NCL orders four more ships – with option for two others

New look: One of the latest class of ships (Picture: NCL)

Norwegian Cruise Line has ordered four more ships – with an option for two more – to be delivered yearly from 2022.

It has reached an agreement with Italian ship builder Fincantieri to supply the 140,000-ton vessels, each costing 800million euro (£680million/$850million) and able to carry around 3,300 passengers.

Details of what NCL calls the ships’ ‘many innovative guest-facing and first-at-sea features’ will be announced in due course, though energy efficiency is said to be a priority.

The fleet will be smaller than Norwegian Joy, which launches this year, and nearer the size of Norwegian Getaway.

‘This new class of ships will continue Norwegian Cruise Line brand’s legacy of introducing meaningful innovation to the cruise industry,’ said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

‘For the past 50 years, Norwegian Cruise Line has been focused on offering our guests the very best in cruising,’ said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of NCL.  ‘It is with great excitement that we look ahead to our next 50 years, which includes this next generation of ships that will offer guests the innovative experiences that have come to define the Norwegian Cruise Line brand.’

The ships are due to enter service in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, with an option for two more to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.