Norwegian Cruise Line boasts 20 ships in its ever-growing fleet, unfold throughout seven main courses: Solar, Daybreak, Jewel, Breakaway, Breakaway Plus, Prima and Prima Plus class. (Technically, Norwegian Epic, Satisfaction of America and Norwegian Spirit stand aside in their very own, unbiased courses.)
Every class is exclusive in its personal means, with ships which will cater greatest to totally different sorts of cruisers. Right here’s the whole lot cruisers must know concerning the totally different Norwegian Cruise Line ship courses, earlier than they e-book.
Overview of NCL’s Ship Lessons
Whereas Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships is probably not as massive as these owned by Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line nonetheless holds its personal with regards to large, fun-filled ships. Over the road’s varied courses, although, the person 20 ships actually do run the gamut.
You could have smaller dimension, older ships that supply extra low-key cruising experiences, and that may go to smaller locations. Then, you might have large, resort-style ships that supply the newest and biggest facilities.
Usually, these ships are grouped collectively in varied courses, or households, of ships, with three or 4 ships that each one share related traits (when you’re not up in your cruising lingo and are questioning what all this discuss of ship courses is about).
At this time, Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships and courses stretch again to the Nineteen Nineties, with the oldest ship within the fleet being Norwegian Spirit after which the most recent ship being 2025’s Norwegian Aqua within the Prima Plus Class — and there are nonetheless extra ships to return within the subsequent few years.
Learn Additionally: Norwegian Cruise Ships By Dimension (Largest to Smallest)
This broad variation permits for many flexibility when reserving your cruise. Whether or not you wish to sail on world class vessels full of facilities, otherwise you’re content material with normal facilities like an onboard spa and sports activities courts, there’s a Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you.
Prima Plus Class
The Prima Plus class is Norwegian’s latest cruise ship class, dwelling to its most trendy and flashy cruise ships but.
Nevertheless, whereas some cruise strains like to repeatedly introduce cruise ships which are larger than all the remainder it’s ever produced (I’m you, Royal Caribbean), the Prima Plus class, whereas under no circumstances full of small ships, doesn’t boast the largest-ever ships for the cruise line — no less than not for now.
The one at present crusing ship within the class, Norwegian Aqua, and the next-to-launch ship within the class, Norwegian Luna, are each 156,300 GT — smaller than ships within the line’s prior Breakaway Plus class.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Aqua | 156,300 | 3,550 | 2025 |
| Norwegian Luna | 156,300 | 3,550 | 2026 |
| TBA | 172,000 | 3,650 | 2027 |
| TBA | 172,000 | 3,650 | 2028 |
Nevertheless, future Prima Plus class ships are deliberate that ought to exceed 172,000 GT. These yet-to-be-named ships, once they launch in a couple of years, will formally develop into Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships ever.
It’s value noting that the Prima Plus class is an off-shoot of the unique Prima class (Norwegian Cruise Line has finished this earlier than, with its Breakaway and Breakaway Plus courses, making a stable mum or dad class after which enhancing and sizing up later class ships into a brand new “plus” class).
Learn Additionally: I Tried Out the First Prima Plus Class Cruise Ship, Norwegian Aqua
As such, whereas the Prima Plus class ships are considerably just like these ships within the Prima class, additionally they supply extra to do, over a bigger footprint (about 10% bigger), with brand-new options.
For instance, Norwegian Aqua claims to be each essentially the most spacious new cruise ship at sea, with expanded outside deck area, and the brand new cruise ship at sea with the best employees ranges.
The ship counts a first-of-its-kind Aqua Slidecoaster amongst its brand-new options, which is a hybrid waterslide and rollercoaster. The ship’s VIP Haven space options new suite types, too, and the ship total provides extra lodging choices than ever earlier than.
The must-anticipated Norwegian Luna might be a twin ship to Norwegian Aqua, for all the identical to like and revel in.
Prima Class
As defined, the Prima class is the predecessor of the Prima Plus class and consists of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. The 2 NCL ships are 10% smaller than these within the Prima Plus class, as properly smaller than the ships within the older Breakaway Plus class.
That stated, they nonetheless supply tons to get pleasure from, with notable options together with the biggest go-kart tracks at sea, in addition to a 10-story dry slide.
With greater than a dozen suite classes, these ships additionally supply extra suite choices than another massive ocean liner, and a few of the largest suites and cabins not only for the model, however for the business as a complete.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Prima | 142,500 | 3,100 | 2022 |
| Norwegian Viva | 142,500 | 3,100 | 2023 |
When the ships debuted, they likewise provided the biggest Haven space but to seem on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, and extra outside deck area than another new cruise ship on the time.
In different phrases, the Prima class pushed the boundaries of each Norwegian Cruise Line and the cruising business, and the next Prima Plus class will do the identical.
Breakaway Plus Class
At the moment, the Breakaway Plus class is dwelling to Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships. The Breakaway Plus class options 4 ships, debuting between 2015 and 2019, in order that they’re all nonetheless fairly new.
The most important of all of them is Norwegian Encore, although this ship isn’t the biggest within the class when it comes to visitor capability. That honor belongs to Norwegian Escape.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Escape | 165,157 | 4,266 | 2015 |
| Norwegian Pleasure | 167,725 | 3,804 | 2017 |
| Norwegian Bliss | 168,028 | 4,004 | 2018 |
| Norwegian Encore | 169,116 | 3,998 | 2019 |
The entire ships on this class supply the massive resort really feel that you simply’ll discover on lots of the largest, latest cruise ships on the market in the present day.
There’s loads of leisure, all over the place you look, and in large leisure venues, too, that go means past your normal cruise ship theater. There are tons of eating places, lounges and bars.
In case you’re deciding between cruise ships on this class, although, it’s value noting that Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Pleasure, being the 2 older ships within the class, are nearer to the unique Breakaway class when it comes to type and facilities than Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. For instance, Norwegian Escape doesn’t have go-karts or laser tag, whereas the opposite ships do.
All in all, this class is a wonderful choice for individuals who need the massive, mega-ship really feel with tons and much to do, daily of your cruise, without having to ever set foot off the ship — however who additionally don’t essentially must sail on the most recent ships within the business.
Breakaway Class
The Breakaway class options simply two ships, that are each fairly just like the Breakaway Plus class ships in some ways, however with out the huge dimension and wealth of sights. These ships have simply barely handed their 10th birthdays, in order that they have obtained some refurbishments since launch, in 2018 and 2019.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Breakaway | 145,655 | 3,963 | 2013 |
| Norwegian Getaway | 145,655 | 3,963 | 2014 |
Neither ship has a go-kart observe or laser tag, however each ships do nonetheless have waterparks and pool areas, loads of eating places and bars. In addition they nonetheless characteristic the Haven VIP ship-within-a-ship space. Moreover, these ships had been the primary within the business to supply full-size ropes programs on their high decks.
Epic Class
The Epic class is certainly one of a handful of Norwegian Cruise Line’s totally different courses which are dwelling to only a single ship — usually as a result of the ship in query was acquired individually from a deliberate, rigorously mapped out class of ships.
In Norwegian Epic’s case, it was truly meant to be part of a brand new class of ships, however the different deliberate ships by no means got here to fruition and so the cruise line left the ship by itself, turning consideration to future endeavors.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Epic | 155,873 | 4,100 | 2010 |
Norwegian Epic provides a couple of enjoyable options, like the one tube-and-bowl waterslide on a cruise ship, in addition to a bowling alley and ice bar.
Because it’s nonetheless on the bigger aspect (no less than for Norwegian Cruise Line), Norwegian Epic is an efficient match for individuals who are additionally followers of the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus courses.
In case you’re frightened concerning the ship’s age, don’t be — she was refurbished in 2015, protecting her comparable with the opposite Norwegian Cruise Line ships that debuted across the identical time.
Jewel Class
Whenever you drop into the Jewel class, you actually begin to see a noticeable dimension distinction between this class, with its mid-2000s ships, and the newer ships within the fleet. Whereas they’re not fairly half the scale of a few of Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships, they’re undoubtedly considerably smaller.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Jewel | 93,502 | 2,376 | 2005 |
| Norwegian Jade | 93,558 | 2,402 | 2006 |
| Norwegian Pearl | 93,530 | 2,394 | 2006 |
| Norwegian Gem | 93,530 | 2,394 | 2007 |
Nonetheless, for individuals who wish to cruise on a firmly mid-size ship, they’ll discover a lot to get pleasure from on the Jewel class ships.
Whereas there aren’t 20-plus meals retailers on these ships, you’ll nonetheless have 10-plus eateries to dine at throughout a trip, and leisure like swimming pools and theaters. Simply don’t count on something super-flashy or any large thrills for the adventurers on the market.
Satisfaction of America Class
Satisfaction of America is, like Norwegian Epic, a cruise ship all on its lonesome, in a category of its personal creation.
Debuted in 2005 and refurbished in 2016, Satisfaction of America was initially meant to guide a category that might be devoted to U.S.-flagged cruise ships. At its very starting, it wasn’t even owned by Norwegian Cruise Line.
Nevertheless, the unique mum or dad firm, American Traditional Voyages, which needed to spice up the American shipyard enterprise, declared chapter when the ship was nonetheless underneath building, and Norwegian Cruise Line swooped in to accumulate the half-built ship.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Satisfaction of America | 80,439 | 2,186 | 2005 |
Norwegian Cruise Line did nonetheless honor a few of the unique plans for the ship. The ship continues to be US-flagged and has a largely American crew.
It additionally primarily operates Hawaiian islands itineraries and, as such, it has no on line casino on-board (playing is unlawful within the state, so ship casinos have to shut up when the ships are in Hawaiian waters — because the ship primarily sails to and from Hawaii, it simply is smart to haven’t any on line casino in any respect).
This ship has undergone a number of dry docks all through its life, together with in 2013 and 2016, updating the ship to trendy requirements and including further staterooms and suites, in addition to eating and leisure venues.
Daybreak Class
Each ships within the Daybreak class had been initially ordered by Star Cruises. Nevertheless, earlier than the ships might be delivered to the cruise line, the ships had been redirected to Norwegian Cruise Line, which was, on the time, a Star Cruises subsidiary.
Norwegian Daybreak is notable as the primary Norwegian Cruise Line ship to characteristic hull artwork, a spotlight that’s develop into synonymous with the model.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Star | 91,740 | 2,348 | 2001 |
| Norwegian Daybreak | 92,250 | 2,340 | 2002 |
Each of those ships are fairly corresponding to the ships within the Jewel class. They’re on the small aspect and don’t have a ton of facilities. Of these facilities it does have, none are excessive. Nonetheless, the ships have been refurbished lately (2016 for Norwegian Daybreak and 2018 for Norwegian Star).
As such, when you don’t thoughts a smaller, older ship, and don’t want any fancy bells or whistles throughout your cruise, you’ll seemingly have a positive time crusing on both of those ships.
Solar Class
The Solar class is the oldest “conventional” class in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. I say “conventional,” as a result of, whereas there may be one ship older than the 2 ships within the Solar class, it’s one other a type of outliers that has a category to itself.
The Solar class options the smallest ships within the fleet by visitor capability, with every of the 2 ships carrying solely round 2,000 passengers.
Learn Additionally: Norwegian Cruise Ships by Age – Latest to Oldest
Norwegian Sky was initially Costa Cruises’ Costa Olympia, however, earlier than the ship might be delivered, Costa Cruises suspended the ship’s building, citing monetary woes. Norwegian Cruise Line bought the ship, completed her up and debuted her as Norwegian Sky.
After crusing as Norwegian Sky for 4 years, although, Norwegian Cruise Line determined to shift the ship to the identical class as Satisfaction of America, renaming her Satisfaction of Aloha. Satisfaction of Aloha sailed for one more 4 years, earlier than turning into Norwegian Sky as soon as once more.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Sky | 77,104 | 2,004 | 1999 |
| Norwegian Solar | 78,309 | 1,935 | 2001 |
Norwegian Solar, in the meantime, doesn’t have fairly the dramatic backstory. Nonetheless, you gained’t discover a lot distinction between the 2 ships. Each have been renovated lately to maintain them in as positive a working order as potential given their age.
It’s additionally essential to know that NCL truly introduced in early April 2025 that each vessels are being offloaded to the Indian-based cruise line Cordelia Cruises. The excellent news is that they aren’t being scrapped and can proceed to sail.
These ships are greatest for individuals who actually get pleasure from a extra laid-back temper of cruising, who’re on board for leisure, to lie by the pool, and get off for a full day in every port.
The eating, consuming and leisure choices are few and much between, and the staterooms are nothing to put in writing dwelling about. Nonetheless, for individuals who aren’t in search of a luxurious cruise, or a resort expertise, the ships greater than ship an pleasing, intimate setting.
Spirit Class
Final, however definitely not least, there’s Norwegian Spirit, the one and solely ship of the Spirit class. Initially getting into service in 1998 (don’t fear — there was a refurbishment that happened as just lately as 2020), the ship is the smallest within the fleet when it comes to gross tonnage.
Like a few of the different oldest vessels within the fleet, Norwegian Spirit was initially a unique ship by a unique identify, crusing for a unique cruise line. It was a Star Cruises ship, the place it operated underneath the identify SuperStar Leo.
| Ship Identify | Gross Tonnage | Capability | Yr Entered Service |
| Norwegian Spirit | 75,904 | 2,018 | 1998 |
Nevertheless, in 2004, Star Cruises turned the ship over to Norwegian Cruise Line, as a way to meet Norwegian Cruise Line’s better demand (due, partly, to delays launching Satisfaction of America) at which level the ship was rebranded.
The 2020 refurbishment was in depth, costing greater than $100 million and encompassing the addition of a number of new eating places, new bars, new staterooms and extra.
Future Ships
Past the upcoming Prima Plus-class ships which are set to debut within the latter half of this decade, Norwegian Cruise Line has even larger and higher ships on order, for 2030 and past.
These ships might be a part of an unnamed class that can embody 4 ships, all debuting between 2030 and 2036, and that might be 225,000 gross tons and able to accommodating 5,100 passengers every.
Value Studying: Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean – The Variations
The ships are at present simply on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, nevertheless it’s anticipated that they’ll be not simply the most important cruise ships within the firm’s historical past, but in addition essentially the most power environment friendly and essentially the most total modern.
