About 2,500 people were invited to the inaugural cruise of the Norwegian Prima, which godmother Katy Perry christened in Reykjavik, becoming the first conventional cruise ship to be christened in the capital of Iceland.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 62 – September 2022
With a length of 294 meters, a gross tonnage of over 143,535 tons and a capacity for 3,100 guests, the Norwegian Prima is a spacious ship but with smaller accommodations than its predecessors, boasting an excellent service ratio.
It also boasts a wide variety of suite categories, as well as the redesigned The Haven by Norwegian, a luxury ship-within-a- conventional ship concept. Prima also offers a variety of recreational activities, including the Rush and Drop water slides, the Prima Speedway (a three -level go-kart track) , and spaces such as Ocean Boulevard, The Concourse with its outdoor sculpture garden, expansive outdoor decks, and the infinity pools at Infinity Beach.
The Norwegian Prima is the first ship in the Prima class, the successor to the popular Breakaway/Breakaway-Plus class of ships. This new class will consist of six cruise ships, with the next one, the Norwegian Viva, already under construction and scheduled to debut in August 2023.
The design of the Norwegian Prima places great emphasis on the Ocean Boulevard perimeter promenade on deck 8.
To highlight the most striking features of the Prima, we must include its elegant, multi-level central atrium; the Indulge Food Hall, which combines nine food truck-style restaurants into one that promises to be a huge hit; the three-level go-kart track; the Galaxy Pavilion with its virtual reality games; and, undoubtedly a clear statement of intent, the impressive Ocean Boulevard, an open-air walkway of over 4,000 square meters that encircles the entirety of Deck 8. This ship seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces.
Built in Italy,
the Prima's hull features artwork by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita, and without a doubt its shape and exterior are one of its strongest points.
This ship and its entire class are the first to be designed under current corporate president Frank Del Rio and, for the first time, at the Fincantieri shipyards in Italy. The result is a ship with sophisticated design elements and several changes compared to previous classes. The luxury area, called The Haven, has been relocated to the stern of the ship and expanded so that all cabins and suites, as well as the veranda and other facilities, face the water.
Another new feature for Norwegian is The Concourse, an open-air sculpture garden designed by Alexander Krivosheiw. These sculptures have dazzling effects that change as the sun sets, making it the perfect spot for photos and, most likely, Instagram-worthy shots. Also new are the two Oceanwalk glass bridges. And of course, Prima incorporates infinity pools for the first time at Infinity Beach, another new concept for Norwegian: two infinity pools, one on each side of the ship, much closer to the sea.
Dining:
The Norwegian Prima features its main restaurants, Commodore and Hudson, serving continental cuisine, and offers new international dishes by reservation. The classic Cagney's Steak House, Le Bistro , and Palomar have been adapted to fit the Prima's design. Other specialty restaurants include Food Republic (fusion cuisine), Hasuki and Nama Sushi & Sashimi, and Los Lobos (Mexican).
The Infinity Beach pools on Ocean Boulevard shift the swimming area to the lower decks.
Located at the rear of Deck 8, Indulge Food Hall is an interesting market-style outdoor restaurant with 11 varied stalls serving different types of cuisine.
Seaside Rotisserie, specializing in chicken, Nudls, featuring noodle dishes from around the world, and Tamara, offering classic Indian fare and vegetarian options, are just a few of the new additions. Barrio Latino serves classic Latin food with a twist, while Tapas Food Truck offers Latin-inspired street food. Garden Kitchen caters for custom salads, and those with a sweet tooth will find Just Desserts and Just Ice Cream appealing. In addition to these new venues, Indulge Food Hall will house Q Texas Smokehouse, as well as Coco and Starbucks.
Norwegian's Waterfront restaurants were pioneers in offering indoor/outdoor dining, and now the new Ocean Boulevard will feature three specialty restaurants of this type, including the Italian restaurant Onda by Scarpetta, which debuted on the Norwegian Encore and is also available on the Norwegian Spirit. The Local Bar & Grill has been renovated as an upscale beach club with live music, cocktails, and American cuisine.
Shows and the Prima Theatre:
The same team that produced “Jersey Boys” for the Norwegian Bliss presents “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” The 75-minute show tells the story of Donna Summer’s rise from teen star to Queen of Disco, featuring around 20 of her hits . As is typical of this company, the cast and staging are so authentic that they rival even the biggest theatrical productions.
After a couple of cruises around northern Europe, it will depart for New York on September 23.
Norwegian has other shows scheduled, including the popular "Prize Right" show, for the enjoyment of all ages and with the opportunity to win prizes live.
The design of the Teatro Prima is truly remarkable; once the shows are over, it transforms into a nightclub. Retractable seats open onto a large dance floor. Technology is prominently featured in the design of its three floors, as well as in the mobile LED screens and lighting rig that descends from the ceiling, creating sensational special effects.
After this inaugural voyage through northern Europe (Reykjavik, Cork, Portland, Le Havre and Amsterdam) it embarked on its first voyage with regular passengers to northern Europe from Amsterdam, Denmark and England on September 3, before heading to the United States to Port Canaveral, Miami and Galveston.
