In the coming months, Norwegian Cruise Line will be rolling out a new menu in the main dining rooms across its fleet of ships. And right now, guests sailing aboard the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima, are getting a first look at what the menus will offer.
What’s New About the Norwegian Cruise Line Menus
The big news where the menus on board Prima are concerned is that they no longer change each night. Instead of rotating selections each evening, there is one set menu which will be offered each night of the cruise. No more wandering down to check the menus each morning before deciding, “Do I want to eat here or in one of the specialty restaurants?”
Obviously, this is a big change… and one that not everyone is going to like. But from the start, Norwegian promised that the new menus would offer a wide variety of selections, including items from some of the specialty venues and a mix-and-match pasta section which allows diners to create a plethora of options.
Norwegian Prima’s Two Main Dining Rooms
Before we dive into the menus, which are currently available only on Prima, let’s talk briefly about the ships two main dining rooms. They aren’t huge; I would consider them more like Taste and Savor on other Norwegian ships. And like those dining rooms, the menus in each are the same, but the settings are a bit different.
The smaller restaurant, The Commodore Room, is located on Deck 6. This space features porthole windows, modern chandeliers with round translucent discs, and a dark carpet with geometric lines. It’s interesting that there is more than one color of fabric on the chairs, and worth noting that this particular venue is only open for dinner.
The larger restaurant — which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — is Hudson’s. With floor to ceiling windows, it’s light, bright, and airy with modern décor.
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Let’s Talk About Those New Menus
Breakfast
The menu items found at breakfast include many of the same things that can be found on the other Norwegian ships. An express breakfast, hot and cold cereals, and made-to-order eggs remain on this menu. Steak and eggs, eggs Benedict, pancakes, and waffles are also available.
Starbucks beverages are also found on the menu, but they come with an additional charge.
Lunch
Again, lunch is only served in Hudson’s. The Starters and Soups offerings include six different selections with favorites like spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips, a few varieties of soups, and a mushroom flatbread.
For the typical lunch dishes, there are burgers, smash burgers, fish and chips, tacos, and two sandwiches – the French dip and crispy chicken. For fans of meatless items, there is also a veggie burger. All of these come with a choice of fries or a side salad.
Those seeking a larger meal should look at the specialties section on the menu which offers fish, pasta, pork, risotto, steak, and chicken. The pasta and risotto are the meatless options. Salad lovers will find several options for making a meal out of a salad – or as an appetizer before a specialty dish. Choices include Caesar, Thai steak and noodle, mahi-mahi, and kale and chicken salads.
Dinner
The menus at dinner start with a few suggested wines. I never saw any that would be included in the beverage package. There is a separate wine menu which features about 10 bottles of both red and white wines that can be included in the beverage package.
Below the wine suggestions, the menu starts off with appetizers including spare ribs, crab cakes, quesadillas, and coconut shrimp. Next up is a nice selection of soups and salads. I was surprised to see chili listed, but didn’t have a chance to try it. Three other soups and four salads complete that section of the menu.
As mentioned earlier, there is a create-your-own-pasta section. The concept is as simple as it is flexible: Choose a pasta, choose a sauce, and then add a topping (shrimp, meatballs, mushrooms, or chicken).
Diners seeking meatless options have three choices for a main course — cauliflower piccata, the buddha bowl, or risotto ai funghi.
Other mains include five seafood and six meat options. For those wanting to try something from one of the specialty restaurants, there is a featured dish that does come with an extra charge. The Signature Taste option on one of the nights was coq au vin for $15.
Ten sides are available to accompany the main dishes – or to add to another dish. Some of the sides include sweet potato fries, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and mac and cheese.
Desserts
Cake lovers will have a tough time deciding how to finish their dinner off. The menu includes a variety of cakes including lava cake, carrot cake, and cheesecake. Rounding out the menu are crème brûlée, apple pie, bread pudding, a fruit plate, and a daily selection of ice cream and sherbet.
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure if I will miss that anticipation in waiting each day for the dinner menu to be posted as I did on previous cruises. I wonder if there will still be special nights for lobster, prime rib, or Thanksgiving turkey.
After viewing the new set menus, I realized that there would be plenty of food to choose from on this fixed menu. For a picky eater or a vegetarian/vegan, I could see the choices becoming repetitious. However, for the guest who has no interest in spending money on food or who needs more variety, there are other choices like Indulge Food Hall, The Local, and the Surfside Café. Bon Appétit!
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