Spa, Thermal Suite
Each generation of NCL ships evolves the spa part. The Prima is not to be outdone, with an even larger space, and whose design has been completely revised. The entrance by a spiral staircase with a bird’s eye view of 2 salt water baths is of the most beautiful effect. A maze of corridors leads to the different parts of this Thermal Suite. Immediately impressed, we unfortunately quickly find what seems to be a general defect of this ship: although numerous, all these places are often too small. Again, finding a place to settle was far from guaranteed.
Permanent access to the Thermal Suite, for the 12 days of the cruise, was billed at over $400 per person. One of the highest prices ever charged by the company, although the promised installations have not been completed… for example, the first bath, supposed to be equipped with massage jets, did not yet have the necessary motors to operate them . This bath has also found itself closed several times during the cruise, without the slightest commercial gesture on the part of the company. It’s getting cold!
Speedway and Galaxy Pavillon
True to its reputation as a leisure park of the seas, even if NCL remains, for example, behind what Royal Caribbean can offer, this new edition further extends the main attractions. The Galaxy Pavilion, kingdom of video games and virtual reality has grown a little. $8 per game, $25 for an hour, $49 for the full day. What come out with a good headache.
But it is above all the Speedway, this karting track that appeared on the previous generation of NCL ships, which holds the attention: it now extends over 3 decks, and offers the longest track ever designed on a ship. It has nothing to envy to its terrestrial equivalents. $15 per race, which allows you to do 6 to 8 laps of the track, depending on your performance. A success, again.
The Theatre, the Shows
The theatre is also quite different from previous versions, in particular thanks to its rows of retractable seats. In a few minutes, the theater turns into a disco! A configuration already seen on the brand new Virgin Voyages ships. We can witness the metamorphosis of the room, when, after a show, it becomes a dancefloor.
The shows are once again of a very good standard. The most anticipated show is a musical about the life of Donna Summer. The reception was however mixed, the share of the songs in the show being reduced to make room for the unfolding of the story. But the other shows quickly make you forget this downside (Divas Extravaganza, The Nashville Tenors, The Noiseboys…).
The Social Comedy Club, another brand classic, has been replaced by The Improv at sea, with a roughly equivalent concept around improvisation and comedy.
To be continued, following page, the ports of call and the price.
