This trip has been bookended by cruises. The second phase starts today. We head off and say goodbye to the team at the AKA. They are always awesome and so welcoming.

Within a few minutes we arrive at Pier 90 on 54th street.

We are both shocked to see Prima. Wow. A massive cruise ship. Its length and width barely fitting into the berth at the pier.

Norwegian Prima is a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, and here are some notable facts about it:

1. Inaugural Voyage: Norwegian Prima was launched in August 2022, marking the first ship in the new Prima Class of vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line.
2. Size and Capacity: The ship measures approximately 965 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 142,500. It can accommodate around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy and has a crew of about 1,400 members.
3. Design and Amenities: Norwegian Prima features a modern design with contemporary decor, including spacious public areas and a variety of amenities, such as multiple dining options, bars, and lounges. It also includes a stunning pool deck and The Haven, an exclusive area with upscale accommodations.
4. Activities: Onboard activities include a large water park, mini-golf, a racetrack, and various entertainment options, catering to guests of all ages.
5. Sustainability: Norwegian Prima is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring advanced technologies aimed at reducing its environmental impact, including an efficient hull design for better fuel efficiency.
6. Itineraries: The ship offers a range of itineraries, including destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska, allowing passengers to explore various ports around the world.
7. Entertainment: Norwegian Prima hosts a variety of entertainment options, from Broadway-style shows to live music, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere throughout the cruise.

With its innovative design and emphasis on guest experience, Norwegian Prima aims to set new standards in the cruise industry.

We are just gob smacked at its size as we prepare to board. Boarding is a straightforward experience for us, albeit with a short delay as they check our EATAs. Once that is sorted we board.

At first we are overwhelmed. Where do we go. What do we do. Then that overwhelmed feeling turns into confusion. I’m sure we just walked around aimlessly in awe of such a massive floating city. And that’s all you can say to describe this ship. It is a city. From the racing car track on deck 18 to the star bucks on Deck 7 to the shopping mall, theatre, bars, clubs, casino. It is literally a floating city.

We eventually find our feet and a seat. Our state rooms Aren’t ready yet and it’s lunch time there are people everywhere.

Our recent cruise had 700 people. This ship caters for 3100 and as we learn a little later the number of passengers is 3500 with lots and lots and lots of kids on board sharing rooms with their parents. Add the 1700 crew and there are people literally everywhere.

We find a couple of deck chairs in the sun and sit down and enjoy a drink. Our room won’t be ready for a couple of hours. So we chill out on deck for a while. The rain has finally cleared and it is a sunny afternoon, but cool, about 7 degrees.

We sit and crowd watch for a while. It is quite a cross section of society. Families of all types, young kids, teenagers, grand parents along for the ride. Groups of friends, of all ages. Couples like us. Couples older, we later learn one couple has been married one day and another for 65 years.

We are then advised that state rooms are ready. We somehow navigate our way to our room. Deck 11. Room 733. Forward. Starboard.

Surprisingly. It’s not ready. We locate a cabin steward and let him know and head out again. The crowd has thinned a bit and we find a seat for a quick snack at the whiskey bar.

A few minutes later we head back to our room and it has been cleaned and is ready. We do a little bit of unpacking and start to feel a little more settled.

We still don’t know where anything is so head back to where we know for some snacks. We also watch the sail away. We’ve been delayed by about 90 minutes due to refuelling. We sail down the Hudson River at around 5.30pm for the three day trip to Bermuda. Around 770kms.

We sit and enjoy a couple of drinks at the bar before heading out to dinner Dinner in Hudson’s dining room was our choice. Cheese ravioli, shrimp, chicken for dinner.

We then attend the Prima Theatre for a showcase introducing us to the ship and what’s in store for the next seven days. Great entertainment and great dancers.

After the show we head to bed.