Norwegian Cruise Line invited a select group of international press to Venice to tour the construction site of its next ship, Norwegian Aqua, and to unveil some new details about its future.
Reporters from around the world gathered at the majestic Hotel Excelsior on the Lido in Venice, the founding venue of the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, which brings together the brightest stars of the cinematic world each year.
From there, NCL invited us to discover the most enchanting corners of the Venetian lagoon, visiting a glassblowing factory in Murano, and eating in vineyards adjacent to the idyllic island of Burano.
It was just the prelude to a spectacular evening in the impressive Stucchi Room of the Excelsior Hotel, where the top management of NCLH, with Harry Sommer, CEO and President of NCLH; and David Herrera, President of NCL, at the helm, revealed all the new developments.
Aqua Slidecoaster
The first, already hinted at by the photos from the launch events, is that the Norwegian Aqua won't have a go-kart track, but rather large water slides. Actually, they're more than that; it's an Aqua Slidecoaster, a hybrid between a roller coaster and a water slide where mechanical arms push your float up a slope to the launch point.
Prince's musical aboard the Norwegian Aqua
The second new development was the announcement that the Norwegian Aqua will have two new and exclusive entertainment offerings: “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince”, and “Elements: The World Expanded”.
The first of these is an immersive show that will be performed for the first time in tribute to Prince, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince”, carried out in collaboration with Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music, will pay homage and celebrate the Oscar®-winning, seven-time Grammy®-winning and thirty-eight-time nominee, musical experience that resembles a concert where the most acclaimed songs of the music icon will be included, such as “Let's Go Crazy”, “Little Red Corvette”, “Delirious”, “Purple Rain”, and many others.
In addition, NCL will be enhancing its most popular guest show, “Elements,” with new surprises in “Elements: The World Expanded.” Combining acrobatics, magic, and intrigue, this spectacular show draws inspiration from the four elements—earth, wind, water, and fire—to delight guests with a breathtaking array of pleasant and unexpected surprises.
Both productions were developed by NCL's own production team at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' Creative Studios in Tampa, Florida, in collaboration with Patricia Wilcox, an award-winning Broadway choreographer and director and a longtime NCL partner. From original costumes to world-class entertainment, the Creative Studios has been producing its own shows since 2008.
Visit to the Norwegian Aqua at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera
With six months to go before its launch, the pace of work on the Norwegian Aqua is frenetic. With the hull now complete and afloat, work is underway on the installation of cabins and, above all, on the wiring and piping that will support all the systems of this fabulous ship.
Next ship: Norwegian Luna
Next, NCL unveiled the name and appearance of the next ship: Norwegian Luna, whose hull art will showcase a lush dreamscape by ELLE, the renowned street artist from Napa, California, who has collaborated with renowned brands such as Nike, Reebok, and Ralph Lauren, and who was among the guests at the event.
The artwork, titled “The Moon,” is a visual exploration of humanity’s deep-rooted connection to the celestial forces of space, as human beings are intrinsically linked to the ebb and flow of the moon. “The Moon” will be proudly displayed on the bow of the ship, guiding guests on an epic and extraordinary journey of discovery.
The Norwegian Luna will be a sister ship to the Norwegian Aqua. It will be 322 meters long, have a gross tonnage of 156,300, and a capacity for approximately 3,550 guests at double occupancy.
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