Inside my cruise with pop godmother Katy Perry on new luxury liner

IF Katy Perry Kissed A Girl And Liked It, then who am I to disagree when it comes to her choice of cruise ship?

The global superstar was the main attraction and ‘godmother’ of the new Norwegian Prima as she christened the liner before setting sail on her maiden voyage from Reykjavik in Iceland.

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Prima is the first ship in this class and it will take something special from the forthcoming additions to top what Norwegian Cruise Lines have packed in.

‘Elevate’ was the buzz word around this trailblazing 20-deck, 3,099 passenger carrying ship ahead of a Covid-delayed launch.

Five more near-identical ships are scheduled on the water between now and 2027, with Norwegian Viva due next year.

From top to bottom this feels more like a resort with the super-charged range of wet and dry activities, dining options, bars to relax in and venues to keep the party going after dark.

But before getting stuck in to all that, you need to get unpacked. Our cabin, at roughly 231 sq ft, was spacious with sleek, contemporary decor and a bathroom containing a larger than normal shower area.

The balcony had the usual table and chairs, but with added comfort and style, and there was ample storage space.

One of the things NCL are most proud of on this ship is the new revamped three-level Prima Speedway track where you can race against family and friends on electric go-karts reaching speeds of up to 30mph as you steer your way around the funnel and catch stunning sea views.

At 1,375 feet with 14 turns, this is the largest race-track on board Norwegian’s fleet and has all the associated razzamatazz required with chequered flags, podiums and digital scoreboard.

Other activities include The Stadium, which offers a range of games like ping pong, tabletop shuffleboard, beer pong, mini soccer and foosball. You also have Tee Time the mini golf course and Bull’s Eye, an outdoor interactive darts area.

Back indoors, the Galaxy Pavilion provides a stunning array of virtual reality games and simulators to whisk you away from everything, at least for a while.

But if it’s faster thrills you crave then Prima has upped the ante with some jaw-dropping experiences. The ship has two dry slides — located on either side — that send you plummeting down no fewer than TEN decks in the blink of an eye.

The Rush features side-by-side slides that intertwine, allowing two people to race each other down cylinder tubes hanging on the side of the vessel.

On the other side is The Drop, where the floor in a glass cylinder disappears beneath your feet, plunging you downwards before firing you out seconds later on Deck 8’s Ocean Boulevard.

You can also ride The Wave taking a small raft down a short water slide. Sure to be a big hit with the kids when sailing in sunnier climes, not to mention the nearby splash area with mini slides, tipping buckets and water shooters to help cool off.

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Some of the open spaces to relax in are just breathtaking and the aforementioned Ocean Boulevard is one such spot.

This is an outdoor promenade that wraps around Deck 8, packed with sunbeds and lounge chairs alongside two side-hanging infinity pools with cracking views of the sea and beyond.

The Concourse is another sprawling outdoor space, with sculpture gardens and installations designed by Alexander Krivosheiw. It has two Ocean Walk glass bridges to cross as well as open-air lounge La Terraza.

And for those seeking a more exclusive area of serenity and relaxation, visit the Vibe Beach Club which is adults-only and features a bar, a variety of loungers, infinity hot tubs and some stunning views.

Or choose to pamper yourself in the Mandara Spa with its Ice Room, Floatation Salt Pool and Infrared Sauna after a workout in the well-equipped Pulse Fitness Centre.

All this is likely to work up an appetite, and indeed a thirst, and thankfully there’s no shortage of options in either department.

The newest concept aboard Prima is the Indulge Food Hall which proved popular for the duration of our cruise as nobody ever tired of global cuisine and bold flavours from Italian, Japanese, Indian, Spanish and many more culturally-inspired dishes.

There’s 11 eating options; Garden Kitchen, The Latin Quarter, Nudls, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie, Tamara, Coco’s, Tapas Food Truck, Starbucks, Just Desserts and Just Ice Cream. Order what you want as many times as you want — nobody goes away hungry!

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Buffet-style dining is a mainstay of the cruising industry. The Surfside Café and Grill on Deck 17 is a popular spot and The Local on Deck 8 keep cruisers going throughout day and night.

The first of the two main complimentary dining rooms is Hudsons, where guests can enjoy 270-degree views through a sweeping glass panorama from Deck 7 aft. The second is The Commodore Room on Deck 6, which is slightly smaller but elegant in its own way.

Both offer fixed menus for the duration of the cruise but again there’s a good variety, including a build-your-own pasta section and plenty of vegetarian options.

For those who wish to indulge in the speciality dining available for an extra charge, you have eight options. Palomar on Deck 17 is Mediterranean-inspired, then you have tapas-style dining at Food Republic and Onda by Scarpetta which serves modern Italian dishes.

A variety of Mexican food is on offer at Los Lobos, Le Bistro caters for French tastes, Hasuki which offers teppanyaki-style eating, Nama Sushi and Cagney’s Steakhouse which both speak for themselves.

When you have Katy Perry headlining the entertainment with a powerful performance of chart-topping hits like Teenage Dream, Roar and Firework then everyone else has to up the ante.

Perry and partner Orlando Bloom were also surprise guests at the live version of TV show The Price Is Right in the Prima Theatre.

This is a stunning three-storey room, which transforms from state-of-the-art venue with retracting seats into a spectacular nightclub after dark.

During our voyage it was also graced by more special guests, such as American soul-funk band Kool & The Gang and singer songwriter Chaka Khan, who had cruisers on their feet with a dazzling array of classics from the back catalogue.

But the regular entertainment offerings include a full-scale Broadway-style production of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which blew us all away.

The night doesn’t stop there though, with the Improv At Sea comedy club and of course the casino, making sure no night ends before it has to.

With live music regularly on in the Penrose Bar, Syd Norman’s Pour House and The Local Bar and Grill, then there’s really no excuse.
Grab a drink in the Metropolitan cocktail bar, Belvedere Bar, Soleil outdoor bar, Luna Bar, Prima Speedway Bar . . . the list goes on.

Of course it was all about the elevation, and with Prima class The Haven offers that in abundance. An exclusive residence area for those guests who wish to fork out that bit more.

Described as a ship within a ship, the area offers premium and spacious suites, private lounges, pools, deck areas, elevators and the personal service of a butler 24 hours a day.

I’m sure that’s where Ms Perry enjoyed puckering up with her beau and I bet she liked it!

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