NORWEGIAN Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has unveiled its strategic long-term fleet expansion, with eight new vessels ordered from Fincantieri, and enhanced private island development at Great Stirrup Cay.
Next-generation vessels have been ordered for NCLH’s Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) brands, with the commission representing the most comprehensive in the company’s history.
The order will see a new class of ships for each of the three cruise lines, with the vessels scheduled for delivery over a 10-year period between 2026 and 2036.
NCL is expected to take delivery of four ships of approximately 5,000 guests each, following the delivery of its four Prima Plus-class vessels in 2028.
The ships will arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036, subject to financing, NCLH said.
Meanwhile, Oceania will take delivery of two 1,450-guest ships in 2025 and 2029, following the delivery of the last of its two Allura-class ships next year.
Two 850-guest ships for RSSC will round out the order, with the pair of vessels to be delivered in 2026 and 2029.
NCLH said it has obtained funding for 80% of the contract of each of the two Oceania and RSSC ships.
Each brand will design its new ship class in partnership with Fincantieri, with the shipbuilder’s Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero praising the relationship between the two companies.
“We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come,” he said.
“Over the years, our long-standing relationship with [NCLH] has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” Folgiero added.
Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability, and other features will be announced in the coming months, NCLH said.
“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” NCLH President & Chief Executive Harry Sommer (pictured) said.
“It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” he added.
Meanwhile, infrastructure enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, will see the construction of a multi-ship pier.
The new development is slated to break ground this summer, and be completed by late next year, with NCLH investing approximately US$150 million.
The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of NCLH’s current and future ship classes, and will also enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay.
“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said. MS
