When it comes to affordable family cruises with premium experiences, the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is one of the most popular choices. With a fleet that includes 9 classes of ships, there’s something for everyone. One of their most recent additions is the Prima Class ships. These ships are smaller than the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus Class ships yet are packed with an equally exciting range of features. The first 2 ships in this class, the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva debuted in 2022 and 2023 respectively. If you’re thinking of a cruise on these ships, here are a few things you should know.

Choosing Between The Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva – It’s All About Destinations

As sister ships, the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva offer comparable experiences. Choosing between them comes down largely to where you want to go. The Norwegian Prima sails to the Caribbean, Northern Europe, and the Bahamas while the Norwegian Viva takes you on Caribbean, Transatlantic, and Mediterranean cruises and holidays around the Greek Isles.

The Norwegian Prima offers weekend cruises as well as longer cruises. Their 10-night Northern Europe cruise around Iceland, Norway & Belgium and the 11-night Baltic cruise around Germany, Belgium, and Sweden are amongst the most popular.

On the other hand, the Norwegian Viva focuses on longer cruises. Their shortest itinerary is spread over 7-nights. Their 9-night Greek Isle cruise and 10-night Mediterranean cruise are popular choices. If you’re looking for a longer, more relaxing holiday, you could consider the 13-night Transatlantic cruise.

Entertainment & Activities - What to Do on Your Cruise

The Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva spoil you with unending choices for onboard entertainment.

Both ships feature several pools and hot tubs including the Ocean Boulevard's Infinity Beach. There’s also a serene sun deck and the insta-worthy Oceanwalk – the Norwegian Cruise Line’s first glass bridge. The kid’s Aqua Park is sure to be your little one’s favourite spot. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, take a ride on the Drop and the Rush. These high-speed, dry slides are amongst the fastest slides at sea. The Prima/ Viva Speedway is another highlight. This 3-level go-karting track offers a truly unique experience. And as the sun sets, walk into the 3-storey Theater for live entertainment or shake a leg at the ship’s nightclub.

The Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva - An Epicurean’s Delight

If you enjoy food, the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva give you a choice of 5 indoor and outdoor venues for complimentary meals. The menus have everything from fish n’ chips to hotdogs, milkshakes, and cheesecakes. Both ships also have a variety of specialty restaurants. You can walk into a steakhouse or enjoy a meal at their Pan-Asian, Japanese, French, Mexican, Italian, or Mediterranean restaurants. That’s not all, there are multiple bars and lounges spread across the decks so you’re never too far from a good cocktail.

Looking for Exclusivity – Check Out The Haven

The Haven is an exclusive, keycard-accessed suite enclave for guests seeking a more exclusive experience. Spread across multiple decks, The Haven includes 8 suite categories, a private sundeck, a pool, and specialty dining and lounge venues. All Haven cruise deals include priority embarkation and debarkation as well as butler and concierge service. Guests can also enjoy Wi-Fi, a premium drink package, and special seats at the theater.

Accommodation – There’s Something for Every Cruiser

Guests can choose from many different types of staterooms on the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva. The ships cater to accommodation arrangements for solo voyagers as well as a group of friends or families travelling together. Based on their location, the staterooms can be broadly classified as inside, ocean-view, and balcony staterooms.

Solo voyagers on the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva do not have to be concerned with paying single supplement fees. Instead, they can book a studio or a solo stateroom. The studios have a full-sized bed while the solo staterooms have a queen-sized bed.

A stateroom for 2 is ideal if you’re traveling with a partner. These staterooms are designed with two lower beds that convert to a queen-sized bed. The ocean view and balcony options also have a sitting area. If you’re looking for more space, the family-sized staterooms have beds in varied configurations to accommodate up to 4 guests. Some balcony and ocean-view staterooms can also be inter-connected.

The Club Balcony Suites take the overall experience up a notch with more private space for guests. These spacious staterooms can accommodate 2-4 guests and multiple suites may be interconnected. If you’re looking for separate sleeping and sitting rooms, the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva suites are the perfect fit.

Then there’s the Haven. Situated at the top of the ship, the suites can accommodate 2-8 guests. Some are designed as studio suites, some have a separate bedroom and sitting room while the larger Haven suites have 2 or even 3 bedrooms. Some suites even have a hot tub on the private balcony. It’s the most luxurious way to cruise.

Getting the Best Cruise Deals for the Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva

The Norwegian Prima & Norwegian Viva sail on exciting voyages throughout the year. Whether you’re looking at weekend cruises or Mediterranean cruises, the CruiseBay team can help you plan the ideal holiday. We’ll help you sift through the accommodation options to choose the best one, pick shore excursions, navigate the visa & insurance paperwork, and more. We’ll even help plan flights to and from the end ports – it’s the smoothest way to plan a cruise! Connect with us today.