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The Norwegian Prima is a modern and innovative cruise ship full of surprises
NORWEGIAN PRIMA - PRESENTATION CRUISE FROM MIAMI 14 NOVEMBER 2022
It was a beautiful sunny November Day in Miami when I reached the spectacular NCL bright new terminal B to board the new Norwegian Prima.
From embarkation, the vibe was great! Travel advisors from all over the USA, which made most of the guests for this presentation cruise from Miami, were as curious and excited as I was.
The Charters, Meetings, and Incentives Team of NCL kindly invited me to the cruise a few weeks ago. I was excited about cruising on the new NCL masterpiece!
I was curious to have a feeling of the Norwegian Prima as the ship represents a new generation and perhaps a new dimension for NCL.
My main scope for the trip was to have a sense of the Norwegian Prima for groups and full charters of this impressive and innovative new ship.
Me and my cruise-addicted family; consider NCL as one of our favorite brands for family cruise vacations. The past year we have traveled a few times on NCL's “Haven”, a product that we enjoy.
Another feature we like about NCL is the “freestyle cruising”, which I will expand on later in this blog.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE NORWEGIAN PRIMA
Prima was built by the leading Italian shipbuilder group Fincantieri in July 2022. The building shipyard was Fincantieri Marghera which is at the doorsteps of Venice.
For those of you who know me, Fincantieri Marghera was literarily in the backyard from where I grew up. I felt proud of this extraordinary engineering masterpiece completed in my town of origin.
The Prima features a Gross Tonnage of 143.535, a length of 299m (981 ft), and a capacity of 3099 pax in double occupancy, 1506 crew, and a building price estimated at 850ml USD.
To the cruise experts, it will come immediately notable that the Prima is smaller than the last Breakaways-plus ship of NCL. The Norwegian Encore delivered in 2019 featured a Gross Tonnage of 169.116 and a capacity of 3.998 lower berths.
According to my calculations, Encore has a Gross Tonnage per guest (lower berths) of 42,3, while the Prima is 46,3, which means that each guest has more space on the ship.
It also shows that the trend for NCL is not building bigger ships but better ones. With Prima, NCL is targeting the premium market for large ships.
A TOTALLY NEW HAVEN
I had a beautiful Balcony Cabin on deck 10 which was well-appointed and had pleasant, modern décor. I appreciated the comfortable reclinable chairs with soft pillows on my balcony; I spent time sitting on the balcony enjoying the ocean views.
As soon as I dropped my carry-on luggage in my cabin, I went to my Master Station at the Theater. I just had to check off my presence and the ship staff explained the use of the lifejacket. I did have to watch a safety video remotely before checking in a couple of weeks before departure. Everything was smooth and efficient.
In the afternoon, the NCLH CM&I team organized a Haven tour which has been completely redesigned with independent lifts to reach it.
As I mentioned, the Haven is a "ship within a ship". With 107 beautiful suites, butler service, a private bar, restaurant, swimming pool, sun deck, and concierge desk; it is a fantastic product as it allows me to enjoy the features of a large ship. It features several dining options, fun features, broadway-style entertainment, and several venues, and yet enjoy luxury service.
I was impressed by the new Haven design. The Haven in the previous NCL ships is located aft rather than forward, on Prima you enjoy breathtaking unobstructed views of the ocean and a stunning infinity pool.
The Haven is a very unique concept for group charters. It has 107 suites, making it attractive for smaller groups who could do a Haven buyout for additional privacy and a luxury experience on board a large ship.
The Haven restaurant has a separate room for private meetings or dinners. It accommodates smaller groups giving even more privacy.
OCEAN BOULEVARD FULL OF SURPRISES
Prima's deck 8 is full of surprises. Ocean Boulevard was a 1/3 Mile (about 540m) outdoor boardwalk with dining and bars, infinity pools, a sculpture garden, observation points, and more.
The connection with the water was intense and it was for me the best area on the ship all around. A special new touch of the Prima-class setting a new design philosophy and standard for NCL, it felt like an enjoyable large premium area to me.
INDULGING IN “INDULGE”
In Ocean Boulevard on deck 8 aft, there is an innovative food court concept, Indulge. I found the venue brilliant, and I voted it as my personal favorite on the Norwegian Prima.
I had two delicious lunches and a spectacular pre-dinner aperitif admiring the Caribbean sunset from the outdoor sitting area.
Indulge is a concept that I have never seen on a cruise ship. It has 11 food stations, Cocos, Q Texas Smokehouse, The Garden (Salad Bar), Starbucks kiosk, Tamara, Just Desserts, Just Ice Cream, and Seaside Rotisserie. Also, food truck-style stations featuring Noodles, Tapas Truck, and the Latin Quarter.
I ordered my food through iPads available on each table. The friendly staff delivered it to us very fast. The selection of dishes had the perfect size to try several options. I could order as many times as I wanted; my favorite dish was the tuna tacos. Indulge is a perfect place for a group lunch or dinner. It will satisfy any palate and dietary restrictions, and it is complementary.
A WELL-DESIGNED ATRIUM
The Atrium area extends between decks 6, 7, and 8. It looked well-designed, clean, and modern; it felt like a Scandinavian design.
Particularly popular were Starbucks on deck 7, a great way to start the morning with a good coffee, and the Whiskey Bar, the perfect spot for an evening social.