April 2024: An Exciting Transatlantic Cruise on NCL Prima
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is one of our favorites, so we were excited to embark on a transatlantic cruise on NCL Prima, one of their newest ships. If you’re interested in taking a transatlantic cruise to Europe, read on.
The Ship
Norwegian Prima is the first and the namesake of the Prima Class of ships in NCL’s fleet, built in a new shipyard with a radical new design. Launched in 2022, the Prima is smaller than its predecessors in the Breakaway Plus class by a third, with a capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy.
The Prima has a vertical bow rather than the traditional V-shaped, giving it quite a different look. Its interior is also outside the norm for NCL, with curved walls, a less impressive central atrium without the usual eye-catching chandelier, and smaller gathering spaces, making it feel more intimate.
The Cruise
Our 15-day transatlantic cruise departed from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal with stops in Halifax, Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris, ending in London. We had a total of eight full sea days.
Here is the itinerary:
- Day 1: New York City, NY
- Day 2: At Sea
- Day 3: Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Day 4: At Sea
- Day 5: At Sea
- Day 6: At Sea
- Day 7: At Sea
- Day 8: At Sea
- Day 9: Reykjavik, Iceland
- Day 10: Reykjavik, Iceland
- Day 11: At Sea
- Day 12: At Sea
- Day 13: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Day 14: Bruges, Belgium
- Day 15: Paris, France
- Day 16: London, England
Embarkation Day
After spending the night before at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, we made our way to the port at 11:00 a.m., excited to get our first glimpse of the Prima.
Embarkation was quite a trial overall, with a long line forming that started at the terminal. We had booked a cabin in the Haven, which includes priority embarkation, so we rolled our luggage to the front of the line and finally found another line inside for Haven guests, which we joined.
Half an hour later, we were finally inside the Prima and hurried to our cabin, eager to get our first look at our home away from home for the next 15 days.
The Cabin
Because my husband and I were traveling with a family member, we booked cabin 15902, a two-bedroom family villa in the Haven with a total square footage of 606 to 658 square feet. The balcony’s square footage is from 138 to 190 square feet. The cabin has two bedrooms, two baths, a small living area, and a large balcony.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Our first stop was Halifax, where we had booked the excursion Iconic Towns of Nova Scotia, a seven-hour tour that costs $199 per adult. The tour stops in the towns of Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, and Mahone Bay, all of which were picturesque in their own way, but Peggy’s Cove is the real draw.
Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement. It was a dreary day, so rather than walk the streets, we headed straight to a restaurant that advertised lobster rolls and enjoyed a leisurely lunch.
Mahone Bay was lovely, but the prettiest part was the beautiful private homes situated around the bay. Once we’d taken photos, we searched for a restaurant that served interesting desserts.
In Peggy’s Cove, however, we had so much fun exploring and taking photos. The lighthouse is the most photographed in Canada, perched on the smooth granite shore of the cove.
Days At Sea
With eight days at sea, we had a lot of time to fill. On the Prima, there are many ways to relax and entertain yourself, and we tried to do as many as possible. The weather for most of the days of the crossing was cold, foggy, and rainy with temps in the 40s Fahrenheit, so we stayed indoors most of the time, unable to enjoy the pool deck, slides, or other outside amenities.
So, what did we do?
During the days, we enjoyed sleeping in and having a leisurely lunch. Spent time at the spa, where we had massages, manicures, and pedicures, and I got a haircut. Had fun in the casino – a little too much fun, actually. Browsed in the shops and purchased a few pieces of jewelry. On one nice day, we had a soak in a hot tub. I worked quite a bit, taking photos and videos for this website and having a cocktail or two, all for research, of course.
In the evenings, we enjoyed dinner in the Haven and explored the offerings of the other restaurants, eating at 10 of the 13 restaurants onboard. We saw the Donna Summer show, which was fantastic, and enjoyed The Price Is Right and the hypnotist Richard Barker.
Did we get bored? Never. There’s too much to do on a ship like the Prima.
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Our next stop was Reykjavik. I woke up early in the morning, excited for our upcoming day, and opened the curtains with a gasp. The view of Videy Island and the mountains behind it was stunning.
We learned later that this is the site of Yoko Ono’s memorial to John Lennon, the Imagine Peace Tower, an art installation of light beams lit at special times throughout the year.
The tour we chose for the day was Geothermal Fields, Vikings, and the Blue Lagoon, which cost $359 per adult. The six-hour tour started at the Blue Lagoon, where we donned our swimsuits and waded into the milky-blue waters of the lagoon, surrounded by walls of lava rock. The water was warm, even warmer in places where the pumps brought up geothermal water from below. A complimentary beverage was offered, so we took ours and found a nice warm spot to float for a while. I definitely recommend the strawberry sparkling wine.
Next, we visited the Viking Museum in Njardvik, a small museum whose main draw is a replica of the Islendingur, a Viking vessel discovered in Norway in 1182.
Back on the bus, we traveled to a bridge on the plateau that joins two tectonic plates – the American and Eurasian. Tectonic plates are constantly moving, either crashing together or pulling apart. These two plates are pulling apart.
Crossing the bridge, we set foot on two separate continents in moments, which was an awesome experience.
Our next stop was to visit a black-sand beach, where we took photos of the dramatic landscape.
Lastly, we braved the cold winds to cross a plateau to visit an angry geothermal geyser, marveling at how during our visit, we experienced rain, hail, and sunshine, which produced a surprising rainbow. Amazing.
Iceland was a fascinating place to visit, so different geographically from anywhere else we’ve ever been. It was a great day and a wonderful experience.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
On Day 13, we reached Amsterdam, where we were looking forward to not only seeing windmills but also spending time in the town of Edam. We had booked a four-hour tour, Heritage Trail of Dutch Windmills, at a cost of $69 per adult. Unfortunately, the Edam portion of our excursion was canceled without explanation, which was quite disappointing.
Instead, we spent a couple of hours at Zaanse Schans in Zaandam, a recreated village from about 1700 built around a lake with windmills and cottages. Each windmill had a different purpose, and the one we toured was a working woodmill. Our tour guide explained how the wind powered the blades that split the logs to make planks and beams.
During our free time, we wandered the village, enjoyed an ice cream, and then boarded the bus to return to the ship.
Bruges, Belgium
The next day we awoke in Bruges, Belgium, which I learned on this trip is not another name for Brussels. Turns out they are two entirely different cities.
Our excursion was Bruges in a Day, advertised as a walking tour and a canal boat ride. The boat ride never happened, which was another disappointment.
Bruges, however, is a gorgeous medieval town, faithfully preserved for hundreds of years. Its canals twist and turn through the city, and watch out for the swans, which are prevalent. Don’t try to pet them, though!
Paris, France
In Paris, our last port day of the cruise, we chose the excursion Paris and Lunch Cruise on the Seine for $289 per adult.
Our day started with a 2.5-hour drive from the port of Le Havre to the city, where our first stop was at the Arc de Triomphe. We had twenty minutes to dash through the traffic to traverse the tunnel that leads to the monument, take photos, and rush back. What a whirlwind!
On the way to our lunch cruise on the Seine River, we drove past the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower.
Our meal on the cruise was interesting, starting with chicken and green pepper pâté-en-croûte. The main course was seabream with artichoke purée, and the dessert was concerto cake. I’m a picky eater, unfortunately, so I ate bread, drank wine, and enjoyed the dessert.
Along the cruise, we took tons of photos, which don’t take well through windows because of the glare and reflections, but we had a nice time.
After lunch, we went to the Eiffel Tower, although we didn’t have time to climb it.
We were supposed to have free time in the city near the Trocadero, but that didn’t happen. Instead, we drove back to the ship.
Disembarkation Day
When we reached London the next day, it was time to depart the Prima. Sad, yes, but we were excited to see London. We had reserved rooms at the London Marriott Hotel in Kensington, from where we would take excursions for the next few days.
Touring London Post-Cruise
Once we had checked into our hotel, we ventured out to find an authentic English pub to have lunch. The hotel concierge directed us to the Devonshire Arms, where we tried beer and cider and had a nice lunch that included fish and chips for my husband.
London City Tour
The next day, we woke up bright and early to join our tour for the day, Total London Experience: London Eye, Tower of London, and St. Paul’s, an 8.5-hour tour that cost $166.31 per person through Viator.
We saw so much of the city through this tour, the highlights being the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Eye, but we got a peek at these important landmarks first as we drove by.
Touring St. Paul’s Cathedral was incredibly special.
Our next exciting adventure in London was riding the London Eye, a highlight of our city tour. The views were amazing!
We also toured the Tower of London and saw the crown jewels, which were astonishingly beautiful. What an experience! Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed of the jewels.
London Country Tour
The next day, we were up bright and early again for another long excursion, this time to explore the English countryside on the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock tour. The tour cost $166.31 per adult through Viator, lasted almost 12 hours, and included a full meal. Such a deal!
Our first stop was Stonehenge, a bucket-list experience for everyone on the tour. The day was cloudy and dreary, adding to the mystical aura of the area. It is incredible that some of the stones are still standing, considering how large the original site was.
Our next stop was Windsor Castle, where we were supposed to have an interior tour. Unfortunately, it was canceled due to an event. So we wandered the streets outside, enjoying the quaint shops.
For me, one of the most interesting parts of the tour was the English countryside we drove hours through. It was rolling and green, lined with fields of canola or trees, and absolutely tranquil.
Our next stop was the town of Bath (pronounced baahth). There we explored and enjoyed ice cream before loading up to move on.
Our last stop was in the hamlet of Lacock, where we enjoyed a pub meal. We had four choices of entree, one of which was fish and chips (of course), and the food was quite good. After we ate, we wandered the streets, peeking at the displays of wares for sale outside many doors.
Final Thoughts On Our Transatlantic Cruise On NCL Prima
This was our longest trip to date, twenty days including travel, which was a little tiring but exhilarating nonetheless. We saw incredible places and had many fun experiences, not only on NCL Prima but also after the cruise.
One veteran cruise trick we had to employ on this trip was rolling with the punches. Although a few of our tours didn’t quite deliver as promised, we still enjoyed ourselves and didn’t let the change in plans ruin our day.
Travel is one of the joys of life that not everyone gets to experience, and we feel incredibly lucky that we’re able to go often. We had to wait decades to have this freedom, and it’s wonderful to finally be able to enjoy it.
Happy cruising!
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