Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovative global cruise company, along with its partners at Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding company, commemorated the moment Norwegian Aqua™, the first of the expanded Prima Plus class, floated from the dry dock at the Marghera shipyard (Venice), Italy, and came into contact with water for the first time.
The launching of the Norwegian Aqua marks the completion of the external work carried out on the ship for its debut in April 2025. To celebrate this milestone, two ceremonial coins have been soldered on the Norwegian Aqua according to maritime tradition, where historically The coins symbolized an offering to the ancient gods and goddesses of the sea in exchange for good luck and safe passage for the ship. The ceremony continued with a blessing from a local chaplain and the opening of a bottle of champagne on the hull of the ship to celebrate.
"We are excited to celebrate another important milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who form a fundamental part of the history of the Prima class, while supporting us in the evolution of the incredible experience we design and offer for our guests." said David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Based on the construction of guest-favorite features on award-winning ships in this class, the 10 percent increase in space gives us more flexibility to offer more amenities. and beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore aboard Norwegian Aqua."
At 156,300 gross tons and with a length spanning approximately 322 meters, Norwegian Aqua will be 10% larger than the first two Prima class ships, which are also powered by Fincantieri, providing more space and more innovative offerings. , such as the world's first roller coaster and water slide, the Aqua Slidecoaster; a new digital sports complex with interactive LED floor, Glow Court; and NCL's most expansive 360-degree open-air boardwalk to date, Ocean Boulevard. The ship will also feature luxurious accommodations at The Haven by Norwegian®, including NCL's first three-bedroom duplex suites.
"We are excited to celebrate this significant moment with Norwegian Cruise Line as we witness the launch of Norwegian Aqua, which represents a new chapter in our long-standing collaboration," said Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri's Merchant Ship Division. "We are proud to be part of this transformative journey in which innovation, the cornerstone of our industrial plan, is one of our key points, as we strive to break barriers and raise industry standards."
Construction of Norwegian Aqua will continue until her debut in April 2025, when she will begin sailing seven-day Caribbean itineraries, departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. With visits to tropical destinations such as Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. Following this Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five- and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 to October 2025, followed by five- and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the "Cruise Capital of the World", from October 2025 to April 2026.
"The Prima class is a true evolution of the brand," said Mark Kansley, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Norwegian Cruise Line. "We listen to our guests after cruising with us, and they appreciate the intimate nature and greater variety of elevated spaces throughout the ship to relax or explore during their vacation. We are excited to soon fulfill this next chapter in our development - the Prima Plus class - and that our guests accompany us on our journey.