Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri has officially finalized its previously announced Letter of Intent with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, solidifying an order for four brand-new cruise ships. This marks a significant expansion for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), with the upcoming vessels set to become the largest in the fleet.
Each newly-ordered ship will weigh approximately 226,000 gross tons, surpassing the size of any existing NCL ship. In comparison, the newest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, the Norwegian Aqua, will come in at approximately 156,300 gross tonnage once it sets sail this year.
Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy will construct the four new ships and deliver them in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036.
With a capacity of over 5,100 berths per ship, these new mega-ships will be able to accommodate up to 8,300 people, including crew. This is a staggering number that underscores Norwegian’s continued push toward larger, more innovative vessels with room for more passengers to explore the high seas.
This latest order strengthens Norwegian Cruise Line’s partnership with Fincantieri, which previously built three ships for the fleet: Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, and the upcoming Norwegian Aqua, set to debut in March 2025.
How the new cruise ships compare to the Prima Class
Norwegian’s Prima Class ships were a departure from NCL’s previous large-ship designs, prioritizing a more premium feel with fewer passengers.
The Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva each have a gross tonnage of 143,500 and accommodate around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy. By comparison, the newly-ordered ships will be significantly larger, at 226,000 gross tons, and hold more than double the number of guests.
This shift suggests that NCL may be moving back toward ultra-large vessels after experimenting with a more intimate, upscale experience with the Prima Class. While Prima Class ships were designed to be smaller and more premium, these new mega-ships appear to be in line with the industry trend of maximizing capacity and onboard amenities, similar to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
As the cruise industry continues to evolve, this ambitious expansion signals Norwegian Cruise Line’s commitment to offering larger, cutting-edge ships designed for the future of cruising. We are interested to hear more about these upcoming ships and all they will have to offer for future cruisers!
