NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line

will begin taking bookings today for its newest ship,

Norwegian Prima,

the first ship in its new Prima Class

.

This exciting next-generation ship is NCL’s first major redesign in nearly ten years.

Prima,

which means “first” in Italian, is scheduled to

In an ambitious six-ship rollout, five additional ships in the same class are planned for launch, one each successive year through 2027. NCL just released details describing some of the enhancements guests can expect in terms of ship design, service and itineraries.

More space and service

Norwegian Prima

will be the most spacious new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories, offering guests approximately 150 to over 1000 more cubic feet per guest compared to comparable ships.

The vessel will feature the largest Inside, Ocean View and Balcony Staterooms in the NCL fleet, with up to 50 percent more room. Premier Owner’s Suites in The Haven (NCL’s exclusive ship within a ship) aboard

Norwegian Prima

will be 50 percent larger than the most spacious suites of the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus Classes.

With up to 35 percent more staff than any other new cruise ship in its category, the ship will also offer the highest staffing levels (one crew member per two guests).

Other enhancements include:

Creation of outdoor living areas

Rendering of Ocean Boulevard

Norwegian Cruise Line

Although the ship was in the making for some time prior to the pandemic, one striking design element is the innovative use of exterior deck space, which will encourage guests to spend more time outdoors and come closer to the sea. The new class significantly increases the amount of deck space, outdoor walkways and open-air experiences available to guests.

Ocean Boulevard, a 44,000-square-foot reimagined outdoor living concept located on Deck 8, will allow passengers to walk around the entire perimeter without obstruction. Two Oceanwalk glass bridges will offer a surreal feeling of walking on water.

The Concourse, an immersive, Instagram-worthy outdoor sculpture garden, will feature six dramatic installations designed by sculptor Alexander Krivosheiw.

Rendering of a Krivosheiw sculpture on The Concourse

Norwegian Cruise Line

Infinity Beach will offer opportunities to relax at either of two infinity pools located on each side of the ship that are close to the ocean surface.

Hybrid dining that seamlessly blends indoors and outdoors

Indulge Food Hall will offer outdoor deck seating

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL’s first open-air global food marketplace, Indulge Food Hall, will also located on Deck 8, offering a choice of 11 different cuisines with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating.

Guests will also be able to dine at three upscale restaurants, each with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating options: Onda By Scarpetta (Italian), Los Lobos (contemporary Mexican) and The Local Bar and Grill (classic Americana with live music).

Rendering of Onda by Scarpetta

Norwegian Cruise Line

La Terraza, an open-air lounge, invites relaxation with expansive sea views.

Redesign of The Haven

Rendering of The Haven Penthouse with Balcony

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL’s

The Haven

offers the bespoke feel and amenities of a smaller boutique ship with access to the all the perks of a larger ship. In this latest iteration, The Haven on

Prima

will raise the bar in a number of ways.

To meet demand, the number of these all-suite staterooms on

Norwegian Prima

will increase to 107 (there are 80 on the

Norwegian Encore

). And for the first time, all of the keycard-access suites will be centralized over eight decks, all located at the aft of the ship, close to private elevators reserved for Haven guests. This adds to the refined ambiance of a residential-type enclave.

The reimagined design of

Haven

suites and public areas was overseen by noted Milanese architect and designer Piero Lissoni, who made sure that every public space afforded light-filled sea and destination views. Instead of an interior pool and courtyard area, the Haven Sundeck on

Prima

will boast an infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake and a new outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.

Rendering of The Haven Sundeck

Norwegian Cruise Line

More varied, port-intensive itineraries

Smaller in size than NCL Breakaway and Breakaway Plus Classes, Prima Class ships will be able to navigate a greater variety of new destinations. Upcoming itineraries plan to showcase

Norwegian Prima

at a large number of ports across the globe to woo potential guests:

Following several inaugural cruises, in August 2022

Norwegian Prima

will embark on a series of  10-day voyages in Northern Europe and the UK.

In September 2022, the ship will depart Southampton, England for a 12-day transatlantic voyage ending in New York before commencing its winter season with sailings to Bermuda and the Caribbean. (For the first time ever, NCL will also offer an 11-day Caribbean itinerary on

Prima

leaving from Galveston, Texas.)

The innovative stern design of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Cruise Line

Beginning December 2022, the ship will homeport in Orlando, Florida (Port Canaveral) making fifteen 5, 7, and 9-day roundtrip Western Caribbean voyages.

In Spring 2023,

Norwegian Prima

will make five 7-day roundtrip voyages between Bermuda and New York.

In May 2023, the ship will head back to Iceland and Northern Europe on another transatlantic journey, and then from May to September, offer a mix of 10 and 11-day Norway and Iceland sailings from Reykjavik, Iceland and Southampton, England.

The summer 2023 season will end with a 14-day roundtrip voyage from Southampton.

Norwegian Prima: A first in many ways

“Despite not having sailed in more than a year, we never stopped working and innovating, we never once pressed pause,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line in a press release.

For those who still feel skittish about testing cruise waters this year, the summer 2022 timing of

Norwegian Prima

’s debut may be just right for a first post-pandemic cruise with all the bells and whistles.

Rendering of Haven living room with contemporary Italian design

Norwegian Cruise Line

Rendering of one of the largest Haven Suites with a balcony hot tub with expansive views of the sea

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Prima will be 965-feet long and 142,500 gross tons, and can accommodate 3,215 guests at double occupancy. The ship was built in Marghera, Italy by shipbuilder Fincantieri and features striking hull artwork by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita (known commonly as Peeta). In addition to Lissoni, the architectural team included Rockwell Group, SMC Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden, YSA DESIGN and Miami-based Studio Dado.