Seven reasons to sail on Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Cruise Lines’ latest ship Norwegian Prima is the first in a new class of cruise ships designed to elevate every expectation. It will be followed by Norwegian Viva in 2023 and four subsequent vessels over the next few years.

The game-changing ship accommodates 3,215 guests and sets sail this month after a lavish christening ceremony in Iceland hosted by its godmother, the singer Katy Perry.

Travel agents from the UK and Ireland are on board for the inaugural christening cruise, before it starts sailing itineraries including Southampton to Iceland and Norway and Caribbean cruises to NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

Prima means ‘first’ in Italian, and the new ship really does live up to NCL’s ‘guest first’ philosophy, with a number of innovative and incredible features. Here are just a few reasons to sail on Norwegian Prima.

Stunning design

The ship is a real showstopper from the hull to The Haven luxury retreat. It features striking hull artwork designed by Italian graffiti artist Peeta, and the stunning interiors have been designed by Italian designer Piero Lissoni and powerhouse architectural firms Rockwell Group, SMC Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden, YSA Design and Miami-based Studio Dado, who designed the Penrose Atrium, the three-story glass-walled focal point of the ship which spans decks six to eight.

 

The great outdoors

Norwegian Prima has more outside deck space than any other new cruise ship, including the breathtaking Ocean Boulevard, a 4,000 square metre walkway which wraps around all of deck eight. It features The Concourse, an outdoor sculpture garden featuring works by David Harber and Alexander Krivosheiw; Infinity Beach which has two infinity pools on each side of the ship located close to the ocean surface; two Oceanwalk glass bridges for breathtaking, Instagram-friendly views; and the forward-facing Le Terrazza open-air lounge.

 

Incredible accommodation

It’s not just the outside that’s spacious, the rooms are also some of NCL’s biggest to date, ranging from Studios specially designed for solo travellers and Oceanview suites for families to The Haven Premier Owner’s Suite, which sleeps eight people and is spread over 195 square metres, with three bedrooms and separate living and dining areas. The Haven is an exclusive enclave within the ship, reached by its own private elevators and with 24-hour butler service and world-class amenities.

 

Fantastic food and drinks

The Indulge Food Hall is NCL’s first open-air food market and features 11 different eateries in one space. There are also seven new dining venues including Mediterranean seafood at Palomar, hibachi-style cuisine at Hasuki and modern sushi and sashimi masterpieces at Nama. Hudson’s is the main dining room while The Commodore Room offers more refined surroundings. For more casual dining there is also the Surfside Café and Surfside Grill. Contemporary cocktails are served at The Belvedere Bar, while the Metropolitan Bar is part of NCL’s Sail and Sustain initiative, featuring responsibly crafted zero-waste cocktails prepared with surplus ingredients as well as sustainable spirits and biodynamic wines.

 

Amazing activities

For anyone seeking more of an adrenaline rush, Norwegian Prima boasts some unique attractions including the Prima Speedway – a three-storey go-kart racing track which stretches 420m and takes racers around and through the ship’s funnel at speeds of up to 50kmh. There is also The Drop, the world’s first free-fall dry slide which plummets 10 storeys down the side of the ship, and The Rush, with its duelling dry racing slides. The Aqua Park also features a brand new Tidal Wave waterslide.

 

Health and wellness

For a more calming experience, there is the new Mandara Spa which features state-of-the-art pools, a two-story waterfall and first charcoal sauna at sea. Derived from Japanese and Korean wellness practices, it helps boost circulation and metabolism while also removing toxins from the body. It’s just one of eight thermal spa offerings, which also include a salt and steam room, an ice room, a flotation pool and an infrared sauna.

 

Exciting Entertainment

Norwegian Prima is also first for entertainment, with a brand new beatboxing musical called Noise Boys! and former American Idol contestant Kimberley Locke starring in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical which tells the story of the disco diva and features 20 of her classic hits. They take place in the Prima Theater, which transforms into a spectacular Vegas-style nightclub and also a production set where guests can be participants in iconic game shows including The Price Is Right and Supermarket Sweep.