By Cherie Weinstein, Project Manager, Landry & Kling
Prima means “first” in Italian and is a fitting name for the beautiful Norwegian Prima – the first of six ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s new category of vessels. Recently, a few lucky Landry & Kling team members were invited to sail on an inaugural 3-night cruise from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. We did our best to experience all this new ship has to offer during our short cruise. Here are our impressions of the Norwegian Prima and highlights of our time aboard.
About the Ship
We were impressed by Norwegian Prima’s elegant decor. The myriad options for Norwegian’s signature “Freestyle Cruising” make this ship a fantastic venue for an incentive group. With a wide variety of dining venues, entertainment choices, and exciting new onboard experiences, incentive qualifiers would surely never be bored. And, of course, the Landry & Kling team would work to create a unique program to delight winners and their guests.
Though she carries over 3000 guests, Norwegian Prima is a spacious ship, so one never feels crowded. The new Ocean Boulevard is a walkway that wraps around the vessel and features infinity pools and indoor-outdoor restaurants.
Accommodations
Norwegian Prima has over 900 staterooms and suites with private balconies that can easily accommodate a large incentive group. Beds can be configured separately or as queens, which is standard in modern cruise ships. The loveseat is comfortable and provides a great seating option. Glass-enclosed showers in the bathroom create the illusion of spaciousness. Unlike a few ships we’ve experienced lately, the bathroom sinks are a good size and are even suitable for washing out a small item or two of clothing.
The Haven
One unique feature of Norwegian Cruise Lines is The Haven. To me, The Haven is heaven! This is a luxe “ship-within-a-ship” private area of 107 premium, spacious suites with 24-hour Butler and concierge services. No lines, no waiting, plus a private lounge, private restaurant, private pool, and sundeck….ah yes!
A suite in The Haven could be an option for a CEO, a guest speaker, or even a super-achieving subset of the incentive cohort.
Multiple Dining Venues
Freestyle cruising means plenty of dining options. Prima has five venues that offer complimentary meals – a budget-saving bonus! We were impressed with the excellent food and service in the two main dining rooms – The Commodore Room and Hudson’s. Both restaurants are tastefully decorated.
Another popular food venue is The Surfside Café & Grill. It offers indoor/outdoor seating and a wide variety of tempting buffet options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – all included.
The Indulge Food Hall is a trendy addition to the ship’s complimentary dining options. Here guests can sample a wide range of international dishes, including Italian, Spanish tapas, Mexican, Thai, and Indian. The food hall is fun to visit with a small group to sample and share a variety of taste sensations!
There are also seven a la carte restaurants for your foodies or those who want to “level up” the dining experience. An array of popular cuisines include French at Le Bistro, (the steak tartare & a beautifully prepared Dover Sole!), Japanese teppanyaki style at Hasuki, Seafood at Palomar, Italian at Onda by Scarpetta, Premium Mexican at Los Lobos, global cuisine at Food Republic and Cagney’s Steakhouse.
New Onboard Experiences
Need to burn some calories? I had a great morning workout in the spacious, fully equipped Pulse Fitness Center. There’s a pickleball court for enthusiasts of this new game! Your group can also experience the thrills of The Rush or The Drop—ten stories of the fastest slides at sea. For team-building fun, create racing challenges at the Prima Speedway— the first three-level race track at sea. Seamus, had a go!
Elevated Entertainment
Norwegian Cruise Line is known to excel in entertainment. All shows take place in Norwegian Prima’s new, transformational Prima Theater and Club. This venue is the first in the world that converts from a state-of-the-art three-story performance theater to a spectacular nightclub. What fun! Gave me a chance to hit the dance floor and burn off some of my great dinner! The theatre features a customizable seating layout and a moving LED screen that lowers from the ceiling.
Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line was a pioneer in developing private island destinations, and Great Stirrup Cay is just the place to experience the beauty of the Bahamas. With crystalline turquoise waters, perfect white sand beaches, palm trees, and more….. what else could you ask for?
For an exclusive VIP experience, one can reserve a private villa at the Silver Cove retreat area. These range from deluxe 2-3 bedroom units to smaller units, and all have A/C, indoor and outdoor lounging, a fridge, and a private bath/shower. Villa guests also have exclusive access to the upscale Silver Cove buffet.
Norwegian Prima Destinations
Norwegian Prima offers cruises of 7+ days and has published itineraries well into 2024. In 2023, the ship will sail to the Caribbean from South Florida, cruise to Bermuda from New York, and offer 10-11 day European voyages. During the 2024 winter season, Prima will sail to the Caribbean from Galveston, Texas.
Want more information?
To learn more about Norwegian Prima or other group-friendly ships and itineraries for your next event, request a quote, call us at +1 786-594-0732, or email inquiry@landrykling.com.
