they have a clean-lined, minimalist look of the sort you find at sophisticated contemporary hotels on land. The colors are muted with warm light browns and creams punctured with cool blue accents — a sharp departure from the bold color palettes found on many earlier Norwegian cruise ships. Furniture features luxurious stone and light-wood finishes, and texture plays a big role.

In standard balcony cabins, the wall behind the bed is lined with a striking art piece featuring nature and butterflies — a focal point.

Standard balcony cabins also have spacious and modern bathrooms. You won't feel cramped in them the way you do in entry-level rooms on some big ships. I was impressed.

But as lovely as they are, the basic rooms on Norwegian Prima do draw one quibble from me: their lack of adequate storage space.

In their effort to make the rooms as minimalist and spacious feeling as possible, the designers seem to have overlooked the real need for lots of hanging space and drawers in cabins on a ship that will likely be operating seven-day sailings for much of its life.

In my basic balcony cabin, there was just a relatively small area of built-in closet space. It's enough for me this week, as I'm traveling solo. But it would be tight if my wife were here with me, and we both had suitcases full of clothes for a week.

The ship has an innovative food hall

Indulge Food Hall is one of the only food halls at sea, and it's fabulous — if a little tight, spacewise. (In a perfect world, Norwegian would make it even bigger on the next ships in this series). It offers a wide range of quick-serve food venues offering everything from Mexican to Indian cuisine.

You can mix and match what you want from any of the venues and order them to your table with a few taps on the tablet that you'll find at every table.

Which dishes are the best? Read about my attempt to test every dish at its 11 venues in four days to find out.

The promenade deck is one of the best at sea

A notable element of Norwegian Prima (and the sister Prima-class ships that will follow) is that it has an unusually wide wraparound promenade that is filled with resort-like outdoor lounge areas.

Dubbed "Ocean Boulevard" and located on Deck 8 — much closer to the waterline of the ship than the lounge areas at the vessel's top, which are located on decks 17 and 18 — it offers unusually luxurious lounge chairs in some places (think: extra-thick cushions), sunbeds and swinging seats.

On both sides of Ocean Boulevard, there are infinity pools as well as shallow dipping pools.

There's also alfresco seating for several of the ship's restaurants including Los Lobos, Onda by Scarpetta, The Local and Indulge Food Hall.

Norwegian has had promenades on earlier ships that have offered outdoor restaurant seating and additional features. The line has been a pioneer among big-ship lines in taking promenades to a new level by making them wider and adding venues to draw passengers out onto them. But nothing Norwegian has done yet compares to this.

Not only is the Ocean Boulevard on Norwegian Prima roomier than ever, but it'll absorb a lot of passengers on sea days who otherwise would be packing the top decks of the ship. From a practical point of view, that's a big deal.

Bottom line

Norwegian Cruise Line isn't meant to be a high-end brand, but its new Norwegian Prima offers a lot of high-end touches. From the massive Haven suite complex at its back to its stunning, sculptural central atrium and the striking designs of many of its eateries, the ship is home to an array of venues and experiences that truly are elevated as compared to what you know from previous Norwegian vessels.

TPG's Gene Sloan has been reporting live from Norwegian Prima as it sails from Reykjavik to Amsterdam on a non-revenue preview voyage for media and travel agents. You can find all of his dispatches on his author's page .

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I Spent 7 Days on a LUXURY Megaship – Inside Norwegian Prima

I’ve just disembarked a cruise on one of the most exciting cruise ships in the world. I braved the 10-deck drop slide and raced other passengers around a three-storey race track on the top decks.

The cruise was onboard the newest Norwegian cruise ship, Norwegian Prima and even though I’ve been cruising with Norwegian since I was a child – this ship took me by surprise in every way possible!

We Sailed to Bermuda

On our cruise, we saw lots and LOTS of live music and entertainment, and did a lot of eating!

I saw and did things that most people wouldn’t imagine were possible on cruises. The cruise was anything but ordinary – but like many cruises, it wasn’t all plain sailing

When I saw a cruise onboard Norwegian Prima sailing to Bermuda from New York City I knew I had to give it a go! Sailing out of New York City is beautiful & Bermuda is a fantastic place to visit.

This itinerary had 3 days in Bermuda, which I was excited about. It’s rare to stay in a port for that long.

We also had 3 full days at sea to try and explore the ship. Ordinarily, I’d say that’s plenty – but on Prima, I wasn’t so sure! The tricky thing was to try and fit everything into the cruise.

As our cabin was ready we decided to head there to have a look around and to prepare for the sail away from New York City.

The sailing out of New York City is constantly ranked as one of the best sail aways in the world – so I didn’t want to miss it!

When I did arrive in Bermuda and opened the curtains, the beautiful sea was incredible! I knew I had made the right decision to book this trip.

I didn’t even realise the sea could be that colour, it is such an amazing greeny blue. I understand now why one of the most popular things to do in Bermuda is to go snorkelling!

As we were spending three days in Bermuda I had lots of time to explore. It was quite funny to see the boards that usually display an “all-aboard” time just saying “overnight.”

In theory, you could spend the full 3 days in Bermuda if you wanted without coming back to the ship at all. The gangway never closes and everybody is free to come and go as they like.

Norwegian does ask though that if you’re staying in a hotel or with friends rather than on the ship you give them your contact details.

If they needed to sail away early due to bad weather or some other reason, they would contact you. I don’t know of anybody who’s done that personally – but it’s cool that it’s an option.

The Size of the Ship

I took my first cruise with Norwegian when I was 11 years old and I’ve been cruising with them ever since – but always on the smaller and older Norwegian ships.

Norwegian Prima has 19 bars and 15 different restaurants, she is 20 decks high. She is as long as 13 tennis courts or 75 full-sized cars – so she’s a relatively big ship.

I knew that Prima had far more choices than I was used to at sea, so I did wonder if I would find it all a bit overwhelming.

I hoped that it wouldn’t feel too busy sharing the ship with over 3000 other people, and I wanted to come away from the cruise feeling as though it was worth the price tag!

I’d been told that Prima was a more luxurious and premium kind of ship, but I didn’t know if that would suit me and the way that I cruise.

For the sake of little Emma here who enjoyed her first Norwegian cruise – I hoped that the experience hadn’t changed too much from what I loved in the past. I was hoping for the same, but bett er!

First Impressions of the Ship

When we embarked the ship all we had to do was drop off our suitcases, head through security and then show our paperwork at the check-in desk.

I do have a loyalty status with Norwegian from all my years of cruising with them so I was given an early embarkation time of 11.30 am, which was fantastic.

I could see the ship out the windows of the terminal and was so excited to get on board !

Standing on the gangway I saw TERRIFYING-looking waterslides on the side of the ship!

I hoped that I would get up the courage to have a go on them during the cruise but I definitely wasn’t making any promises !

Walking onto the ship we walked straight into the middle of the Atrium. We were directed upstairs to check in for our safety drill – which is a legal requirement on all cruises.

We had already watched the safety video at home pre-cruise, and it was also available on our cabin TV so that made it all very easy.

The Atrium felt light and bright and open and I loved the design, particularly the ceiling and the areas that looked like giant ice cubes! It felt like being in a high-tech modern spaceship – and the chairs were so cool!

The colours and art felt very modern and completely different from my last Norwegian cruise on the older cruise ship, the Norwegian Sun.

Both were amazing and I loved my time on the Sun, but you can instantly see the differences in the last 20 years of cruise ship design.

All of the lobbies and corridors had the same sort of style, which I personally really love. Design is subjective of course, but I thought that the sparkly parts on the ceiling were so cool and I loved the colours and patterns of the carpets around the ship.

The sparkly theme continued into the lift and we headed up to the top deck to grab a drink.

It felt so good to be wearing a dress because to me, it felt like a warm summer’s day. To the locals, it wasn’t very warm – but hey, it was for me!

We got a drink from the bar and sat by the pool, with New York City as the backdrop. It was amazing!

I’m from England so had travelled a long way to get here and it was such a relief to finally be onboard, it felt like being in a movie to be honest, with amazing city scenery all around us.

Go-Karts and Massive Slides!

It was from here that I could see the Go-Kart track up on the top of the ship, and I realised just how huge the track was!

It looked Epic – that’s the best word to describe it. I’d seen pictures of it before but nothing really prepared me for the scale.

When I heard pre-cruise about a ship with a Go-Kart track on top I was imagining some bumper cars going round and round in circles. This really wasn’t like that, the race track was huge, and split over three decks.

I hadn’t been Go-Karting for years, and am not exactly known for my speed – but I knew that I had to get up the courage to try this later in the cruise.

I couldn’t come home from this cruise and tell you that I hadn’t been brave enough to go on the Go-Karts – that would have been awful!

The ship wasn’t busy because we had just embarked, but I did wonder if the Go-Karts meant that there wouldn’t be enough outside space on the sea days.

I’d heard that there was a lot of outdoor space on the lower decks but it wouldn’t be until later in the cruise when everybody was onboard that I’d see how this worked in reality.

You can pay to race against others on the go-karts, the speed is capped and it costs $15. Or you can book something that’s called ‘You and the track’ which means you go on the track alone, with the speed limiter off for $20.

I thought this sounded fun but I figured I would see what it was like with the speed limiter on first then decide if I wanted to go it alone!

I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly adventurous, but I hoped this cruise would bring me out of my comfort zone so I booked the Go-Karts for later in the day.

When I sat in one of the test Go-Karts and watched others racing around the track, they didn’t look that fast from the outside but I knew it would be a totally different story when I was in the car!

I could also see the top of the slides here, including the drop slide – where the floor drops out and you drop down 10 decks, which was also on my to-do list during this cruise.

I kind of regretted making the to-do list at this point – it is easy to make plans when you’re at home but harder to get up the courage when you can see it for real!

Looking on the Norwegian Cruise Line App I could see that my booking for the go-karts was coming up at 6.30 pm . That time soon came around.

This was group Go-Karting and all I wanted was to be fast enough that I wasn’t holding everybody up. I had visions of me being like the mother duck with all my little ducklings following me – and I did not want that.

We were all set off one by one and at first I thought “Oh my goodness, this go-kart is so slow, I could walk faster than this”, but then I realised that the speed was just controlled while we were in the pits area.

As soon as I hit the track the Go-Kart took off, it felt really fast to me! Although they say the Go Karts are speed-limited, it was very rare that I felt as though I needed to go faster!

The track is spread out over 3 decks so on the uphill I did want a little more power, but going around the track definitely felt fast to me !

When we were waiting to go on the Go-Karts I heard the other people who I was racing with chatting about how they had the unlimited Go-Karts pass, which costs around $200 for the cruise.

This meant that they were well-practised, and as a result, were much faster than me!

I did get lapped by a child at one point who skidded around me on a hairpin bend. No hard feelings from me though – that kid was great at go-karting!

I created a separate video about the Go Karts and slides, and you can watch it here:

So Many Dining Options

By now we were getting pretty hungry so we decided to head to one of the main dining rooms onboard for lunch.

The restaurant is called “Hudsons” and although I can’t confirm that it was named after my cat and our mascot Captain Hudson, I like to believe that it was !

Hudsons is a huge dining room with glass windows all the way around. I love cruise ships that focus on the view and letting in light, and Norwegian Prima definitely had big windows as a theme.

The dining room felt spacious and modern, I loved the light fittings and the space really did flow well.

It flowed so well that when I went to the toilet and tried to come back to find my friends again I walked way past them! At some point I thought “Hang on – I’m going to come out the other side if I keep going” – so I turned back and my friends were waving at me from across the restaurant!

I ordered a Veggie Burger which was good, and my friends had a French Dip Roast Beef Sandwich and the Fish and Chips. The service was fast and I was looking forward to coming back here again for dinner one day.

There are two main dining rooms onboard and in both of these everything is included in the cruise fare.

Also included is a buffet, yet more included food in a place called “The Local,” and a huge food hall with tons of options called “Indulge.”

“ Indulge” would quickly become my favourite place onboard. It has a food concept that I’ve never found on a cruise before – or on land for that matter!

There are also lots of speciality restaurants that serve specific types of cuisine, these restaurants do come at an extra charge.

I wanted to try as many as I could during this cruise, so I bought the dining package that let me have 7 speciality meals.

Our first dinner onboard was in “Onda” by Scarpetta. This is a speciality restaurant that costs a little extra, but you can either pay “A La Carte” or you can buy a dining package when you book .

Onda serves a variety of pizzas, pasta and seafood dishes, all of which were great and beautifully presented.

I’m personally not a fan of Octopus, but for you octopus lovers out there I was told that it was very good!

I loved how intimate the restaurant felt too, there were over 3000 people on this cruise and she was at full capacity as were sailing during the school holidays, but you’d never know that sat here.

We had booked a couple of speciality restaurants for later in the cruise which included “interactive” elements so I was looking forward to that.

Balcony Cabin

When we walked into our cabin I honestly had to check that we had been assigned a standard balcony because the cabin felt HUGE!

I’ve stayed in smaller ‘mini suite’ cabins in the past. I instantly loved the design of the cabin.

At this point, I hadn’t noticed little things like the USB C and A’s in the lamps and it wouldn’t be until later that I’d notice that all of the drawers were soft close and that there was tons of storage.

What I noticed pretty quickly though was how big the bathroom was.

The shower area was massive and the door folded back and inwards, in the most amazing way. I hope all cruise ships copy this design because it makes so much sense – and made me happy every day!

There was also a drawer here in the bathroom which was perfect for putting away all the things that I used daily.

To see more of this amazing balcony cabin, watch this video:

Heading out onto the balcony, I realised that we had already started to sail away from New York City!

I often get asked about how much you can feel the movement on cruise ships – and I think the fact that I didn’t even notice we were sailing out of New York City Harbour says a lot!

This happened to me multiple times on this cruise, at one point I was sitting on the balcony and didn’t even realise that we were sailing away from Bermuda!

For some reason I didn’t wonder why the land was getting further away, I was too comfortable in the lovely balcony chairs !

Outside Spaces

We headed up to the top deck as we sailed away, and I did expect it to be crowded because the main pool deck area wasn’t very big.

This wasn’t the case at all! There were two higher decks that I hadn’t noticed earlier and there were lots of sun loungers and seats up there.

To me, it felt as though the main pool deck was broken up across multiple sections, rather than everything being around the pool.

At this point, I still hadn’t discovered the outside areas lower down on the ship. This would be where I spent a lot of my time during the cruise, and where I assume a lot of people watched the sail away from.

Prima does have a high percentage of cabins with balconies. I’m sure many people watched the sail away from there.

The number of balconies available is one of the big benefits of newer ships. If you look back at ships from 20 or so years ago, they had far fewer balconies .

Even if you look within the Norwegian Cruise Line Fleet, the Norwegian Spirit – which I took my first cruise on – has more inside cabins and oceanview cabins than balconies.

Norwegian Prima has more balconies than any other cabin grade.

From the top deck, we had a great view of our sail away from New York City.

It was far windier than I had expected and so I spent a lot of the time holding down my dress until I realised that I could wrap a towel around me instead!

This worked brilliantly and I wasn’t the only person who did this. I’d highly recommend this approach!

This was made much easier by the fact that the pool towels were already laid out on each of the sun loungers. A lot of cruise lines don’t do that, so it was a nice touch.

We sailed away from Manhattan, past the Statue of Liberty and then under the bridge that connects Staten Island to Brooklyn. We only had a few metres of clearance between us and the bridge !

Even though you do know that the crew have a good idea of how high the water is and how high the ship is – you still do almost hold your breath waiting for the bridge to go over the top! It feels as though the bridge comes so slowly – but goes over so fast!

Once we had sailed under the bridge we went back inside to find somewhere less windy. The closest place was the observation lounge and this would quickly become one of my favourite lounges onboard. But more about that later.

The Promenade Deck

It was on deck 7 that we found an amazing promenade deck.

It’s pretty common for modern cruise ships to not include a promenade deck at all which I think is a real shame, but Norwegian has taken the promenade deck concept and taken it even further.

I took a cruise a few years ago on the Norwegian Getaway. That ship has a fantastic promenade deck with restaurants lining it. Prima’s promenade deck is similar – but even better !

The promenade deck stretches all the way around the ship and starts with statues that light up at night.

I was so busy on this cruise that I actually never saw them lit up – but maybe that’s enough of a reason for me to book another cruise on her !

Observation Lounge

Just like the main dining room Hudsons, the Observation lounge has huge windows on all sides and it always felt very relaxed and calm.

You’d often find people here in the afternoon sitting with a book, and enjoying the view. We would sometimes come here for breakfast as they had a little buffet where you could grab a pastry or a banana.

I loved the attention to detail and all of the little ornaments that were located around the lounge. They had board games and other things here too.

The Mandara Spa

We still had a little bit of time before dinner so we decided to go and have a look around the spa.

Usually on the first day of a cruise, the spa is open for guests that want a tour, and I’d heard that Prima had an amazing spa so I didn’t want to miss it.

Walking into the spa I was instantly amazed by the huge pools with a running water feature on the side.

There are some other cruise ships where the main pool is actually smaller than the pool in this Mandara Spa area! The size of it was incredible! The Spa area also smelt fantastic ..

The spa has an ice room that I did try very briefly (in my summer dress!) an infrared sauna, a charcoal sauna and a salt room.

They offer lots of treatments and have this amazing area where you can relax. The biggest problem I find with areas like this is not falling asleep, because they are so relaxing!

Galaxy Pavillion – VR Arcade

I think Norwegian does a great job of giving the spaces that need windows, big windows, and keeping the areas like the Spa and the Virtual Reality arcade inside.

In the Galaxy Pavilion, you can go on various VR games. A far cry from the arcades where I used to play “Pac-man” when I was a child!

Going on the rollercoaster simulator with other people definitely made it feel more realistic, as I could hear them screaming and making noises when the rollercoaster dropped! It was great fun!

Metropolitan Bar

We headed to the metropolitan bar next and I ordered a “sustainable cocktail.”

These are made with leftovers from the ship’s menu! In theory, they could make these from anything – so one day there might be a sustainable cookie cocktail!

(Probably not though because that would require some cookies to be left over and that’s not likely if I’m onboard!)

It was a Norwegian cruise that started my love of cookies. and I was determined to find some onboard Norwegian Prima!

Later that evening, we decided to head back to the Metropolitan Bar because we wanted to catch a performance from a singer called Francis.

Francis played here most days and had a list of over 400 songs that we could request!

All the drinks menus in the Metropolitan Lounge are on iPads. They would often have live music here in the evenings.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a performer play such a variety of genres, and he would also use a loop pedal to layer up the sound – which was so cool!

As well as being a fabulous musician he was a great entertainer too – which is important when performing on a cruise ship.

He would always have the crowd interacting and laughing, and I decided to request “The Arctic Monkeys” to hear Francis’s best British accent – which was actually pretty good!

Francis’s sets were always very popular I’m sure he could have filled a show in the theatre if he was put there. I’d have gone for sure !

Syd Norman’s Pour House

One of the most popular things to do onboard the Norwegian Prima is to go to a show in a bar that is called “Syd Norman’s Pour House”

Syd Norman’s itself is beautifully decorated, it feels very trendy but the room is small for the number of people that want to come and see the shows – so make sure that you get there early!

I did wonder why everybody was so keen to line up to see live music when there was live music all over the ship. I didn’t understand it until we actually queued and watched a show.

We watched “Rumours” which tells the story of Fleetwood Mac through their album – also called Rumours.

It was more like a story told through live music, rather than just a live music performance. Because the room was so small everybody standing around made it feel more like being in a gig in some underground bar – which was really cool.

Sid Norman’s also has real rock memorabilia on the walls too, so it’s worth taking some time to have a look around – even if you don’t watch a performance here.

You don’t pre-book tickets for Syd Norman’s, and listening to the other people in the line, I found that some people had already been multiple times during the cruise – they loved it that much!

We decided to join the line about half an hour before doors opened and that seemed about right for standing, if you do want a seat you’ll probably have to get there earlier than that. It was well worth the wait.

The show starts half an hour after the doors open and in that time they’ll serve drinks and get everybody settled.

“ Rumours” was by far the most popular show in Syd Norman’s, if you want to check out the venue but don’t mind so much about what you see, another show might be a good idea.

First Full Day At Sea

I slept so well in my big comfy bed and when we woke up we decided to head out to explore the outside spaces on deck 7 – and I found what would become one of my favourite included food venues onboard.

The weather was a little rocky on our first sea day over to Bermuda, but we were luckier on the way back.

They did have to close the outside pools for obvious reasons, but it wasn’t exactly the weather for swimming anyway, so that was okay.

We actually weren’t heading through the Bermuda Triangle on this itinerary. Many ships do sail through there regularly – and no, they don’t all go missing!

A little further on along the promenade deck are the infinity beach and infinity pools.

As I walked down here I noticed that two slides called “The Rush” ended here, I thought to myself “Oh yeah, pre-cruise I said that I would do that….” But that was before I realised just how tall they were!

At the infinity beach area, there are infinity pools on both sides that are really quite big.

It’s always funny to see people in these pools when you are on land – their legs look so funny just floating there – and I’m pretty sure that people forget that they can be seen by everyone on the shore!

They have comfortable sun lounge-type beds here, and the water actually comes right up and around the beds so that you can cool off on hot days.

Carrying on along the promenade deck I came across the “Indulge Outdoor Lounge” and the “Solei Bar.”

The area was full of comfortable seating and again, lots of real plants which I thought was a nice touch.

You can order food out here from the “Indulge Food Hall” or you can just sit and enjoy a drink – which we did most days on the cruise.

Indulge Food Hall

Heading into “Indulge” was like going through the curtain into Narnia or something equally as magical!

Indulge food hall is like a market hall, every time you go around a corner you don’t know what you’ll find!

Each area is decorated in a way that matches the different food themes. There are 7 included restaurant sections here, and I was so excited to try them all out!

One day, as a reward for trying the scary slides, I decided that I would treat myself to lunch in the Indulge food hall.

We found a table outside and ordered the most random selection of food to the table. We did eat inside later in the cruise, but as the weather was nice outside we thought we’d try this first.

It was pretty windy so they didn’t have the iPads set up for ordering outside – that was useful though because they gave us a big paper menu that gave us an idea of just how many dishes were available here .

My personal favourite dish was the Topolos but everything we had was good. I particularly liked being able to mix and match and order from all the stations inside.

In that way, it was kind of like a buffet, but so much better because you don’t have to queue up to pick up your own food, it just arrives like magic!

In “Indulge” we usually didn’t have to wait more than 5 minutes for our food – and sometimes it would arrive in as little as 30 seconds! Amazing!

I loved being able to see the different areas preparing food and it seemed like a really good way to feed a lot of people fast.

It was a very popular venue, but with all the extra seating at the bars and the outside seating area, we never had a problem eating here. Sometimes we might wait to the side slightly until we saw somebody leaving a table, but we never were unable to find a seat.

You could order some drinks here too and you could just tap your cruise card if you needed to pay for anything like a cocktail.

On a cruise like this, your cruise card is the key to everything, this is what lets you in your room and it’s how you pay for things. At the end of the cruise, your account is settled either with cash or with a credit card.

Theatre and Nightclub – All in One!

When I was a teenager cruising with Norwegian Cruise Lines, one of my favourite things was the number of different activities on the daily schedule. There was always something going on somewhere!

The first time we headed to the theatre I saw that “Deal or No Deal” was being played.

This was our first look at the theatre and I knew that it did change into a nightclub – but looking at this I had no idea how they could transform this space. It felt huge and was spread out over 3 levels.

I’ve seen other cruise lines try the “theatre-to-nightclub” concept before – but never with much success, so I was hopeful that on Prima it would be better !

I’d also heard that there was a big Broadway-style musical onboard, and “The Price Is Right” game show -which I was excited to see.

I absolutely was not prepared for “The Price Is Right” game show – my heart rate reached 125 while watching it – which is what it’s normally like when I’m jogging!

I decided around now that we would try to go to the theatre tonight, but due to the bad weather, the show was unfortunately cancelled and moved to the next night.

When the seas are rocky I sometimes find it hard to walk in a straight line so I absolutely do not expect the theatre team to be able to dance and jump and do everything that they usually do!

How they jump and dance in heels blows my mind even when the ship isn’t moving, let alone when the floor will move slightly between each jump.

It’s amazing! I have so much respect for anybody who performs on a cruise ship – or just works on a ship in general. It’s seriously hard work, and not appreciated enough.

As the night went on, and the cocktails flowed we decided to head to the club onboard. Most cruise ships have a club area of some sort, but I’ve never seen a space quite like this.

The room was full of people having a great time and even just walking into the lower level with the cool lights was awesome.

The lights do change – like mood lighting. They had a DJ here and a big screen where they’d share the music videos or whatever else they wanted to share.

On a lot of cruises, you’d be out of luck if you were hungry after going to the onboard nightclub – but that wasn’t a problem on Prima, the food quite literally never stopped !

The local is a bar and grill, and Norwegian have a restaurant like this on all of their ships.

The restaurants are usually open late, and serve things like Reuben sandwiches and Fish & Chips.

The local on Prima is slightly different from the other ships because it’s split into two sides – one for the sit-down restaurant, and one for the bar.

Having it split worked well, as they’d often show sports in the bar side. Our food always arrived fast and was very good.

Trying Out The Slides

I decided that I would be brave and when most people were off the ship in Bermuda, I would give the slides a go. This turned out to be a great idea as there was almost nobody in the lines at all!

First on my list was a slide called “The Rush.” These are two slides that twist around each other and drop down 18 decks from Deck 18 to Deck 8.

They are dry slides so there’s no reason you couldn’t use these slides as an alternative to the stairs or taking the lift if you wanted to!

It would be quite funny to use it to go and meet somebody in the local, which is at the bottom on deck 8. If you looked a little flustered they’d never guess how you got there!

I was nervous about trying the slides but I kept seeing them everywhere I went – so I knew I had to give them a try!

“ The Rush” slide was actually really quite relaxing, and not scary at all! I laid back and just enjoyed the ride, there wasn’t much to see – but I’m quite glad I couldn’t see out, that would have been far scarier!

It was good fun and afterwards, I was encouraging everybody else who looked up nervously at the slide that really it wasn’t that scary and that they should give it a go!

I’d been watching people do the “drop slide” for days – and I was nervous about doing that but felt more confident now I’d tried the ten-story regular slide.

The height wasn’t the problem, it was the drop at the top that I was nervous about. I’d heard plenty of people screaming on it already !

The next day I knew that I had put it off long enough and so I decided to give the drop slide a go. Again, as we were in port there was no line at all and there was only one person in front of me.

I’m not sure if watching somebody else do it made it better – or worse – but either way, I was brave enough to get into the slide.

The worst part by far was the countdown and waiting for the floor to drop. When it does drop, you fall very fast into the slide – but the floor drops in a way that tilts you back, so it only takes a few seconds for you to be sliding down what feels like a normal slide.

Later on in the cruise, I did also brave the waterslide, because after the drop slide, I felt like I could do anything!

Other Bars and Spaces Onboard

We headed inside and decided that now would be a great time to explore some of the spaces inside the ship that we had not yet seen.

On the lowest level of the atrium, we found the “Penrose Bar” and it was here that I had my first cocktail that was available “on tap.” The “Red Bubbles” was my favourite – although they were all pretty good.

Norwegian sell a variety of drinks packages. Usually, I am a fan of the soda package, on this cruise though I had the premium plus package that gave me access to almost everything – so I did my best to try as many as I could!

You can pay as you go if you would prefer, but I got the impression that most people onboard had a drinks package of some sort.

They would have live music in this bar in the evening, and that was very popular.

I think it would be a bit better if they moved the music into the middle, so the people on the higher decks could see and hear it more – but maybe that’s something they’ll do on a future ship.

I loved the design of this bar and it was a great place for a pre-dinner tipple.

(A tipple is a small alcoholic drink and it usually refers to your favourite drink. It’s a social drink that you typically drink in small quantities. For example, you might say your favourite tipple is a Gin and Tonic. )

Exploring Bermuda

Bermuda is actually made up of 7 small islands. The longest is 2 miles wide at the widest point.

When you are in Bermuda you’re never further than a mile away from the ocean!

To step off the ship here was amazing. It was around 25c or 79f – which was just glorious!

We were docked by a smaller Norwegian cruise ship called the “Norwegian Pearl.”

I haven’t been on the Norwegian Pearl – but I did cruise on her sister ship The Norwegian Jewel when I was 14. We didn’t have the same sunshine on that cruise though sadly, as we were cruising in The Baltics.

We decided to head to the beach and play a game of mini golf. I know it sounds a bit odd to get off a ship that has golf on it, to go and play golf on land – but it was recommended to me by a friend and it was great fun.

It was within walking distance of the ship, and the fear that I may accidentally hit the ball off the side of the course and into the ocean just made it more exciting!

I am from the UK and Bermuda is a British overseas territory. There were a few things in Bermuda that felt strangely familiar !

Familiar – but totally different as we rarely have skies that blue, and I’ve never ever seen such blue seas around Britain! Usually, our seawater is greeny-grey and murky!

Los Lobas Speciality Restaurant

Back on the ship we got to properly enjoy the promenade deck by having a meal at the restaurant “Los Lobos.”

Los Lobos restaurant serves Mexican food, and we ate as the sun went down over Bermuda – it was just beautiful!

I’ll never forget this meal, and for me, this is what cruising is all about! If I could have shared just 5 minutes of cruising with somebody who hasn’t been on a cruise – these five minutes would be it !

We had guacamole made at the tableside – and a whole tower of churros – which was fantastic.

Theatre Shows and Other Entertainment

I was really excited to go to the theatre because some of my favourite shows I’ve ever seen have been on Norwegian cruises in the past.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert onboard the Norwegian Epic was my favourite show for years. I actually went to see it twice on that cruise because it was just brilliant.

Onboard Norwegian Prima you do have to book a space to go and see the theatre shows, I’d recommend doing it as soon as you board.

If you aren’t able to get a booking you can still watch the show. They release the empty seats five or ten minutes before the show starts, as lots of people who book the show don’t always turn up. So even if you don’t have a booking it’s worth going to the theatre just before showtime.

We sat on the middle level which gave us an amazing view of both the stage, the lower seating and the upper seating. I think I’d describe the lower seats as like stadium seats.

I thought they might be uncomfortable as they have to fold away, but that wasn’t the case at all.

They all have drink holders too which I think is very important – especially as they do have bar service inside the theatre, which was always very quick.

I’m happy to report they stop serving drinks just before showtime so you don’t have to try and watch the show through the heads of waiters delivering drinks!

The musical that we watched was called “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” and I have to admit, before watching this show I wasn’t really familiar with Donna Summer’s story.

I’d heard a lot of her songs, but for me, the show was not only entertaining but also educational.

The quality of the show was just incredible, there wasn’t a single foot out of line at any point, every note was hit perfectly and it really was like watching a show on Broadway or in the West End.

It was almost 90 minutes long and had lots of clever set design pieces and changes of costume – which kept me entertained all the way through. My attention span is pretty short normally, but I was constantly entertained.

Later in the cruise we also watched “The Price is Right” game show, which was quite an experience for me!

We do have our own version of “The Price is Right” game show in the UK – but I’ve got to be honest, I’ve never watched it and I wouldn’t dare have said that to everybody else in the audience of this show! They were all hardcore “The Price is Right” fans!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show audience so excited for anything before! When you go to see the show, it is assumed that you want to get up on the stage and take part – which I think is quite a big cultural difference between us Brits and the Americans who made up most of the passengers on Prima.

In the UK it is assumed that we don’t want to take part in something unless we have specifically opted into it, in the US it’s assumed that everybody wants to go on the show and take part.

In true British style I was hoping I wouldn’t be called up – not just because I didn’t want to have everybody looking at me – but also because I didn’t want to take away the chance from somebody else who really really wanted to have a go!

All the other guests had these crazy dances ready to walk down the aisles, they were whooping and cheering – some had custom t-shirts made! The energy in the room was just crazy and it was so much fun. I’ll never look at that show the same way again!

Cruising at Full Capacity

Our cruise was sailing at full capacity, and we were sailing in the school holidays so the ship definitely did feel lively but we never had any problems finding somewhere to sit or somewhere to eat.

We never saw everybody together in one place and it felt like the ship nicely distributed everybody across the different venues.

There weren’t any particular points where everybody got bunched up as you find on some cruise ships.

Prima felt as though it was split up into lots of little separate areas – and I’m sure that some people never managed to find all of the different places onboard.

We would often find that some areas – like beside the pool would be busy – but other areas just one deck up would be almost empty. It was like nobody else knew they were there. Maybe they didn’t…

Vibe Beach Club

There is one area onboard that was always quiet. That was the adults-only area called “The Vibe Beach Club.”

This part does cost extra and there are only a certain number of passes per cruise sold, so if you would like to come here, make sure you book it straight away on the first day.

The seats here are super comfortable, there’s a bar and there are a couple of hot tubs on the side.

This might all sound very nice but I haven’t actually got to the best bit yet – the best bit is that they bring round cookies on a tray! That might be worth trying it just for that! 4 types of cookies too!

From the Vibe Beach club, I could see another pool deck that looked very interesting. I knew that there was an exclusive area onboard called “The Haven” – but I’d never been able to get into the Haven before.

Actually, that is a lie, you need a special cruise card to get into the Haven and once when I was about 13 I went into the Haven with my friend who was staying there so had the special card.

I was so scared that I was going to get in trouble that we just ate some sweets from a jar and came right back out. Since then I’ve always wondered what it was like inside The Haven and if I would get back there.

The guests inside The Haven basically stay in an exclusive ship within a ship, they have their own reception desk to sort everything out for them and to book them into the shows.

They have their own bar and a restaurant where they can eat all of their meals if they want to. There’s also a huge pool deck, and to be honest, I don’t think I’d leave this area if I was staying here!

Every guest I asked said that they recommended staying in “The Haven” and that they’d never go back to cruising outside of the Haven now that they’d tried it.

This area absolutely isn’t for everybody, and I usually cruise in inside cabins so it’s quite far out of my usual reach – but it was amazing to get to have a look around.

I was surprised to see children in there too, I don’t know why but I didn’t think that people would bring their whole families to stay in the Haven – but it seems like they do.

If I was one of these children I’d just leave to go on the Go-Karts and the slides and then come back. I would also probably make the trip out to have a go on some of the Virtual Reality games too !

Lots of Tech Onboard

The Norwegian Prima has a lot of tech onboard, not just VR rollercoasters but also in the cabins, on the tables where you order your food on tablets, and the WiFi – which worked really well during the cruise.

I did a live stream on my YouTube channel during this cruise and the stream never once went down or froze – which is incredible. I usually have to turn off the WiFi and use 4 or 5G to stream, but the WiFi was great.

Norwegian does have an App too which worked pretty well during our cruise, it would update instantly with purchases like the VR games, or if we bought anything in the gift shop.

I always recommend that you keep an eye on your onboard account so that you don’t get any nasty surprises when your bill arrives at the end of the cruise.

The App also had the daily schedule in it, deck plans and information about other venues like the speciality restaurants.

Around the ship, there were also big screens that had the same sort of information on them.

If you were lost and needed to get to a certain place you could ask the screens and they would show you the fastest route. That was very clever.

I could do with a little robot that pops out the bottom of the screen and physically takes me to where I need to go, but maybe we will see that in the futu re!

Other Restaurants Onboard

The food that I’ve mentioned in this article is just a tiny section of the amount that we tried during this cruise.

To find out what it was like to have our food cooked in front of us in Hasuki, and to see where else we ate. Check out this video next:

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Before You Go!

If you are considering a cruise onboard the Norwegian Prima, you’ll need somewhere to stay. I stayed in a balcony cabin and to find out if I’d recommend it, check out this post next: I Stayed in a Balcony Cabin on The Norwegian Prima (Full Review)

Other things you’ll need to think about:

Not sure what to wear on a Norwegian cruise? Norwegian Cruise Line Don’t Have Formal Nights – Here’s What They Have Instead

Considering doing some laundry onboard? Norwegian Cruise Line Laundry – Price List, Services, and Packages

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A Three-Story Racetrack, Food Hall, and Infinity Pools: Inside the Norwegian Prima

Spoiler alert: the Prima lives up to the hype

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Lounges and Decks

Entertainment, where to eat and drink, recreational attractions, the verdict.

When Norwegian Cruise Line invited me on an eight-night, inaugural voyage on board the Norwegian Prima, the cruise line's first in a new class of six ships, it took me all of five minutes to respond with a resounding "yes."

Brimming with firsts , the Prima Class takes cruising to a whole other level: A three-level go-kart race track? Check. An open-air food hall? Check. A pickleball court? Check. With the Prima setting sail from Reykjavik on Aug. 26 and landing in Amsterdam on Sept. 3, I had plenty of time to take advantage of all the cool things the ship had to offer and see if it lived up to expectations (spoiler alert: it did).

From where to eat and drink to the top things to do, here's everything you need to know about cruising on Norwegian Prima.

Courtesy of Norwegian Prima

The Prima's inside, oceanview, and balcony staterooms are larger than those in the cruise line's previous ship classes, and, while I admittedly haven't been on many cruises, mine was the nicest I've ever stayed in. We were placed in a "Family Balcony" stateroom, a 231-square-foot space that can sleep up to four guests with its double sofa bed and couch that can be converted into two lower beds.

There was more storage in our room than in any other hotels we stayed at before and after the cruise—particularly in the bathroom, which featured five shelves, a drawer, and a cabinet underneath the sink. Plus, the room had several outlets where we could charge our phones, laptops, and iPads, with the two bedside lamps offering additional slots for USB C and USB cords.

The balcony, which comes with two chairs, offers lovely views of the ocean and port destinations (I was sailing through the Netherlands' waterways as I wrote this), and can be a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of a busy ship. Since we were on the 15th floor, it was possible to hear the buzzing of the go-karts racing two levels above us; however, we were able to shut out the sounds by closing the door to our balcony.

For solo travelers, the Prima also offers studio rooms with full-size beds, a separate bathroom, and exclusive access to a Studio Lounge where you can meet other people. The best part? They're priced for those cruising by themselves, so no single supplement is required.

Elizabeth Preske

As previously reported by TripSavvy , the Prima's pool deck boasts more space than any earlier NCL ships. On the main pool deck, passengers can swim in the pool, ride a tidal wave waterslide, or relax in one of two infinity hot tubs. The sun deck, too, offers plenty of chaise lounges. For a more secluded retreat, passengers 18 and up can purchase a pass to the Vibe Beach Club (seven-day passes start at $229), which comes with its own bar, two other infinity hot tubs, and private cabanas.

While cool temps and strong winds kept most of us from adequately enjoying the upper decks—located on the 17th to 19th levels—they do line up next to some of the other onboard attractions, including The Wave, Kids' Aqua Park, and Prima Speedway, and could be potentially noisy on a hot day. If you're keeping a close eye on your kids, these are great spots to hang out and catch some rays; however, I preferred La Terraza on the 8th level, where there are equally comfy chairs in a much more intimate setting, as well as binoculars for wildlife spotting.

Also on the 8th level are two infinity pools at the twin Infinity Beaches, situated on the port and starboard sides of the ship and offering stunning ocean views. Because they're both adjacent to The Drop and The Rush landing areas, though, these areas can also be busy.

When the weather is less than ideal, there are a few indoor spaces where you can post up in. There's the Observation Lounge, which affords scenic views from the ship's bow, and the Internet Café, located next to Starbucks and a popular place for those WFC.

The three-level Prima Theater & Club is where you'll find the biggest events of the cruise, including concerts, musicals, and game shows. During the inaugural cruise, the theater put on "The Price Is Right Live" and "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," both fun and incredibly engaging.

At "The Price Is Right," a live version of TV's longest-running game show, passengers are invited to "come on down" to the stage and compete for a chance at spinning the big wheel. The show I was at was staged (all the winnings went to charity, and the showcase showdown saw global pop star Katy Perry, the Prima's godmother, up against Marcia Del Rio, wife of Norwegian Holdings Ltd. President and CEO Frank J. Del Rio), but during a regular cruise, anyone in the theater could be called down to place bids and win prizes.

The Tony-nominated "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" Broadway show—which tells the story of the Disco Queen's rise to fame and the inspiration behind her biggest hits like "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," and "She Works Hard for the Money"—was the Prima's headlining show. The trio of actresses playing Summer in three critical stages of her life—with D'Nasya Jordan as Duckling Donna, Valerie Curlingford as Disco Donna, and "American Idol" season two finalist Kimberley Locke as Diva Donna—are all remarkably talented, making the musical an utter sensation.

After the last show, crew members usher everyone out to fully retract the seats, transforming (in 15 minutes, no less) the theater into a full-on nightclub, complete with two bars and booth-style seating. Most nights of the inaugural cruise, it was Studio 54-themed—a perfect way to end the day after bopping our heads to disco beats at "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical."

In addition to the Prima Theater & Club, the ship features other venues where you can catch a show. The pub-style Syd Norman's Pour House is a popular place to grab a beer and listen to live music, with the house band's performance of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" album from start to finish a major highlight of the week. At The Improv at Sea, passengers can watch stand-up comedy in an intimate space reminiscent of a New York City improv theater.

Norwegian Cruise Line's food and beverage offerings set the cruise brand apart. With 18 dining venues on the ship, the Prima's culinary options are just as much a part of the cruise experience as its big-time attractions.

Indulge Food Hall

Food Hall has 11 different eateries that you can sample—including The Latin Quarter, which serves up totopos and crab tostada, and Tamara, where you can try Indian-inspired dishes such as chicken korma and urad dal. Unlike your average food hall, you can sit (almost) anywhere and order as many things as you want from a table-top kiosk with just a few simple taps. (If you sit at an eatery's bar seating, you can only order food from that particular vendor.)

The plates were small, which was great for sharing and meant we could try five or six dishes without feeling too stuffed. (I highly recommend Nudls' spaetzle, available at lunch, and its pesto gnocchi, which you can have for dinner.) Most of the dishes are included in the cost of the cruise, too, except for sweets shop Coco's—where I ordered dulce de leche crêpes and a fudgy s'mores sundae the size of my head in celebration of my mom's birthday—and drinks at Luna Bar.

We ran into technical difficulties with the kiosks when we placed an order, and it didn't go through, but crew members quickly sorted out the issue.

Main Dining Rooms

The Prima has two complimentary main dining rooms—Hudson's and The Commodore Room—open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Both offer the same menu, which is the same every day but is more expansive than what you would find in a traditional cruise dining hall. Here, you can order everything from small bites, soups, and salads to make-your-own pasta, pork chops, and rotisserie chicken.

Because I ate at Hudson's more than any other eatery onboard, I got to sample a good portion of the menu. While you can't go wrong with the "knife and fork" short rib (slow-braised beef, Guinness dark beer sauce, grilled asparagus), it was the seafood dishes that completely stole the show: mini crab cakes, California roll, and seafood paella (bomba rice, shrimp, sea bass, mussels, clams, and sofrito).

Although the menus stay the same daily, there is a rotating "signature taste"—a popular dish borrowed from one of the specialty restaurants—that you can purchase should you want to try something new.

Specialty Dining

If you're eager to mix things up, the Prima offers eight specialty restaurants you can dine at, including Cagney's Steakhouse, Nama Sushi & Sashimi, and Palomar, NCL's first Mediterranean seafood restaurant. The specialty restaurants were, unfortunately, not open for reservations on my cruise. However, I did get a chance to have dinner at Food Republic. Like Indulge Food Hall, it's a casual, fusion eatery where you can order a smattering of bites from a table-side kiosk. However, unlike Indulge Food Hall, the portions are much more substantial. I tried a bunch of different Asian dishes—including pork belly bao, a volcano roll, and ramen with BBQ pork belly—but they also offer Peruvian beef skewers, Mexican street corn, and Belgian waffles if you want to go on a culinary tour of the world. My personal favorite? The green tea jar, made with chocolate brownie, green tea mousse, chocolate crumble, and ganache—you won't regret it!

Surfside Café & Grill

Surfside Café & Grill is your classic cruise buffet. For speed and convenience, it became my go-to for pre-shore excursion meals and disembarkment day. It had everything you could want for breakfast: make-your-own omelets, French toast, eggs Benedict, muesli, oatmeal with all the fixings, bacon, pastries, fresh fruit, fresh juice, and tea and coffee.

I went here a couple of times for lunch, too, with one of those times falling on "Seafood Extravaganza" day. What looked like literal tons of shellfish were being unloaded by the pound and claw, and we could gorge on shrimp cocktail, lobster, and crab to our hearts' content. Being from the Midwest, where seafood can be found in the frozen section of the local grocery store, I found the whole experience slightly intimidating (how do I crack a lobster claw?), but it was all in good fun.

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local isn't open just for live music and drinks. It also offers pub fare and other comfort foods—think beer-battered cod sandwiches, Coney Island-style hot dogs, fettuccine carbonara, and blue cheese burgers. It was the only restaurant open in the interim between lunch and dinner, so it made for a great post-shore excursion meal.

You'll never want for a cocktail or glass of wine on the Prima. While you can grab a drink at any of the ship's theaters, clubs, restaurants, and decks, a handful of dedicated bars onboard offer something unique, from the fine selection of whiskeys at the aptly named Whiskey Bar to the crafted bottled cocktails at Belvedere Bar.

I quickly fell in love with Metropolitan, where bartenders serve up sustainable cocktails using ingredients sourced straight from Prima's kitchen. Like the Watermelon Twist, a spicy margarita concocted with watermelon rind cordial, and the Croissant Mai-Tai, whose day-old croissants were the star ingredient. But you don't have to go to Metropolitan to try one of these specialty cocktails; some of the other restaurants, including Indulge Food Hall and Hudson's, offer a rotating "day of the week" cocktail, giving passengers a chance to sample Metropolitan from anywhere on the ship.

From a three-level go-kart race track to free-fall slides and pickleball at sea, Norwegian Prima's exciting new attractions will keep you entertained all cruise long.

Galaxy Pavilion

Pegged as the first flying theater simulator at sea, Galaxy Pavilion is available on other Norwegian ships. Still, this newest iteration is better than all the rest, with 14 VR games, including two Escape Rooms and a Topgolf Swing Suite exclusive to Norwegian. As someone who gets quickly motion-sick, there were a few games, like the roller coaster simulation, that rocked and jolted a little too much for my liking—but others were safe alternatives and super fun. I loved the VR spin on DDR, where, with the help of on-screen prompts, I moved my arms to the beat of "Shake It Off" (the crew member who taught me how to play said it's for kids, but I disagree), as well as a zombie shooter game, hidden inside a 7D "Dark Room" (admittedly scary, though entertaining).

To play, it's $8 à la carte and $29 for a one-hour unlimited package. Ultimate Galaxy packages, the weeklong, all-you-can-play pass, are available for $199. The Escape Rooms are an additional $15 per person.

Prima Speedway

The race track ended up being one of my favorite attractions on the ship. While go-kart race tracks aren't new to NCL, this particular track is the first-ever three-level race track at sea, and it's 22 percent larger than the one on NCL's Encore. With a 1,400-foot track and 14 turns, the electric-powered go-karts travel can travel up to 27 miles per hour on the competitive, shared-rider experience ($15 per ride) and up to 40 mph on the "You And The Track" single-rider experience ($20 per ride).

I opted for the former, repeatedly pressing the green "turbo boost" button to try and overtake the others, and completed seven laps. Not bad for a first go-around. For those eager to take multiple turns around the track—and try to win first-place bragging rights—Norwegian will also offer an all-you-can-ride pass valid throughout your cruise ($199; does not include "You And The Track").

Tee Time & The Bull's Eye

Tee Time, the Prima's nine-hole mini-golf course, takes regular mini-golf up a notch by introducing interactive technology—think a pre-tee selfie at the 8th hole—and a chance to win the ultimate grand prize: a free cruise. Plus, there's tech that tracks the ball and automatically keeps score for you (re: no cheating allowed). It costs $10 to play.

Adjacent to Tee Time is The Bull's Eye, where you can play a round or two of darts with up to six people. Tickets are $40 for 50 minutes of play.

The Stadium

The Stadium is essentially the Prima's outdoor game room, where you can play several games— including subsoccer, beer pong, foosball, and tabletop shuffleboard—for free. There's also what I liked to call "wacky ping pong," which was like a tabletop version of racquetball, with a circular (as opposed to flat) table causing the ping ball to ricochet every which way.

As a former tennis player, the highlight of The Stadium was the pickleball court, enclosed in a cage to prevent cruisers from accidentally thwacking the polymer ball off the side of the ship. I heard it was one of the ship's more popular attractions and got rather busy, so I was fortunate to play a few rounds without waiting. (My advice? Make a beeline for the court on the first day, when people are still boarding and exploring the ship.) It was really fun, and I can now understand the big pickleball hype.

The Drop, The Rush, and The Wave

Look at an exterior shot of the Norwegian Prima, and you're bound to notice The Drop and The Rush, a series of 10-story-tall slides that spiral down the ship's sides. The Drop is what Norwegian says is the world's first free-fall slide, in which riders are comfortably set up in a capsule before the floor drops beneath them. On the opposite side of the Prima is The Rush, which comprises dueling slides perfectly set up for a race down to the 8th level. On a hot, sunny day, riders can also check out The Wave, NCL's first tidal wave water slide.

While it was too cold to test out The Wave, I gave both dry slides a whirl—and had a total blast. If you're afraid of heights, rest assured that the slides are much less intimidating than they appear, particularly The Drop: After that initial rush, the clear plastic tubing slows you considerably. All slides are free to ride.

Mandara Spa

If you want to treat yourself, you can choose from several wellness and beauty treatments at Mandara Spa, which offers everything from seaweed massages, stone therapy, and salt scrubs to mani-pedis and nutritional consultations.

I got a day pass to the Thermal Suite, which features salt and freshwater pools and a mix of saunas, ice rooms, and steam rooms you can bounce between. After sweating and shivering for an hour and a half, I wound up in the Thermal Lounge, with heated ceramic loungers that accumulate heat the longer you sit in them. I never wanted to leave.

Oceanwalk and The Concourse

Located on the 8th level is the glass-floored Oceanwalk, where you can look straight down and see the waves crashing underneath your feet. On the ship's starboard side, the Oceanwalk gives way to The Concourse, an outdoor sculpture garden filled with six works of art by West Palm Beach-based artist Alexander Krivosheiw. Be sure to swing by at night when Krivosheiw's "Sacred Trinity" sculpture, made of mirror-polished stainless steel and integrated with NeonFlex L.E.D. lighting, glows in alternating colors of purples, pinks, and blues.

The Haven is Norwegian Prima's ship-within-a-ship concept, an exclusive section open only to guests who've booked one of 107 ultra-luxurious Haven suites. Guests with the means (rooms start at $3,749 per person) will get the five-star treatment, with access to a private sundeck featuring an infinity pool, sauna, and cold room; The Haven Restaurant, an additional main dining room that serves gourmet dishes like lobster bisque and beef burgers with triple crème brie; and The Haven Lounge & Bar. To top it all off, Haven guests will be extra-pampered by a 24-hour butler, concierge service, private elevators, and VIP seating at the Prima Theater & Club.

With several industry firsts—a three-level race track at sea, a food hall boasting 11 different vendors, and an onboard sculpture garden—the Norwegian Prima promises an action-packed experience that will have you oohing and ahhing from the moment you step foot on board. The staterooms are comfortable and chic, with enough storage to stow your clothes, toiletries, and other travel items for a week. And, thanks to a wide variety of culinary options on board, you'll never grow tired of sampling all of the Prima's different flavors.

However, if you plan to stick to only the activities and restaurants included in the cruise cost, Norwegian Prima may not be for you. You'll not get the whole experience by skipping most, if not all, of the Prima's big-name attractions, and you may grow tired of seeing the same menu offerings at the complimentary eateries every day of the cruise. But, if you're open to spending extra—whether it's an hourly pass at Galaxy Pavilion or a weeklong "all-you-can-ride" package at Prima Speedway—you'll find that the Norwegian Prima is well worth it.

Although the inaugural cruise set sail from Northern Europe, Norwegian Prima will be cruising to the Caribbean from New York ; Galveston, Texas; and Miami in October before settling in for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season in Port Canaveral, Florida, and Galveston.

Cruises onboard the Prima start at $829 a person.

Norwegian Cruise Line. " Activities. " Accessed Sept. 22, 2022.

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Prima Question - Is there a running/walking track?

By molemaui , December 25, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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I've checked deck plans and found nothing. I've called NCL and answers are something like, "I think so" or "there should be". 

Anyone who has sailed on the Prima-Is there a running/walking track?

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BirdTravels

4 minutes ago, molemaui said: I've checked deck plans and found nothing. I've called NCL and answers are something like, "I think so" or "there should be".    Anyone who has sailed on the Prima-Is there a running/walking track?   Thanks

No running track.   

People use Ocean Boulevard to walk in the early morning. The goes completely around the ship on Deck 8 and includes two segments over the water with see through walkways. Later in the morning/day, it would get crowded around the stern. And it can be a bit windy as you approach the bow. 

16 minutes ago, BirdTravels said: No running track.    People use Ocean Boulevard to walk in the early morning. The goes completely around the ship on Deck 8 and includes two segments over the water with see through walkways. Later in the morning/day, it would get crowded around the stern. And it can be a bit windy as you approach the bow. 

Thank you. Was wondering whether or not to bring my tennis shoes. I figure daily track use helps justify copious amounts of drink and food. 

23 hours ago, BirdTravels said: No running track.    People use Ocean Boulevard to walk in the early morning. The goes completely around the ship on Deck 8 and includes two segments over the water with see through walkways. Later in the morning/day, it would get crowded around the stern. And it can be a bit windy as you approach the bow. 

Good to know, as many of other cruise line's newer builds seem to have eliminated walk around possibilities.

On 12/25/2022 at 8:17 AM, molemaui said: Thank you. Was wondering whether or not to bring my tennis shoes. I figure daily track use helps justify copious amounts of drink and food. 

There are some Ocean Blvd walking track photos starting at Post #109 below

Karaboudjan

On 12/25/2022 at 1:17 PM, molemaui said: Thank you. Was wondering whether or not to bring my tennis shoes. I figure daily track use helps justify copious amounts of drink and food. 

If you are open to alternate forms of burning calories there is a small pickleball court in the Stadium.

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• NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings orders 8 new ships from...

NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings orders 8 new ships from Fincantieri

NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced the commissioning of 8 vessels across its 3 brands, slated for delivery between 2026 and 2036. The Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will oversee the construction of all these vessels.

Additionally, NCLH plans to construct a dual-ship pier at its private Bahamian island Great Stirrup Cay .

After the delivery of four Prima Plus ships from 2025 to 2028, NCLH's subsidiary NCL/Norwegian Cruise Line is projected to receive 4 ships of ~200,000 GT-tons/volume each ( capacity ~5000 pax ) in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036.

NCLH's subsidiary Oceania Cruises is expected to take delivery of its final Allura-class ship in 2025. Subsequently, Oceania will receive two units of ~86,000 gross tons each, with a capacity of 1450 guests, in 2027 and 2029.

To ensure availability at shipyards, NCLH anticipates that the 4-ship NCL order will replace a prior 2-ship order for Oceania.

NCLH's subsidiary RSSC/Regent Seven Seas Cruises will receive 2 ships of 77,000 GT each, accommodating 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.

Further details about these new ship classes will be disclosed in the upcoming months, as per NCLH.

Harry Sommer (NCLH's CEO) emphasized that these ship orders mark a steady introduction of state-of-the-art vessels into their fleet, reinforcing long-term growth prospects. It underscores the commitment to innovation and enhancing guest experiences while striving for fleet efficiency and decarbonization.

The order prices for the ships were not disclosed. However, NCLH mentioned obtaining export credit financing to cover 80% of the contract price for each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to specific conditions. Financing for the Norwegian Cruise Line ships is currently underway.

The new dual-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay aims to bolster the company's capacity in the Caribbean. Construction is set to commence in the summer, with completion anticipated by late 2025. The project represents an investment of US$150 million, according to NCLH.

The best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for every type of traveler

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What’s the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship? Over the years, I’ve sailed on all but two of Norwegian’s 18 vessels, and my personal favorite is the new Norwegian Prima. I love its stylish design and upscale feel, as well as its wide mix of eateries, bars and entertainment.

Still, Norwegian Prima isn’t necessarily the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you. Whether you’ll have a better time on one of the other 17 vessels in the Norwegian fleet will depend a lot on the type of traveler you are.

Norwegian has some vessels, such as Norwegian Encore, that are loaded with family-friendly attractions such as waterparks and go-kart tracks that are perfect for families with teens and tweens. To me, Norwegian Encore is an even better choice than Norwegian Prima for families with school-age kids.

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Other Norwegian cruise ships, such as Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sun, have specific features that might make them better options for solo travelers or retirees. Certain Norwegian ships are best for budget travelers, while others are best for luxury travelers.

In short, the best Norwegian cruise ship for you will depend on a bunch of factors, and which ship is best for a trip with your family might not be your top pick for a couple’s cruise or girlfriends’ getaway.

Here we list our top picks for the best Norwegian cruise ships for five different types of travelers.

Norwegian Encore: Best for families

The best Norwegian Cruise Line ships for families, hands down, are the four giant, activity-packed ships of its Breakaway-Plus class: Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape. Of these, Norwegian Encore is our top pick.

At 169,145 tons and carrying 3,998 passengers, Norwegian Encore is the largest ship in the Norwegian fleet. That means it has the most space for the many over-the-top family fun zones that are at the core of the four Breakaway-Plus vessels — a series of ships that was specifically designed with families in mind.

For starters, Norwegian Encore is home to some of the most thrilling waterslides at sea, as well as a kiddie splash zone that will have your little ones squealing with delight. But those are just the appetizers when it comes to family fun on the top deck of the ship.

Norwegian Encore is also the setting for one of the biggest go-kart racing tracks at sea . (Yes, this is a thing — Norwegian debuted the concept on its Breakaway-Plus-class ships and now has a go-kart track on four vessels.) Two decks high and nearly 1,150 feet long, the Norwegian Encore Speedway includes four sections that extend up to 13 feet over the sides of the vessel. The racecourse also features a middle-of-the-track observation area where your family and friends can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with “lasers” that’ll give you a boost of power.

Related: The 5 best cruise lines for families

In addition, Norwegian Encore has a large laser tag area on its top deck (one that I can tell you from personal experience is a blast) and a massive indoor gaming and virtual reality zone called the Galaxy Pavilion. Both are tween and teen favorites.

That’s all on top of dedicated children’s play areas, pools and family-friendly entertainment that will keep your family busy from morning to night.

In short, there are so many family-friendly things to do on Norwegian Encore that you and your kids likely won’t be able to do it all in a single, weeklong cruise.

Norwegian Prima: Best for luxury lovers

Luxury lovers recently got a new top choice in the Norwegian fleet: Norwegian Prima .

Unveiled in 2022, the 3,215-passenger vessel is the first of a new class of Norwegian ship that the line has designed to be more upscale than its earlier vessels. (A sister vessel, Norwegian Viva , is debuting this year.) An “elevation” of the brand is how executives describe it.

The upscale turn included loading Norwegian Prima with the largest variety of suites (13 categories in all) of any ship in the NCL fleet, including the largest three-bedroom suites of any new cruise vessel. If it’s swanky digs you’re after (and you have the money to spend), you’ll find plenty of options on this ship.

Extra suite categories are just the start of what makes Norwegian Prima the best Norwegian cruise ship for luxury lovers.

Notably, the entire back of the ship is dedicated to an upscale luxury zone for the fancy set called The Haven. Rising eight decks high, it’s home to 107 of the aforementioned suites, a sprawling private indoor lounge area, private outdoor lounge and pool areas, and a private restaurant — all exclusively for the use of the deep-pocketed biggies who pay up for one of its suites.

Related: The 8 best cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

We’ve seen these private The Haven suite areas on Norwegian ships before but never on this scale. If it’s living large on a Norwegian ship that’s your goal, you’re not going to find anything better than this.

Outside of The Haven, the entire ship has a more elegant feel of the sort you find in the fleets of Norwegian’s higher-end sister brands, Oceania Cruises  and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — albeit on a bigger scale.

The entryway to the ship, for instance, deposits you at the three-story-high Penrose Atrium, which may be the most beautiful atrium of any big ship at sea. It has a curvy, sculptural feel as if the entire space were an art piece.

It’s a look that carries over to a bevy of high-end eateries, including Nama, a new-for-Norwegian sushi restaurant with a design that is as sophisticated as the sushi it serves. Also striking is Norwegian Prima’s version of Le Bistro, Norwegian’s signature French eatery. It’s built around three massive crystal chandeliers costing nearly $100,000 that hang down to the floor — a showstopper of a design element. Gold-leaf wallpaper lines its booth seating.

Notably, the public areas that include these restaurants feel more spacious than many of the other ships in the Norwegian fleet. Indeed, they are. Norwegian Prima was built with a higher ratio of space to passengers, which itself is an upscale touch. The ship also has a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, leading to better service.

In short, this is the Norwegian ship to book when you want to take things up a notch.

Norwegian Sky: Best for budget travelers

Norwegian Sky is the Norwegian ship to pick when you’re looking for a low-cost, easy-to-do getaway — at least in the summer months.

Based in Miami for much of the year, the 24-year-old vessel operates a mix of short three- to five-night voyages to the Bahamas and longer trips to the Caribbean from spring to fall that have one thing in common: They’re unusually affordable on a per-night basis.

In many cases, Norwegian Sky sailings out of Miami will start under $100 a day per person, though it depends on the week. We sometimes see the ship’s shorter sailings starting as low as $249 per person for the entire cruise.

Indeed, the ship often is at the top of the list when you sort cruises by lowest price on Norwegian’s website.

For would-be Norwegian cruisers, Norwegian Sky’s shorter sailings out of Miami serve as a sort of “test the line” opportunity. Their short time frame and low pricing mean you’re not out a lot in time or money if you don’t love it as much as you hoped. These shorter sailings cater heavily to first-time cruisers and Florida locals who can book on short notice and drive into the port for a quick escape.

One of two ships in the line’s Sun class that date to the turn of the millennium, Norwegian Sky is far from the snazziest ship in the Norwegian fleet. This is both because of its age but also its size. At 77,104 tons and carrying 2,002 passengers, it’s just half the size of Norwegian’s biggest ships and has far fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces. There is no giant water park on its top deck or a go-kart track to keep the kids busy all day, so it’s not the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for families.

Related: The 8 classes of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, explained

That said, Norwegian Sky has its allures, one of which is that it has a much more intimate feel than the line’s bigger vessels. It’s a great choice for adults on a budget who are satisfied with the basics.

Norwegian Epic: Best for solo travelers

When it comes to the best Norwegian cruise ship for solo travelers, one ship stands out above all the others: Norwegian Epic.

Unveiled in 2010, Norwegian Epic caters to solo travelers like no other large cruise ship at sea — from any line, not just Norwegian — with an unusually large private zone for solo travelers that has its own two-story lounge for solo mixers as well as special solo cabins.

Tucked away in the middle of the ship, this “studio” zone is essentially a private escape for solos, with more solo cabins — 128 — than you’ll find on any other ship at sea.

The cabins measure just 100 square feet but are superbly designed to maximize storage space. They’re also clustered around the exclusive Studio Lounge, which has its own private bar and a television area where solo travelers can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings.

Only solos staying in the solo cabins (via keycards) can access the Studio Lounge, meaning that you and your new solo friends will have the place to yourselves.

Related: The best cruise lines for solo travelers

Norwegian Epic was the first Norwegian ship with an exclusive solos zone, and it was such a hit the line later added them to six more vessels. But none of the latter zones are as big as the one on Norwegian Epic.

The bigger Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss all have an 82-cabin solo complex, while two older ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — have solo areas with 59 cabins. The line’s newest vessel, Norwegian Prima, has a 72-cabin solo complex spread over two decks.

Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America.

Having sailed in one of Norwegian Epic’s cabins for one, I can confidently declare them among the coolest solo digs at sea. I particularly love the “Jetsons” futuristic-style design and the multicolored mood lighting.

One big caveat: They’re all inside cabins without an ocean view, although most have a window that looks out onto a corridor.

Related: Why a windowless inside cabin isn’t so bad

A bigger caveat, perhaps, is that these solo cabins have become so popular they often sell out far in advance and at prices that aren’t much better than booking a cabin for two.

Norwegian Sun: Best for retirees

For older travelers looking for a Norwegian ship that isn’t filled to the gills with children, Norwegian Sun is the perfect option.

Dating to 2001, Norwegian Sun is one of Norwegian’s oldest and smallest vessels, and it lacks many of the family-focused onboard attractions that are typical for the line’s newer and bigger vessels. You won’t find big waterparks, go-kart racing tracks or laser tag zones on this ship.

Norwegian Sun’s top deck mostly comprises sunning areas, with a single pool and whirlpools, as is typical for ships built more than two decades ago.

As a result, it draws far fewer families than most of the vessels mentioned above and caters more to an older crowd of mostly couples.

Norwegian Sun also is the ship that Norwegian deploys on some of its longest and most destination-focused itineraries, the type that particularly appeals to retirees looking to see more of the world.

Related: The 7 best cruises for seniors who love to travel

Over the next two years, for instance, Norwegian Sun is sailing lots of long voyages out of such less-common home ports as Tokyo; Seoul, Korea; Laem Chabang, Thailand; Lisbon, Portugal; and Haifa, Israel.

The sailings out of Tokyo, Seoul and Laem Chabang will offer the chance to visit such Asian countries as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand in-depth, with most departures ranging from 11 to 15 nights and packed with port stops — the sort of cruise that appeals more to older couples than families.

The sailings out of Lisbon and Haifa, both on the longer side, will offer in-depth explorations of Northern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, respectively.

Norwegian Sun is also one of the smallest and least kid-focused of the five ships the line deploys to Alaska in summer, making it a good choice for retirees wanting to visit that destination. Families with kids naturally gravitate to the two giant, activity-packed vessels Norwegian sends to Alaska each summer — Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian ship  

At 78,309 tons, Norwegian Sun is less than half the size of the biggest Norwegian ships, and it holds just 1,976 passengers at double occupancy. (Compare that to more than 4,000 for Norwegian’s biggest vessels.) Expect a far more intimate experience than what you’ll find on most of the ships mentioned above.

Note that due to the ship’s small size, some of Norwegian’s signature features, including a private The Haven suite complex and solo cabins, aren’t found on the ship. Still, you’ll find more than half a dozen eateries, including several main dining rooms, a casual buffet, a diner-style pub, a steak house, an Italian trattoria and a French bistro as well as a showroom with nightly shows, a casino, a multipurpose basketball/volleyball court, golf driving nets and a jogging track.

Bottom line

Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet consists of 18 ships that come in a wide range of sizes and feature differing mixes of venues and activities. Some are jampacked with fun zones that make them perfect for families, while others are geared toward couples and retirees. Some ships have attributes that make them stand out for luxury, solo or budget travelers.

If you’re considering a Norwegian cruise, it pays to study not just the itineraries that are available from the line but the specific ships that are operating the itineraries. You want to make sure you end up on the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you.

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Travel | 8 new ships coming to Norwegian Cruise Line,…

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Subscriber only, travel | 8 new ships coming to norwegian cruise line, sister brands plus dock at great stirrup cay.

The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was planning to bring on four new ships for NCL, two new ships for upper premium brand Oceania Cruises and two ships for luxury brand Regent Seven Seas, all to be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debut during a 10-year run from 2026-2036.

The NCL ships would be the largest ever built for the line at around 200,000 gross tons and capacity of about 5,000 guests. They won’t arrive until after the final delivery of its Prima-Plus class ships expected between 2025-2028, the larger sister ships to the Norwegian Prima and Viva that debuted in the last couple of years. The four ships from the unnamed class of vessel would arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests. They’re expected in 2027 and 2029.

And the Regent Seven Seas fleet’s new vessels will also be larger coming in at 77,000 gross tons with a capacity of 850 guests. They’re expected in 2026 and 2029. Regent just debuted the third of its Explorer class ships in December 2023.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

No other details about the ships were released. Financing is already in place to fund 80% of the cost for the four ships among the Oceania and Regent orders, but financing for the four NCL ships is not finalized.

The eight ships expects to add 25,000 more to the three cruise lines’ passenger capacity.

In addition, the line is set to construct a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the popular Bahamas private destination visited by all three brands. The move follows the introduction of a dock that can support two Oasis-class vessels at neighboring Perfect Day at Coco Cay for Royal Caribbean while other private Bahamas destinations including Disney’s Castaway Cay and its new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point feature tenderless docks for easy access.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Orders 8 New Ships for 3 Brands from Fincantieri

• April 8, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today unveiled the most comprehensive newbuild order in its history—a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call, according to a press release.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036.

Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing.

Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029.

Lastly, following the Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri , each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet.

“Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri. “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

Mark A. Kempa, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, commented: “we expect that these strategic investments will secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future.”

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Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

Breaking News Reporter