Home » News » Go-karting and charcoal sauna: Norwegian Prima debuting a bunch of cruise firsts

29 July, 2022

Go-karting and charcoal sauna: Norwegian Prima debuting a bunch of cruise firsts

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the global innovator in cruise travel, is making final preparations for the christening of Norwegian Prima – the first of six brand-new Prima Class ships to be delivered over six years.

Norwegian Prima will be the first major cruise ship to be christened in Iceland, commencing her 8-day inaugural voyage in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik on 26August, with world-class superstar Katy Perry serving as Godmother and fulfilling the longstanding maritime tradition of blessing and officially naming the ship.

A ship full of firsts, Norwegian Prima is the most spacious new ship in the contemporary and premium cruise category, redefining what’s possible at sea with her ground-breaking onboard experiences, including NCL’s largest-ever accommodations, spell-binding entertainment, indulgent relaxation and incredible culinary experiences. During her debut season sailing from Iceland and visiting stunning Northern European destinations like the dramatic Norwegian Fjords, the far-flung Orkney Islands and the cosmopolitan capitals of Scandinavia, Norwegian Prima will showcase a truly remarkable range of industry and company firsts.

Here are 10 things to look forward to in this spectacular ship:

1. Around the world in 80 dishes

Guests will explore a range of international flavours as they sail around the world at Norwegian Prima’s very first Indulge Food Hall. Inspired by the world’s great gourmet market halls, it offers laidback, social dining from breakfast until bed. Choose from 11 mouth-watering casual dining stations or enjoy tasty global dishes in a roomy cabana or daybed in the expansive Outdoor Lounge area for a breezy vibe.

Outdoor Lounge of Indulge Food Hall, located aft on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva

2. Ready, Set, Race!

Guests can start their engines and race the breeze on the world’s first three-level go-kart racetrack at sea, the 420-metre Prima Speedway. Zoom down the straight and around hairpin turns in an electric go-kart that can reach speeds of up to 50km per hour!

The three-storey Prima Speedway

3. To the Edge of Infinity

Make a splash at Infinity Beach, where two stunning infinity pools on either side of the ship appear to hover just above the ocean’s surface, offering magnificent views and a feeling of being ‘at one’ with the sea below.

Infinity Beach on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva

4. A Little Piece of ‘Haven’

For travellers who love the extensive dining and entertainment options of larger contemporary cruise ships, but crave the privacy, exclusivity and luxury of small vessels, NCL’s ship-within-a-ship concept is the ultimate way to sail.

The Haven by Norwegian®, the line’s exclusive suite enclave, offers elegant and spacious lodgings designed by acclaimed Italian talent Piero Lissoni, access to all the exciting activities and amenities the ship has to offer, as well as refined offerings reserved exclusively for guests of The Haven, such as a private restaurant, lounge, bar, sundeck, infinity pool, hot tubs, 24-hour butler as well as priority embarkation, disembarkation and seating at shows and restaurants.

The Haven by Norwegian® on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva

5. The Drop & The Rush

Feel the rush of the fastest slides at sea, The Drop & The Rush aboard Norwegian Prima. The Rush comprises two duelling slides located at the starboard side of the ship, where guests can plunge 10 stories, twisting and turning through the ship’s superstructure and reaching the highest G-forces possible at sea – more than the acceleration of an F1 race car! The Drop is the first free-fall dry slide in the world, located portside where guests can slide from deck 18 down to deck 8 seated comfortably on a mat.

The Rush – the fastest slides at sea

6. First Charcoal Sauna at Sea

Love a pampering session during a day at sea? Norwegian Prima is home to the cruise industry’s first charcoal sauna, as well as a two-storey cascading indoor spa waterfall. The new charcoal sauna is one of eight experiences at the elevated Mandara Spa on Norwegian Prima. Other brand-first experiences include an Ice Room, Experiential Showers, a Flotation Salt Pool and Infrared Sauna, as well as innovative new massage beds, treatments and a vast relaxation area housing 22 hot stone loungers enjoying panoramic ocean vistas.

Vitality Pool & Flotation Salt Pool – Norwegian Prima

7. Where Technology Meets Art

A carefully curated USD$6 million art collection takes centre stage on Norwegian Prima, from the striking hull art designed specifically for the ship by Italian graffiti artist, Peeta, to the innovative outdoor art space known as The Concourse, located on the ship’s expansive Ocean Boulevard. This high-tech open-air sculpture garden features six stunning pieces by world-renowned artist Alexander Krivosheiw as well as an art wall designed by famed UK artist David Harber.

The Concourse on Norwegian Prima

8. Delectable Dining

Wining and dining on board Norwegian Prima is an elevated experience merging sophisticated design with masterful mixology and creative global cuisine, and with nine new food and beverage concepts to explore coupled with much-loved favourites. The elegant Onda by Scarpetta brings the charm and cultivated Italian cuisine of its critically-acclaimed Scarpetta sister restaurants in the USA, UK and UAE to sea. All-new Mediterranean seafood specialty restaurant Palomar makes its much-anticipated debut on Norwegian Prima, while fans of Japanese cuisine will be spoiled for choice between Hasuki, NCL’s take on hibachi-style Japanese dining in an intimate setting decorated with handcrafted pottery and traditional Japanese artwork, and new upscale sushi and sashimi restaurant Nama. At Metropolitan Bar, guests can enjoy responsibly crafted zero-waste cocktails prepared using surplus ingredients, fully sustainable spirits and biodynamic wines.

Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Prima

9. A Whole New (Virtual) World

Explore 14 unique attractions and immerse yourself in over 40 virtual experiences in the Galaxy Pavilion aboard Norwegian Prima, home to some of the most out-of-this-world experiences afloat. Test your problem-solving skills in an Escape Room, soar over the open ocean in the first-ever Flying Simulator at sea or play some of the world’s renowned virtual golf courses in the Topgolf Swing Suite, powered by Full Swing’s cutting-edge golf simulator technology.

Norwegian Prima’s Galaxy Pavilion

10. Spell-binding Entertainment

Discover the world’s first venue that transforms from a three-story theatre into a Vegas-style nightclub on Norwegian Prima, which will play host to headline acts like the Tony Award®-nominated musical “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”, featuring more than 20 of Summer’s mega hits and transforming into a full disco after the show. Seamlessly converting from theatre to expansive dance floor with an awe-inspiring moving LED screen that lowers from the ceiling and is nearly half the size of the venue, the high-energy nightclub’s SENSORIA theme will take club-goers on a journey through Coachella, Woodstock and Burning Man, all in one.

For more information or to book a cruise with NCL, please contact a travel professional; call NCL in Australia on 1300 255 200 or in New Zealand on 0800 969 283; or visit www.ncl.com

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