I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line's new $1.1 billion Prima cruise ship with two Starbucks, a 10-story slide, and a go-kart track see what it was like

Brittany Chang/Insider

• Norwegian Cruise Line's newest $1 billion Norwegian Prima ship is ready for revenue sailings in the US.
• The cruise ship is the first of six "Prima class" vessels that'll be delivered from 2022 to 2027.

Norwegian Cruise Line's newest cruise ship — the Norwegian Prima — is finally ready for revenue sailings in the US five years after it was first announced.

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Source: Insider, Norwegian Cruise Line

And while it's not the biggest new vessel we've seen over the last few years, the 18-deck cruise liner certainly has enough amenities to keep travelers of all ages entertained.

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Source: Insider

In 2017, Norwegian announced its new Prima class, a group of six ships that will be delivered from 2022 to 2027 starting with this eponymous ship that cost more than $1 billion to build.

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Source: Norwegian Cruise Line

And when it first opened for bookings in 2021, the Prima quickly became Norwegian's "most in-demand ship ever" after it saw record number of bookings within the first day and week, the cruise line announced in 2021.

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Source: Norwegian Cruise Line

With all its onboard amenities, it's easy to see why travelers have flocked to this new ship.

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So let's take a look around the 965-foot-long Norwegian Prima that can accommodate 3,100 guests and a little over 1,506 crew.

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In a bid to attract families, the Prima has a long list of activities and amenities for travelers of all ages, whether it be the water park for children …

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… the go-kart track for the whole family …

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… or the spa and adults only lounge for parents.

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The heart of the new ship is the Penrose Atrium on deck six, an airy and modern three-story gathering space that branches into bars, the casino, and the Prima Theater for live shows.

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Nighttime shows are a staple cruise ship entertainment offering.

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Here, the new ship brings travelers back in time with a "The Price Is Right Live" show and a Broadway-ready "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" …

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… while adding a modern and fresh flair with a tap dancing and beat boxing mashup in the "Noise Boys" show.

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Back to the atrium and up its stairs, cruise goers will find themselves on deck seven, the home of one of Prima's Starbucks outposts and a glass walking bridge.

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Drinks and entertainment flow throughout this deck with a comedy club, a cover band bar and venue, and a cocktail bar that uses syrups and liqueurs made — some of which are made with the ship's discarded food scraps.

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Above this on deck 8, the outdoor walking path and lounges are the star of the show.

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For warm days at sea, travelers can relax on the Ocean Boulevard ...

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… an open-air stretch of lounge chairs, pools, and a sculpture garden.

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The spa and gym are then located on deck 16 …

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… the same deck as "The Haven," an exclusive lounge, restaurant, and sundeck for travelers staying in the higher-end Haven staterooms.

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But the Prima's true leisure and entertainment showpieces are nestled on the ship's 17th and 18th deck.

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Here, Norwegian's efforts to appeal to families truly shines through with the addition of a virtual reality arcade …

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… tri-level go-kart track …

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… a collection of outdoor games like a mini-golf course, a modern take on traditional darts, and a pickleball court ...

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... and a glass-enclosed observation lounge with an adjacent bar.

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Most cruise ships have at least one pool and hot tub.

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But on the Prima, there are three pools, four hot tubs …

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… a petite children's water park, and a waterslide, the latter an increasingly popular addition to cruise ships.

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If the waterslide doesn't provide enough thrill, there's also a freefall slide — this one's dry — that drops passengers down ten decks in just a few seconds.

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And what would be a cruise trip without an abundance of food?

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There are several on board and specialty restaurants scattered throughout the ship for travelers to dine on sushi, Mediterranean food, and even teppanyaki at sea.

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For hungry diners who thrive in the face of decision paralysis, the Prima also has an indoor-outdoor food hall with 11 restaurants and a touchpad ordering system …

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… giving travelers the chance to try an international noodle bar, Indian restaurant, and rotisserie concept all in one meal.

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The multiple kitchens and two food trucks turned this expansive hall into the Prima's most expensive and difficult dining concept to pull off, Wesley Cort, the cruise line's vice president of food and beverage operations, told Insider during a media panel.

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But this effort may be worth it: With all the onboard restaurants, an additional buffet, and this food hall, guests could avoid having a repeat meal during their cruise.

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"[This ship] is a huge investment but the return on investment is phenomenal," Simon Murray, Norwegian's vice president guest experiences and innovation, said during the panel.

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"These ships are difficult to build," he continued. "There's only so much expertise in the planet that has the knowledge and the know-how to build these things."

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Throughout 2023, the new ship will bring passengers to a wide variety of destinations and climates like the Caribbean and Iceland.

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The popular cruise line has several itineraries sailing for under $80 a day in 2023, according to data compiled by Cruise Sheet.

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Source: Cruise Sheet

But don't expect these low rates to apply to the new Prima.

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Rates per person aboard the new ship in 2023 begin at almost $780 for a week-long roundtrip from Orlando, Florida to the Caribbean, a spokesperson told Insider in an email.

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