7 Big Changes Coming to Norwegian in 2026

Norwegian Cruise Line has an ambitious roadmap for 2026, with new ships joining the fleet, fresh itineraries and home ports, and a raft of upgrades to ships and private islands.

At the same time, NCL will push forward on eco‐initiatives and new tech.

Below is a detailed look at all the confirmed changes and some unmissable rumors for NCL in 2026.

New Ships and Fleet Developments

NCL Luna, a Prima‑Plus class cruise ship, will enter service in April 2026.

Built by Fincantieri, Luna carries about 3,571 double‑occupancy guests (roughly 4,800 total) and measures about 156,300 GT.

She will offer many of the same features as her sister ship, Aqua, including a water coaster and expanded dining venues.

Following Luna, two more larger Prima‑Plus ships are on order for 2027 and 2028. The 2027 and 2028 ships will each be around 169,000 GT with a capacity of about 3,650 guests and will be built “methanol-ready” for future fuel.

Fleet Reductions and Refurbishments

At the same time, NCL is retiring some older ships. Notably, the 2,000-passenger sister ships Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun will leave NCL in 2026–2027 (to Cordelia Cruises) as NCL shifts to larger, newer vessels.

At the same time, several existing ships are being upgraded. In early 2025, Norwegian Bliss underwent a drydock (Jan–Feb 2025), adding Horizon Park, an outdoor lawn, a style deck with games, and expanding the ship’s top suites.

Bliss gained two new 3‑bedroom Haven Penthouse Suites and 24 extra balcony cabins on deck 15.

Norwegian Breakaway’s drydock (Feb–Mar 2025) added the Silver Screen Bistro (a dine-in movie venue) and an outdoor Stadium activity deck.

Both ships also got Palomar (new seafood restaurant) replacing Ocean Blue and larger Cagney’s Steakhouse venues. These upgrades to the fleet carry forward into the 2026 season.

Itineraries & New Destinations

NCL’s 2026 cruise itineraries expand its reach in the Caribbean, Bahamas, North America, and beyond.

Norwegian Jewel will homeport at Philadelphia in spring 2026, the first major cruise ship to do so, operating 7‑day round-trip Bermuda cruises.

Similarly, Norwegian Aqua will sail 5‑ and 7‑night Bermuda itineraries from New York City, stopping at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegians Prima and Viva will continue Caribbean service: Prima will run 7‑day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, visiting Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Great Stirrup Cay.

New Orleans and Miami remain major embarkation ports for Caribbean sailings, and short getaways are offered from Miami as well.

On the U.S. East Coast, Norwegian Joy will launch 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises from Miami (calling at Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay), perfect for quick winter breaks.

Norwegian Getaway will also operate 3‑, 4‑, and 7‑night Bahamas cruises from Miami in fall 2026, marking NCL’s first fall Bahamas season on a large cruise ship.

On the West Coast, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Star will continue weeklong Mexican Riviera sailings out of Los Angeles and San Diego, with ports like Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.

Lastly, NCL’s Alaska program for summer 2026 will feature four ships (Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Jade, and Joy) offering Glacier Bay-inclusive cruises with extended port stays.

Overall, NCL is adding new U.S. homeports (Philadelphia, expanded New York itineraries) and fresh cruise combinations.

At the same time, it maintains popular Caribbean routes from Florida and New Orleans, and broadens its international presence in Asia, Australia, and Alaska.

Onboard Experience Upgrades (Cabins, Dining, Entertainment)

NCL is introducing many new features on its ships. The Prima‑Plus ships (Aqua and Luna) feature the Aqua Slidecoaster, a first-of-its-kind roller-coaster–water-slide hybrid.

There is also a high‐tech illuminated sports court (“Glow Court”) for games and competitions.

On existing ships, the new Horizon Park outdoor deck (first added to Bliss) brings lawn games and sun lounges under the open sky. Breakaway’s updates include “The Stadium” outdoor activity deck and expanded Vibe Beach Club areas.

In terms of the cabins, premium suite offerings continue to expand.

New Prima‑Plus ships introduced dedicated three-bedroom duplex suites (the first on NCL) and expanded The Haven with larger balconies. On older ships, more balcony staterooms have been added to meet demand.

Dining options are also growing. Luna (and Aqua) will debut specialty restaurants like Sukhothai, offering Thai cuisine, and Planterie, offering a plant-based menu.

Private Island Enhancements

In late 2025, NCL will complete a major expansion of its flagship private island, Great Stirrup Cay. This includes a new multi-ship pier (so two large ships can dock simultaneously), plus an expansive heated pool complex with a swim-up bar and children’s splash zone.

A welcome center and tram service will make island access seamless. New amenities include the adults-only Vibe Beach Club (private cabanas, loungers, and upgraded service) and Horizon Park, a grassed play area with lawn games.

There will also be a hammock lounge and a tiki-themed relaxation area.

Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives

NCL continues to advance its “Sail & Sustain” program with clear targets and partnerships.

In 2023, NCL set short-term greenhouse gas reduction goals: reduce GHG intensity by 10% by 2026 and 25% by 2030 (each relative to 2019). These interim targets cover not only ship emissions but also the full “well-to-wake” impact of fuel.

To cut carbon intensity, NCL signed an 8-year deal (with Repsol, Oct 2025) for renewable marine fuels at Barcelona. Starting in 2026, NCL’s fleet can receive biofuels certified under EU sustainability standards when in Barcelona.

In addition, NCL is investing in energy efficiency across its fleet. Examples include upgraded HVAC and lighting systems, waste-heat recovery units, and advanced route/voyage planning to minimize fuel use.

Technology and Digital Innovations

Norwegian is also rolling out tech upgrades to enhance the guest experience. In mid-2024, NCL launched an all-new Norwegian Cruise Line App that allows users to book cruises, manage reservations, and check in before sailing.

Once onboard, guests can use the app to purchase packages and excursions. Importantly, the app includes a 24/7 customer chat feature, so passengers can get real-time assistance during their voyage.

The rollout began in late 2024, but we expect NCL to focus increasingly on this aspect with the introduction of virtual assistants.

High-speed internet has also become a focus. All NCL ships are now equipped with Starlink satellite Wi-Fi.

This was rolled out via NCL’s “More At Sea” value package, which bundles unlimited premium drinks, dining credits, and includes Starlink internet.

In practice, this means guests on 2026 cruises enjoy fast, reliable Wi-Fi at sea (and even $50 shore credits) as part of the package.

While less publicized, NCL is also adopting other innovations: digital signage for news/activities, RFID keycards, and touchless payments and wayfinding in major ports.

In short, Norwegian is leveraging technology to modernize the cruise experience from booking through disembarkation.

If you are planning to go on a cruise with NCL, don’t forget to check out the updated ranking of ships from worst to best.

Unconfirmed News

Industry analysts expect NCL’s future ships to build on these trends. For example, the announced 2030+ “new class” ships will be among the largest ever built and will almost certainly incorporate more green tech.

There is also talk of applying lessons from Great Stirrup Cay’s redesign to Harvest Caye and exploring new branded dining or entertainment partnerships.

In summary, 2026 will be a busy year for NCL. The fleet gains its newest ship and lays groundwork for even larger ships, while itineraries expand from new U.S. ports to completely new destinations.