Norwegian Cruise Line® (NCL) is the innovator in global cruise travel. Together with its longtime shipbuilding partner, Fincantieri S.p.A, NCL celebrated the float-out of Norwegian Aura™. This event marks a construction milestone for the cruise company’s largest and most illuminating vessel to date.

The float out, which took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, marks the first time Norwegian Aura touched water, signifying the completion of the ship’s external hull construction. Following this milestone, the ship’s interior development will continue progressing to the next phase ahead of her debut in the spring of 2027. To commemorate the occasion and honour maritime tradition, two ceremonial coins were welded into Norwegian Aura’s hull during a traditional coin ceremony, symbolising good fortune and safe passage for the ship, her crew and future guests.

“Norwegian Aura’s float out is a proud and meaningful moment for our entire team,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “She builds on the legacy of our award-winning Prima Class. Our commitment to thoughtfully designed guest‑first experiences goes even further. Created in close collaboration with Fincantieri, the ship is designed to deliver an elevated, multi‑generational vacation. Expansive outdoor spaces, like Ocean Heights™, bring families and friends together for fun-filled days. With her flexible, open‑air design, Norwegian Aura is well-suited for Caribbean itineraries. She offers a perfect balance of high‑energy fun, relaxation, and an effortless escape for guests of all ages.”

When she enters service, Norwegian Aura will set a new benchmark for NCL. The ship is nearly 1,130 feet long and approximately 170,000 gross tons. It is 10% larger than her predecessors, Norwegian Aqua® and Norwegian Luna™. She features over 1,970 staterooms, accommodating about 3,880 guests at double occupancy.

At the heart of Norwegian Aura’s onboard experience will be Ocean Heights, an all-new open-air activities complex designed as a true multi-generational hub. Guests can enjoy the most slides of any NCL ship, including Eclipse Racers, the Company’s first duelling waterslides; Aura Free Fall, a drop-in body waterslide that plunges guests down exhilarating twists and turns; and The Wave, a pendulum-style raft slide designed to accommodate up to four guests. Nearby, guests will discover the 82-foot Aura Ropes Course, a 25-foot rock-climbing wall and Aura Midway, which offers easygoing fun with carnival-style games. At night, the activity zone will transform into a visual spectacle with immersive lighting and LED projections for a more relaxed, social atmosphere.

Norwegian Aura will introduce an expanded pool deck more than 20% larger than her predecessors, with additional seating, an extra hot tub, open lounge areas and a nearby Kids’ Aqua Park, creating more space for families to relax and play together. Adults seeking a quieter escape can retreat to the ever-popular Vibe Beach Club, the exclusive adults-only outdoor lounge. An enhanced Ocean Boulevard, extended by 11%, will wrap around the ship’s hull on deck eight with new hot tubs, seating and social spaces. Debuting family‑friendly hubs offer flexible ways for guests of every generation to enjoy time together or apart, with Adventure Alley for kids aged six to 10, Little Explorer’s Cove for the youngest sailors, and a dedicated purpose‑built Teen Hangout.

“Norwegian Aura’s float out is a symbolic and significant milestone in our partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division. “This vessel shows the strength of our collaboration and our ability to turn ideas into reality, redefining the onboard guest experience.”

Norwegian Aura will set sail on her maiden voyage on May 21, 2027, with a seven-day Mediterranean voyage departing from Trieste, Italy and calling at iconic ports in Italy and Malta, before embarking on a 14-day transatlantic crossing to the United States. Beginning June 10, 2027, she will homeport in Miami and offer a variety of seven-day voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with visits to the Company’s resort-style island destinations, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize, through March 2028.

When Norwegian Aura calls at Great Stirrup Cay for the first time in June 2027, guests will step ashore to a fully enhanced and more accessible private island experience, supported by a new multi-ship pier, a welcome plaza, and a tram service that makes moving from ship to shore and around the island easier than ever. Highlights on Great Stirrup Cay include the Great Life Lagoon, a resort-style pool area with two swim-up bars, cabanas, and lounge chairs, and the nearby Splash Harbour, offering aquatic fun for kids. It also features the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, a private beachfront retreat with premium seating and cabanas; and the Great Tides Waterpark, a nearly six-acre attraction featuring 19 waterslides, cliffside jumps, a kids’ splash zone and an immersive river experience—ensuring a seamless, flexible island day for guests of all ages, from arrival to departure.