Norwegian Prima has 20 decks, 16 of which passengers can access. The ship is laid out differently from older NCL vessels. Public spaces cluster on Decks 6 through 8 (dining, entertainment, the atrium) and Decks 17 through 20 (pools, activities, the go-kart track). Cabin decks sit in the middle. The one thing that catches people off guard is the layout on the public decks. Rather than one large open atrium with corridors branching off it, Prima uses multiple small, connected spaces. It can feel maze-like until you learn the ship. I found my way around within two days, but the first afternoon involved some wrong turns.

Quick Reference

Key locations:

Deck-by-Deck Walkthrough

Deck 5 - Cabins and Medical

The lowest passenger deck. A small number of inside, oceanview, and family oceanview cabins are located here. The oceanview cabins on this deck have portholes rather than windows. Deck 5 cabins are the most affordable and experience the least ship motion, which suits passengers prone to seasickness. There is nothing else on this deck besides cabins and the medical centre access point (main entrance is on Deck 12).

Deck 6 - Theatre, Casino, Dining

The lowest of the three public decks that form the heart of the ship. The Prima Theater and Club occupies the forward section. This is the lower level of the three-storey theatre, and when it converts to a nightclub late at night, this is the dance floor level.

The casino runs through the middle of Deck 6, split into a main non-smoking section and a sealed-off smoking casino on the starboard side. The glass doors between them actually work - smoke does not bleed through.

Aft on Deck 6 you will find Cagney’s Steakhouse (port side), The Commodore Room (starboard side, the second main dining room), and the Belvedere Bar (midship). The Penrose Bar sits at the forward end of the Penrose Atrium, which rises from this deck through Decks 7 and 8.

Noise note: Cabins on Deck 5 directly below the casino and theatre may pick up vibration from the bass during late-night events.

Deck 7 - Restaurants, Entertainment, Services

The busiest crew-facing deck. Guest Services is here, along with Shore Excursions and the i-Connect Internet Cafe. The mid-level of the Penrose Atrium sits on this deck, with a Starbucks on the atrium balcony.

The aft section of Deck 7 is restaurant row. Hudson’s, the main dining room, wraps around the stern with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 270-degree views. It is the most visually striking restaurant on the ship. Le Bistro (French, specialty), Hasuki (teppanyaki, specialty), and Nama Sushi and Sashimi are also on this deck.

For evening entertainment, Syd Norman’s Pour House (live rock music) and The Improv at Sea (comedy club) are both on Deck 7. Both venues are small and fill quickly. The Humidor Cigar Lounge is tucked away here as well, along with the Metropolitan Bar.

Navigation tip: The connection between the forward and aft sections of Deck 7 runs past Guest Services. During embarkation day and disembarkation morning, this corridor bottlenecks badly.

Deck 8 - Ocean Boulevard, Indulge, Atrium Upper Level

This is the deck that makes Norwegian Prima different. Ocean Boulevard, the 360-degree outdoor promenade, wraps entirely around the ship at this level. It is 44,000 square feet of outdoor space and includes two infinity pools (one port, one starboard, both aft), the Oceanwalk glass bridge, and The Concourse outdoor sculpture garden.

Indulge Food Hall sits at the aft of Deck 8. This is NCL’s first open-air food marketplace, with 11 food stations covering Indian, Mexican, Italian, barbecue, tapas, and more. You order from a touchscreen at your table and the food arrives within minutes. The Local Bar and Grill is on the port side, and the Indulge Outdoor Lounge with cabanas is on the aft.

The upper level of the Penrose Atrium is here, with the Whiskey Bar (also called Proof on some deck plans) and the photo gallery. The upper level of the Prima Theater is also accessible from Deck 8 forward.

Bars on this deck include the Soleil Bar (aft, great for sunset drinks), Luna Bar (inside Indulge Food Hall), and the Penrose Atrium bar.

This is the deck to learn first. If you are lost, come to Deck 8 and orient yourself from the atrium.

Decks 9-11 - Cabin Decks

Three decks of predominantly balcony cabins with some inside and oceanview categories mixed in. The layouts are similar across all three decks.

Deck 9 has a wider variety of cabin types than Decks 10 and 11, including aft-facing balcony cabins (category B1) with larger balconies and direct wake views. Forward-facing suites (category SK) and Club Balcony Suites (category M2) are also on Deck 9.

Decks 10 and 11 are the quietest cabin decks on the ship. They sit far enough above the public areas on Deck 8 to avoid noise, and far enough below the pool deck on Deck 17 to avoid foot traffic overhead. Midship cabins on these decks are the sweet spot for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Warning for Deck 9: The Drop and The Rush dry slides pass through the ship between Decks 8 and 16. Some balcony cabins on the port and starboard sides of Deck 9 (and higher) have slide tubes passing directly through or near their balconies. Check the deck plan carefully before booking if this bothers you.

Deck 12 - Cabins, Studios, Medical Centre

A mixed cabin deck. Standard balcony and inside cabins, Haven suites (H4, H5, HB categories), and the first block of Studio cabins for solo travellers.

The Studio Lounge is on this deck. It is a private common area exclusively for passengers booked in Studio cabins, with comfortable seating, a TV, light bites, and drinks. Access requires a Studio keycard.

The Medical Centre entrance is also on Deck 12.

Deck 13 - Cabins, Studios, Haven

More cabins, including the second block of Studios, additional Haven suites (H3, H6, HB, HE categories), and standard balcony and inside options. The Haven’s private elevators connect through this deck. No public facilities.

Deck 14 - Cabins, Bridge, Haven

Cabin deck with Haven suites including the massive Premier Owners Suite (H2 category, 1,280 square feet of cabin plus 800 square feet of balcony with a private hot tub). The navigation bridge is on this deck at the forward end, though it is not accessible to passengers without a Behind the Scenes tour.

Deck 15 - Cabins, Spa, Kids

Split between cabins (forward and midship) and facilities (aft). Mandara Spa and Salon occupies a large section of this deck, though the main entrance is one level up on Deck 16. Splash Academy (kids’ club for ages 6 months to 12) is here as well.

Noise note: Cabins on Deck 15 near the Splash Academy will hear children during the day. The kids’ club can only hold about 50-60 children at a time, which on a full sailing means waitlists and children returning to cabins.

Deck 16 - Spa, Gym, Haven Complex

The upper level of Mandara Spa and Salon, including the thermal suite with saunas, a cold room, relaxation loungers, and a small pool. Pulse Fitness Centre is also on this deck.

The Haven complex dominates the aft section. The Haven Lounge and Bar, Haven Restaurant (with both indoor and al fresco dining), and Haven Sundeck lower level are all on Deck 16. The Haven has its own private infinity pool here. Two dedicated Haven elevators connect Decks 6 through 18, separate from the main ship lifts.

A small number of standard cabins (categories SJ, B9, B4, BA) are on this deck forward and midship.

Deck 17 - Pool Deck, Observation Lounge, Restaurants

The main outdoor deck. The Waves Pool and Waves Pool Bar are here, along with the Surfside Cafe and Grill (the buffet). The pool is small for a ship carrying over 3,000 passengers. On warm-weather sailings, the lounger situation gets competitive by mid-morning.

The Observation Lounge occupies the forward section with 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows. It is a beautiful space for watching a port arrival or reading on a sea day, but it does not have enough seats for a ship this size.

Vibe Beach Club, the adults-only retreat, is on this deck aft. It has its own pool, two infinity hot tubs, and a bar. Access requires a paid pass.

Specialty restaurants Food Republic (Asian-Latin fusion) and Palomar (Mediterranean) are also on Deck 17.

The upper level of the Haven Sundeck is accessible from this deck for Haven guests.

Deck 18 - Activities, Waterpark, Speedway

The main activity deck. The Stadium (shuffleboard, pickleball, foosball, beer pong), Tee Time mini golf, and The Bull’s Eye darts bar are all here. The Kids’ Aqua Park with water features is on this deck.

The lower level of the three-storey Prima Speedway go-kart track starts here, along with the Prima Speedway Bar. The Drop (a 10-storey freefall dry slide) and The Rush (two racing dry slides) launch from this deck.

The lower Sun Deck with additional loungers is on this level.

Deck 19 - Speedway, Sun Deck

The middle level of the Prima Speedway and additional Sun Deck space. The Wave waterslide is accessible from this deck. Quieter than Deck 18 below.

Deck 20 - Speedway Top, Viewing

The top of the ship. The upper level of the Prima Speedway and the Speedway Viewing Area, where spectators can watch the go-kart racing and use laser zappers to boost drivers’ speed. The top section of The Wave waterslide is here.

Norwegian Prima has 16 passenger elevators in the main shaft, arranged in banks midship. There are also two dedicated Haven elevators at the aft, accessible only to Haven guests. The main lift banks get congested at predictable times: after theatre shows (Decks 6-7), at the pool deck during embarkation (Deck 17), and around dinner time at the restaurant decks (Decks 6-8).

The stairs are the faster option for moving one or two decks. Forward, midship, and aft staircases all connect through the cabin decks, but on the public decks (6-8), the connections between forward and aft are not always obvious. You sometimes need to walk through a restaurant or past a bar to get from one end to the other.

The ship’s layout uses small, connected spaces rather than one large central corridor. This creates an intimate feel but also means dead ends and confusing turns, especially on Decks 7 and 8. After a day or two, you will learn the shortcuts. The fastest route from bow to stern on Deck 8 is along Ocean Boulevard outside, avoiding the interior maze entirely.

Best Decks for Key Activities