Creating showstopping entertainment at sea

From Broadway musicals to headline acts at our Comedy Club, Norwegian Cruise Line takes pride in offering award-winning entertainment onboard our fleet. Stand-out shows include Beetlejuice, which features onboard our latest ship Norwegian Viva, and the Tony Award-nominated Summer: The Donna Summer Musical onboard sister ship Norwegian Prima. 

We hope guests are excited to come aboard and enjoy our entertainment offerings, starting with the thoughtfully designed main theatre spaces on our ships. 

Our Prima-class ships, Norwegian Prima and Viva, boast a Norwegian Cruise Line first with theatres that transform from three-storey venues into Vegas-style night clubs. With a capacity of over 700 and a stunning three-ring 60-ton chandelier that turns to make its surroundings dazzle, the Prima and Viva Theatre and Club provide elevated experiences through thoughtful design. The spaces are designed to seamlessly convert from state-of-the-art performance stages to expansive dance floors, featuring customisable seating layouts and awe-inspiring moving LED screens that lower from the ceiling. The nightclub venues both provide clubgoers with an immersive experience where they can enjoy a kaleidoscope of high-energy music and innovative special effects. 

Prima and Viva also offer smaller entertainment spaces that provide experiences just as unique, if not more so. For example, the Whisky Bar onboard both ships is the perfect spot for those seeking a carefully curated experience, complemented with a beverage. Situated at the top of the atrium, the bar offers the opportunity to hear and see the goings on in the busy lower floors, and guests are spoiled for choice in how to while away the hours with the many different venues nearby.  

Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce new food and drink experiences onboard Norwegian Aqua, a Prima Plus-class ship scheduled to set sail in April 2025. For example, we will launch our first Thai speciality restaurant Sukhothai, with decor created by London-based interior design firm SMC Design that combines traditional and contemporary Thai design elements like bamboo and rice paper lights and a geometric patterned floor. We will also debut the Swirl Wine Bar, a contemporary wine lounge that will strike the perfect balance between exclusivity and approachability for a unique, intimate experience. Featuring a comprehensive wine-by-the-glass menu and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages, Studio DADO’s design is inspired by the captivating beauty and curvature of the geologically stunning Antelope Canyon in Arizona with warm colours complemented by cascading horizontal lines and blue touches. 

As Norwegian Cruise Line continues to innovate and expand its entertainment offerings, we invite feedback from our guests and engage with interior designers to create unparalleled experiences for unforgettable moments at sea.  

Gary Anslow is regional vice president and head of UK & Ireland at Norwegian Cruise Line 

This article was first published in the 2024 issue of  Cruise & Ferry Interiors. All information was correct at the time of printing but may since have changed. Subscribe  for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.