Norwegian Prima
Prima · Caribbean & Bahamas, Northern Europe & Fjords
Norwegian Prima entered service in 2022 as the first Prima-class ship. Its design limits passenger capacity compared with other ships of similar tonnage, creating more space per guest as its defining feature. It has an outdoor wraparound deck called Ocean Boulevard, opened in stepped terraces at the stern, a layout not found on the company's other classes. Its entertainment lineup includes a three-story, open-plan theater and club, a go-kart course, and large slides. From its launch through 2025, it operated summer itineraries in Northern Europe and Iceland, but in summer 2026 it shifts to Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral before returning to Northern European cruises from Southampton in summer 2027. It suits travelers seeking a balance between calm and lively experiences.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 9823986)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Similar facilities, such as a thermal suite
Japanese food at extra cost
Some Japanese language support
Smoking in designated areas only
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
As of 2026, Free at Sea is effectively included as standard with most NCL fares, conditionally covering unlimited drinks for guests aged 21 and over sharing the cabin, 150 minutes of Wi-Fi, several specialty dining visits, and a $50 credit per port. Free at Sea Plus (an additional $49.99 per day) further adds prepaid crew service charges, unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, and 50% off specialty dining. With the base fare (without a promotion), everything except meals costs extra.
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$10
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$3.50
- Extra chargeDrink packageMany fares include Free at Sea, with basic benefits provided at no charge for all guests aged 21 and over sharing a room. A standalone Premium Plus Beverage Package costs about $138/day; upgrading from an existing package costs an additional $29/day.
- Extra chargeWi‑FiWith Free at Sea, all guests sharing a stateroom each receive 150 free minutes of Wi-Fi.
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)$20/day (Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Club Balcony Suite), $25/day (other suites, The Haven)
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)About $150 to $200 (an estimate based on actual prices for 50- to 75-minute treatments; the confirmed amount for a 60-minute session alone has not been verified)
- Extra chargeLaundryNo self-service laundry. A fill-a-bag service costs about $35, one shirt costs $5.95, and dry cleaning costs $7.95. Latitudes upper-tier members receive discounts and complimentary benefits.
- Shore excursionsNCL-operated shore excursions can be purchased separately (prices vary by content and port, from tens to hundreds of dollars). When Free at Sea applies, a $50 credit is provided for each port (up to 6 ports; limits apply).
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- Japan departures: No
- Home ports: Galveston (Texas; a major home port for Caribbean cruises), Port Canaveral (Florida; depending on the season), Miami (Florida; depending on the season), Reykjavik/Southampton (European summer season; Iceland and Norway cruises)
- Departure ports: Galveston, Port Canaveral, Miami, Reykjavik, Southampton, Civitavecchia (Rome), Barcelona
- All ages
- An active, casual atmosphere with plenty of experiential attractions, including go-karts and aqua parks. Freestyle cruising offers a relaxed dress code.
- Mainly departs from US ports (Galveston, Port Canaveral, Miami, etc.), with many North American passengers. It is NCL's newest flagship class, drawing a broad range of guests from families to couples.
The Prima class achieves about 20% greater energy efficiency than conventional ships. The NCL Group is conducting demonstration operations using biofuel (about a 30% blend with heavy fuel oil), expanding shore-power support while in port, and targeting net zero by 2050.
Ship character
- • Adults traveling together
- • Travelers valuing spacious interiors
- • Northern Europe and Iceland cruises from 2027
- • First-time large-ship cruisers
- • Travelers expecting the largest water park
- • Travelers prioritizing the lowest possible price
- • Travelers requiring Japanese-language support
Cruise stories and videos on external sites
5 linksThese are articles and videos by other publishers, not Cruise Atlas. Their content is their own and has not been reviewed by us. Links open in a new tab.
- ArticleJapanesecruise-mag.com
cruise-mag.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishMy First Week-Long Cruise on the Norwegian Prima - Katelynn Out Loud
katelynnoutloud.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- ArticleEnglishVideo: Onboard Norwegian Prima's First Caribbean Cruise | CruiseHabit
cruisehabit.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- YouTubeEnglish7 Different Cabin Tours NORWEGIAN PRIMA [studio, interior, oceanview, balcony, suite, haven suite]
youtube.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishAffiliate links disclosedTRIP REPORT: NCL Prima~Northern Europe
beautifullifebeautifulworld.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
English text in preparation.
Sources
- Officialncl.com
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
- Secondary sourcevesselfinder.com
- Secondary sourcefincantieri.com
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com
- Secondary sourcefreestyletravelers.com
- Secondary sourcefreestyletravelers.com (2)
- Secondary sourcefreestyletravelers.com (3)
- Secondary sourcenorwegiancruiselineblog.com
- Secondary sourcenorwegiancruiselineblog.com (2)
- Secondary sourcenorwegiancruiselineblog.com (3)
- Officialncl.com (2)
- Officialncl.com (3)
- Officialncl.com (4)
- Officialncl.com (5)
- Officialncl.com (6)
- Officialncl.com (7)
- Secondary sourcecnn.com
- Secondary sourcethepointsguy.com
- Secondary sourcecruisebooking.com
- Secondary sourcecruisehive.com
- Officialncl.com (8)
- Secondary sourcecruzely.com
- Secondary sourcecandidcruisetravel.com
- Secondary sourcecruisebooking.com (2)
- Secondary sourceemmacruises.com
- Secondary sourceicruise.com
Source: Wikipedia “Norwegian Prima” (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inside Cabin The lowest-priced category onboard, with no window or balcony. Of its 385 rooms, 17 are ADA-accessible and include features such as wide doors and roll-in showers. 385 cabins / Decks 5 and 9-16 | 15–24 m² (161–258 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin). Family-type cabins have an added sofa bed and accommodate up to 4 guests. | Accessible | Check the official page |
Studio Single The smallest category for 1-person travel. There is no window or balcony, but it includes a private lounge where solo guests can socialize. A distinctive NCL-style cabin type. 73 cabins / Decks 12-13 forward | 9 m² (97 ft²) | 1 guest (single occupancy) Full-size bed, 1 bed. | Solo | Check the official page |
Oceanview Cabin Cabins with large porthole windows. Three types are available: Standard (17 m²), Large (22 m²), and Family (up to 34 m²), with 7 of 190 cabins ADA accessible. 190 cabins / Deck 5 | 17–34 m² (183–366 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin). Family-type cabins have an added sofa bed. | WindowAccessible | Check the official page |
Balcony Stateroom The largest category with private balconies, comprising 946 cabins and more than half of the ship's cabins. 16 of the 946 cabins are ADA accessible. Smoking is prohibited, including on balconies. 946 cabins / Decks 9-16 | 21–34 m² (226–366 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin). Family-type cabins have an added sofa bed. | BalconyAccessible | Check the official page |
Club Balcony Suite / Family Suite A group of regular-deck suites and family suites outside The Haven, totaling 80 cabins. Dedicated butlers and concierges are exclusive to The Haven and are not included with this category. 80 cabins / Decks 9-13 (forward, midship, aft) | 22–59 m² (237–635 ft²) | 2-4 people Mainly king beds. Family-type cabins have an added sofa bed and accommodate up to 4 guests. | Balcony | Check the official page |
The Haven The ship's highest-tier dedicated area, The Haven. Its 107 cabins range from penthouses for 2 guests (27 m² or more) to the 3-bedroom Premier Owner's Suite for 8 guests (195 m²). One of the 107 cabins, Haven Aft Penthouse, is ADA accessible. 107 cabins / Decks 10-15 (dedicated area, mainly midship and aft) | 27–195 m² (291–2,099 ft²) | 2–8 guests King bed (1 to 3 beds depending on cabin type) | BalconyConciergeAccessible | Check the official page |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.Links generally lead to official pages; some have not been verified.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Guppies / Splash Academy / Entourage — A lineup of free programs: Guppies (6 months to 3 years, a play area with a guardian), Splash Academy (ages 3 to 12, with age-specific Turtles/Seals/Dolphins groups), and Entourage (for teens aged 13 to 17).
- • Vibe Beach Club — An adults-only sun deck for guests aged 18 and over, with large jacuzzis and private-feeling lounge chairs, plus services such as chilled towels and fruit skewers.
- • Casino — A casino centered on slot machines and table games in the middle of Deck 6. Guests must be 18 or older (21 or older in some cases on sailings departing from or arriving in the United States).
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- Charged automatically to your onboard account after boarding as the Discretionary Service Charge. Prepayment is also possible. A separate 20% service charge is added to food and drink purchases such as drink packages, specialty restaurants and the spa.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- Many ships have both North American-standard 110V-range and European-standard 220/230V-range outlets.
- Formal nights
- Because of the Freestyle concept, no mandatory formal nights are scheduled. There is a "Dress up or not" night that encourages guests to dress up if they wish, but participation is free.
- Medical facilities
- Every ship has a 24-hour medical center, with about 1 to 2 doctors and 2 to 3 nurses on staff depending on ship size. Consultation and treatment costs are not included in the fare and are billed separately to your onboard account (an itemized statement for insurance claims can be issued). Travel insurance is recommended.
- Bringing items onboard
- At embarkation, you may bring up to 1 bottle each of wine and champagne (Other alcohol, beer, and drinks such as water and soda are not allowed). A corkage fee applies when opened in restaurants, bars or cabins ($15 for a 750 ml bottle, $30 for a 1.5 L magnum). Holders of a drinks package (including Free at Sea) are exempt.
- Mobile and connectivity
- Offshore (as a guide, 12 nautical miles or more from land), your home carrier's roaming can be used through Cellular at Sea (an onboard base station, displayed under names such as "cellularatsea"), but both calls and data tend to be expensive. Switching to airplane mode and using Wi-Fi calling (WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio, etc.) over the onboard Wi-Fi is offered as a cheaper alternative.
- Japanese support
- Staff —Menus —Announcements —
Dining
One of Prima's main dining venues. There is no fixed seating; guests can dine at any time in a freestyle cruising format.
Hours: Breakfast 7:30-9:30, lunch 12:00-14:00, dinner around 17:30-21:30
A complimentary main dining room run in the same way as Hudson's. Open for dinner only, it also helps spread out crowds when other venues are busy.
Hours: Dinner only, around 17:30-21:30
Casual dining in a standard buffet format. Grill menu also available.
Hours: Breakfast 7:00-10:00, lunch 12:00-15:00, dinner around 17:30-21:30
Complimentary 24-hour pub dining. Enjoy burgers and pub food late into the night.
Hours: Open 24 hours
An indoor-outdoor food hall on Deck 8 aft. Most of the 11 venues, including Q Texas Smokehouse BBQ, Nudls noodles, Tamara Indian food, Latin food, tapas, custom salads, and desserts, are complimentary; only Starbucks and the ice cream shop require payment.
Hours: Breakfast 7:00-10:00, lunch 12:00-15:00, dinner around 17:30-21:30
A paid steakhouse known for authentic steaks. From 2025, it moved from a la carte items to a fixed $60 course set menu.
- 8 oz filet mignonIncluded in the set-menu price
- Lobster tail (additional charge)+$25
- Seven-layer chocolate cakeIncluded in the set-menu price
A popular Mexican restaurant with table-side guacamole and margaritas. From 2025, it changed to a $40 set-menu charge.
- Tableside guacamole, freshIncluded in the set-menu price
- Cochinita pibil (braised pork)Included in the set-menu price
- ChurrosIncluded in the set-menu price
An Italian restaurant supervised by renowned chef Scarpetta, well known for its pizza and seared octopus. Set-menu pricing ($40) since 2025.
- Margherita pizzaIncluded in the set-menu price
- Burrata (with prosciutto)Included in the set-menu price
- Grilled octopusIncluded in the set-menu price
A formal dining restaurant serving traditional French cuisine. As of 2026, the set price is $60.
- Escargot BourguignonIncluded in the set-menu price
- Côte de veau (roasted veal)Included in the set-menu price
A teppanyaki-style Japanese restaurant where chefs cook in front of guests, with a menu that Japanese guests will also find familiar.
- Teppanyaki course (with edamame, soup, salad, main and dessert)$49 (fixed price)
A Japanese restaurant serving sushi and sashimi. In 2025, it moved from a la carte pricing to set-menu pricing.
- Sushi roll and sashimi (choose four-item set)$50 (set, up to 4 items selectable)
An upscale venue centered on Mediterranean cuisine and seafood, with luxurious add-on options such as lobster and whole fish served with head and tail.
- Grilled Mediterranean sea bassIncluded in the set-menu price
- Whole lobster (additional charge)+$25
A casual venue where guests can order street food from around the world a la carte, including sushi, schnitzel, nachos, gyoza, and pad Thai.
- Pad Thai$19
- Sushi, schnitzel, nachos, dumplings, and moreVarious a la carte items
Facilities and activities
A three-level go-kart course about 420 m long, spanning Decks 18 to 20. Said to be one of the largest at sea, it can run up to 15 karts at the same time. Height restrictions apply.
A three-level water area with two pools, several water slides (including the free-fall The Drop, dual-racing The Rush, and tube-float-friendly Tidal Wave), and four jacuzzis.
An outdoor promenade circling Deck 8, including two infinity pools (one on each of the port and starboard sides), the glass-floored Oceanwalk bridge, The Concourse sculpture garden, and more.
An adults-only sun deck for guests aged 18 and over, with large jacuzzis and private-feeling lounge chairs, plus services such as chilled towels and fruit skewers.
A large spa on the forward part of Deck 16, with 20 treatment rooms offering massages, facials, thermal suites, and more.
A three-level main theater on Deck 6 where production shows are free to watch and which converts into a nightclub at night, making it the ship's first convertible venue.
A casino centered on slot machines and table games in the middle of Deck 6. Guests must be 18 or older (21 or older in some cases on sailings departing from or arriving in the United States).
A gym with 270-degree ocean views. Equipment is free to use, but classes in two studios, including Ryde (cycling) and HIIT, may incur a charge. There is no jogging track.
A lineup of free programs: Guppies (6 months to 3 years, a play area with a guardian), Splash Academy (ages 3 to 12, with age-specific Turtles/Seals/Dolphins groups), and Entourage (for teens aged 13 to 17).
A dance and nightlife lounge distinguished by neon lighting.
A small live music bar inspired by a rock bar. It can become crowded during live performances.
A beer bar offering more than 50 bottled beers, more than 20 draft beers, and craft cocktails.