Norwegian Cruise Line Opens Bookings for Its Largest Ship Aura

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened bookings for Norwegian Aura, a newbuild the company says will become the longest and largest ship in its fleet. The Prima Plus-class vessel is scheduled for delivery in May 2027 and is set to debut in Europe later that month before beginning a Caribbean season from Miami in June 2027.

How Norwegian Aura fits into Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet plans

Norwegian Aura is slated to measure nearly 1,130 feet in length and about 169,000 gross tons. At double occupancy, it is designed to carry 3,840 guests and is expected to be roughly 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.

The ship is being built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with construction linked to the company’s facility in the Venice-area Marghera industrial zone. Norwegian Cruise Line has positioned Aura as an expansion of its Prima platform, with larger outdoor areas and more suite inventory than its immediate predecessors.

Outdoor-focused attractions and family activity zones

A centerpiece of the ship’s design is Ocean Heights, a four-deck open-air activity hub spanning decks 18 through 21. Norwegian Cruise Line said the area is designed to shift from daytime activities to nighttime use with lighting and LED projection effects.

Ocean Heights is also set to give Norwegian Aura the most waterslides in the NCL fleet. The lineup includes Eclipse Racers, described as the brand’s first dueling mat-racer waterslides and stretching more than 400 feet.

• Aura Free Fall is described as a body slide with a drop effect and a stated 250-foot ride path.
• The Wave is a raft ride designed for groups of up to four and spans 300 feet.
• The Drop is the Prima Class dry slide that travels down 10 decks, from deck 18 to deck 8.

Additional Ocean Heights features include an 82-foot ropes course, a 25-foot rock climbing wall, a nine-hole mini golf course, and an outdoor games area branded as Aura Midway. The area also adds overhanging private cabanas positioned above the Vibe Beach Club, along with a dedicated bar.

Pool deck changes, youth spaces, and expanded outdoor promenade

Norwegian Aura’s main pool deck is set to be the largest in the fleet, described as more than 20% larger than the pool decks on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna. Planned updates include expanded seating, an additional infinity hot tub, a larger LED screen for top-deck entertainment, and more lounge areas.

Nearby, the ship will also introduce a kids’ aqua park with a splash pad and interactive water features, plus two family-oriented slides: the Party Slide and the Infinity Loop. Norwegian Cruise Line also highlighted Horizon Park on deck 19 as an outdoor lawn-games and seating area.

On deck 8, Norwegian Aura will feature Ocean Boulevard, the Prima Class wraparound outdoor promenade. On Aura, the promenade is planned to be extended by 11% compared with Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, adding seating and activities, as well as new hot tubs and a new bar.

The forward portion of Ocean Boulevard is also being configured with age-targeted spaces for younger cruisers and teens.

• Adventure Alley is planned for children ages 6 to 10, with crawl spaces and tunnels.
• Little Explorer’s Cove is aimed at ages 2 to 6, featuring a playhouse and slides.
• Teen Hangout is a dedicated lounge-style area for teenagers, described as an ocean-facing retreat that includes a surf photo wall.

Suite inventory, The Haven, and adults-only space

Norwegian Aura is set to have 1,976 staterooms across categories from studios to suites. Within that inventory, 159 accommodations are part of The Haven by Norwegian, a keycard-access complex positioned as the line’s “ship-within-a-ship” offering.

Norwegian Cruise Line said The Haven will include 30% more suites than earlier Prima Class ships, giving Aura the most suites in the fleet. The Haven’s dedicated spaces are set to include a sundeck with an infinity pool, two hot tubs, and an outdoor sauna and cold room, along with a private bar and lounge and a dedicated restaurant.

For adults-only outdoor space beyond The Haven, the Vibe Beach Club is designed to be 15% larger than the versions on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, with more seating, infinity hot tubs, and a waterfall feature.

Design partners and new hull art

Norwegian Cruise Line said Norwegian Aura’s interiors will involve multiple design firms, including AD Associates, Rockwell Group, SMC Design, and Studio Dado, alongside Piero Lissoni’s involvement in The Haven. The Haven suites are being designed by Piero Lissoni, while Studio Dado is credited with designing The Haven’s lounge, restaurant, and outdoor deck areas.

The ship will also feature new hull art created by international artist Rosie Woods. Woods said, “I’m thrilled to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line,” adding that she is excited to see the artwork “come to life” and travel “day and night.” Norwegian Cruise Line described the concept as drawing on celestial light and bioluminescent seas.

Debut sailings in Europe, then a repositioning to Miami

Norwegian Aura’s first scheduled cruise is a seven-night Mediterranean itinerary departing Trieste, Italy, on May 21, 2027, and arriving in Barcelona, Spain. The sailing includes calls in Valletta, Malta, plus Salerno and Rome (via Civitavecchia) in Italy.

After the inaugural week, the ship is scheduled for a transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Miami in late May 2027. In deployment details released for the crossing, the itinerary includes port visits to Cádiz and Motril in Spain and Gibraltar before the Atlantic passage.

Caribbean deployment and private-destination calls

Norwegian Aura’s Miami program begins in June 2027 with week-long Caribbean itineraries. Norwegian Cruise Line said summer 2027 will focus on the Eastern Caribbean, with the winter 2027/28 season shifting to the Western Caribbean.

For its first Miami summer, the ship’s Eastern Caribbean routes include stops such as Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, along with a call at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

For the winter 2027/28 season, Norwegian Aura is scheduled to operate Western Caribbean itineraries calling at Roatán in Honduras and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, along with Harvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private destination off the coast of Belize.

Great Stirrup Cay updates tied to Aura’s deployment

Norwegian Cruise Line linked Aura’s Caribbean program to updates at Great Stirrup Cay. The company said new experiences opened in late 2025, including Great Life Lagoon, a pool area with swim-up bars, loungers, and a kids’ splash zone, plus Vibe Shore Club, an adults-only area.

The island is also set to add Great Tides Waterpark in 2026, described as nearly six acres with 19 waterslides, cliffside jumps, and a river-style attraction.

What executives are saying

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., said, “We are proud to introduce the newest, and largest, addition to our fleet, Norwegian Aura.” Sommer added that the ship was created to give guests “the freedom to vacation their very own way,” and said the company is looking ahead to guests experiencing the new vessel.

With bookings now open, Norwegian Aura is set to enter service with its inaugural Mediterranean sailing on May 21, 2027, followed by its transatlantic repositioning and the start of Miami-based Caribbean itineraries in June 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does Norwegian Aura start sailing?

The ship’s first scheduled cruise is a seven-night Mediterranean sailing departing Trieste, Italy, on May 21, 2027, and arriving in Barcelona, Spain. It is then scheduled for a transatlantic crossing in late May 2027 before beginning Caribbean service from Miami in June 2027.

How big is Norwegian Aura, and how does it compare with Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna?

Norwegian Cruise Line says Aura will be its longest and largest ship at nearly 1,130 feet and about 169,000 gross tons. At double occupancy, the ship is designed for 3,840 guests and is expected to be roughly 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.

What is Ocean Heights on Norwegian Aura?

Ocean Heights is a four-deck open-air activity complex spanning decks 18 through 21. Norwegian Cruise Line said it is designed to shift from daytime activities to nighttime use with lighting and LED projection effects, and it will include five waterslides as well as attractions such as a ropes course, rock climbing wall, mini golf, and an outdoor games area.

Which private destinations are included in Norwegian Aura’s Caribbean itineraries?

Norwegian Cruise Line said the ship’s week-long Caribbean itineraries are planned to include calls at either Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas or Harvest Caye off Belize, depending on the specific itinerary.