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Norwegian Prima

Former name: fincantieri venice 6298.

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Galveston (Texas)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• Southampton (England)
• Reykjavik (Iceland)
• New York (NYC Manhattan-Brooklyn)

Norwegian Prima current position

Norwegian Prima current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 58.97825 N / -34.16115 W) cruising at speed of 16.8 kn (31 km/h | 19 mph) en route to REYKJAVIK, ICELAND. The AIS position was reported 31 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Prima current cruise is 15 days, one-way from New York to Southampton . Prices start from USD 1099 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 27 Apr, 2024 and ends on 12 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Prima

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Prima Itineraries

Norwegian prima review, review of norwegian prima.

The 2022-built Norwegian Prima cruise ship is the first of all six PRIMA-Class NCL liners constructed in Italy by Fincantieri (Marghera Yard/ Venice ). By volume (142500 GT-tons) Prima's sistership is Viva (2023). From the PRIMA PLUS series are the 10% larger (158000 GT-tons) sisterships Aqua (2025) and TBN4 (2026), as well as the 20% larger (172000 GT-tons) sisterships TBN5 (2027) and TBN6 (2028).

The vessel (IMO number 9823986) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001059) and registered in Nassau .

NCL PRIMA class unit's building cost is EUR 730 million (USD 850M).

NCL's previous BREAKAWAY PLUS-Class boats were all built by Meyer Werft Germany (in Papenburg ).

The design is based on 20 decks, 1646 staterooms, gross-tonnage/volume 142500 GT-tons, passenger capacity 3215 (double occupancy), 16 elevators (passenger lifts, including 2 dedicated to The Haven complex). The Haven complex (public areas and all the 107 staterooms) were designed by the Italian interior design company Lissoni & Partners (Piero Lissoni).

NCL Prima's hull artwork was designed by Manuel Di Rita (aka Peeta/Italian graffiti artist).

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American).

In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue).

NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania , and RSSC-Regent .

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Prima staterooms (1646 total) are in 35 grades and 7 types - The Haven Suites (107x total), Suites, Club Balcony Suites (Mini-Suites), Balcony-Oceanview- Interior staterooms, and Studios (single-occupancy Interior cabins / no single supplement is required). The NCL PRIMA design boasts 18x Suite categories (including the fleet's first 3-bedroom suites) and the NCL's biggest-ever Inside-, Oceanview- and Balcony staterooms.

The ship has a total of 41 handicap staterooms (ADA-certified, wheelchair-accessible cabins) in the following categories/types: HB-Haven Aft Penthouse (1), BA-BB-BF-Balcony (16), O4-Oceanview (7), IA-IB-IF-Inside (17). "Guaranteed" cabin categories are MX-Club Balcony Suite, BX-Balcony, OX-Oceanview, IX-Inside.

The smallest category is T1-Studio (95 ft2 / 9 m2). Inside cabins are sized 160-255 ft2 (15-24 m2). Oceanview cabins are with a Large Round Window and in types Standard (185 ft2 / 17 m2), Large (235 ft2 / 22 m2) and Family (235-370 ft2 / 22-34 m2). Balcony cabins vary in sizes between 230-270-360 ft2 (21-25-34 m2), with step-out balconies sized between 45-70-100 ft2 (4-7-9 m2). The largest accommodation is The Haven Premier Owner's Suite (capacity 8 passengers) sized 2100 ft2 (195 m2) and with a wraparound terrace sized 830 ft2 (77 m2).

The boat has 20 decks , of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Staff/crew cabins are 912.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

NCL's PRIMA-class ship design features more and larger public spaces (both indoor and outdoor), smaller passenger capacity (in comparison to the preceding designs/BREAKAWAY and BREAKAWAY PLUS), new dining and entertainment options, a total of 35x dining venues and bars/lounges (including 7x fleet-first food venues), higher service levels.

The Waterfront (outdoor Promenade deck space found on other NCL vessels) was reimagined by doubling the space on Ocean Boulevard. The 360-degree Promenade complex (sized 44000 ft2 / 4090 m2) completely wraps around the entire deck 8 , offering unobstructed seaviews and housing multiple spaces. The Ocean Boulevard features two large infinity pools, Oceanwalk (glass-bottomed bridges), Indulge Food Hall (NCL's first open-air marketplace), The Concourse (outdoor sculpture garden with "selfie" installations/metal sculptures by Alexander Krivosheiw and David Harber.

Penrose Atrium is NCL's first 3-level atrium (spanning decks 6-7-8). The glass-walled Atrium is marked by scenic sea views, futuristic architecture, a 3-ton crystal chandelier (custom-built by Lasvit / Czechia, constellations-themed), a full-height wall artwork (resembling a topographic map), retail shops and bars on each level (including Starbucks Coffee Shop, Whiskey Bar, Penrose Bar, Prima Casino).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Prima restaurants and food bars.

• The aft-located "Indulge Food Hall" (with a Firepit) is an open-air Marketplace that houses total 11x eateries (with indoor-outdoor seating, 120 items in 3x different menus/breakfast, lunch, dinner), Luna Bar, Indulge Outdoor Lounge, Soleil Bar, Waves Pool Bar, Prima Speedway Bar, a seating area serving Starbucks coffee.
• "Los Lobos Cantina" is new for NCL dining concept. Los Lobos is a la carte-priced restaurant that has both indoor and outdoor seating and offers traditional Mexican cuisine specialties. The menu includes tableside-made guacamole, fresh-baked corn tortillas, Tacos Al Pastor (with marinated pork, similar to doner kebabs/gyros), Chicken Enchiladas de Mole, handcrafted cocktails.
• "Onda by Scarpetta" is an Italian specialty restaurant (reservations-only, cover charge, kids charged a full cover) with both indoor and outdoor seating. The Onda restaurant is open between 5:30-9:30 pm and has large tables. The liner's Italian dining experience is marked by a casual atmosphere and large portions (perfect for family dinners) and traditional fine Italian wines and gourmet cuisine specialties - including oven-baked pizzas, homemade daily pasta, top-quality seafood, classic salads, freshly-baked bread, gourmet desserts (including gelato ice cream). Onda by Scarpetta features an outdoor terrace (Waterfront seating area).
• "Coco's" (patisserie shop) serves artisan sweet treats.
• "Seaside Rotisserie" offers a variety of grilled and spit-roasted meat dishes.
• "Nudls" is a food bar offering noodle dishes and global street food.
• "Tamara" serves classic Indian dishes along with multiple vegetarian options.
• "Tapas Food Truck" offers Spanish-inspired street food.
• "Q Texas Smokehouse" offers Southern USA comfort food and barbecue dishes.
• "The Local Bar & Grill" provides a beach club experience and serves classic American cuisine and premium cocktails.
• "Garden Kitchen" offers customized salads with 12+ ingredients to choose from.
• "The Concourse" is an outdoor sculpture garden (located midship-starboard) featuring an art wall designed by David Harber (who specializes in outdoor sculptures, sundials and water features) and 6x "Instagrammable/selfie" installations by Alexander Krivosheiw and David Harber, both specializing in bronze and aluminum sculptures. The cruise ship's 7x sculptures are valued at USD 2+ million (~EUR 1,7M).
• "La Terraza" is an open-air Promenade lounge featuring a quaint retreat with forward-facing sea views.
• "Infinity Beach" (sundeck) has 2 infinity swimming pools (at the edge of the deck / aft-midship) and two Oceanwalks (glass-bottom bridges / midship) - a first feature for the NCL brand.
• Palomar (specialty Mediterranean seafood restaurant)
• Hasuki (specialty Japanese hibachi restaurant, decorated with original Japanese artworks and handcrafted pottery)
• Nama (specialty Japanese sashimi and sushi bar house)
• Le Bistro (specialty French restaurant)
• Cagney's Steakhouse is a specialty dinner restaurant (open 5:30-10:30 pm) for prime steaks (Certified Angus Beef) and gourmet seafood specialties. The Cagney's restaurant is reservations-only, with a cover charge of US$30 per person and a free Kids Menu. At Cagney's, kids are charged a full cover. Additionally, the steakhouse is open for suite guests only serving Breakfast (7:30-9:30 am) and Lunch (12-1:30 pm).
• Food Republic (Asian-fusion restaurant) is an exclusive dining concept (via a partnership with the Pubbelly Restaurant Group). This specialty restaurant is open lunch through dinner, and offers international cuisine with a la carte menu and an iPad ordering system.
• Observation Lounge & Bar (also has telescopes)
• Humidor Cigar Lounge (cigar shop and bar)
• The Belvedere Bar (cocktail lounge)
• Metropolitan Bar is NCL's first "sustainable bar" serving zero-waste cocktails, "green spirits" (produced with renewable energy), 20+ biodynamic wines (organically farmed).
• Surfside Cafe and Surfside Grill offer self-serve casual food and a-la-minute items (upon request).

Both MDRs/Main Dining Rooms are aft-positioned (The Commodore Room/deck 6, and Hudson's Room/deck 7) and with revamped fixed menus that offer a sampling of various international dishes, fully vegetarian and vegan options, as well as build-your-own-pasta (24 combinations/custom-made dishes can be requested by selecting the Italian pasta, sauce, topping) plus Specialties menu (you can select/sample a dish from one of the specialty restaurants).

Other onboard culinary choices include "The Latin Quarter" (classic Latin food with a twist), "Just Desserts" (including pies and cakes), "Just Ice Cream".

"The Haven by Norwegian" on PRIMA-class NCL ships (designed by Piero Lissoni & Partners) spans 8 decks and groups suites, public areas, and exclusive venues, all positioned in the aft/stern section.

NCL's luxury "ship-within-a-ship" ( exclusive/keycard-access-only) complex has 107x Haven Suites (aft-positioned) and 2x private elevators - exclusively for Haven passengers. The aft lifts rise into The Haven's public areas and interconnect decks 6 through 18. For the first time, every public area offers sea views from floor-ceiling windows. The Haven Sundeck is an exclusive sunbathing area with plenty of padded sun loungers and deckchairs and is located aft on decks 16-17.

• Deck 16's Sundeck has an infinity pool at the stern (swimming pool overlooking the ship's wake), an outdoor Spa (featuring a glass-walled Sauna Room and Cold Room), Concierge Desk, Haven Outdoor Restaurant, Haven Outdoor Lounge & Bar (offering a limited buffet for breakfast and lunch, with traditional Chinese and Western cuisine specialties).
• Deck 17's Haven Sundeck has two Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs) and outdoor Showers.
• Deck 18's Haven Sundeck has an infinity pool (with a stern-facing glass wall) and a large sunbathing area with padded loungers and Showers.

The 24-hour butler service is provided complimentary.

The ship's wellness complex groups the facilities of the Mandara Spa and the Pulse Fitness Center.

• The Gym is fitted with ultra-modern equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, steppers, free weights) and features a separate Aerobics Studio (for classes/spinning, yoga, pilates, dance, cardio, fitness and strength training, TRX workouts) and a Performance Recovery Room (for group fitness classes and gym workshops using Hyperice products).
• The indoor Spa features a charcoal Sauna Room and a 2-story/2-deck cascading waterfall, as well as Salt Room, Steam Room, Ice Room, Infrared Sauna, Finnish Sauna, Experiential Showers, Vitality Pool, Flotation Salt Pool, Relaxation Lounge (fitted with 22x hot-stone loungers), 20x Treatment Rooms (for massages), Changing/Locker Rooms.

With the PRIMA-class ships, NCL also introduced new spa services, including computer-controlled acoustic and vibrational therapies (via 2x Gharieni massage beds - Welnamis, and Wellmassage5D), as well as "Ocean Spa Wave Massage" (therapeutic warm wrap using sea plants and marine algae, based on seaweed masks, aromatherapy essential oils, massages/scalp and feet), "Zero Gravity Wellness Massage" (8x tables/the body is suspended on the treatment table) and ELEMIS' "Musclease Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap" (beneficial for rheumatism, arthritis, muscle spasms, fatigue, based on essential oils/pine and rosemary) and "Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap" (reducing cellulite and fluid retention, based on detoxifying essential oils/juniper and lemon).

The Aqua Park (3-decks high) has 2x swimming pools, 5x multi-level waterslides (Ocean Loop), 2x racing slides (The Rush), 1x freefall dry slide (The Drop), "Tidal Wave" waterslide (fleet's first to allow innertube surfing), 4x Jacuzzies (2x infinity pools/hot tubs), poolside bar, sundeck/sunbathing area.

Vibe Beach Club is an adults-only relaxation area (surcharges per day apply) with cantilevered whirlpools (2x infinity spa pools/hot tubs), an outdoor pool bar, sunbathing area (with loungers and luxury chaise lounge chairs), private cabanas.

Syd Norman's Pour House (debuted on Norwegian Breakaway in 2018) is a rock-and-roll-themed bar lounge with live band music (all-time-greatest songs).

At the Headliners Comedy Club Lounge are presented the shows "The Second City" (comedy), "Howl At The Moon" (piano), "The Improv at Sea" (standup performances), "Science of Comedy" (intellectual).

The Sensoria Theatre Lounge (aka Prima Theater & Club Bar) spans 3 decks (6-7-8) and features a large stage (for live performances), a huge dance floor, customizable seating, a large LED moving screen lowering down from the ceiling (sized nearly half the venue's size), UHD media, surround sound, special visual effects. In the evenings, Sensoria transforms into a Vegas-style disco nightclub with live DJ programming and high-energy music.

Daily at Sensoria Theatre are held enrichment lectures, bingo, trivia games with prizes.

• Exclusively for NCL Prima was developed the interactive "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" themed on the American singer and actress Donna Summer (born as LaDonna Adrian Gaines/1948-2012). The 75-minute show features 20+ of her hits including "Heaven Knows" (1978), "Last Dance" (1978, from the "Thank God It's Friday" film's soundtrack), "Hot Stuff" (1979), "Bad Girls" (1979), "Dim All the Lights" (1979).
• Sensoria Theatre also houses the NCL's series of interactive game shows "LIVE on NCL", featuring grand prizes and themed "The Price is Right", "Supermarket Sweep", "Press Your Luck", "Beat the Clock".

Norwegian Prima's interactive show productions are the first at sea when the Prima Theater transforms into a nightclub and all guests participate in the show. The shows were developed via partnership with Fremantle (fka FremantleMedia, British/London-based TV production and distribution company, subsidiary of the RTL Group/Luxembourg-based media broadcasting corporation). The theater lounge also hosts the 2022-debuted game show "The Price is Right LIVE".

Like all boats from the BREAKAWAY and BREAKAWAY PLUS series, NCL's Prima has the "Prima Speedway" (fleet's largest racetrack), "The Rush" (2-tube/dueling dry slides) and "The Drop" (world's first freefall dry slide/10-deck high).

"Prima Speedway" is NCL fleet's first racetrack on 3 levels/decks (the old racetracks are 2-level), with a longer straightaway/straight section, 14 turns and total length 420 m (1378 ft), which is ~1/5th larger than the racetrack on Norwegian Encore (fleet's previous largest). The racetrack goes around and through the funnel/smokestack, max capacity 15 cars (racing simultaneously) and allows max speeds 50+ kph (30+ mph). The unique sports facility is served by the Speedway Bar (located beneath the racetrack).

The "Galaxy Pavilion" is an indoor complex for virtual-world and multi-player gaming, equipped with interactive video walls and virtual reality technology.

• On NCL Prima ship, the complex has 14 total attractions, including 4x new simulators and 2x Escape Rooms.
• Also new is the Topgolf Swing Suite (fleet's first golfing venue to deliver "social experiences") fitted with Topgolf's games (virtual golf courses, multi-player gaming) and powered by Full Swing Golf (the same simulation technology used by PGA Tour professionals).
• "The Bull's Eye" is a new competitive gaming experience (based on the classic darts game) featuring a video tracking system that automatically calculates each gamer's score and offers instant replays.

On Prima, NCL offers "Tee Time" (interactive mini-golfing) where gamers can play on a 9-hole Mini-Golf Course.

NCL debuted on Prima its own gin brand "'66 by Norwegian" (sustainably sourced, distilled and bottled in Nicaragua) named after NCL's founding year (1966). The new '66 Gin was first offered at Prima's Metropolitan Bar (aft-starboard on Deck 7). A new draft beer ('66 by Norwegian) was also introduced on Prima and first served at the Soleil Bar (aft of Deck 8). The new '66 beer (brewed by the 2002-founded, Athens GA USA-based Terrapin Beer Company) is with a citrus flavor.

The list of the rest of Norwegian Prima lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults include the following:

• Viva Theater & Club (Bar/Disco Nightclub) fka Sensoria Theatre Lounge
• Penrose Atrium
• Penrose Bar (a morning and late-night venue serving wine, beer, cocktails, and more)
• Cruise Next, Sales Office, Shore Excursions & Guest Services Desk
• Casino (VIP & Smoking)
• Belvedere Bar is a contemporary bar & cocktail lounge serving crafted bottled cocktails
• Splash Academy (kids 3-12 yo, is a 2-story facility with Nickelodeon-themed activities, a light-up floor (interactive dancing), a resident clown at the circus school, Nintendo and PS3 consoles, kids cinema, crafts-arts activities, pirate parades), Guppies Nursery (for kids 6 months to 2 yo), Kid's Aqua Park (with a splash pool, Nickelodeon characters entertainment).
• I-Connect Internet Cafe (24-hour), Art Gallery
• Whiskey Bar
• The Gateway mini mall offers various brands and items.
• Beauty by Design & Aficionados (shop) sells top-brand cosmetics/fragrances, including IT Cosmetics, NYX, Clinique, Chanel, Lancome, and more. Guests can save up to 50% on spirits, including Prima exclusives.

The ship's other shops include Roberto Coin (jewelry), Effy Jewelry, Timeless Luxury & Fine Watches, Pandora Jewelry & Lifestyles, The Zone & Eye Style, Tech @ Sea, Perspectives Photo Studio & Gallery.

Itineraries

Norwegian Prima itinerary program is based on European and Caribbean seasonal deployments with seasonal Transatlantic voyages (RepositionCruises.com) and three USA homeports - two in Florida ( Port Canaveral , Miami ) and one in Texas ( Galveston /since 2023 December). Bookings opened on May 12, 2021. On May 17, NCL bragged that (by first-day bookings and week of sales) Prima has become the brand's most popular ship ever.

NCL Prima ship's Maiden Voyage was initially scheduled to start on August 17, 2022. The inaugural season included 10-day Baltic itineraries leaving from Amsterdam Holland and Copenhagen Denmark and visiting ports in Northern Europe (including Norway's Fjords).

• On September 22, 2022, departed the 12-day Transatlantic crossing from Southampton to NYC New York , with call ports in Scotland (Lerwick), Iceland (Reykjavik), and Nova Scotia Canada (Halifax).
• On October 10th started the inaugural ex-USA voyage (5-day to Bermuda) out of NYC.
• On October 15th started the 12-day relocation from NYC to Galveston Texas (first-ever time for NCL), visiting in the Caribbean Dominicana (Puerto Plata), The Netherlands' ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) and Mexico (Cozumel).
• On October 31st started the 11-day relocation from Galveston to PortMiami , visiting Cozumel, the ABC islands, and The Bahamas ( Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island ).

Between December 11, 2022, and March 19, 2023, the liner was based in Port Canaveral for 5-7-9-day roundtrips to Western Caribbean ports (Cozumel Mexico, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, Great Stirrup Cay). Then the ship was shortly homeported in NYC (March through May 2023) for 5-7-day Bermuda cruises.

In summer 2023 (May 25-Nov 20), Norwegian Prima was deployed in Northern Europe (10-11-day "Norway and Iceland" itineraries leaving out of Reykjavik Iceland and Southampton England UK) and also in the Mediterranean (9-10-day voyages from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona).

From November 19 through December 3, 2023, Norwegian Prima cruises from PortMiami offering three 7-day Western Caribbean voyages to Harvest Caye Belize (NCL's private island) , Cozumel Mexico , Roatan Island Honduras .

In September 2021 NCL announced that for season 2023-2024 Prima will be homeported in Galveston Texas . The 7-day Western Caribbean roundtrips visit Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya ), Belize (Harvest Caye) and Honduras ( Isla Roatan/Mahogany Bay ), with call port stays between 8-9 hours.

Norwegian Prima - user reviews and comments

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
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Norwegian Prima Wiki

On February 16, 2017, the shipowner NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd) signed with Fincantieri an order for 4x NCL LEONARDO Class (renamed to "NCL PRIMA" in 2021) units for the NCL brand.

• The newbuilds were scheduled for deliveries in 2022 through 2025 (one ship per year), with an option for two more units to be added to the order in the future. On July 12, 2018, NCLH ordered two more units (PRIMA PLUS series) currently scheduled for deliveries in 2027 and 2028.
• The NCLH-Fincantieri deal was backed by CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA/1850-founded, Turino-based Italian investment bank) and SACE SpA (Servizi Assicurativi del Commercio Estero/1977-founded Italian Export Credit Agency).
• All shipbuilding orders were signed by Frank Del Rio (NCLH's President and CEO) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri SpA's CEO).

Next YouTube video is NCL's official release with renderings of the new-class cruiser.

The ship was launched (floated out from drydock at Marghera yard/near Venice Italy ) on August 13, 2021. The float-out ceremony was attended by Harry Sommer (NCL's President and CEO) and Luigi Matarazzo (Fincantieri's Merchant Ships Division's General Manager).

The Norwegian Prima vessel was initially scheduled for delivery to NCLH (shipowner) on June 30, 2022, but was delayed to July 29th. The ceremony was held at the Marghera yard and attended by Harry Sommer (NCL), Pierroberto Folgiero (Fincantieri's CEO and Managing Director), Captain Roger Gustavsen (the ship's first Master), as well as by Frank Del Rio (NCLH's President and CEO).

Prima is the first of all six PRIMA-class (fka LEONARDO) units ordered by NCLH for its subsidiary NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line . The deliveries of all PRIMA-class units were originally planned for 2022 through 2027 (one vessel per year).

The NCL ship's namesakes are the AmaWaterways ' riverboat AmaPrima (2013-built) and the AIDA 's liner AIDAprima (2016-built).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 6298) has a powerplant based on 5x main Wartisla diesel engines - 3x model 8L46 (8-cylinder) and 2x model 12V46 (12-cylinder), plus 1x Caterpillar diesel generator (model 3516C HD) and 6x Alfa Laval auxiliary boilers (1x oil/gas fired plus 5x exhaust gas heated).

The propulsion system is diesel-electric and based on 3x bow thrusters (model Brunvoll FU115) and 2x aft thrusters (model ABB Azipod XO).

The registered shipowner is Leonardo One Ltd (subsidiary of NCLH) while as ship manager is listed NCL Bahamas Ltd.

Ship christening 2022

On March 17, 2022, NCL announced the name of the ship's godmother - Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (Katy Perry, 1984-born American singer, songwriter, "American Idol" judge).

• Having sold 143+ million records (as of 2022), Katy Perry is listed among the "best-selling artists of all time" (those with 75+ million record sales). She has 9x US No1 singles, 3x US No1 albums, 5x Billboard Music Awards, 5x American Music Awards, 1x Brit Award, 1x Juno Award.
• She also has 4x Guinness World Records - 2010 ("Best Start on the US Digital Chart by a Female Artist"/2+ million digital single copies sold), 2013 (female artist with five No1 "Billboard Hot 100" songs), 2014 (the most-watched show in history/Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, 118,5 million viewers in the USA), 2015 (for most Twitter followers).
• As of 2022, she has the most Twitter followers (100+ million).
• Since 2018, Katy Perry is among the judges on "American Idol" (2022-launched singing competition TV series, since 2018 aired on ABC).

NCL Prima's christening ceremony was initially scheduled for September 3, 2022 (to be held in Amsterdam Netherlands , right before the Maiden Voyage) but actually happened on August 27th, in Reykjavik Iceland . The "naming party" was attended by 2500+ guests.

The naming was in Reykjavik's Harpa Concert Hall (where are regularly scheduled live performances by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and Reykjavik Big Band). The special event was attended by Frank Del Rio (NCLH's President and CEO), Katy Perry (godmother) and Richard Ambrose (NCL's Senior VP of Entertainment and Cruise Programs). Performances were made by IDC-Iceland Dance Company (1973-established), Briet Isis Elfar (1999-born Icelandic singer), and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra's 8-person Cello Ensemble.

The ceremony was opened with a LED light show designed by the Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson (1967-born).

Inaugural itineraries 2022

Next tables show the liner's Maiden Voyage and the first cruises by destination/homeport) with lowest prices per person with double occupancy.

( MAIDEN VOYAGE ) 10-day from Amsterdam to Copenhagen (US$2250 pp)

(inaugural Transatlantic crossing) 12-day from the UK to USA (US $3730 pp)

(inaugural Bermuda) 5-day roundtrip out of NYC (US$985 pp)

(East Coast USA relocation) 12-day from New York to Texas (US$2045 pp)

(repositioning) 11-day from Texas to Florida (US$2085 pp)

(inaugural Caribbean from Miami) 7-day (US$1330 pp)

(inaugural Caribbean from Port Canaveral) 5-day (US$980 pp)

I've been on nearly every Norwegian Cruise Line ship afloat; here are my 1st impressions of the new Norwegian Prima

It really is elevated. And elegant. So much so that I'm sort of in shock.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been promising to take things up a notch with its new ship, Norwegian Prima — to "elevate" the experience as compared to earlier Norwegian vessels, as its executives have been saying . But in typical journalist fashion, I've been skeptical.

After five days on board Norwegian Prima in advance of its first sailing with paying passengers, I am skeptical no more.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

The 3,100-passenger ship is loaded with stylish, upscale bars and restaurants. Its cabins are sleek and modern. Its suite complex is next-level.

It has an array of onboard entertainment and amusements that is as impressive as ever, too.

In short, it's like nothing you've seen before in the Norwegian fleet . And I say this as someone who has sailed on every one of the 18 ships operated by Norwegian except two (Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit).

That isn't to say Norwegian Prima is perfect. There are a few things about its design that leave me scratching my head — things that maybe the line can change before it moves ahead with the rollout of five sister ships that already are on order.

But mostly they are quibbles. The bottom line is that Norwegian Prima takes Norwegian cruising to new heights. If you're a fan of the line, this is the new ship you can't wait to book.

Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima after getting a sneak peek at it this week in advance of its first official sailing on Saturday.

Norwegian Prima has an elegant look

From the moment you step on board Norwegian Prima, you notice the difference from past Norwegian ships. It's an elegant vessel of the sort you find in the fleets of Norwegian's higher-end sister brands Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — albeit on a bigger scale.

The entryway to the ship deposits you at the three-story-high Penrose Atrium, which may be the most beautiful atrium of any big ship at sea. It has a curvy, sculptural feel, as if the entire space were an art piece.

Studio Dado, the design firm behind the Penrose Atrium, studied great piazzas around the world, such as St. Mark's Square in Venice, to come up with its layout and look. The design includes offset entrances from other parts of the ship on each level that — like the narrow streets of Venice opening up into that grand gathering spot — give you the sense of stumbling onto something wonderful when you arrive.

The elegant feel of the Penrose Atrium carries over to the many restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that spread out from its three levels (decks 6, 7 and 8). You'll find the equally sculptural Onda by Scarpetta, a high-end Italian eatery, right off its top level, and a string of stylish restaurants with new-for-Norwegian themes not far from its midlevel.

The eateries include Nama, a new sushi restaurant for Norwegian with a high design that is as sophisticated as the sushi it serves.

Also created by Studio Dado, Nama boasts a cream-and-orange color palette and suspended light fixtures subtly inspired by masago (fish eggs) and a reception desk that hints at the marbling pattern found on fish. Among the small touches in the seating area are raised, Japanese-style platforms where diners can tuck their shoes underneath before being seated on floor cushions.

Among other nearby outlets with elevated design is Cagney's Steakhouse. The venue pays homage to 20th-century architecture icon Frank Lloyd Wright with patterned concrete walls and other bold modern architectural elements.

Also striking is Norwegian Prima's version of Le Bistro, Norwegian's signature French eatery. It's built around three massive crystal chandeliers costing nearly $100,000 that hang down all the way to the floor — a showstopper of a design element. Gold-leaf wallpaper lines its booth seating. The overall feel is upscale Parisian apartment.

Notably, the public areas that include these restaurants feel more spacious than many of the other 17 ships in the Norwegian fleet. And, indeed they are. Norwegian Prima was built with a higher ratio of space to passengers, which itself is an upscale touch.

The ship has a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, as well.

Both measures are often used as shorthand for the luxury level and service level of a ship.

This more upscale feel is a sharp turn for Norwegian — but perhaps it should come as no surprise. Norwegian Prima is the first Norwegian vessel designed from the keel up since cruise industry veteran Frank Del Rio became CEO of parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Del Rio, who built the upscale Oceania brand from nothing into a major player in the industry in the 2000s, is particularly known for his high-end leanings when designing ships.

This big ship feels intimate

The public areas of Norwegian Prima may feel spacious. But the ship itself isn't ridiculously giant in the way that many recent megaships from big-ship lines have been — and it doesn't carry the same sort of massive number of passengers.

Going against the always-go-bigger trend of recent cruise ship building, Norwegian has made Norwegian Prima about 14% smaller than its last new ship, Norwegian Encore.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

It's designed to carry just 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. That's 22% fewer people than Norwegian Encore.

The result is that you don't feel like you're sailing with the tourist hordes quite as much as you do on some of the other recent big ships to debut.

This is all relative, of course. Three thousand people on a ship is still a lot of people. But consider that rival Royal Caribbean 's newest vessel, Wonder of the Seas , is designed to sail with 5,734 passengers at double occupancy. It can hold 6,988 passengers with every pull-out sofa and pull-down bunk filled. Wonder of the Seas measures 235,600 tons — 62% larger than Norwegian Prima.

By that measure, Norwegian Prima is downright small and uncrowded for a big ship with a lot to offer (see more on that below).

If you love big ships with a lot going on, but you're squeamish about the idea of sharing it with 6,000 or 7,000 people, Norwegian Prima could be the perfect ship for you.

Prima is packed with activities

Perhaps the greatest design triumph of Norwegian Prima isn't the elevated style of its public spaces. It's that the ship's designers were able to pack so much on the vessel.

Despite its smaller footprint, Norwegian Prima has more food outlets, not fewer, than the last few Norwegian ships. It also has just as robust an array of onboard entertainment, including a real Broadway show (the Tony Award-nominated "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical") in a stunner of a theater that converts late at night into a dance club. In what is a technological marvel to watch, the entire lower deck of seating in the theater slides away to create a giant dance floor.

Norwegian Prima's top deck also still is loaded with family fun zones, including the largest go-kart track at sea (yes, this is a thing, ever since Norwegian began adding them to ships in 2017).

Despite being 14% smaller than Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima has a go-kart track that is 22% larger than the one on that ship. It spreads over parts of three decks — one more than on earlier ships.

Related: Why I loved Norwegian Prima's ridiculously big go-kart track

In addition, the top of Norwegian Prima has a new-for-the-line open-air games zone called The Stadium with a pickleball court, foosball tables, pingpong, bar-style hand shuffleboard tables and other amusements.

There's also a new electronic darts venue called The Bull's Eye where you rent a space to play with your friend, a souped-up miniature golf course, a bowl-style waterslide, a kiddie splash zone and two giant dry-slide drop attractions where you plunge from the top of the ship to the promenade deck below.

In other words, while the interior of the ship has taken an elegant turn, for sure, this isn't a vessel that's just for couples on an upscale getaway. It's still very much a family-focused ship, as Norwegian ships have long been.

My only quibble with all the aforementioned deck-top attractions is that it may be too much. Norwegian has packed so much onto the top of Norwegian Prima that, given its smaller size, I suspect it'll feel a little cramped once the vessel starts sailing with a full complement of passengers. This is in contrast to the spaciousness of the public areas in the interior of the ship.

One factor contributing to what was a "Woah, there's maybe way too much jammed up here" feeling upon first seeing the top deck of Norwegian Prima is that, as has increasingly been the case with Norwegian ships in recent years, large chunks of it are closed off to regular passengers. A not-insignificant part of the top of the vessel is devoted to outdoor lounge areas that are exclusively for use by passengers staying in the ship's Haven suite area. Another portion of the top deck is devoted to the private Vibe Beach Club lounge area. The latter area only is accessible to passengers who pay extra.

Related: How to get the most from Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards loyalty program

One noticeable issue created by the large number of things put up top on the ship is that it's confusing to get around while up there. The deck-top space is broken up into too many sections, without a lot of ways to walk between them. To get from the main pool to the entryway to the go-kart track, for instance, you have to walk through the top-of-the-ship Surfside Cafe buffet. There is no side way around the buffet to reach it.

This, in turn, requires you to run the gauntlet of Norwegian staff at the buffet entrance wanting you to wash your hands every time you want to move between the pool area and the go-kart area. They think you're there for dining.

Unfortunately, I suspect this will create some traffic jams in the buffet once the ship is fully up and running.

The suite complex is the best of any big ship

Speaking of the Haven suite area on Norwegian Prima, there's really nothing like it.

Norwegian has been at the forefront of the trend of big-ship operators putting exclusive "ship within a ship" suite complexes on their vessels, and the line has taken the concept to the next level with Norwegian Prima.

Instead of just covering a couple of decks at the front of the ship, the Haven on Norwegian Prima — designed by the celebrated Italian design firm Lissoni — now fills eight floors of the back end of the ship. The added floors mean it has more suites (107), as well as more expansive interior public lounge, bar and restaurant areas than previous Haven complexes. The new location also allows for a more elaborate and comfortable outdoor lounge and pool area.

This is another part of the "elevation" of Norwegian Prima. For a greater percentage of passengers on this ship than any other big-ship vessel at sea, Norwegian Prima can offer a truly upscale experience in a private, hidden-away complex.

For cruisers who want the sort of luxury experience that normally only is found on small luxury ships but also access to all the amenities that big ships have to offer, this is now the premier offering at sea.

The outdoor lounge area at the Haven includes a stunning infinity pool that appears to flow right off the back of the vessel. Its lounge chairs are plush and upscale. It offers private cabanas.

Inside the complex, there's a private restaurant so you never have to eat in the same room with non-Haven passengers.

I didn't get to spend the night in the Haven this week or experience its amenities firsthand, so I don't know if its bigger size results in any service issues. Will there be more queues for the Haven's private concierge desk than on other Norwegian ships with smaller Haven complexes, for instance? But with roughly 214 guests staying in the complex at any given time, assuming two passengers per suite, it's still an intimate venue.

If you think of it as a luxury ship plopped down on top of a big mass-market ship, it's still smaller and more intimate than most. For comparison, Seabourn Venture, the new ship that just debuted from luxury line Seabourn, is built for 264 passengers.

An unusual new bar promotes 'zero waste'

The Metropolitan bar is billed as the first sustainable bar at sea, and it offers a fabulously odd mix of handmade drinks that incorporate leftover food items on the ship, such as day-old croissants and banana peels.

I tried three of these cutting-edge cocktails during my strange night out at Norwegian Prima's new Metropolitan Bar , and I can attest the drinks taste better than you might first imagine.

Cabins are sleek and modern

It's not just the public areas of Norwegian Prima that are more stylish — its cabins are, too.

Also designed by Studio Dado, they have a clean-lined, minimalist look of the sort you find at sophisticated contemporary hotels on land. The colors are muted with warm light browns and creams punctured with cool blue accents — a sharp departure from the bold color palettes found on many earlier Norwegian cruise ships. Furniture features luxurious stone and light-wood finishes, and texture plays a big role.

In standard balcony cabins, the wall behind the bed is lined with a striking art piece featuring nature and butterflies — a focal point.

Standard balcony cabins also have spacious and modern bathrooms. You won't feel cramped in them the way you do in entry-level rooms on some big ships. I was impressed.

But as lovely as they are, the basic rooms on Norwegian Prima do draw one quibble from me: their lack of adequate storage space.

In their effort to make the rooms as minimalist and spacious feeling as possible, the designers seem to have overlooked the real need for lots of hanging space and drawers in cabins on a ship that will likely be operating seven-day sailings for much of its life.

In my basic balcony cabin, there was just a relatively small area of built-in closet space. It's enough for me this week, as I'm traveling solo. But it would be tight if my wife were here with me, and we both had suitcases full of clothes for a week.

The ship has an innovative food hall

Indulge Food Hall is one of the only food halls at sea, and it's fabulous — if a little tight, spacewise. (In a perfect world, Norwegian would make it even bigger on the next ships in this series). It offers a wide range of quick-serve food venues offering everything from Mexican to Indian cuisine.

You can mix and match what you want from any of the venues and order them to your table with a few taps on the tablet that you'll find at every table.

Which dishes are the best? Read about my attempt to test every dish at its 11 venues in four days to find out.

The promenade deck is one of the best at sea

A notable element of Norwegian Prima (and the sister Prima-class ships that will follow) is that it has an unusually wide wraparound promenade that is filled with resort-like outdoor lounge areas.

Dubbed "Ocean Boulevard" and located on Deck 8 — much closer to the waterline of the ship than the lounge areas at the vessel's top, which are located on decks 17 and 18 — it offers unusually luxurious lounge chairs in some places (think: extra-thick cushions), sunbeds and swinging seats.

On both sides of Ocean Boulevard, there are infinity pools as well as shallow dipping pools.

There's also alfresco seating for several of the ship's restaurants including Los Lobos, Onda by Scarpetta, The Local and Indulge Food Hall.

Norwegian has had promenades on earlier ships that have offered outdoor restaurant seating and additional features. The line has been a pioneer among big-ship lines in taking promenades to a new level by making them wider and adding venues to draw passengers out onto them. But nothing Norwegian has done yet compares to this.

Not only is the Ocean Boulevard on Norwegian Prima roomier than ever, but it'll absorb a lot of passengers on sea days who otherwise would be packing the top decks of the ship. From a practical point of view, that's a big deal.

Bottom line

Norwegian Cruise Line isn't meant to be a high-end brand, but its new Norwegian Prima offers a lot of high-end touches. From the massive Haven suite complex at its back to its stunning, sculptural central atrium and the striking designs of many of its eateries, the ship is home to an array of venues and experiences that truly are elevated as compared to what you know from previous Norwegian vessels.

TPG's Gene Sloan has been reporting live from Norwegian Prima as it sails from Reykjavik to Amsterdam on a non-revenue preview voyage for media and travel agents. You can find all of his dispatches on his author's page .

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Press Releases

Norwegian cruise line officially welcomes leading-edge norwegian prima.

– Katy Perry, Global Superstar and Godmother to Norwegian Prima, Delivers Memorable Performance Following Christening Ceremony –

– NCL's Newest Addition Makes History as  First Major Cruise Ship Christened in Reykjavik, Iceland –

REYKJAVIK, Iceland , Aug. 29, 2022 /CNW/ -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, christened its newest ship Norwegian Prima , on Aug. 27, 2022, which made history as the first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:  https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8998059-ncl-norwegian-prima-christening-katy-perry/

The first of six ships in the groundbreaking Prima Class , Norwegian Prima, debuted to more than 2,500 guests who enjoyed an immersive experience in the beautiful Icelandic capital and a christening celebration like no other.

"With her stunning design and unique offerings, Norwegian Prima is in a league of her own," said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "As the industry's most spacious new cruise ship featuring 'only-available-on-Prima-experiences,' she is continuing NCL's legacy of industry firsts. We wanted to launch Norwegian Prima in a location just as special and unique as she is, and Reykjavik's striking landscape is the perfect setting for such a milestone occasion. We thank the Reykjavik community for welcoming us with open arms."

At 965 feet (294 meters long) and more than 143,535 tons with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Prima offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any contemporary or premium cruise ship. She also boasts the largest variety of suite categories available at sea as well as a redefined The Haven by Norwegian , NCL's ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. Her variety of recreational activities including the fastest slides at sea - The Rush and The Drop - and the Prima Speedway, the first three-level racetrack at sea, provide guests with adrenaline-pumping moments. Spaces like Ocean Boulevard , the 44,000 square foot outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; The Concourse, which boasts a multi-million dollar outdoor sculpture garden; and expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach , offer guests a chance to slow down and relax. To learn more about all Norwegian Prima offers, please click here .

"We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this special event for several years, so we are delighted to embark on NCL's next chapter with Norwegian Prima," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "It's been a joy to see our vision come to life with this landmark christening ceremony, which sets the tone for the unparalleled holidays guests will enjoy for years to come. We are so thankful to our team members and partners worldwide who have made Norwegian Prima a stunning reality."

Guests at the christening ceremony were treated to a show-stopping performance by popular Icelandic group and 2021 "Eurovision Song Contest" fan favorites, Daði og Gagnamagnið (pronounced "Dah-they Oh Gack-no-Mak-ne"), before Norwegian Prima's very own godmother, Katy Perry took to the main stage to officially name and christen the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship's hull. The three-level Prima Theater & Club stage was then transformed into a whimsical backdrop where guests enjoyed a powerhouse performance of some of Perry's chart-topping hits including "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Roar," and "Firework."

"It was so much fun to sprinkle some fairy godmother dust on Norwegian Prima and send her on her way to sail the high seas," said Katy Perry. "I always appreciate a family vacation and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I was happy to wish all the vacationing guests a happy bon voyage!"

Prior to the Christening ceremony, guests were surprised with an authentic Icelandic experience at the HARPA  cultural center. Attendees were treated to a captivating LED light show by Artist Olafur Eliasson as well as performances by Icelandic singer-songwriter Bríet who joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in an awe-inspiring show. 

Norwegian Prima will depart on inaugural voyages to Northern Europe  from the Netherlands , Denmark  and England beginning Sept. 3, 2022, before making her way to the U.S. She will then sail voyages to the Caribbean from New York City, Galveston, Texas , and Miami  in October and November before settling into her homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla., and Galveston, Texas for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season.

To access Norwegian Prima's christening press kit, please click here . To download high-res images and videos from Norwegian Prima's christening activities, please click here . For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line or to book a cruise, please visit www.ncl.com  or call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or contact a travel professional.

ABOUT NORWEGIAN PRIMA Norwegian Prima is the first of six vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line's Prima Class , the Brand's first new class of ships in nearly 10 years. Launched in August 2022, Norwegian Prima is the industry's most spacious new cruise ship with the most outdoor deck space and expansive accommodations of any new build. Built in Marghera, Italy by world-renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, Norwegian Prima is 965 feet long (294 meters long), 143,535 gross tons and able to accommodate 3,100 guests at double occupancy. The vessel has 20 decks, featuring nearly 1,600 staterooms, 18 dining venues and 17 bars and lounges. The ship features striking hull artwork created by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita, known commonly as "Peeta," and was designed by world-class design and architectural teams including Italian designer Piero Lissoni and powerhouse architectural firms Rockwell Group, SMC Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden, YSA DESIGN and Miami-based Studio Dado who conceptualized and composed the aesthetic of various restaurants, staterooms and public areas on board. Norwegian Prima offers guests exciting itineraries, the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary or premium cruise category, and Brand-first experiences with Ocean Boulevard, Indulge Food Hall, The Concourse, Infinity Beach, Oceanwalk and the Penrose Atrium. Norwegian Prima also features multiple first-at-sea innovations including a three-story transformational theater-nightclub, the Prima Theater & Club; its three-level racetrack with the Prima Speedway; the fastest slides at sea, The Drop and Rush; and the cruise industry's first sustainable cocktail bar with The Metropolitan Bar. 

About Norwegian Cruise Line As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 55 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 18 contemporary ships sail to nearly 400 of the world's most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize.  Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company's ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com . For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line

Released August 29, 2022

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Prima Cruise Director is:

By YVRteacher , August 3, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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He comes from Celebrity and did his first NCL contract on the Getaway.  He is on board the Prima now and is showing lots of “sneak peak” videos on IG.

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Cruiserconnoisseur25

Do you know what his last is? I can’t find him on IG.

1 hour ago, Cruiserconnoisseur25 said: Do you know what his last is? I can’t find him on IG.

I believe they are referring to Simon Akinwolere

aubreyc1988

He is a great CD 😄  

Any word on Haven concierge?

or the housekeeper on deck 7, inside cabin?

9 minutes ago, dcs1989 said: Any word on Haven concierge?

Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.

6 minutes ago, LGW59 said: or the housekeeper on deck 7, inside cabin?

Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

4 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.     Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

It is "needed" to maximize all the perks the haven has to offer and having that level of knowledge of the ship / ports to help with your bookings is invaluable.  Is it necessary to enjoy your cruise? Obviously not.  But it is a service provided to Haven bookings and you can definitely notice the difference between a good concierge and a bad concierge when you utilize one so it can make your cruise that much over the top if you have one of the best (which they usually put on the newer ships).  

2 minutes ago, dcs1989 said:   It is "needed" to maximize all the perks the haven has to offer and having that level of knowledge of the ship / ports to help with your bookings is invaluable.  Is it necessary to enjoy your cruise? Obviously not.  But it is a service provided to Haven bookings and you can definitely notice the difference between a good concierge and a bad concierge when you utilize one so it can make your cruise that much over the top if you have one of the best (which they usually put on the newer ships).  

You misunderstand...

Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)

Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"

It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

8 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   You misunderstand...   Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)   Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"   It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

Lol - your reaching.  It's not like its a tautology.  I personally like to be as clear as possible in an online setting.  

The better question would be was your response necessary?  You have a good day :).  Don't be so bitter :)!

36 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.     Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

Unsurprisingly you miss the point. 🥳

14 minutes ago, dcs1989 said:   Lol - your reaching.  It's not like its a tautology.  I personally like to be as clear as possible in an online setting.     The better question would be was your response necessary?  You have a good day :).  Don't be so bitter :)!

Sure the response was necessary, but only to correct your obvious misunderstanding. 

Question, does everyone know what a butler is, or do I have to refer to them as "Haven butlers"?

And don't be so judgmental...people aren't as bitter as you assume.

10 minutes ago, LGW59 said: Unsurprisingly you miss the point. 🥳

Or the point was poorly made... 🙄

The concierge is David Contreras.  

4 hours ago, SeaShark said:   Sure the response was necessary, but only to correct your obvious misunderstanding.    Question, does everyone know what a butler is, or do I have to refer to them as "Haven butlers"?   And don't be so judgmental...people aren't as bitter as you assume.

The butler is the one who"always did it". Haven't you watched any murder mysteries?

luvsboozecruises

6 hours ago, SeaShark said:   You misunderstand...   Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)   Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"   It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

OMG,, 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

Coastalbreezes

17 hours ago, jemz1949 said: The concierge is David Contreras.    

Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

1 hour ago, Coastalbreezes said: Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.

Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

4 hours ago, Coastalbreezes said: Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

Virginia is quite good, too!

Nice line up of Concierges on the ship, it seems….particularly given Adrian has left NCL.

Cruising Lynne

I am excited to see Simon again in October. He was the cruise director on our March cruise on Getaway. I love to see what Simon is going to wear each day. He is definitely one of the more interesting and fun cruise directors. Woo Hoo! {Don't care who is concierge).

4 hours ago, dexddd said: Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.   Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

I don't think we've ever had Virginia, but we have not had good experiences with David. We had one were he was "meh" and another where we looked at each other at the end of the cruise and asked what we did to him in order to make him so mean/unpleasant to us.

And as an FYI, we generally ask very little of the concierge. I take care of our reservations before we get on the ship and we only ask for some friendliness or maybe to change a reservation if it is needed. We got neither from him and our tip reflected that.

12 hours ago, dexddd said: Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.   Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

Meanwhile Patrick was always one of the most divisive concierges in terms of opinions here.  We didn’t like him at all!   😁

Some people are friendly with the Concierges, some are not.  Personally, I make it a point to engage in small talk and banter when I first board and meet the concierges.  Small thing, but I think they understand I'm not going to be a PITA to them. And, that I'm pretty genial.

It helps to say "please" and "thank you", too.  Just generally be polite.

All that has gone a long way in how I'm treated by the Concierges (and the Butlers, too).

On 8/11/2022 at 10:54 AM, brookie848 said:   I don't think we've ever had Virginia, but we have not had good experiences with David. We had one were he was "meh" and another where we looked at each other at the end of the cruise and asked what we did to him in order to make him so mean/unpleasant to us.   And as an FYI, we generally ask very little of the concierge. I take care of our reservations before we get on the ship and we only ask for some friendliness or maybe to change a reservation if it is needed. We got neither from him and our tip reflected that.

That's exactly our experience.  We don't normally ask anything of the concierge as we book online.  We first saw David in holding area in terminal where a lady and son were hugging him and you'd think it was his mother.

Once on ship, very few encounters from him but when we did it was a frown.

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Norwegian Prima Review and Photos

Theresa Russell was invited to join Norwegian Prima’s inaugural sailing from Iceland . Read on for Theresa’s comprehensive Norwegian Prima review, along with her quirky sense of humor.

As early renderings of the ship Norwegian Prima were revealed, my anticipation to sail and write a Norwegian Prima review grew stronger. There were many innovative enhancements added to this latest ship in NCL’s fleet and I was excited to see the finished product.

I have sailed on all of the NCL ships except for Sky, so I am quite familiar with the brand and ships’ layouts. Or so I thought.

Norwegian Prima Review

When I took my first step onto Prima , I was taken aback. Nothing seemed familiar to me at all. I couldn’t get my bearings and felt like a fish out of water.

And speaking of fish, why did I not see them swimming on the carpets? I counted on these fish to help me find my way to the front of the ship. They abandoned me. Keep reading for more on that later. 

In This Post...

Norwegian Prima – Fast Facts

Year Built: 2022 Weight: 142,500 GT Decks: 20 Passengers at Double Occupancy: 3100 Crew: 1506 Total staterooms: 1586

READ MORE:  Norwegian Prima Inaugural U.S. Voyage from New York

First impressions.

I entered the ship at the Penrose Atrium. Dumbfounded by the view, I stood for a few minutes just a bit disoriented.

The large, open and bright 3-story Penrose Atrium differed immensely from other Norwegian ships. My smugness about knowing NCL so well, waned. 

I realized that not only was the décor different on Prima , but also the layout. So much for thinking that I could quickly figure out this ship.

Balcony Stateroom Review 

Anxious to get to my balcony stateroom #15770, my intent was to drop my carry-on, grab a bite to eat and explore the new ship.

On this ship, there are only two sets of elevators in the fore and aft. Reaching my deck, I used the convenient directional signs to find my stateroom. 

I closely examined the attractive carpet and bemoaned the absence of fish pointing forward. Instead of the usual fish, they were replaced by large triangles that pointed forward.

Couldn’t these triangles have been made to look like a Picasso-type fish? Just a thought. At least I figured out my new directional guide star.

My midship cabin was ready and waiting for me. I dropped my carry-on luggage there and explored the room. My eyes were immediately drawn to the bed without a bedskirt.

The open space underneath the bed gave the room a modern look. It also made the space appear larger.

On this ship, the balcony cabins have the beds near the balcony. This layout is done with much forethought.

Want to book an aft balcony? Not on Norwegian Prima. Why? It’s because the Haven takes up the aft part of the ship with its 107 staterooms. 

One of the designers that I chatted with explained the layout. Like at home, you come to the living area first. 

The sleeping area is farther away. It certainly makes sense, but I don’t know if I agree.

The stateroom is fairly typical with two lower beds that convert to a queen. My family balcony cabin also had a convertible sleeper sofa.

Noticeable Prima Stateroom Interior Differences

What I immediately noticed was the lack of a coffee table. Behind the bed and sofa is a feature wall, itself a large piece of artwork. 

Across from the sofa is a small desk with outlets and USB ports. The desk has a barrel-like stool with a handle.

I had plenty of closet space for myself, but wondered if there would be enough if sharing my room. It was difficult hanging longer items. 

The closet seems most efficient for hanging shorter garments, even with the lower rack moved. There are also several shelves and room in the night stands.

Furnished with two chairs and a small table, the balcony is about 45 square feet. It had adequate space for relaxing and enjoying the view.

The modern look of the room really adds a touch of luxury to the room. The bed was comfy, and the draperies were pretty good at blocking out light. 

As somebody who likes to sleep cool, I could never get the room cool enough. Other guests on this sailing had the opposite problem. They were cold all of the time. 

The Bathroom

With bursts of color on the backsplash, the bathroom seemed much bigger and more elegant than others. The walk-in shower was large and there was adequate storage space for toiletries. 

INSIDER TIP – Where the hand towel hangs on the vanity is also the handle for a drawer to stash more toiletries.

Two new dining concepts are found on Prima . The first is that the menu at the main dining rooms never changes. I was concerned about this until I realized that my favorite restaurant at home doesn’t change its menu daily, either.

The two main dining rooms are smaller than the MDR on other NCL ships. The Commodore Room and Hudson’s appear to be more in line with the size of Taste and Savor on other ships. 

Smaller main dining rooms could mean a longer wait time. Or maybe intended to get passengers to try the specialty restaurants or because so many guests choose specialty dining.

Specialty Restaurants on Norwegian Prima include:

• Palomar – Seafood with a Mediterranean influence
• Cagney’s Steakhouse – The cruise line’s famous steakhouse
• Onda by Scarpetta – Italian cuisine
• Los Lobos – Mexican food with an upscale attitude
• Food Republic –  Small plate entrées with an Asian flair
• Le Bistro – Norwegian’s signature French restaurant
• Hasuki – Teppanyaki restaurant – always popular so reserve early
• Nama Sushi – Elegant sushi bar with a wide selection

Most of the familiar specialty restaurants from other NCL ships are also on Prima . One that is missing is Moderno, the Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse.

The second new and fun concept on Prima is Indulge Food Hall. 

What is Indulge Food Hall?

Indulge is a collection of 11 different types of restaurants all under one “roof”. I noticed some strong resemblances to restaurants on other ships.

Some, like Q Texas Smokehouse, retain their names. Their menus are similar to those found on other ships in the fleet. 

Others, like Tamara, with Indian cuisine, are new. It’s a fun spot to sample different foods.

The one real drawback is the limited seating. And where you sit is important.

How to Order Food at Indulge Food Hall

If you want to try something from several of the restaurants, find a seat in the middle of the chaos. Then use the tablet placed on your table to order. Menus from all of the restaurants will be found on those tablets. 

On the other hand, maybe you prefer to enjoy just one type of food. Find a seat at the venue’s counter or very nearby that particular restaurant. 

For example, I enjoyed the Indian food at Tamara. In fact, I ate there a few times, sitting at the counter.

In this case, the tablet only shows menu items from Tamara. Beverages are also shown on that tablet.

It was fun to watch the chef and the servers. Also, the food was quite tasty. 

Freshly made naan was not only delicious, but interesting to watch the process. With entertaining antics, the server also made eating at Tamara a mini-show event.

Besides Tamara and Q Texas Smokehouse, a barbecue favorite, there are nine more restaurants, 11 total.

All of the restaurants are complimentary with the exception of Coco and Starbucks. All have meatless options.

RELATED:  Compare – Norwegian Bliss Dining Guide

List of indulge food hall restaurants.

• Nudls – Serves all sorts of noodles. Don’t just think of Asian dishes. Pad Thai, tagliatelle and spaetzle are just a few of the noodles offered.
• Q Texas Roadhouse –  Like on other NCL ships, but without an extra charge. Menus include chili, bbq chicken, pulled pork and sides.
• Seaside Rotisserie –  With its many skewered meat options reminded me of Moderno. Chicken, brisket, and kabobs can be accompanied by a variety of sides.
• The Garden –  A variety of salads are available at The Garden. Soups, Spinach Caesar and Cobb are just a few of the choices.
• The Latin Quarter –  If you have a hankering for chips, guacamole or tostadas, look for the food truck. 
• Tapas –  Think jamon, chorizo and manchego. Perfect for a quick snack.
• Tamara –  Indian food lovers rejoice. Tamara serves many dishes including paneer, tikka masala, dosa and freshly made naan.
• Coco’s – Sundaes with Gummies or just a plain gelato. Milkshakes and other frozen treats and everything in between. Prices range from $3-$8.
• Just Ice Cream –  The name explains it all.
• Just Desserts –  More sweets.
• Starbucks –  Head for this Starbucks location if the line at the Starbucks in the main lobby is too long. There’s a fee here, too.

Indulge Food Hall is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

One old complimentary favorite has returned on Prima , The Local . It’s a pub-style restaurant, with an outdoor dining area. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy the good weather. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Prima Entertainment Main Production Review

NCL is known for its entertainment and the entertainment on Prima maintains a high standard.

The headline show is “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”. Exciting and insightful into her painful childhood into stardom.

With three different performers playing the part of Donna at different stages of her life, the show was full of music. 

This show a great combination of her mega-hits as well as a documentary of her life. 

This show lasts for about 75 minutes. If you are a Donna Summer fan, the show’s length of time was perfect. Audience sing-along and dancing are encouraged!

INSIDER TIP – Make your reservations for the shows, especially the comedy club and game shows as soon as possible. Improv at Sea, the comedy club, seats about 70 people so early reservations are necessary. 

If you can’t get a space, check regularly as cancellations do occur. Reservations are released 10 minutes before show time, so go and get in line and standby for unclaimed seats.

Another big show on Prima is “The Price is Right LIVE on NCL”. It is the real thing complete with the sets and games from the television show. Guests can actually win real prizes.

Smaller venues for music, a comedy club and a casino are other options for entertainment.

Outdoor Activities for All

The familiar race track at the top of the ship has a course that wraps around the funnels. Longer and narrower than on other ships, Norwegian Prima Speedway ($15 per ride) remains as popular as ever.

On that same deck (17), The Stadium is the spot for games, like ping pong, pickle ball and others. Opposite The Stadium, Tee Time($10 per person) is an interactive mini-golf.

Right next to Tee Time, Bull’s Eye ($40 for up to 6 people) offers private space in several parlor rooms to groups of players. An electronic board keeps track of dart throws.

Anybody looking for thrills should head to The Rush or The Drop. The Drop plunges riders down 10 decks at high speeds.

The Rush is a dueling dry slide. Thrill seekers can compete to make it to the bottom first.

The above are both dry slides, but water slide fans gravitate to The Wave. This slide has, as you may have guessed, wave action.

Other NCL ships include Galaxy Pavilion($8 per person, per experience.) I tried several different adventures there including a roller coaster. 

That made me wonder how many people get sick on the experiences. I kept my eyes closed for most of that ride.

Prima will have two escape rooms ($15 per person) on board. Due to supply issues, that option was not available on my sailing, but is coming soon. 

With all the arcade activities that come with fees, keep track of your kids’ (or your) spending. Be sure to limit – or not – which fee-based activities your child participates in.

I know of people shocked by their final bill. The two or three games parents allowed grew astronomically along with the bill. 

Insider Tip – If you want to enjoy the entertainment multiple times, consider purchasing a package.

Prima Speedway has a cruise-long pass for $199. Galaxy Pavilion has several starting with an hour pass for $29. A day pass there is $49 and a full cruise pass is $199.

If you want to combine activities, there is a combo pass that combines Prima Speedway, Bull’s Eye and Galaxy Pavilion for $399. All prices are subject to change

Outdoors Decks and Pools

One of my favorite activities on Prima is to grab a chair and enjoy the scenery from Ocean Boulevard. This outdoor deck includes Infinity Beach. With two small infinity pools on both sides of the ship, there are also plenty of chairs.

There is just one small main pool up on deck 17. For kids, their dedicated pool has plenty of seating for them and the adults supervising them. 

The Mandara Spa

Don’t expect the spa area to look like any of the spas on other ships. NCL has spared no expense in the design of Prima’s spa area. There are multiple treatment rooms for those with a spa pass.

The thermal suite area is much larger than on other ships. The expansive views of the outdoors is a real bonus. 

Here’s the absolutely gorgeous thermal pool. 

Spa passes are available for one day or the entire cruise. A day pass costs $99 just for the use of the spa area. Treatments are not included in this pass.

With the pass, you have unlimited access to all of the Thermal Suite features, including this amazing Salt Room. Breathe deep!

Insider Tip:  Consider buying a spa pass for your entire cruise for $399.

Pulse Fitness Center is accessed via the spa. This seemed odd as it required passing through the spa itself. 

Norwegian Prima Disembarkation 

With an early morning flight, I chose the self-assist option. It went quite smoothly. I used NCL’s transfer to the airport.

Final Thoughts – Norwegian Prima Review

When I first boarded, I found the décor of the ship taken to a much higher level. Not a big surprise as this was the vision for this class of ship. 

My favorite part of this ship, Ocean Boulevard, really connected me to the sea. Finding a seat was never a problem.

It’s refreshing to know that NCL maintains its Freestyle concept. I like dining when I wish and with whom I wish.

Besides the new features, NCL maintains its great kids’ club. 

The bright and comfortable buffet, now known as Seaside Café, is not as large as the Garden Café. Like other venues on Prima , it has a very modern vibe.

What I found most impressive about Prima was the high level of service. The crew served with a smile and anticipated my needs. 

It says much when a server who moves between restaurants recognizes you and greets you by name.

Prima will be based in Port Canaveral and Galveston. She will also sail Europe with transatlantic sailing before and after the Caribbean season.

The changes on Norwegian Prima were thoughtfully planned and well executed. Regular NCL cruisers will have fun comparing this new class of ships with others in the fleet.

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Norwegian Prima: First Impressions & What to Know

Norwegian Prima in Reykjavik. Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line

After years of anticipation, Norwegian Prima, the first in an all-new class of ship for Norwegian Cruise Line is finally sailing. But does it live up to all the hype?

Travel Market Report is onboard the first-ever sailing of Norwegian Prima, exploring every inch of the ship and trying out as much as we can. Here are our first impressions and what travel advisors should know about the ship.

Evolution Not Revolution Though Prima is an all-new class of ship for NCL and different in many ways, it’s not so different from the line’s newer ships that a past cruiser wouldn’t recognize anything. Particularly among the restaurants, there are a number of returning favorites: Le Bistro, Cagney’s, Food Republic, Hasuki (on other ships Teppanyaki), Los Lobos, The Local and Surfside Café (on other ships the Garden Café).

There’s also a Waterfront, which on Prima is the Ocean Boulevard. Compared to other ships, it’s significantly larger with lots more outdoor relaxation areas, a funky sculpture garden, and an infinity pool. You’ll still find outdoor seating for some of the restaurants, but it’s more an area for relaxation than dining.

And, of course, you can’t have a NCL newbuild without a The Haven, which on Prima is one of the largest in the NCL fleet and features a private sundeck, restaurant and more.

The vibe onboard Norwegian Prima is very much NCL with the casual, country club feel the line’s been aiming for over the past several years. Shops are upscale and bars are akin to those you’d find in a high-end city hotel. Onboard fun is aimed at kid-at-heart adults, though actual kids will enjoy it too. A three-level Go-Kart track, high-end mini-golf, and VR arcade (all of which appear in some form or another on some of the line’s other recent ships) are all perfect for adults looking to have fun – and post a brag-worthy picture to Instagram. (As with any NCL ship, many of these activities cost extra, something advisors should always prepare their clients for.)

Urban Hotel at Sea That’s generally where the similarities end. NCL has gone all-in on the not-a-ship trend tearing through the premium cruise industry right now. Prima feels much more like a high-end city hotel than a cruise ship. Which is exactly what the line was going for when they began first designing the entire class of ship said president and CEO Harry Sommer during a press briefing onboard.

It’s a trend that’s become firmly entrenched with Celebrity’s Edge-class ships and Virgin Voyages’ ships also more hotel-like than cruise ship.

The three-level atrium on Prima wouldn’t feel out of place in a Manhattan hotel. Neither would the Metropolitan Bar, or the Belvedere Bar at a South Beach hotel.

Altogether, it lends the ship a sophisticated feel. Prima is a city unto itself, but not a cruise city. It’s all uptown urban with a touch of the Hamptons thrown in. There’s a cozy comedy club for late night laughs, an exclusive poolside retreat for anyone who doesn’t want to rub elbows with the masses, and a Studio 54 nightclub (the ship’s main theater during the day) for late-night dancing.

There’s also Indulge Food Hall, which feels like it would fit right in at an upscale shopping mall and there are two Starbucks onboard. How urban is that!

Aesthetics Over Functionality In some cases, the drive toward a more hotel-like atmosphere means some functionality gets left behind. Aside from the main theater there are no large gathering spaces onboard. Everything is smaller, from the Observation Deck, which is dramatically smaller, to The Local Bar, which is located along a hallway. (Try having trivia in a hallway with limited seating. It doesn’t work.)

In fact, all of Prima has a minimalist feel. Art is thoughtfully placed, not filling every empty wall or hallway on the ship. Each venue is its own boutique location, with seating spread out so nothing ever feels cramped. (NCL claims Prima has the highest space-to-guest ratio in the contemporary cruise segment, and we believe it.)

Unfortunately, the minimalist feel of the ship carries into the staterooms, where storage is at, well, a minimum. Some of the prettiest cabins we’ve ever seen at sea, they’re not particularly functional. A standard balcony cabin has two small drawers. The closets have three shelves (one of which is a pull-down, meaning you can no longer hang long dresses there) and four metal baskets that are perfect for socks and shoes, but not much else.

And as one travel agency director pointed out to me, the oversized sinks in the bathroom (which we loved – less splashing), does mean there’s less counter space than some cruisers might be used to.

Outdoor Space Aplenty Where Norwegian Prima’s spaciousness really shines is in its outdoor spaces. The Ocean Boulevard is a wonderful area to sit and watch the world sail by. We love the pool beds inset in tiny wading pools! It’s also a great spot for an evening stroll, wrapping entirely around Deck 8. (On other ships, the Waterfront lines the port and starboard sides but doesn’t wrap around.)

And, of course, there’s the line’s signature extra-fee Vibe Beach Club, the spacious pool deck, and a slew of outdoor activities from heart-stopping plunge slides to the three-level Go-Kart track and high-tech mini-golf and darts to a funky play space with cylindrical ping pong and seated soccer, not to mention beer pong (beer not included), foosball and regular ping pong.

The only downside to so much outdoor space? When it’s cold or raining, all that space goes to waste.

Spoiled for Dining Choices Having plenty of options to choose from is baked into NCL’s DNA. It’s what “Freestyle” cruising is all about, and when it comes to specialty dining, the line still does it best. With Prima, it’s even better with eight specialty restaurants to choose from.

And that’s not including the Indulge Food Hall, with its seven distinct venues to choose from for lunch and dinner – all complimentary!

And, of course, there’s two main dining rooms, The Local restaurant, and the Surfside Café buffet.

Anyone for whom food is an essential part of a vacation experience will love the variety on Norwegian Prima.

With that said, NCL’s biggest misstep with Prima – and soon to be the entire fleet – is in the main dining room where the line has opted to switch to one menu that never changes, which, by the way, is exactly like a land-based hotel.

The line says the extensive offerings at Indulge Food Hall, the Local and the buffet make up for the smaller variety in the main dining room. (Plus, the vast majority of cruisers get “Free At Sea,” which includes two specialty restaurant dinners.)

Having dined at the two main dining rooms several times already (the specialty restaurants are not available to the press on this sailing), there is some truth to the line’s claim. The main dining room menu is large and, as mentioned above, Indulge has seven distinct venues to try out (each with four to seven or more menu items).

It really only becomes a problem if you have a client with any type of dietary restriction. Meals at Indulge Food Hall are not customizable. You can’t ask for Pad Thai without shrimp or a gluten-free version of tagliatelle, for example.

With that said, one travel advisor we spoke with was reassured by the complimentary nature of Indulge, which she said she believes will make her clients less upset by the one-menu system in the dining rooms. But she also added, past cruisers need to have their expectations set before they get onboard.

Donna Summer Shines We can’t talk about things to know about Norwegian Prima without mentioning “Donna Summer: the Musical.” As with many of NCL’s entertainment, the line partnered with Broadway producers to bring the show to sea.

On Prima, the cast is led by American Idol alumna Kimberley Locke. Her voice is perfect for the role, as is the actress who plays 20-something Donna Summer. While the biopic pieces of the show drag at times, the music is fantastic and everyone is up and dancing during the last act (“Last Dance,” of course.) It’s worth seeing at least once, if not twice!

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Leadership Team

Harry sommer.

• David Herrera

Chad Berkshire

Adam malone, john chernesky, michael tomoleoni, daniela jolodosky, jason krimmel, neil brodie, norwegian leadership team bios.

Harry Sommer is President and Chief Executive Officer of S&P 500 company Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Sommer, an over 30-year cruise industry veteran, assumed this role on July 1, 2023 after previously serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company's largest brand, Norwegian Cruise Line. In this role, Sommer led sales, marketing, revenue management, passenger services, itinerary development and international business development and operations for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Under his leadership, Sommer navigated the cruise through the industry's toughest period in its history and successfully relaunched its fleet of ships following a more than 500-day paise; delivered the first-in-class Norwegian prima, the first ship of six ships in the Brand's first new class in nearly a decade; and led the team to achieve a record-breaking booking year in 2022. In addition to his role at Norwegian Cruise Line, Sommer also assumed oversight responsibilities in January 2023 for all of the Company's other revenue generating functional areas which included Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and the tri-branded Onboard Revenue department.

Previously, Sommer served as President, International for the Company's portfolio of award-winning brands including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. In this role, he was responsible for sales, marketing, public relations, business development, and office operations for all markets outside of the United States and Canada. Sommer led efforts to expand the Company's global footprint with the opening of several offices around the world and significantly strengthened its international presence..

During his tenure in the industry, Sommer held a variety of executive roles at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Prestige Cruise Holdings, Renaissance Cruises and Viking River Cruises including Executive Vice President, International Business Development; Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer; Senior Vice President Finance; Chief Information Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. He also co-founded Luxury Cruise Centre, a high-end travel agency specialising in premium and luxury cruise experiences.

Sommer holds an MBA from Pace University and a BBA from Baruch College, both in New York City.

David J. Herrera

David Herrera is the President of Norwegian Cruise Line responsible for the overall strategic vision and business plan execution for the Brand, as well as oversee revenue management, guest services, brand finance, international sales, and the recently formed Experiences at Sea division which provides one of a kind, immersive events at sea for a range of passionate affinity communities.

Most recently he served as the Brand's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Norwegian Cruise Line, responsible for driving demand and global market share across the Company's key global source markets. In this role, he oversaw the organisation's consumer advertising and promotional strategy as well as direct outbound and online sales channels.

In 2022, he led the sales and marketing teams to record results with November being the best booked month ever in NCL history, ending the year at record booking levels for 2023, therefore starting this year in a better booked position than ever before, and setting another new record in January. As a U.S. veteran himself, he is also proud to have co-sponsored the development of the Brand's first-ever Military Appreciation Programme in November 2022, the landmark initiative that honours U.S. military members with an exclusive offer and onboard experiences.

Since joining the Company in 2012 he has held various leadership positions including NCL Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Consumer Research; Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH); President of NCLH China, during which he established local operations ahead of the launch of Norwegian Joy; Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for NCLH; and senior advisor to the chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

Prior to joining the Organisation, Herrera was founder of Eastside Financial Group, a private investment firm. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President at Sanford C. Bernstein, where he advised high net worth families and endowments on financial matters, and was an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Financial Institutions Group.

Herrera proudly served in the U.S. Army Reserves in Florida, Texas, and New York, and he now resides in Davie, Florida with his wife and their three young sons.

He received a B.B.A. from Stetson University and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

In November 2014, Chad Berkshire assumed the role of senior vice president of revenue management, leading Norwegian Cruise Line's global cruise revenue, product pricing and yield management. During this time, he was instrumental in leading the Company's strategy of focusing on value over price with the introduction and growth of Norwegian's highly successful Free at Sea promotion.

He joined the Company in March 2008 as director of Operations Finance.

Previously, Berkshire oversaw strategic planning and analysis for Onboard Media, a subsidiary of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), which provides customised integrated media to the cruise and hotel industry.

He lives in Coral Gables, Florida. with his wife and two children. Berkshire holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Miami.

Katty Byrd is senior vice president of Guest Services for Norwegian Cruise Line, overseeing various service departments, including Global Trade FIT and Group Sales/Service, Resolution Desk, Guest Relations, Support Operations, Training and Development, Inbound Direct Sales, Shore Excursions and the brand's onboard incentive CruiseNext team. Byrd also played a key leadership role in the global implementation of the Company's "Follow the Sun" initiative to provide Norwegian Cruise Line guests consistent superior customer service worldwide 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Prior to her current role, she held various positions within the organisation including senior director of Onboard Sales where she oversaw the successful development of Norwegian's CruiseNext programme, increasing sales by 291 percent in only three years. Byrd also led the expansion of her Outbound Sales team, growing the departments from 12 to 300 NCL team members. Previously, she was director of Consumer Sales, managing Inbound and Outbound Remote Consumer Sales as well as Sales Training and Development. She began her time with the organisation in 2008 as a sales manager for the Outbound Sales team.

Before joining NCL, Byrd served as a Sales Coach and Team Leader at Carnival Cruise Lines where she oversaw Outbound Consumer Sales. Prior to that role, Byrd was director of sales and marketing with Global Rent-A-Car where she was responsible for Latin America sales and marketing.

Byrd obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Florida International University in 2019. Currently, she is a member of All SoFla NCLH Female Executives, NCL Women In Sales Empowerment (WISE), and a mentor within the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) mentoring programme. Originally from Cuba, Byrd now resides in Davie, Fla with her husband of 15 years, Richard.

Adam Malone is the Chief Marketing Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, responsible for leading the organisation's multi-channel marketing and advertising strategy. Malone oversees all digital marketing, e-commerce, consumer insights, promotional efforts plus partnerships and brand initiatives.

Before joining Norwegian Cruise Line in 2017, Malone held positions at JPMorgan Chase and Capital One, including managing a number of co-branded credit card and private label programmes for a variety of name-brand accounts. At NCL, Malone has held a variety of leadership positions including Senior Director of Customer Engagement and Senior Director of National Accounts, before his most recent role as Vice President of Consumer Marketing. During his tenure at NCL, he has played a pivotal role in the success of the Company's record-breaking best booked months in November 2022 and January 2023, contributed to the rapid growth of onboard revenue through marketing efforts, and the successful relaunch of NCL's Latitudes programme with new and enhanced benefits.

A graduate of Penn State University, Malone holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Marketing with a minor in Accounting. Born in Syracuse, N.Y. and raised in Roanoke, Va., Malone now resides in Aventura, Fla. with his wife and daughter.

John Chernesky serves as the Senior Vice President of North America Sales of Norwegian Cruise Line. Reporting to NCL President, David Herrera, he oversees the North America Sales and Trade Management teams for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Chernesky joins the Company after a thirty-year tenure in the cruise industry. He began his career with Princess Cruises, where he developed a diverse skillset through a vast range of positions across sales, hotel operations, trade marketing, onboard revenue, newbuild design, and passenger programmes.

Chernesky’s multifaceted experience in the industry and passion for the trade community is instrumental in his role as he is dedicated to prioritizing Norwegian’s Partner’s First philosophy, which is the Company’s long-standing commitment to travel advisors.

A graduate from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Chernesky now resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife and their twin sons. In his free time, he plays golf to unwind.

Michael Tomoleoni is the Chief Consumer Sales Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. Reporting to NCL President, David Herrera, he is responsible for leading the direct outbound sales organisation and the web chat sales channel.

Tomoleoni recently served as the Brand's Vice President of Consumer Sales, where his sales strategy and direct sales operation were pivotal in helping break company booking records. Under his leadership, the consumer sales division has expanded and now plays a significant part of the business.

In 2008, he started his career with NCL as a personal cruise consultant, but quickly stepped into leadership roles within the sales organisation, including Sales Team Leader, Sales Manager, and Sales Director, where he was responsible for leading 150 team members in Sawgrass, Fla.

Tomoleoni attended Barry University on an athletic scholarship and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox. He then went on to receive his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Originally from the Chicago area, he now resides in sunny Fort Lauderdale with his wife and their young son.

Daniela Jolodosky serves as Vice President, Brand Finance and Strategy for Norwegian Cruise Line. In this role, she is responsible for collective budgeting, forecasting and insights associated with the brand, as well as focuses on brand specific financial goals and initiatives.

Previously, Jolodosky held the role of Senior Director, Brand Finance and Strategy for NCL's sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises and worked in various roles and capacities in Accounting, including Revenue Accounting, Internal Reporting, Onboard and General Accounting. Prior to her time in the cruise industry, Jolodosky worked as an external auditor for Ernst & Young.

She holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Accounting and Finance from Florida International University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jason Krimmel is the Chief International Sales and Marketing Officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. He assumes responsibility for the Brand's business outside of North America, overseeing the company's 11 international offices in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin-America, and Brazil. With a special focus on expanding the Brand's international footprint by optimising collaboration between regions, surfacing new sales opportunities, and driving impactful through-the-line campaigns.

Krimmel joined Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 2003. With a tenure spanning a couple of decades, he has held various Sales and Marketing roles, including Business Development Manager for North Texas and, subsequently, Director of Field Sales and Business Development spearheading NCL's U.S.-based Business Development Managers as well as Vice President of Trade Marketing and Engagement.

In one of his most recent roles prior to the current appointment, he served as Vice President of International Marketing and Global Creative Strategy, where he amongst others successfully led NCL’s Break Free campaign – the Brand’s most extensive international marketing campaign to date, with TV integrations worldwide.

Originally from Philadelphia, Krimmel attended Temple University and graduated with a BBA with a Marketing Concentration.

Neil Brodie is the Vice President of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) Experiences at Sea, Charters, Meetings and Incentives (CM&I), and Events. In this role, he is responsible for the overall leadership of events, groups, and charter sales and operations for the 32-ship portfolio of NCLH vessels, which includes those of Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises, as well as Sixthman, a wholly owned subsidiary of NCL.

Prior to joining NCLH, Brodie worked in a variety of roles where he was responsible for the sales and operations for both land-based and cruise companies. In 2019, he joined NCLH as a Sales Manager before being promoted to Director and Senior Director, and now Vice President, in less than five years within the CM&I division. Under his leadership at NCLH, the Company expanded the variety of events hosted on board including for the first time partnering with the Rugby World Cup and NurseCon.

Brodie received his B.A. in Management and Marketing from the University of Miami and his M.B.A. in Management from Nova Southeastern University. Brodie resides in Miami, Fla. with his wife and child.

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Prime Time on Norwegian Prima: The Cruise Web’s Review

by The Cruise Web Team October 18, 2022, 3:04 pm

In early October, many of The Cruise Web’s finest packed their bags and embarked on an exclusive first-look event on the all-new Norwegian Prima, the first ship in Norwegian Cruise Line ’s best class of ship EVER! From the second the ship came into view at the pier in New York City, everyone knew Norwegian had stepped their game up and once onboard, well, we’ll let you keep reading and find out just how special of a ship Norwegian Prima is, from cruising experts in their own words! Below, you’ll find the highlights of 4 days onboard Norwegian Prima!

Norwegian Prima Highlights

NCL’s Haven gives you the freedom to enjoy all the action, choices, and excitement aboard, but then escape to the quiet elegance of your Haven pool, lounge, restaurant, bar, suite or private balcony, for a vacation that’s the best of both worlds! – Frans H., President

My favorite part of the Prima was the Vibe Beach Club, very relaxing, stylish, beautifully presented cocktails and lovely, comfy furniture. The views from that area, especially while docked in Manhattan were spectacular. I also enjoyed the many different evening entertainment venues, it was action packed full of different types from karaoke, game shows, rock shows, comedians at Improv at Sea, and of course a fantastic Nightclub. – Julie A., Senior Manager

My most memorable experience was ‘Indulge’. The Indulge Food Hall offers a vast variety of made to order dishes from a variety of menus. The way it works is you find a table where there is an iPad and sit. It does not matter which venue you are seated, ALL of the establishments  are listed on the iPad (unless you are seated at a counter, then you will only find what is listed for that particular restaurant). You just go down the list , pick what you want, hit order and they will bring your custom made lunch or dinner to you. We had the Crab Tostada (from the Tapas Bar) and it was FABULOUS! So, when onboard the Prima , try Indulge Food Hall. You will not be disappointed! – Gloria H., Cruise Consultant

The Galaxy Pavilion is a once in a lifetime source of entertainment all in one. There’s something for every family member to enjoy. On Deck 18, you have the dry slides on the side of the ship where you can see yourself hover over the ocean. The go karts felt like real life Mario Karts. I spun around in circles as if I was in a video game. The live music and shows were one of a kind. So good! Prima has a wide variety of venues, family friendly activities and modern design elements throughout. Regardless of age or style of cruisers, everyone will believe they are getting their money’s worth for experiencing this luxurious tech savvy ship. All in all; it was a 10/10 cruise ship and experience. I will be bringing my family on this ship in the future. Everyone who is a someone needs to experience this ship for themselves! – Kimberly M., Cruise Consultant

After cruising on the Norwegian PR1MA inaugural from NYC to Halifax, NS, all I can say is WOW! The ship was beautiful and well thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and entertainment options onboard the ship, especially the Indulge Food Hall. On the top decks of the ship, there is fun for all ages. The Go-Kart track is a highlight (make a reservation early), and the mini-golf and parlor game options are great! The VR game room, Galaxy Pavilion, is a great way to spend a few hours while onboard. In the living quarters, the standout feature is the improved bathrooms. The shower and sink are larger, and the width provided me an extremely comfortable grooming area. – Max P., Team Leader, Cruise Consultant

Prima in one word is – options.  Prima offers a surplus of dining, activity, entertainment, and accommodation options.  Personally, the French restaurant Le Bistro for dining, the Stadium area for fun and competitive activities, The Price is Right game show for entertainment, and the Haven Suites for accommodations! –   Michael H., Director of Sales

Wow! Norwegian’s Prima is just incredible. Personally, the highlight for me was the level of service onboard. It was like a luxury cruise! One of the staff members let me in on a little secret – Norwegian hand-picked the best of the best crew members in their fleet and brought them together on Prima and it shows. If you’re looking for a luxury cruise without the luxury price tag, Prima is the way to go! As for onboard experience, I loved the spacious, beautiful stateroom and look at this view of Halifax, Nova Scotia from the balcony!   – Michael J., Assistant Manager

During our recent voyage on the NCL Prima, my family had an amazing time in the Galaxy Pavilion.  I’ve never experienced something like this on a ship before!  The Prima has a large section dedicated entirely to virtual reality experiences, ranging from a dance competition, to driving Formula 1 cars, to fighting Zombies in 3D!  My husband’s favorites were the life-sized rally truck simulator and the spaceship.  My daughter loved the sports simulator and I was a big fan of the escape room.  You could easily spend an entire day in there and still not experience it all.  It’s so much fun! – Karolina S., Vice President

There you have it – from the experts themselves! Above, there is over 100 years of combined experience in the cruise industry, so we know a thing or two! And there’s one thing we know for sure – you must experience Norwegian Prima for yourself! If you’re a seasoned Norwegian guest – get ready for an incredibly elevated experience. New to Norwegian or cruising in general? Whew – you are in for a treat.

Take a look at all of the available sailings onboard Norwegian Prima in the coming years!

Once word gets out about how truly exciting this ship is, it’ll sell out fast so call us at   1-800-377-9383 to start planning! Who better to plan your vacation than someone with first-hand experience onboard the same ship on which you are sailing? Don’t wait – call now and experience all there is onboard Norwegian Prima!

-The Cruise Web Team

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Prima Cruise Director is:

By YVRteacher , August 3, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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He comes from Celebrity and did his first NCL contract on the Getaway.  He is on board the Prima now and is showing lots of “sneak peak” videos on IG.

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Cruiserconnoisseur25

Do you know what his last is? I can’t find him on IG.

1 hour ago, Cruiserconnoisseur25 said: Do you know what his last is? I can’t find him on IG.

I believe they are referring to Simon Akinwolere

aubreyc1988

He is a great CD 😄  

Any word on Haven concierge?

or the housekeeper on deck 7, inside cabin?

9 minutes ago, dcs1989 said: Any word on Haven concierge?

Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.

6 minutes ago, LGW59 said: or the housekeeper on deck 7, inside cabin?

Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

4 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.     Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

It is "needed" to maximize all the perks the haven has to offer and having that level of knowledge of the ship / ports to help with your bookings is invaluable.  Is it necessary to enjoy your cruise? Obviously not.  But it is a service provided to Haven bookings and you can definitely notice the difference between a good concierge and a bad concierge when you utilize one so it can make your cruise that much over the top if you have one of the best (which they usually put on the newer ships).  

2 minutes ago, dcs1989 said:   It is "needed" to maximize all the perks the haven has to offer and having that level of knowledge of the ship / ports to help with your bookings is invaluable.  Is it necessary to enjoy your cruise? Obviously not.  But it is a service provided to Haven bookings and you can definitely notice the difference between a good concierge and a bad concierge when you utilize one so it can make your cruise that much over the top if you have one of the best (which they usually put on the newer ships).  

You misunderstand...

Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)

Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"

It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

8 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   You misunderstand...   Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)   Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"   It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

Lol - your reaching.  It's not like its a tautology.  I personally like to be as clear as possible in an online setting.  

The better question would be was your response necessary?  You have a good day :).  Don't be so bitter :)!

36 minutes ago, SeaShark said:   Is "Haven" needed? It isn't like there is a non-Haven concierge onboard.     Might be funnier if there were inside cabins on deck 7. Or any cabins on deck 7.

Unsurprisingly you miss the point. 🥳

14 minutes ago, dcs1989 said:   Lol - your reaching.  It's not like its a tautology.  I personally like to be as clear as possible in an online setting.     The better question would be was your response necessary?  You have a good day :).  Don't be so bitter :)!

Sure the response was necessary, but only to correct your obvious misunderstanding. 

Question, does everyone know what a butler is, or do I have to refer to them as "Haven butlers"?

And don't be so judgmental...people aren't as bitter as you assume.

10 minutes ago, LGW59 said: Unsurprisingly you miss the point. 🥳

Or the point was poorly made... 🙄

The concierge is David Contreras.  

4 hours ago, SeaShark said:   Sure the response was necessary, but only to correct your obvious misunderstanding.    Question, does everyone know what a butler is, or do I have to refer to them as "Haven butlers"?   And don't be so judgmental...people aren't as bitter as you assume.

The butler is the one who"always did it". Haven't you watched any murder mysteries?

luvsboozecruises

6 hours ago, SeaShark said:   You misunderstand...   Is is necessary to use the word "Haven" to describe the concierge? Not a question of whether or not the concierge is necessary. (Notice that I didn't have to say "Haven concierge" in that last sentence)   Instead of saying "Any word on the Haven concierge?", could someone just say "Any word on the concierge?"   It isn't like someone would ask the latter and the response would be "Which concierge?"

OMG,, 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

Coastalbreezes

17 hours ago, jemz1949 said: The concierge is David Contreras.    

Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

1 hour ago, Coastalbreezes said: Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.

Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

4 hours ago, Coastalbreezes said: Alongside David will be Virginia Brotherton sharing concierge duties for a few months.

Virginia is quite good, too!

Nice line up of Concierges on the ship, it seems….particularly given Adrian has left NCL.

Cruising Lynne

I am excited to see Simon again in October. He was the cruise director on our March cruise on Getaway. I love to see what Simon is going to wear each day. He is definitely one of the more interesting and fun cruise directors. Woo Hoo! {Don't care who is concierge).

4 hours ago, dexddd said: Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.   Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

I don't think we've ever had Virginia, but we have not had good experiences with David. We had one were he was "meh" and another where we looked at each other at the end of the cruise and asked what we did to him in order to make him so mean/unpleasant to us.

And as an FYI, we generally ask very little of the concierge. I take care of our reservations before we get on the ship and we only ask for some friendliness or maybe to change a reservation if it is needed. We got neither from him and our tip reflected that.

12 hours ago, dexddd said: Others will disagree, but for us, the two worst we've ever encountered on NCL.  Well, maybe except Ruth but she left.   Where is Patrick when you need him?  Again, others will disagree.  At the end of the day, just shows inconsistency in the Haven and suites.

Meanwhile Patrick was always one of the most divisive concierges in terms of opinions here.  We didn’t like him at all!   😁

Some people are friendly with the Concierges, some are not.  Personally, I make it a point to engage in small talk and banter when I first board and meet the concierges.  Small thing, but I think they understand I'm not going to be a PITA to them. And, that I'm pretty genial.

It helps to say "please" and "thank you", too.  Just generally be polite.

All that has gone a long way in how I'm treated by the Concierges (and the Butlers, too).

On 8/11/2022 at 10:54 AM, brookie848 said:   I don't think we've ever had Virginia, but we have not had good experiences with David. We had one were he was "meh" and another where we looked at each other at the end of the cruise and asked what we did to him in order to make him so mean/unpleasant to us.   And as an FYI, we generally ask very little of the concierge. I take care of our reservations before we get on the ship and we only ask for some friendliness or maybe to change a reservation if it is needed. We got neither from him and our tip reflected that.

That's exactly our experience.  We don't normally ask anything of the concierge as we book online.  We first saw David in holding area in terminal where a lady and son were hugging him and you'd think it was his mother.

Once on ship, very few encounters from him but when we did it was a frown.

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