Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of its newest ship, Norwegian Prima, in Marghera, Venice at the Fincantieri shipyard. The milestone marks the arrival of the first ship in NCL’s Prima Class that will see six new ships delivered through 2027. The event was attended by Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line; Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri; as well as other notable NCLH and Fincantieri executives. The delivery celebration was followed by the traditional flag exchange ceremony.
At 965 feet long, 142,500 gross tons and with capacity for 3,100 guests, Norwegian Prima is designed to "put guests first." It sports wide-open spaces and a variety of "brand and industry first" experiences. According to Norwegian, it lays claim as the most spacious new cruise ship in the contemporary category and offers the most outdoor deck space and expansive accommodations of any new build.
The ship will have the brand’s first upscale open-air food hall, Indulge Food Hall; the largest and first three-level racetrack at sea on the Prima Speedway as well as The Drop, the world's first freefall dry slide offering a 10-story plunge experience that reaches more G-forces than an accelerating F1 race car. Also onboard is the Ocean Boulevard, which wraps around the entire deck—that’s over 44,000 square feet long, allowing guests to connect to the ocean while enjoying al fresco dining. Guests can also relax at the Infinity Beach, which has two infinity pools positioned close to water level with uninterrupted views.
Norwegian Prima also has an Oceanwalk, where two glass bridges make guests feel as though they are walking on air over the water. For art lovers, The Concourse is the first outdoor sculpture garden at sea with six installations created by international metal artist Alexander Krivosheiw and an art wall designed by David Harber.
Launching this August, Norwegian Prima will be the first major cruise ship christened in Iceland, commencing its eight-day inaugural voyage in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik on August 27, 2022, sailing to Amsterdam. Global popstar Katy Perry, who serves as Norwegian Prima’s Godmother, will fulfill the longstanding maritime tradition of blessing and officially naming the ship, as well as performing during the christening ceremony.
Following its inaugural voyage, Norwegian Prima will sail a series of eight-day voyages from Amsterdam and Copenhagen offering guests the opportunity to explore Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords. It'll then sail Bermuda from October 10,2022; Caribbean itineraries from October 15, 2022; and Western Caribbean voyages from December 11, 2022 to March 19, 2023, before returning to Bermuda from March 28 to May 7, 2023. It'll then offer cruises to Northern Europe from May 14 through September 17, 2023.
For more information, visit www.ncl.com.
Related Stories
Carnival Adjusts Protocols to Reflect Changes to CDC Guidelines
Survey: 91.4% Travelers Ready to Cruise This Year
Scenic Group Hit by Cyber Attack; Company Rebuilt its Systems
Three Princess Ships to Skip Skagway Due to Rockslide Threat