Tag Archives: NCL

Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome

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Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, welcomed her first guests in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

The ship is scheduled to make her U.S. debut in Miami on March 23, 2026, followed by a christening ceremony on March 27.

Following Fincantieri’s delivery of the vessel to Norwegian last week, the company shared new images of the ship, featuring what it calls a bold and modern design, in a press release.

“Norwegian Luna is an absolutely beautiful ship and the true definition of what it means to cruise with NCL,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“After getting a first look at the ship, I am so excited for guests to enjoy the wide-open, outdoor spaces bringing them closer to the sea, the intimate yet thoughtful areas to retreat to and the electrifying entertainment and mouth watering cuisine,”

In addition to the Aqua Slide coaster, which was recently named the “Best Water Park Ride/Attraction,” the Luna will feature Luna Midway, an amusement park-style outdoor area featuring carnival-inspired games.

There will also be Moon Climber, a multi-level obstacle course designed for kids and adults; and Horizon Park, a complimentary recreational area featuring lawn-style games, all located across the ship’s top decks.

Guests looking for relaxation can visit the two-story Mandara Spa with its of saunas, treatment rooms and an expansive Thermal Suite with 180-degree views of the ocean.

In the entertainment section there’s the “Elton: A Celebration of Elton John” a concert-style experience honoring the music of Sir Elton John, and “HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder,” a multimedia production blending cirque-style acrobatics and contemporary dance.

After reaching Miami, the Norwegian Luna will sail her inaugural season to the Caribbean, before debuting in New York City on April 6, 2027.

Jefferies Raises Viking Price Target, Keeps Hold on Norwegian

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Jefferies Raises Viking Price Target, Keeps Hold on Norwegian

Viking Vela, photo credit Spacejunkie2 – https://flic.kr/ps/GkiQt

Jefferies analyst David Katz updated his outlook on two major cruise operators this week following their fourth quarter and year end 2025 earnings, lifting his price target on Viking while maintaining a cautious stance on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Viking Impresses

In a note sent to investors, Katz raised his price target on Viking $91 from $80, reiterating a buy rating, after the company posted its fourth quarter and full year results.

Occupancy of 95.0%, against Katz’s 92.7% projection, led the outperformance, driven by particularly strong ocean segment results where occupancy improved 330 basis points year-over-year. Net yields rose 11.0% in the quarter, roughly double analyst expectations.

Looking ahead, Viking said fiscal 2026 is now 86% booked, up from more than 70% as of the third quarter.

“The clarity of growth is also critical support for the increasing valuation multiples we apply,” Katz wrote, adding that he expects Viking to “continue to outperform peers within cruise and across our coverage, largely irrespective of valuation levels.”

Katz also noted that Viking’s river operations are effectively fully fuel-hedged through forward purchase agreements, and that its only itineraries near the Iran conflict, a small percentage of 2026 capacity in Egypt, have not prompted guest concerns.

Norwegian: Hold, $20 Target

Katz was less upbeat on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reiterating a hold rating and maintaining his $20 price target.

Management said Norwegian is running slightly behind its optimal booking curve for 2026, he said, and plans to prioritize occupancy recovery, a strategy Katz acknowledged as “a necessary strategic move” but one that “likely comes with lower pricing in the near term.”

On the cost side, Katz said SG&A reductions are now the target for savings, with ship costs already reduced meaningfully. He expects those efforts to gain traction in the second half of 2026 and into 2027.

“Given guidance for leverage greater than 5.0x through YE26, we remain conservative on the shares,” he wrote.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Orders Three More Ships

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Orders Three More Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holding today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Fincantieri for the design and construction of three new cruise ships.

The order includes one ship for each of the company’s brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with one vessel to be built as a sister ship to Oceania Sonata, one as a sister ship to Seven Seas Prestige, and one as a sister ship to the previously announced Norwegian Cruise Line newbuilds order.

All three ships will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Italy and delivered between 2036 and 2037.

“Together with Fincantieri, a trusted partner for decades, we continue to advance a disciplined approach to fleet growth that builds on the strength of our brands, defines the future of cruising and elevates the guest experience for years to come,” said John W. Chidsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCLH. “This agreement secures access to valuable shipyard capacity through the end of 2037, supporting our long-term growth while maintaining financial discipline and driving sustainable shareholder value.”

The company said this new ship order supports the Company’s long-term growth pipeline and competitive position with modest initial capital outlays, allowing it to remain focused on strengthening the balance sheet and reducing leverage.

Following this agreement, NCLH now has a total of 17 newbuilds on order; with Norwegian Cruise Line totaling eight newbuilds through 2037, five newbuilds for Oceania Cruises to be delivered through 2037 and four newbuilds to be delivered through 2036 for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This newbuild pipeline supports an expected 4 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2026 through 2037, consistent with the company’s measured approach to expanding its fleet while investing in next-generation ships.

YearBrandDetailTonsBerths
Q1 2026Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Luna~156,000~3,565
Q4 2026Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige~77,000~822
2027Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Aura~170,000~3,880
2027Oceania CruisesOceania Sonata~86,000~1,390
2028Norwegian Cruise LineNext Generation “Methanol-Ready” Norwegian Prima Class~170,000~3,880
2029Oceania CruisesOceania Arietta~86,000~1,390
2030Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 1~227,000~5,000
2030Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 2~77,000~822
2032Oceania CruisesSonata Class 3~86,000~1,390
2032Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 2~227,000~5,000
2033Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 3~77,000~822
2034Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 3~227,000~5,000
2035Oceania CruisesSonata Class 4~86,000~1,390
2036Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 4~227,000~5,000
2036Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 4~77,000~822
2037Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 5~227,000~5,000
2037Oceania CruisesSonata Class 5~86,000~1,390