The Prima Line is Norwegian Cruise Line’s first ship designed by the company’s own designers. It’s also the first vessel to feature a new brand of staterooms called “The Haven” that are bigger, more upscale and more exclusive than anything else in the company’s fleet.
It’s the first cruise line to offer Broadway-style shows as part of its programming. In its debut season, Norwegian is presenting “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” a Tony Award-nominated production in a new three-story theater.
There are also a lot of things onboard that you won’t find on other ships from Norwegian, including a go-kart track that is about 22% larger than what’s on Norwegian Encore and a three-deck open-air games zone called “The Stadium,” which will feature pickleball courts, foosball tables, pingpong, bar-style hand shuffleboard tables and other activities for everyone.
The Promenade
One of the most impressive features on the new Norwegian Prima is its promenade, which is about 14% smaller than many recent megaships from big-ship lines. The Promenade will allow passengers to walk around the ship without feeling as if they’re being swamped by a large number of people.
While most big-ship lines make their promenades wide to absorb more of the crowds that will be onboard, Norwegian was one of the first to add additional features to them, namely outdoor restaurant seating and other venues where passengers can gather outside.
* The Pool*
A huge, publicly accessible space splits the pools on two of the top decks, where padded loungers are surrounded by a variety of dining options and other fun places to enjoy the sun and water. It’s a great spot to get some sun, relax with a cocktail and enjoy the views.
It’s a popular place to catch the sunset. There’s a great view, but it can also be a great place for some shade.
The main dining room is a different story, though. The MDR on Prima is a bit smaller than it is on other NCL ships, meaning that dinners might be a bit longer.
This could be an attempt to encourage guests to try more of the specialty restaurants on the ship, but it might mean that a longer wait is inevitable.
* The Bar*
You’ll also find plenty of different areas to drink a cocktail on the Norwegian Prima, ranging from padded loungers in front of the pool to more swanky spots to enjoy your evening cocktails. The bar itself isn’t a terribly big space, but it has enough seating to keep the area busy and give you a great view of the action on the deck below.
Another area of the ship that feels a lot more upscale is The Haven, which stretches over three stories and has a lot of different seating areas for enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail. It also has a much more extensive dining area and bar than what was previously offered on the company’s ships.
All in all, it’s clear that the Norwegian Prima is trying to push the boundaries of what a cruise ship should be able to do and how it should feel. It’s an exciting new direction for the company, and it seems to be paying off so far.
