NCL Confirms Contract For Four Huge New Cruise Ships

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has officially finalised its contract with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of four enormous cruise ships for the Norwegian Cruise Line brand.

NCL cruise ships

The agreement was initially announced in April 2024 when NCLH signed a letter of intent for the construction of four ships, each with a gross tonnage of 226,000.

Although financing arrangements remain in progress, the deal is now effectively sealed and these ships will be built, the biggest that have ever sailed for the cruise line.

Fincantieri confirmed in a statement on 5th February 2025 that the order is categorised as “very important,” meaning its total value surpasses €2 billion (approximately $2.1 billion USD).

The four ships will be built at the company’s Monfalcone shipyard, located near Trieste, Italy.

These new vessels will be the largest ever built for Norwegian Cruise Line. Each will accommodate around 5,100 guests, bringing the total capacity, including crew, to approximately 8,300 passengers.

For comparison, the cruise line’s current largest ships belong to the Breakaway-Plus class, which includes Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Bliss.

These vessels have gross tonnages ranging from 164,998 to 168,028 and can carry between 4,000 and 4,300 passengers.

Fincantieri has already constructed Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima and Prima-Plus class ships, with the latest, Norwegian Aqua, scheduled to launch in April 2025.

The shipbuilder has been responsible for six ships in the Prima class to date, with three more scheduled to enter service by 2028.

The four newly commissioned ships are set for delivery in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036.

However, Norwegian Cruise Line has not yet disclosed whether these will form a new ship class or whether they will include signature features such as go-kart tracks, high-adrenaline attractions, or multi-level theatres.

Sister brands also expanding fleets

Alongside Norwegian Cruise Line’s expansion, NCLH’s initial letter of intent also included plans for new ships for its other brands – Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

While the contract finalised in February 2025 only applies to Norwegian Cruise Line, further agreements for Oceania and Regent are expected to be confirmed soon.

Under this expansion strategy, Oceania Cruises will receive two ships, each with a gross tonnage of 86,000 and capable of carrying 1,450 passengers.

These ships are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2029. The premium cruise line currently operates seven ships, with its newest vessel, Allura, set to enter service in July 2025.

Allura is now in the final outfitting and interior design stages.

For Regent Seven Seas Cruises, NCLH has also signed letters of intent for two additional ships, due for delivery in 2027 and 2029. Regent operates smaller luxury vessels compared to its sister brands.

The most recent addition to the Regent fleet is Seven Seas Grandeur, a 55,500-gross ton ship launched in 2023.

Another vessel, Seven Seas Prestige, is currently being built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and is expected to debut in 2026. Prestige will be a larger vessel, with a gross tonnage of around 77,000.

Once all these new ships are delivered across the three brands, they will add approximately 25,000 berths to NCLH’s total capacity.

Investment in private island infrastructure

Beyond fleet expansion, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is also making a significant investment in its private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The company has begun construction on a new multi-ship pier, which will be able to accommodate two of its largest vessels simultaneously. Work commenced in January 2025, with completion expected by late 2025.

With these ambitious expansion plans, NCLH is setting the stage for a new era of cruising, bringing larger and more advanced ships to its global fleet while enhancing its private island experience for passengers.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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