Norwegian Prima sets sail

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The Norwegian Prima adds luxury touches to a “Big Ship” package. A staircase runs like a ribbon down the side of the atrium. The 752-seat theater morphs into a nightclub. The ship boasts a wrap-around deck with a pathway past two infinity-edge pools and a sculpture garden. This ship offers a premium version of itself filled with unique and intimate venues. It’s easy to forget you are sailing on a ship with 3090 guests. It feels expensive without being over the top. It is more elevated than the premium class but less expensive than the luxury class. The Prima also offers fun for families featuring a three-deck go-kart track and a 10-deck slide with a premium vibe and ship design.

The asymmetrical atrium is a central gathering place on the ship. A three-story, glass-walled space in the middle of the ship is open like a resort atrium, leaning on natural light. This area also gives guests a chance to peek up or down at other gathering spots, such as the ocean-hued Penrose Bar on Deck 6, the Starbucks on Deck 7, and the caramel-shaded Whiskey Bar on Deck 8.

The theater stage converts into a Vegas-style nightclub. After an evening performance, the blue velvet seats are collapsed, and the rows are somewhat recessed as high-tech high school bleachers create space for dancing. An automated three-ring, 60- ton chandelier lights up the dance floor with a rainbow of lights.


Another new concept for a cruise ship is the “Indulge Food Hall,” which offers dining options from 11 restaurants from Asian noodles, Indian food, Texas barbeque and more. To eliminate its use of plastics, NCL is not offering lotion in all cabins. Instead, the Haven and Spa suites will have lotion dispensers. Another significant design change is that the Haven was moved to the aft as the ship’s design has midship engines. The space includes private dining and a private, top deck infinity-edge pool facing the sea.
In October, the ship will sail the Caribbean out of New York, Miami, and Galveston, Texas. The Prima will homeport in Port Canaveral, Florida, and Galveston for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Prima is the first in a class of six groundbreaking ships. It was christened in late August by pop star Katy Perry in Reykjavik Iceland. She is a 3,100-passenger ship and weighs 143,535-tons. Five additional Prima Class ships will follow through 2027. The Prima Class builds upon the brand’s legacy of freedom and flexibility found across its fleet and feature a host of cutting-edge designs that will further elevate its already award-winning guest experience.

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Sue Lobo
Sue Lobo is a four-time Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026) and Senior Travel Advisor at Atlas Travel Center, one of the most decorated travel agencies in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue has planned, booked, and personally accompanied trips for thousands of clients — from first-time cruisers to seasoned luxury travelers who have circled the globe multiple times. Sue's areas of deep expertise include ocean and river cruising, European tours, group travel coordination, luxury travel, honeymoon planning, and family vacation design. She is a CLIA-certified cruise specialist and works within an agency that holds IATA and ARC accreditation and maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Over her career, Sue has been involved in more than 30,000 bookings and has personally coordinated over 200 travel groups — from faith-based group cruises and HBCU alumni trips to women's retreats, family reunions, and corporate incentive travel. What sets Sue apart is not just the credentials — it is the firsthand experience behind them. Sue has personally traveled to more than 20 countries across three continents, including Cuba, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout Europe. She has sailed on dozens of cruise ships across nearly every major line, walked the river cruise routes she recommends, and eaten at the restaurants she suggests to clients. Her recommendations come from personal experience, not brochures. In addition to advising clients, Sue writes extensively about travel for The Traveler's Atlas blog — covering everything from cruise line comparisons and overtourism trends to destination guides and practical travel tips. Her writing is grounded in the same expertise she brings to every client conversation: honest, specific, and built on decades of real-world travel experience. Sue is based in the United States and available to help travelers plan cruises, European tours, group trips, river cruises, honeymoons, family vacations, and more. To work with Sue, contact Atlas Travel Center at atlastravelweb.com.