Norwegian Prima is making her debut, and heralding a new future for Norwegian Cruise Line. Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy handed over the first in a new class of ships that offer a premium level of luxury and space.
“This is the first ship my team and I developed for Norwegian Cruise Line from scratch– a clean sheet,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. For the Prima class, his vision was: ‘We’re going to create a contemporary category vessel that if I blindfold you, if I drop you in, you’re going to be hard-pressed to know if you’re on an Oceania upper premium ship or a Regent ultra-luxury ship, and I think we’ve succeeded in doing that.”
The ship has a capacity for 3,100 passengers, making it slightly smaller but more spacious than NCL’s most recent vessels. Unique features include a three-level Go Kart racetrack, expanded Ocean Boulevard with multiple infinity pools, The Haven spanning eight decks, an open-air food hall, and a Donna Summers-inspired musical in the main theater.
Norwegian Prima will be the first major cruise ship christened in Iceland. Where Katy Perry will be the ceremonial Godmother at the official naming ceremony and blessing of the ship.
Bermuda sailings from New York City begin Oct. 6; and Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas and Miami beginning Oct. 27.
The next vessel in the six-ship Prima class will be the Norwegian Viva, which is currently set to debut in 2023. The sixth and final ship in the class is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.
