NCL Norwegian Prima
Wow, what an upgrade for NCL. That was the first impression one gets when they board this new 142,500 gross ton vessel which has a double occupancy for 3,215 passengers.
The Prima has great flow and many open spaces that was done in an extremely creative way. You can see the upgraded elements and attention to detail in the décor and finishes throughout the vessel.
With great space and service ratios this vessel compares to a competitor at Celebrity Cruises. This vessel was the first to be under the guidance of NCL’s chairman Frank Del Rio and his personal touches onboard are very reminiscent of the quality of the Oceania and Regent brands that the chairman takes great pride in.
Norwegian Bliss
We were recently invited on a 2 night pre-inaugural cruise onboard the new Norwegian Bliss. This 168,028 ton ship carries only 4,004 passengers who will need more than a week to experience everything on this ship. Today’s big 3 contemporary brands are in an all-out battle to one up each another in coming out with new features and the most of everything. The Bliss might be the current hands down winner.
Let’s start with the mundane things like dining and bars. On the dining front there are 5 comp dining options and 10 specialty restaurants. While a common thought is that restaurants that are comp aren’t so good to force you to the ala carte specialty venues. Not True! Frank Del Rio has taken personal charge of the comp dining to bring it up to a higher standard, which he has done.