Fincantieri’s Maurizio Cergol, SVP marketing & new concept development, right, with NCL President and CEO Harry Sommer aboard Norwegian Prima
For its Prima class, Norwegian Cruise Line wanted something special, new and different no one else has.
Fincantieri’s longtime maestro of new concept development Maurizio Cergol delivered.
‘This is a completely new vessel. The configuration is completely different,’ Cergol told Seatrade Cruise News Friday onboard Norwegian Prima.
Engines in the middle
The engines are toward the center, and the ship is configured so the superstructure is wider in the front and narrower in the back due to the engine casing.
‘I was convinced this type of design, with the engine in the middle, helps technically and aesthetically,’ Cergol elaborated. ‘The ship keeps its trim in service. All the plants are more logical because the ship is split in two, half and half … There is less bending.’
Vertical bow for character and seakeeping
The Prima profile is characterized by its vertical bow, which lends character, Cergol said, and is also a good shape for seakeeping.
Narrower aft superstructure
The narrower aft superstructure means the suites enclave The Haven, soaring eight decks, has less interior space; there are no inside accommodations. The idea is to maximize the outside space. The Haven features indoor-outdoor lounges and a sun deck with an infinity pool that affords dizzying views.
The narrower aft superstructure maximizes outdoor space for The Haven suites complex, while the lower promenade holds infinity pools and indoor-outdoor dining options
Cergol positioned the promenade on a lower level, closer to the sea, similar to the MSC Seaside design, but on Norwegian Prima it’s ‘used in a different way,’ he noted, with infinity pools on each side making a ‘jaw-dropping’ expanse.
Ocean Boulevard
And there’s more interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces with what NCL calls Ocean Boulevard the home to indoor-outoor restaurants Onda by Scarpetta and Los Lobos. Indulge Food Hall takes up the rounded superstructure all the way aft, with a chic outdoor lounge overlooking the wake.
PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH
The Prima Theater is notable for its volume and versatility, with seating that fully retracts
The quadruple deck Prima Theater, all the way forward, is notable for its volume and versatility, with movable seating that transforms from a venue for stage shows into a disco, as on Virgin Voyages’ ships, but is ‘more creative and larger,’ Cergol said.
Inspired by Leonardo
In first presenting his ship design concept to NCL, Cergol calledit Leonardo, after da Vinci. The line used ‘Leonardo class’ until announcing Norwegian Prima’s name, and now calls the seriesPrima, whichmeans ‘first’ in Italian.
Cergolloves the name: ‘It’s fantastic, ingenious.’
As for the interiors, he considers the quality and fittings of ultra-luxury standard.
‘All the details are very sophisticated and well-chosen,’ Cergol said. ‘The decoration is amazing, especially the artwork.’
