New Norwegian Aqua Floats Out At Fincantieri

Norwegian Cruise Line and its partners at Fincantieri celebrated the float out of the Norwegian Aqua from the drydock at the shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy.

This marks the completion of the external work on the ship ahead of its April 2025 debut.

As per maritime tradition, two ceremonial coins were welded into the Norwegian Aqua, which historically symbolized an offering to gods and goddesses of the sea in exchange for good luck and safe passage. The ceremony was followed by a blessing by a local chaplain and celebratory champagne breaking across the ship’s hull.

“We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima Class journey and supporting us in evolving the amazing experience we design and deliver for our guests,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Building upon the guest-favourite features of the award-winning vessels of this class, the 10 per cent increase in space provides us with more flexibility to deliver more offerings and more beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore on board Norwegian Aqua.”

At 156,300 gross tons and a length that spans 1,056 feet, the Norwegian Aqua will be 10 per cent larger than the first two Prima Class ships. The ship will also offer luxurious accommodations in The Haven by Norwegian®, including the line’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites.  

 “We are excited to mark this significant moment with Norwegian Cruise Line as we witness the float out of Norwegian Aqua, which represents a new chapter in our long-lasting partnership,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division. “We are proud to be part of this transformative journey in which innovation, a cornerstone of our industrial plan, is one of our key points, as we strive to push boundaries and elevate industry standards.”

Norwegian Viva to Undergo Enhancements During Crossing; Venues Closed

According to a letter sent to booked guests, the Norwegian Viva will be undergoing significant enhancements during its upcoming trans-Atlantic crossing.

Set to depart from Puerto Rico on April 7, 2024, the 19-night repositioning cruise is scheduled to end in Lisbon, Portugal.

According to Norwegian Cruise Line, several spaces onboard will be closed as the upgrades take place during the voyage.

“As part of our commitment to continuously offer extraordinary vacation experiences for our guests around the world, and to uphold a consistent world-class product across our fleet, Norwegian Viva will be undergoing some enhancements during your cruise,” the company said in a prepared statement.

“The Speedway Bar will be converted into an all-new Entourage, offering teenagers aged 13 to 17 a dedicated area for them to meet and engage with others their age. Additionally, we will be making some upgrades to the Galaxy Pavilion, the virtual reality complex,” Norwegian continued.

“To complete these enhancements, The Bull’s Eye, Tee Time (mini-golf), The Stadium, The Wave and a section of the Galaxy Pavilion will be closed during your voyage. However, if we are able to reopen these venues during this voyage, we will communicate accordingly,” the company added.

Norwegian Cruise Line also highlighted Norwegian Viva’s remaining entertainment and activities offerings.

“Rest assured, there will still be plenty of activities available to entertain you during your days at sea, including the Speedway, The Drop, The Rush and the Aqua Park,” the company explained.

“We sincerely apologize for this unexpected event and want to assure you that our dedicated team is committed to ensuring you have an unforgettable vacation experience.”

Built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Norwegian Viva entered service for Norwegian Cruise Line in August 2023.

The Prima-class vessel is currently wrapping up its first winter program in the Caribbean ahead of a second summer season in the Mediterranean.

NCLH: Measured Cruise Capacity Growth at 28%

A key cornerstone of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ long-term strategy is measured capacity growth, said Harry Sommer, president and CEO, speaking on the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call.

He pointed to the company’s newbuild pipeline of five ships and its 2023 to 2028 capacity growth, which represents 28 more supply for the company’s trio of brands in Norwegian, Oceania and Regent.

That averages out to a compound annual growth rate of five percent, he advised.

“Historically, capacity growth has led to outsized revenue and EBITDA growth and we expect this capacity growth to be no different and deliver meaningful top and bottom line growth,” Sommer noted.

“We believe that these measured capacity additions will enable us to further enhance our long-term profitability and continue to significantly strengthen our balance sheet while providing guests new and innovative experiences,” he said.

“We continue to experience strong and resilient customer demand across all three of our brands. The strong momentum we saw in 2023 has continued into 2024 with an all-time high booked position and pricing buoyed by strong wave season demand. This has led to some of the best booking weeks in the company history, which began with successful Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions.

“In general, we continue to see healthy demand across all markets, brands and products.”