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Just back from PRIMA - Thoughts & Pictures

eroller

By eroller,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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Yesterday (Nov 19, 2022) I returned from a special 2-night Team Member (and guest) cruise onboard the new NORWEGIAN PRIMA.  I am very thankful to have been invited as a guest of an NCLH employee.  What a fantastic and generous company to provide an all-expense paid trip to the shoreside employees of NCLH (NCL, Oceania, and Regent).  Let me tell you they deserve it after a few very rough years, and NCLH really pulled out the stops to show them all a great time.  
 
For those who only care about the pictures, here is my link.  I took over 300 photographs (all of the ship) along with a couple videos.  Included are the Freestyle Daily’s as well as a couple menus.  Each picture has been labeled.  Just run your cursor over the picture for a description.
 
 
A little about myself.  This was my 139th cruise.  I started cruising around 12 years old with my grandmother, with my first ship being the LEONARDO DA VINCI.  That experience started a lifelong passion for passenger ships, their history, technology, etc., and cultivated an avid interest in the cruise industry.  I love to try out prototype ships, and NORWEGIAN PRIMA certainly fills that category.  She is a new direction for NCL, far more elevated than past NCL ships, and I was impressed.  My first NCL cruise was back in 1980 on the SS NORWAY, one of my favorite ships of all time.  I’ve since sailed on NCL enough to become Sapphire status, but I’m not loyal to NCL or any cruise line.  I like to experience them all.  
 
Rather than write a full review, I had been positing to social media about the experience, so I’ll touch on those here.  Since this was only a 2-night cruise and one that was sponsored by the company, my experience of course is going to reflect that.  You may have a different opinion and a difference experience and that is fine.  Our differences are what makes the world go around.  
 
I’ll start off with a few general thoughts.  Overwhelmingly I was impressed with the ship.  My last NCL cruise was on NORWEGIAN BLISS to Mexico late last year, and while a very nice cruise I have mixed feelings about the Breakaway (+) class of ships.  They have a lot of positive attributes but I’m just not a huge fan for various reasons.  I am a fan of NORWEGIAN PRIMA!  The head of NCLH, Frank Del Rio has been on a mission to elevate NCL and he has truly succeeded with PRIMA.  The over ambiance, attention to detail, design, restaurants, cabins, public spaces, and art onboard is all elevated from previous NCL ships.  He is trying to bring upscale elements of the Oceania and Regent brands to NCL and I think he has succeeded.  PRIMA is the first ship completely designed from scratch by the current regime at NCLH.  Dare I say the ship reminded more of the Edge Class from Celebrity than previous NCL ships.  That is a huge compliment as I feel Celebrity’s Edge Class are some of the finest ships sailing today.  This is not to say PRIMA is perfect.  Unfortunately she suffers from the same stigma as NCL’s Breakaway Class, and that is this obsession with NCL to stuff as many attractions on the upper decks as possible.  It was really the only major negative of PRIMA for me.  Those attractions make for a disjointed layout that lacks sufficient sun space & pools for the vast majority of passengers on the upper decks.  The prime aft deck space is 100% dominated by private areas, The Haven and Vibe Beach Club.  Both will be off limits to most passengers which is unfortunate.  Personally for me, purchasing a Vibe Pass would be essential for my enjoyment of a cruise on PRIMA, as I like a quiet spot to bask in the sun away from kids and excessive noise.  Unlike the Breakaway Class in which Vibe is sort of regulated to a side deck area and not very big, on PRIMA it’s in a very central location, takes up the entire width of the deck, is very much expanded, and is hard to avoid.  Add to that the one main midship pool is just not sufficient for the capacity of this ship.  NCL has tried to address the problem by creating what they call Infinity Beach some 9 decks below.  There is more deck space there on an extra-wide promenade, and even two infinity plunge pools.  The area they created is very attractive and inviting, but I’m just not sure this will end up being a viable alternative to the upper decks.  That is not for me to decide and remains to be seen.  With that out of the way … on to some impressions.         
 
 
Boarding:
Embarkation was from NCL’s new terminal at PortMiami which is called The Pearl of Miami. Absolutely stunning. The most beautiful terminal I’ve ever embarked from and efficient too. A little less than 15 minutes from parking in the adjacent garage to walking on the ship. Impressive.
 
Cabin:
Beautiful design. Spacious, bright & airy. It’s not an interlocking design which makes it less narrow and more roomy. Love the mural behind the bed which provides some color. My cabin was cabin 15788, a standard balcony in a fantastic location. My only recommendation would be more drawer space.  One design flaw is that the sofa butts right up against the air intake vent for the a/c unit (see pic). We were wondering why the cabin wasn’t getting that cool even with the thermostat at the lowest setting. Once we pulled the sofa a bit away from that intake vent what a difference. It cooled right off.  Our cabin steward would also place the bed runner on top of the couch in that corner at night, so no air was getting through.  The beds were ultra-comfortable and the bathroom is probably the best standard bathroom I’ve had on a major large ship.  So well designed, plenty of space, and beautiful.  Don’t miss the hidden drawer behind the hand towel rack by the sink.  Very cool.  Great shower head with plenty of pressure, lots of space, and no clinging shower curtain.  
 
Penrose Atrium:    
The space has a very upscale feel to it as does the entire ship. In fact it’s more Edge Class with Celebrity feeling than a past NCL ship. All things lead from the atrium as that was the design intent.  Shops, bars, restaurants, Starbucks, theater, etc.  The Atrium is also a lounge space in itself to hang out, have a drink, listen to music, or grab a coffee from Starbucks.  A glass wall brings in natural light and a view to the ocean.     
 
Hudson's:
Hudson’s is one of the main dining room experiences on PRIMA.  It’s a stunning space in a prime location all the way aft and surrounded by windows. Some may say it’s prettier and more elegant than the Haven Restaurant, which is exclusive to suite guests.  It’s one of the most stunning MDR’s on any ship I’ve sailed.  We experienced great service and NCL’s new set menu.  NCL has decided to go with a set menu for the entire cruise instead of a rotating menu that changes nightly.  This is a controversial move that NCL says will improve quality (fewer items = better control), and others may see it as cost cutting.  I found the menu quite extensive and could easily find new choices for a 7-night cruise or even longer.  My favorite entree of all time Beef Wellington is featured so I was a very happy camper.  It was delicious.  Of course NCL is also expecting you to try out one of the many speciality restaurants if you want more variety, and I think most passengers are already doing just that.  The second main dining room, The Commodore Room, offers the same menu in a very pleasant space adjacent to the beautiful Belvedere Bar, but it’s not nearly as elegant as Hudson’s.   
 
Specialty Restaurants:
Two of my favorite specialty restaurants are Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro. Onda is fairly new to NCL and what a gorgeous space. Le Bistro is actually one of the first specialty restaurants at sea, making its debut on the SS Norway some 35+ years ago. It’s reimagined on PRIMA with three stunning crystal chandeliers at floor level dominating the space. Both spaces take creative design at sea to new levels.  There are around six additional special restaurants including Palomar, which is new to NCL and some old favorites as well. 
 
Surfside Cafe & Indulge Food Hall:
We had lunch one day at Surfside Cafe.  It was all very good.  The space is small though for a buffet, mainly because the Indulge Food Hall also exists.  The Food Hall is a great concept and very well executed on PRIMA.  To be fair Virgin Voyages really gets credit for bringing this concept to sea, but the NCL version is excellent.  Lots of choice and everything made to order.  This does mean a longer experience compared to a regular buffet, and that could mean a wait to even enter the space.  Hopefully it will all work itself out as trends are identified and the ship gains more experience.
 
Prima Speedway & slides:
Much more fun than I imagined. I tried out Prima Speedway in the evening hours while we were still docked in Miami.  I have to say it was a unique experience racing around a 3-level track on a ship with the lights of Miami in the background.  It’s very well done, but truth be told I would rather the space be given over to more pools and sundeck space.  That is just me though, and I know attractions are very important to the family market NCL is going after.  I didn’t try The Wave water slide, but I did do the dry slides down the sides of the ship.  They were slower than I thought but I learned how to speed it up.  You sit on a mat and naturally you want to put your ams down at your side.  That slows you down.  Pick up your arms and away you will go!  
 
The Prima Theater & Club:
It’s a transformative space unlike any show lounge I’ve seen on a ship before.  I loved it.  It’s smaller than a typical cruise ship theater and that will mean more performances will have to be scheduled.  Unfortunately the Donna Summer show wasn’t scheduled on this short cruise, but the NoiseBoys were.  Part tap dance. Part vocal. Part instrumental. Part beatboxing. So original and unlike anything I’ve seen on a cruise ship before. Refreshing to see something besides the typical cruise ship song and dance.  The theater transforms into a really hopping club with a great sound & light system.  I didn’t think a show lounge would make a cool nightclub, but in this case it does.  An 80’s dance party was scheduled on my sailing and the place was packed.  See the video in my pictures link.  
 
The Mandara Spa & Fitness Center:
It occupies space on both decks 15 & 16. Its forward location provides sweeping views over the bow from both the fitness center and relaxation suite. A full spread of treatment rooms are provided along with a stunning therapeutic pool. Actually two pools. One fresh water and one salt. The pool area is double height with water cascading down the entire adjacent wall. It’s quite an impressive space. What is missing?  Water jets! They are on back order. No joke! Lol. The pool area was inspired by ocean liners of the past. Think NORMANDIE reimagined for 2022. Adjacent to the pool are heated ceramic loungers and various saunas, steam rooms, and even a cold room. The fitness center has all the latest offerings, not to mention a chic black unfinished ceiling which gives it a really cool ambiance.  A design flaw is that there is no lift within the spa between the two levels.  This is a problem for those wheelchair bound which means having to travel through a closed fire door under escort, which the safety officers don’t want opened.  I’m not sure what the long term solution will be, and apparently it’s too late to incorporate a lift into the design for VIVA, the next ship in this class.  
 
Galaxy Pavilion: 
This is so not my cup of tea, but many will love it. It’s really doing it a disservice calling it an “arcade”, so I’ll go with NCL’s name for it Galaxy Pavilion. Lots of virtual reality and simulator style attractions. The nice thing is that it’s not in your face at all and isolated in one discreet area. 
 
Art:
One area that really stands out on PRIMA is the artwork. It’s world class and highly elevated from previous NCL ships. There is even a Sculpture Garden located outside starboard side on the Oceanwalk. NCL calls it “The Concourse”. This upgrade can all be attributed to FDR, or Frank Del Rio the head of NCLH. He has a great appreciation for art and this is evident on the Oceania and Regent brands. Although NCL is mass-market, he wanted to bring NCL more in line with his higher end brands, and it shows. From the overall design, attention to detail, and beautiful artwork, the PRIMA is a new elevated direction for NCL.
 
Great Stirrup Cay:
Our day at GSC (Great Stirrup Cay) was canceled due to weather. It was really windy and you can see waves crashing on shore. Look close in the pics and you can see neighboring island Coco Cay which is used by Royal Caribbean. I’ve been here countless times so no big deal, but I was planning to go ashore just for pictures of the ship. Also another chance to ride the tenders Little Norway I & II is always welcomed. These two large 400 pax tenders were originally carried on the bow of the SS NORWAY.  It’s wonderful that a piece of that great ship is still operating today. 
 
 
In closing I think NCL has a winner on their hands with PRIMA.  I would happily pay to sail on this wonderful ship and I certainly hope to in the future so I can enjoy the “full” experience.  I had honestly written off NCL for the time being as there are simply better choices for me, but PRIMA is bringing me back.  There is just so much to love about this ship.  Those that appreciate an elevated experience will no doubt take notice of the differences between PRIMA and previous NCL ships.  Like any ship, especially a prototype, there are areas of opportunity and many will get worked out as the ship gains experience while in service.  It’s likely there will even be some changes to subsequent ships in the Prima Class.  This is a natural progression and nothing new.  To all those booked on PRIMA I wish you Bon Voyage, and rest assured a wonderful ship and experience awaits you!        
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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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1 minute ago, FlGoodShips said:

WOW....Fabulous pictures.  And great review.

Thank you sooo much. We will be on Prima December 3.

Do you happen to have list of officers??

 


Unfortunately I do not.  They showed them all on TV along with their phone extension if you wanted to contact them, but I didn’t take note.  
 

Glad you enjoyed the review and pics!  

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destar Holiday Sharing Rare

destar

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1 hour ago, PistolPete13 said:

Did you notice if they finally got some model ships in the shop yet?

Pete, I was on the Oct 31 sailing out of Galveston, they had no model of the ship on our sailing.

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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2 hours ago, PistolPete13 said:

Thanks for the detailed review and photos!

Did you notice if they finally got some model ships in the shop yet?


 

The lack of logo items in general was disappointing, especially for a brand new ship.  No ship models and not much else.  I didn’t buy anything.  

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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2 minutes ago, PhillyTravelBug said:

Lovely review! Best part - the jets for the thermal spa are on back order.  lol. I was seriously disappointed when I read about the lack of jets in the pools.  269 more days unit I sail.


I bet the jets are installed by the time you sail.  You can even see where they are supposed to be.  

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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12 hours ago, cyndyga said:

Beautiful ship! Thanks for all the pictures! I "need" to sail on her soon!!!


 

Thank you!  I would love to sail on her on a longer regular cruise.  Hopefully in the not too distant future.  

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dexddd

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On 11/20/2022 at 11:01 PM, FlGoodShips said:

WOW....Fabulous pictures.  And great review.

Thank you sooo much. We will be on Prima December 3.

Do you happen to have list of officers??

 

There is a photo collage in the atrium starboard side, think deck 6.  

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ZachIsHere

ZachIsHere

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No disrespect toward other members but usually the photos in these threads are not as high quality as this thanks for posting! 

 

Agree this seems to have a more celebrity ship feel design wise which personally I think looks great. Looking forward to exploring this class some day.

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

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19 hours ago, ZachIsHere said:

No disrespect toward other members but usually the photos in these threads are not as high quality as this thanks for posting! 

 

Agree this seems to have a more celebrity ship feel design wise which personally I think looks great. Looking forward to exploring this class some day.


Thank you!  

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