Cruise review: Restaurants and bars on Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Prima has some new ideas about dining, and it really sets them apart.

In our judgement, Norwegian Prima is designed to be the resort holiday you have always wanted. We spent four nights trying to unravel just how different they really are and we discovered that Norwegian Prima restaurants and bars are really leading the way with onboard dining and drinking options – with Indulge Food Hall and Hudson and Commodore Rooms’ main dining halls particularly standing out.

Find our overall impressions here, and read on for a full breakdown of Norwegian Prima‘s complimentary and specialty dining.

Norwegian Prima complimentary dining

The Local Bar and Grill

They nailed the brief – it is a typical unfussy neighbourhood-style bar and eatery. The Local and the Indulge Food Hall were our favourites of the complimentary eateries.

The classic American menu is perfect for lunch or an easy dinner (think burgers, dogs, cobb salad). The Reubens was so good we had to come back for more.

Enjoy frozen cocktails at Norwegian Prima‘s The Local Bar & Grill.

Hudson’s

An incredible space with banquettes for intimate tete-a-tetes or round tables for larger travelling parties. Classic dining rooms have a seven-day ever-changing menu. On board Norwegian Prima, the menu is the same every day – however, there are enough choices that you would be hard-pressed to get through the entire menu on a seven-day voyage.

Think classic starters like Coconut shrimp and mini crab cakes (our recommendation), a design your own pasta or “entrees” (remember these are mains in the US) of steaks, beef wellington, shrimp creole or rotisserie chicken.

The Hudson decor and 360-degree views are fresh. Bright white with aqua furnishing, the complimentary restaurant is a great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Admire 270-degree views from floor to ceiling while indulging in specialty dishes at Hudson’s.

Indulge Food Hall

The Indulge Food Hall is unusual. Think food court, a plethora of cuisines to choose from, but cast the vision of a Westfield food court far from your mind. Eleven different eateries have a small selection of dishes, but in totality, it is something like 77 different options.

The mini-restaurants and food trucks serve up a multitude of dishes; Indian tikka from the tandoor at Tamara, pad thai or pasta from Nudls, pulled pork burgers from the Q Texas BBQ, nachos from the Latin Quarter (housed in a mini airstream food truck) and charcuterie from the Tapas food truck.

Ordering is simple. Select your items from any of the 11 mini-restaurants on an iPad at a table, and in about two minutes it will be delivered to your table. You don’t need to move or order through an attendant.

Nachos, guacamole or Tostados from the Latin Quarter food truck at the Indulge Food Hall.

Surfside Cafe & Grill

The buffet, by any other name – there are no surprises here. Located where all buffets are found, on the top deck near the main pool, we couldn’t justify eating here when there was the Indulge Food Hall.

Surfside Cafe Grill serves a complimentary buffet.

The Commodore Room

We did not have the opportunity to sample the Commodore room on our visit. It is a less upmarket main dining room option to Hudson.

Elegant dining set-up at The Commodore Room.

Norwegian Prima specialty dining

The opportunities to experience specialty dining during the inaugural were limited, we only experienced Onda and Le Bistro. By purchasing a speciality dining package you will be able to access one or all of these restaurants.

Onda by Scarpetta

The speciality fine dining restaurant’s menu is mostly Italian classics – think burrata, carpaccio, crudo, pizza and every kind of pasta. But the protein-heavy secondi are not particularly Italian, except perhaps the veal Milanese.

Experience outdoor dining on Ocean Boulevard at Onda by Scarpetta.

We could have had several helpings of the tagliatelle with lobster, tomato, spring onions and spicy bread crumbs and would probably request that twice next time.

Dine modern Italian dishes at Onda by Scarpetta.

Ed’s Note: Onda by Scarpetti has been launched on Norwegian Spirit that will be homeporting in Australia during the summer season.

Le Bistro

Snail, tartare, crab roulette, goat’s cheese croquettes, coq au vin and de boeuf… there is nothing that is not classic French on the menu. The steak tartare is executed brilliantly, as was the fruits de mer.

Le Bistro is a must if you’re planning a romantic dinner.

Los Lobos

We made an error in judgement and changed last minute from Los Lobos to Le Bistro even though the menu had us drooling. The tortillas, fajitas and in particular Cochinita Pibil (slow braised pork in bitter orange served on shredded banana leaf) will have to wait until next time.

Los Lobos serves traditional Mexican food with a twist.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

The Norwegian signature steakhouse does exactly what it says on the tin. A la carte, starters US$15-$19 steaks US$35-$75

Satisfy your steak cravings at Cagney’s Steakhouse.

Food Republic

An eclectic dining option from sushi, to schnitzel, nachos, dumplings, pad thai and Peruvian beef skewers this is relaxed global street food in one spot. A la Carte, but as a guide, pad thai is US$19

Norwegian Prima’s Food Republic is designed with a minimalistic dining interior.

Hasuki

Japanese teppanyaki in a beautiful setting. $US49 pp

Hasuki serves athentic Japanese cuisine.

Nama Sushi and Sashimi

Yes, the sushi and sashimi are as you would expect. But Nama also offers hot and cold fusion Japanese dishes like tuna pizza (tuna on a tortilla), tempura and karaage. Sushi rolls US$7-$16, sashimi US$11-$12

Norwegian Prima‘s contemporary sushi house. (Image: Steve Millay)

Palomar

A seafood-focused Mediterranean restaurant, Palomar was creating a buzz with other cruises – claiming to be the best dining option on board. Starters from US$8-$19 and mains from US$32-$45

Dine seafood dishes at Palomar for an epic evening.

Norwegian Prima bars

There are 12 separate bars and three lounges, not counting Starbucks. Here are our picks:

The Local

As stated earlier, our pick for relaxed dining. This is where everyone comes together to watch sporting events. So, it is lively.

Cool and chic interior at The Local.

The Metropolitan

Unique to our experience of cruising, this is a sustainable bar where Norwegian has made an effort to reuse and repurpose organic waste into the basis of cocktails.

Take for example the Primadonna which takes banana skins and combines them with sugar and cinnamon to create a banana syrup which is then combined with walnut bitters and Fleur de Cana Eco Rum to create the cocktail.

Other such innovations include the Watermelon twist which turns watermelon skin into a syrup, and the Croissant Mai Tai transforms stale almond croissants into an orgeat.

The Metropolitan is Norwegian Prima‘s first-ever sustainably-focused bar.

Belvedere Bar

Probably the most intimate and moody bar, this is the place for a pre or post-dinner drink without the crowds or noise.

Other bars include the Luna Bar, Penrose Bar in the Atrium, Prima Speedway Bar, Soleil Bar, Syd Normans Pour House (think pub), the Improv club and the Whiskey Bay (also in the Atrium).

Finally, there is the Vibe Beach Club bar which forms part of the exclusive Vibe Beach Club and commands a US$249 for a week’s access.

Two plunge pools, a bar and plenty of sun loungers at the Vibe Beach Club.