Norwegian Cruise Line to build its biggest ships with 8300 passengers and crew

• NCLH with Fincantieri, will build the biggest ships for its fleet.
• The ships will be able to accommodate 8300 passengers.
• The vessels will rival those from Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has placed an order to build four of the largest cruise ships in the industry.

The order, placed with Fincantieri, is valued at around US$9.34 billion for the vessels to be delivered between 2030 and 2036.

The company’s CEO, Harry Sommer said as a long-term growth strategy for the brand, this move will reserve critical construction slots.

He also said it would be a new class of cruise ship that would expand on the company’s strategies of building more innovative, luxurious and sustainable vessels.

The ships, which are set to rival the size of Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class vessels, will be able to accommodate 8300 guests in more than 5100 cabins.

Built at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard, the first ship will be delivered in 2030. The others are scheduled for completion in 2032, 2034, and 2036. 

Fincantieri has already build to ships for the Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. The team is currently building Norwegian Aqua which is slated to launch in April.

NCLH has already ordered two ships for the company’s ultra-luxury brand, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and two additional vessels for Oceania Cruises, the company’s upper premium line.

NCL’s currently largest ship is the Norwegian Encore which has capacity for just 4000 passengers. The brand has lagged behind other major cruise lines in terms of ship size, but the company with its Prima-class vessels aimed for a smaller, more luxurious design.

The Norwegian Prima and Viva accommodates for 3100 guests while Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna holds up to 3500 passengers.

The fifth and sixth vessels of the class due in 2027 and 2028 will be further increased by 10 percent in size and built to be methanol-ready for future fuel.