The Norwegian Prima will be 295 meters long, have a gross tonnage of 142,500, and can accommodate 3,215 passengers at double occupancy. This new ship will offer more spacious areas, a sleek and striking design, and a variety of new experiences.
Norwegian Cruise Line has opened sales for voyages on the first of six Prima-class ships that will begin sailing in the summer of 2022.
“Despite not having sailed for over a year, we have never stopped working and innovating—we haven’t even paused,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “In fact, we have doubled down on investment in our brand to provide guests with unforgettable experiences that exceed expectations. Not only will we be cruising again this July, but we are very proud to announce the start of an exciting new chapter by introducing the Prima Class and the first ship in a line of unparalleled vessels, the Norwegian Prima.”
Sommer continued: “An exemplary representation of our brand’s evolution, bringing together our ‘Guest First’ philosophy and our spirit of innovation, Norwegian Prima embodies everything our guests love about NCL and raises the bar. This new class of ships is truly designed to put our guests first.”.
The striking ship, built in Marghera, Italy, by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, features eye-catching hull artwork designed by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita, commonly known as “Peeta.” Among the architects who contributed to the design of the Norwegian Prima are Italian designer Piero Lissoni and the renowned architecture firms Rockwell Group, SMC Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden, YSA DESIGN, and Studio Dado of Miami.
The name “Prima”, which means “first” in Italian, fits naturally with our legacy of industry firsts and is a fitting tribute to our new Italian shipbuilding partners at Fincantieri,” Sommer added.
“We are honored to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line on the development of its next class of ships,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “The Norwegian Prima marks the beginning of our collaboration, which will see the delivery of six next-generation ships designed to take guest experiences to a new level by focusing on elevated, spacious, and thoughtful design. As we emerge from this global crisis, this announcement signals a strong hope for the cruise industry and is a testament to Fincantieri’s global leadership role in the sector.”
The Norwegian Prima will offer the highest service level and passenger space ratios of any new premium cruise ship, providing an unparalleled passenger experience. It will offer the widest variety of suite categories available at sea, with 13 suite categories, the largest three-bedroom suites, and the brand's largest interior, ocean-view, and balcony staterooms, including larger bathrooms and showers for standard stateroom categories. The Norwegian Prima will also offer the most outdoor deck space of any new cruise ship, including more total pool deck space than any other ship in the NCL fleet, as well as multiple infinity pools and expansive outdoor promenades that will allow guests to enjoy the ocean, the sea breeze, and a variety of experiences.
To provide guests with an unparalleled luxury cruising experience, The Haven by Norwegian on Norwegian Prima offers the brand's most exclusive suite complex. For the first time, the cruise line has relocated all 107 Haven Suites aft and redesigned The Haven to be more open to the sea than ever before. The Haven Courtyard on Norwegian Prima has been transformed into a spacious Haven Sundeck, complete with a new infinity pool and a new outdoor spa featuring a glass-walled sauna and a cold room. All public areas and suites in The Haven were designed by Piero Lissoni, one of Italy's preeminent designers.
NCL has reimagined The Waterfront by doubling the space and adding a greater variety of experiences and dining options than ever before by introducing Ocean Boulevard, a 4,000-square-meter-long promenade that wraps around the entire deck, allowing guests to stroll around the entire ship and experience incredible ocean views while having the option to participate in numerous daily outdoor activities.
As part of the experiences offered on Ocean Boulevard, NCL has included the first open-air market, the Indulge Food Hall, which offers visitors diverse menus from a variety of culinary venues, as well as a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. Eleven vendors are featured, including favorites like Coco's, serving artisanal sweets; Q Texas Smokehouse, with its delicious Southern American fare; and Starbucks. Indulge will also be showcasing for the first time restaurants such as Seaside Rotisserie, offering a wide array of roasted dishes; Nudls, a noodle emporium serving noodle dishes from around the world; Tamara, preparing classic Indian dishes and vegetarian fare; The Latin Quarter, serving classic Latin cuisine; Tapas Food Truck, preparing Latin-inspired street food; Garden Kitchen, with custom salads featuring more than two dozen toppings to choose from; Just Desserts, offering classic desserts like pies and cakes; and Just Ice Cream, serving tempting ice cream flavors and sweet treats.
In addition to the culinary offerings available on Norwegian Prima's Ocean Boulevard, the venue will host three other indoor and outdoor dining options, including Onda By Scarpetta, featuring rich and bold flavors from Scarpetta's modern Italian land-based restaurants; Los Lobos, the Mexican restaurant offering traditional Mexican flavors with a modern twist; and the revamped Local Bar & Grill, set in a luxurious beach club atmosphere, offering live music where guests can relax and enjoy cocktails and classic American cuisine.
The company has unveiled other “firsts” such as The Concourse, an open-air sculpture garden with six installations designed by Alexander Krivosheiw; guests can also relax at Infinity Beach, with two infinity pools, one located on each side of the ship and close to the ocean's surface; the two glass bridges of Oceanwalk, also new to the brand, which will offer passengers breathtaking views that will make them feel like they are walking on air or water; or La Terraza, an open-air lounge, offers a picturesque retreat for visitors to enjoy stellar views of the sea.
Norwegian Prima Itineraries:
- Summer 2022: Northern Europe and the United Kingdom. Following a series of inaugural cruises, beginning in August 2022, the Norwegian Prima will be the newest ship to embark in Northern Europe, offering a series of 10-day voyages from Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Copenhagen, Denmark, to explore Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, and the Baltic regions.
- Fall/Winter 2022: Bermuda and the Caribbean. On September 23, the Norwegian Prima will depart Southampton on a 12-day transatlantic voyage, ending in New York, before beginning a five-day round-trip itinerary to Bermuda on October 10. On October 15, it will depart New York on a 12-day Caribbean immersion itinerary, visiting Galveston, Texas, with stops in Willemstad, Curaçao; Kralendijk, Bonaire; and Oranjestad, Aruba. On October 31, the Norwegian Prima will begin its Caribbean season with an 11-day itinerary visiting Willemstad, Curaçao; Kralendijk, Bonaire; and the company's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. It will then sail from Miami, offering three seven-day Western Caribbean cruises, visiting Harvest Caye, Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatán, Honduras.
- Fall/Winter 2022-2023: Western Caribbean Voyages. From December 11, 2022, through March 19, 2023, the Norwegian Prima will be homeported in Orlando, offering 15 round-trip Western Caribbean itineraries of five, seven, and nine days.
- Spring 2023: Bermuda. From March 28 to May 7, the Norwegian Prima will offer a mini-season of five- and seven-day round-trip cruises to Bermuda from New York.
- Spring and Summer 2023: Northern Europe. On May 14, the Norwegian Prima returns to Iceland and Northern Europe. From May 25 to September 7, the Norwegian Prima will offer a combination of 10- and 11-day voyages to Norway and Iceland from Reykjavik, Iceland, and Southampton, England. On September 17, the Norwegian Prima concludes its 2023 summer season with a 14-day round-trip voyage from Southampton, England, featuring stops in Dublin, Ireland; Ísafjörður and Akureyri, Iceland, with an overnight stay in Reykjavik; and visits to Geiranger, Olden, and Stavanger, Norway.
