Thursday, 19 September 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line shows off its new cruise ship

by BD Banks

Norwegian Cruise Line, like many of its rivals, has decided that bigger is better.

At 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tons, and accommodating some 3,550 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Luna is 10% bigger in size and capacity than the Prima Class ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. 

That new vessel is midsized compared with the megaships at Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC, but it does show Norwegian leaning into industry trends.

Related: Norwegian Cruise Line pushes singles and solo cruises

Luna is a twin-sister ship to Norwegian Aqua, of which it will take delivery in March. Both ships are being built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with interior designs across the ship created by the international architects AD Associates, Piero Lissoni, Rockwell Group, SMC Design and Studio Dado.

Norwegian is now taking bookings for Luna’s initial sailings. The ship will offer 7-day Caribbean sailings from Miami beginning in April 2026.

“Norwegian Luna will kick off its inaugural Caribbean season with two western itineraries to Roatan Island, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Harvest Caye, Belize, the Brand’s resort-style destination,” the cruise line says.

“The ship will then sail seven-day cruises with calls to the beautiful Eastern Caribbean destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas, which will feature a brand-new pier by late 2025.”

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Luna will be the biggest ship in Norwegian’s fleet.

Image source: Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Luna debuts a unique look

Norwegian Luna’s hull art will showcase a vibrant dreamscape by ELLE, the highly acclaimed street artist from Napa, Calif., who has partnered with popular brand names including Nike, Reebok and Ralph Lauren. 

“Entitled ‘La Luna,’ the artwork is a visual exploration of humanity’s deep-rooted connection with the celestial forces in space as human beings are intrinsically linked to the ebb and flow of the moon,” NCLH wrote. “‘La Luna’ will display proudly on the bow of the ship, leading guests on an extraordinary voyage and an epic journey of discovery.”

And while both Luna and Aqua will not be as big as the Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC megaships, they’ll offer features associated with those ships. 

“Mirroring the upscale design and structure of Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Luna will thrill and exhilarate guests with the NCL exclusive Aqua Slidecoaster, a first-of-its-kind hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide that will debut next year on Norwegian Aqua and become the longest and fastest slides at sea,” according to Norwegian. 

“Complete with exhilarating dual slides and a magnetic lift that propels adventurous guests through two different courses, this attraction will feature three stories of exciting twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.” 

Luna will also offer a digital sports complex, the Glow Court, offering a variety of interactive guest activities by day and then transforming into a nightclub in the evening. 

“Guests will also be able to continue to enjoy some of their favorite on-board experiences aboard Norwegian Luna, including the Drop, NCL’s 10-story free-fall slide, and the Stadium, an outdoor space offering complimentary activities,” it added.

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Norwegian will also bring a variety of fan-favorite features to Luna and Aqua.

“A variety of NCL’s elevated guest experiences will also make their comeback on Norwegian Luna, including Ocean Boulevard, the 46,000 square foot outdoor walkway which wraps around the entire ship to bring guests closer to the sea; Vibe Beach Club, the adults-only, open-air lounge; Infinity Beach, which provides sweeping views of the ocean; and an expansive, upper pool deck equipped with day beds for soaking up the sun,” Norwegian wrote.

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