Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has placed the most comprehensive new build order in its history

The company, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has ordered a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three brands.

It also announced the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its Caribbean port of call.

The orders are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, NCL is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

Building on the launch of its Allura class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, meanwhile, is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.

NCLH order ‘solidifies’ long-term growth plans

Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCLH.

“It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

In partnership with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the “largest, most efficient, and innovative” vessels of their respective fleet.

The company has obtained export credit financing with favourable terms to fund 80 per cent of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for NCL remain subject to financing, currently underway.