VENICE — The Norwegian Aqua is one step closer to making its grand debut, celebrating its official float out yesterday in Italy.

Scheduled to debut in April 2025, Norwegian Aqua, NCL’s first ship in its expanded Prima Plus Class, reached the major construction milestone on April 23 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy, marking the first time the vessel made contact with the water. To celebrate the milestone, two ceremonial coins were welded into the ship, a maritime tradition that symbolizes and offering to ancient gods and goddesses of the sea in exchange for good luck and safe passage. The ceremony was followed by a blessing by a local chaplain and a champagne-breaking across the ship’s hull.

“We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima Class journey and supporting us in evolving the amazing experience we design and deliver for our guests,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Building upon the guest-favourite features of the award-winning vessels of this class, the 10% increase in space provides us with more flexibility to deliver more offerings and more beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore on board Norwegian Aqua.”

Spanning 1,056 feet, Norwegian Aqua will be 10% larger than the first two Prima Class vessels, providing more space and more offerings like the world’s first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide called the Aqua Slidecoaster, a new digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, and NC’s most expansive 360-degree outdoor promenade to date, Ocean Boulevard. The ship will also boast luxury accommodations in The Haven by Norwegian, including NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites.

Construction will continue on Norwegian Aqua until its debut in April 2025, when the ship will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, FL. Calls will include Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in The Bahamas. Following the ship’s Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five- and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025, and then cruise five- and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

For more information go to www.ncl.com.