Additional dining and bar concepts revealed for Norwegian Prima and Viva

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced additional dining and bar details for its two new Prima-class cruise ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

The two new ships, the first of a planned six, will debut nine new dining and beverage venues among a total of 35, including the brand’s first sustainably-focused bar.

The main dining menu aboard Norwegian Prima will also be completely revamped, while existing venues, such as the Le Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Food Republic and the Observation Lounge, will all be enhanced.

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Norwegian Prima will also feature the line’s first three-level lobby, the Penrose Atrium.

“We’ve been innovators in the food and beverage space for more than three decades… our latest food and beverage offerings take our Norwegian Prima Food and Beverage experience to another level,” said Harry Sommer, President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line.

The new dining venues onboard Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva will take passengers on “an epicurean adventure featuring tantalizing fare matched with thoughtfully curated design,” Norwegian said in a release.

The new Mediterranean seafood specialty restaurant Palomar features high-end Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxing atmosphere, while Hasuki will be a new hibachi-style venue, offering “an intimate space featuring design elements that invite guests into the artisanship of Japanese influence through minimalist decor, handcrafted pottery and featured Japanese artwork.”

Nama, a contemporary sushi house will feature décor inspired by menu items, including a marble sushi bar reflective of the marbling in the sashimi and subtle orange ambient lighting representing the color of masago (fish roe).

At the stern of the ship, the Hudson’s main dining room will feature 270-degree ocean views, while the nearby Commodore Room will offer an even more elegant dining experience.

Both locations will provide a revamped extensive fixed menu that offers more variety to sample global dishes from Spanish Paella and Italian mussels prepared in a white wine sauce to fully vegetarian options, such as mushroom risotto and cauliflower piccata.

The new menu will also boast a build-your-own-pasta section and a “Specialties” section where passengers can select a dish from one of the ship’s specialty dining eateries.

The revamped menu will debut on Norwegian Prima and will roll out to the rest of NCL’s 17-ship fleet through 2023.

The Surfside Café and Surfside Grill will have a diverse menu, with self-serve casual dining, and items prepared “a la minute”, while the Metropolitan Bar will premiere under the Brand’s Sail and Sustain program featuring responsibly crafted zero-waste cocktails prepared with surplus ingredients.

The Metropolitan Bar’s signature sustainably made cocktail the “Primadonna”, for example, takes a play on an Old Fashion and is crafted using surplus banana peels with Flor De Cana rum that is produced with 100% renewable energy.

The Belvedere Bar is another new bar and lounge concept aboard Norwegian Prima and Viva. The contemporary cocktail lounge features crafted cocktails with a modern, fresh take on classic drinks.

Then there’s the three-story, glass-walled Penrose Atrium, designed by Miami-based Studio Dado withfuturistic architecture including a large-scale chandelier custom built by the renowned Czech lighting design firm Lasvit. The installation features moving light fixtures weighing more than three tons.

Retail spaces and high-end luxury shops will line the Penrose Atrium’s three levels, including the newest Starbucks coffee shop at sea, and the decanter-inspired Whiskey Bar offering guests a curated selection of drinks.

Amidst all the change, Norwegian Cruise Line has also confirmed that several guest favourites will be repised aboard the two ships, including Cagney’s Steakhouse, which will boast a refreshed design featuring new décor celebrating the 20th-century modernist architecture of Chicago.

With a new décor designed to capture the French flair of the Palace of Mirrors in Versailles, the French Specialty venue Le Bistro is also making a comeback, along with Food Republic, the Asian-fusion restaurant with a larger space and better views of the outdoors.

The Observation Lounge, a multi-use refuge with different areas designated for lounging, and socialising, will be back on Norwegian Prima and Viva with a more cozy, homey ambiance featuring different alcoves, separated by screens and partitions.

The Humidor Cigar Lounge will continue to serve as NCL’s cigar shop and cigar lounge.

Previously revealed food and beverage venues on Norwegian Prima and Viva included NCL’s first-ever food hall Indulge Food Hall featuring 11 different eateries, Onda by Scarpetta, Los Lobos, The Local Bar & Grill, Vibe Beach Club, Waves Pool Bar, and the Prima Speedway Bar.