Cruise review: Norwegian Prima suites and staterooms

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class ships are designed to be the resort holiday you have always wanted. Here is our detailed overview of all the suites and staterooms

When Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) launched Norwegian Prima in 2021, CEO and Chairman Harry Sommer admitted “The Prima Class of ship is our future". The second Prima Class ship Norwegian Viva was launched in 2023 with the third, Norwegian Aqua launching in 2025. Having been invited on board both ships we can say with confidence that the luxurious suites and staterooms onboard Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva do live up to the ambition.

Combining both experiences, this is the ultimate guide to the staterooms and suites of the Prima Class ships. You should also read our overview of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva to decide whether this is the ship for you.

Read on for a full breakdown of Norwegian Prima suites and staterooms.

Norwegian Prima suites, staterooms and studio types

At last count there are 31 different suites, staterooms and studio types in the following breakdowns (total metres squared range for that room type, largest to smallest):

Eight Haven Suite types, 107 in total, ranging from 34.2 – 195 sq.m
10 Suite types, 84 in total, ranging from 22.4 – 59 sq.m
Five Balcony stateroom types, 946 in total, ranging from 21.5 – 33.3 sq.m
Four Oceanview room types, 124 in total, ranging from 17.3 – 34.4 sq.m
Three insider rooms types, 252 in total, ranging from 14.9 – 23.6 sq.m
Studios, 73 in total, all 8.7sq. m and are all internal

Club Balcony Suite, Norwegian Prima — *Norwegian Prima’s* club balcony suites come with luxurious amenities.

Suffice it to say that there is a room type for everyone, and the max occupancy in a single suite is eight (The Haven Premier Owner’s Suite Large Balcony) with several six and four-berth types, plus one-bed and single-room types.

Hence it is a good idea to get travel advice on which room type suits you, your travel party and your budget.

Most rooms can be split into single or double beds and there are a number of accessible rooms with and without balconies. All rooms come with a TV, sofa, fridge, hair dryer, ottoman closet and a plethora of USB charging ports as well as power points.

forward-facing suite with a large balcony, Norwegian Prima — Forward-facing suites provide a front-row view of the sea.

There are a number of rooms that will have side views, or The Drop or The Rush slides obstruct the view from the balcony. There are reports that the stern staterooms on level 9 above the Prima Theatre encounter noise issues when the disco party gets underway.

The Studio Lounge is a relaxing and quiet space that offers solo travellers a much larger space to call their own (with their fellow solo travellers).

The Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse with Master Bedroom and Balcony, Norwegian Prima — Wake up to stunning, unobstructed views.

Balcony Stateroom

The most common stateroom type, the Balcony Suites follow the aesthetic of the entire ship with a breezy blue and sand palette, evoking a luxe beach house vibe. The furniture is compact to make the most of the space, with a stool/ottoman serving as a seat for a quick review of your makeup.

The bathroom is compact but roomy enough to not feel cramped and a walk-in shower with shower screen is an improvement on shower curtains found in other comparable but older ships.

Hanging space is not extensive and the custom bathroom amenities are as per environmental concerns to remove single-use plastics and built-in dispensers for shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

The Haven

Common to most Norwegian Cruise ships (12 of the NCL fleet) now is The Haven, the boutique luxury cruise ship within the cruise ship.

On board the Prima Class ships (Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua), The Haven is the largest of any class in the NCL fleet. When reviewing Norwegian Prima in 2021, it ruined cruising for us. As stated in other reviews, the step from The Haven to the rest of the ship is akin to a private jet (The Haven) to Premium Economy (Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua) – it is very difficult to go back.

The Haven guest suites are enormous one-bedroom apartments (forget suites) with double balconies, walk-in robes, and a huge shower with a bathtub. We had three different shower choices; the rain shower, the wall-mounted jets or the traditional nozzle. But even better, The Haven guests have their own private lounge, bar and plunge pool at the aft of the ship.

The real cherry on top is the private restaurant which serves up breakfast lunch and dinner. We cannot rave enough about the keto omelette for breakfast or the prawn angel hair pasta for lunch.

Norwegian Prima Suite with Hot Tub — The Haven suites come with a private jacuzzi.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Cruise review: Norwegian Prima suites and staterooms

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class ships are designed to be the resort holiday you have always wanted. Here is our detailed overview of all the suites and staterooms

Norwegian Prima suites, staterooms and studio types

Balcony Stateroom

The Haven

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