Did I have time for a cruise—even a short one? I did not. My to-do lists for work and home were both long, and even a four-night cruise on Norwegian Prima, NCL’s newest and grandest ship, seemed like an extravagance I couldn’t indulge in.
I went to sea with Norwegian anyway. The company’s NTA representative, Mo Adams, was kind enough to invite Dawn Pettus (NTA Events VP) and me—plus our respective spouses, Bill and Mary Beth—so we boarded Prima on Oct. 6 in New York City, bound for Halifax, with two days at sea.
And you know what I discovered? The best cure for life’s stressors is to simply sail away from them. The laptop I packed never got opened, but the book I brought did. The article for work didn’t get written, but a new poem did. And the diet I targeted for October? It was set aside.
If you want to learn all the details about the new ship, go to the Norwegian webpage that describes it. If you want to learn how to enjoy it, though, stick with me.
Even during our brief promotional cruise, I got a good feel for the sparkling new ship. We dined in five restaurants, enjoyed drinks from six bars, and took in a fantastic Broadway show, “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” Disco on the Atlantic? You betcha.
I know it’s cliché, but I must talk about the food, and I’ll start with Indulge Food Hall. This most-aptly named restaurant is the best of all worlds in onboard dining. It offers the extensive, elaborate choices of a buffet but with a team of servers who quickly deliver each selection to your private table. You use a tablet to order items from seven food stations; your dishes appear within minutes—and then you order a few more. I woke up early the next morning determined to walk off my superlative dinner.
The ship has two “main” dining rooms serving complimentary evening meals. Commodore has an appealing air of a busy, vibrant eatery (although I did not spot Lionel Richie). Hudson’s, too, is humming, with servers going in every direction—but they sure do take care of you. It’s white tablecloth dining with a varied menu. We also dined in Onda, one of several specialty restaurants that carry an upcharge. It was a fantastic, elegant Italian delight.
