Norwegian Cruise Line together with its partners at Fincantieri commemorated the moment when the Norwegian Aqua, the first of the expanded Prima Plus class, floated out of dry dock at the Marghera shipyard (Venice), and came into contact with the water for the first time.
The launch 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 were welded onto the Norwegian Aqua, following maritime tradition. Historically, the coins symbolized an offering to the ancient sea gods and goddesses in exchange for good fortune and safe passage for the vessel. The ceremony continued with a blessing from a local chaplain and the opening of a bottle of champagne on the ship's hull in celebration.
“We are excited to celebrate another important milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are an integral part of the Prima Class journey, 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.
“Building upon guest-favorite features from award-winning ships in this class, the 10% increase in space gives us more flexibility to offer more amenities and aesthetically pleasing spaces for our guests to relax and explore aboard Norwegian Aqua“.
With 156,300 gross tons and a length spanning approximately 322 meters, the Norwegian Aqua will be 10% larger than the first two ships of the Prima Class.
It will feature more space and innovative offerings, such as the world's first roller coaster and water slide, the Aqua Slidecoaster; a new digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, Glow Court; and NCL's largest 360-degree open-air promenade 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 the Norwegian Aqua, which represents a new chapter in our long-standing partnership,” says 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 the Norwegian Aqua will continue until its debut in April 2025, when it will begin sailing seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. These itineraries will include tropical destinations such as 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.
After this season in the Caribbean, the Norwegian Aqua will offer five- and seven-day trips to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 to October 2025, and then five- and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the “Cruise Capital of the World,” from October 2025 through April 2026.
“The Premium Class is a true evolution of the brand,” says Mark Kansley, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations at Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We listen to our guests after they cruise with us, and they appreciate the intimate nature and greater variety of elevated spaces throughout the ship for relaxing or exploring during their vacation. We are excited to soon complete this next chapter of our development—the Prima Plus Class—and have our guests join us on this journey“.
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