Prima means first in Italian, excellent in German and best friend in Spanish. So far so good. But does Norwegian Prima really live up to its name? We’re on a cruise from Miami to find out.
The 3,100 passenger Norwegian Prima that’s Norwegian Cruise Line’s future is the first all right. Norwegian is planning to add five more just like her over the coming years. First impressions after we boarded the ship in Miami were that they’ve tried to pack all of Norwegian’s classic attractions and some new and expanded ones into a ship that actually carries fewer passengers than the line’s previous class of ships.
Showcase new additions include a three-level kart racing track, a state of the art theater headlining Broadway shows and three new-to-the-fleet restaurants: Nama, Palomar and Hasuki, in addition to eight specialty dining options at extra charge. There’s also Indulge, a food court with nine theme kitchens, including an Airstream food truck for lunch and dinner as an alternative to the main dining room and casual buffet.
We’re on an inaugural cruise and there are some teething pains that should be eased with time. Features to like about Norwegian’s newest include:
The stylish contemporary look
There’s definitely a rub-off effect from Norwegians up-scale sister cruise line Regent Seven Seas in the décor and finishes of the public areas. Miami-based Studio DADO says it surveyed successful public spaces around the world for inspirations, including the Burj al Arab in Dubai, Piazza San Marco in Venice, and a range of Michelin-starred restaurants interpreted them in the public areas.
The suites are contemporary with gorgeously finished woodwork, although somewhat minimalist in furnishings. The bright whimsical art in the room is fun but actually printed on the wall. There’s no dust ruffle on the bed, so suitcases stored underneath remain in view.
Meanwhile, the decoration of some of the restaurants can be over the top. The amazing Bistro restaurant features a trio of enormous floor-to-ceiling crystal chandeliers in the middle of the room. The Indulge food hall has an oriental bazaar feel with chefs in several kitchens in the complex preparing different kinds of cuisine, from French to Barbecue to Indian. One of them is located in a converted Airstream trailer.
Wild new ways to play
The flagship new attraction on Prima is of course its kart racetrack that winds its way around three upper decks of the ship. Those in the karts suit up like real Indy racers with full-visor helmets and seat restraints and when they get out on the wide raceway, it can be wheel-to-wheel action as the drivers try not only to win the lap but also beat the leaders from previous races displayed on a tote board.
And here’s where family and friends can get into the action. While it might seem a little weird for moms to start shooting at their kids, along the rail are laser guns that look straight out of Star Wars. Fans can aim at an aerial on the kart which will give it a speed boost. Believe me, everyone has a great time.
Less noisy, but even more competitive, are the new Bullseye dart game rooms that feature computerized pundits which not only keep score but critique the aim and form of the players. It’s great fun but it comes at a cost that can be shared with a group of friends: $45 for 45 minutes or $70 for 90 minutes.
In addition to dueling water slides, there’s an innovative dry slide, The Drop, where you get wrapped in a blanket and ejected from a cockpit-like capsule down a transparent tube over the side of the ship. It’s a plummet of several decks in seconds that is guaranteed to evoke a primal scream or a rebel yell.
And of course, there’s the Galaxy Pavilion—a for-a-fee virtual-reality arcade that’s packed with 13 virtual reality rides and games, plus an Escape Room, that wasn’t yet complete when we experienced the ship. The attractions include several virtual reality goggle rides that can be downright real feeling. You hear screams of people who use one that simulates a free fall from a tower. A particularly weird one is a full-sized pickup truck that you drive over backroads with VR goggles presenting challenges.
This inaugural cruise to NCL’s private island from Miami was for grownups, but there’s a lot of kid in all of us and both the kart track and VR rooms were busy all the time.
The Entertainment is World class
Prima features the most professional theater performances you will see on land or sea. Norwegian is known for its production shows that on other ships have included The Jersey Boys, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Cirque du Soleil. The stage of Prima’s Theater can be transformed in multiple ways and even expanded to accommodate even scenes that would not be possible in the confines of Broadway show houses. And there are state of the art LED walls and sound and lighting systems that theaters on land don’t have the wherewithal to install. The result is overwhelming entertainment, no matter where in the 750- capacity house you are.
On this preview cruise we were treated to what are destined to be long-running favorites: the Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, based on the life of the queen of disco as well as the tap dancing and beatboxing spectacular The Noise Boys. The shows are produced by a team who have incredible resumes from producing shows both on Broadway and in London’s West End theaters and the effects are stunning.
There must be warehouses of costumes backstage, because every scene of Donna Summer features complete changes of stunning costumes for the entire cast. But it’s the voices of the three leads who play young Donna, superstar Donna and Donna recalling her life that give the diva’s songs new meanings. The emotional story and sheer energy made for multiple standing ovations and Donna Summer is one of the most memorable evening shows I’ve ever enjoyed.
Get away from it all in The Haven
Nowhere is the influence of Norwegian’s upscale brother line Regent Seven Seas more evident that in The Haven. Part of a ship -within-a -ship trend in cruising, exclusive decks of Prima are only accessible by private key-card activated elevators and once you emerge the feeling is as calm and polished as a small luxury ship. The special service starts at check-in–which in NCL’s Miami terminal can be a chaotic time. Haven guests get VIP access and private elevators while other guests queue up and go through security at the top of a long escalator.
The Haven features also some of Norwegian’s largest suites ever, including a new three-bedroom suite. in 15 years, with public areas and suites designed by Piero Lissoni, one of Italy’s preeminent designers all have sea views. There’s butler service for Haven guests, a private lounge, pool and sun decks. It also tends to be more adult-only on a ship whose mix can include a lot of kids.
While the temptation might be to spend most of your time in the luxury zone, you also have the run of the ship, so you can dine at the specialty restaurants, see the lavish production shows and a vast casino that wouldn’t be on offer on a smaller luxury ship. Of course, a stay in the Haven comes at a steep premium to the rest of the accommodations on Norwegian Prima (figure at least double the fare for a balcony stateroom) , but it can be the best of both worlds.
Pour me a recycled banana cocktail please
One of the most radical drinks innovations ever is the sustainable cocktail menu at Prima’s Metropolitan Bar. As part of Norwegian’s Sail and Sustain program, they’re literally making drinks from food leftovers. NCL makes its “sustainable” drinks using syrups made daily from banana peels, watermelon rinds, coffee grounds or day-old croissants.
The syrups are blended with such organic alcohols as fair trade certified Flor de Cana Eco rum and Avorza vodka. I tried a sampling that included the Primadonna, which looks like an Old Fashoned but includes banana peel syrup and walnut bitters, and the Sustainable Spritz, which is blended from surplus sparkling wine, soda water and an orange slice. Most interesting of all is a brioche flavored one.
While they may not be destined to put martinis out of vogue, the concoctions are definitely different and creating the illusion that you’re doing something responsibly planet-friendly can make you feel even happier in happy hour. It’s also livened by the fact that presiding over the bar is one of Norwegian’s legendary bartender, Clarense Bennett, also known as the Chocolate Cowboy for his big ranch-hand’s hat and flamboyant personality.
Some things that may need a rethink in future ships
Pool lovers be warned, the splash options are limited. The main pool is quite small for a ship this size. There are also the two small Infinity pools at the ship’s edge on Deck 8, which make for great selfies, but they’re popular and are typically busy on sea days.
Navigation through the ship can also be confusing. Even the main avenues through the ship don’t run in straight lines but zig and zag around venues. This is particularly true of the central Atrium, which is a photogenic space, but smaller than you might expect. On Deck 7, to get to the theater requires detouring through the seating area for the Starbucks coffee shop or the stores on the other side of the central open Atrium.
More directional signage would be welcome. While there are helpful digital screens near the elevators to help you find what part of the deck things are on, when you get off the lift, turning to one direction there’s a mirror and to the other there’s a staircase. You learn by experience they’re in an alcove and you need to turn the corner to the actual corridors on each deck. Even after two days, guests professed they end up confused which way to turn to get to their direction.
Still, with all the options for food, drink and entertainment on board, getting lost isn’t all that bad. Which ever way you turn there’s always something intriguing to see and do.
Story by Wallace Immen, The Cruisington Times
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