by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Wed April 1, 2026
For Norwegian Cruise Line president Marc Kazlauskas, setting sail aboard the brand-new Norwegian Luna was an “incredibly wow” moment.
“I’m blown away, I love it,” he said during the vessel’s three-day christening cruise in late March. “You can see it in the hardware, you can see it in the crew, you can see it as you walk around—the attention to detail we put into this ship.”
Norwegian Luna in Miami (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
Now sailing from Miami, the 3,565‑passenger Norwegian Luna is the 21st ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. It’s the second vessel in the brand’s new Prima Plus Class, following behind sister ship Norwegian Aqua, which debuted last year.
At 1,056 feet long and 156,000 gross tons, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna are 10 percent larger than the line’s original Prima Class ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
And while the sister ships are nearly identical, the company’s leaders did make a few subtle changes for Norwegian Luna based largely on guest feedback. They added extra seats in the buffet, installed staircases to help guests more easily navigate between levels, made technological enhancements to some of the games on the Luna Midway and created a new open-air hangout spot called Horizon Park, just to name a few.
Horizon Park onboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“We try to get better [with] each iteration and we definitely did with Norwegian Luna,” said Mark Kansley, chief experience officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “The ship, she is a wonder, she truly is.”
The lunar theme is also unique to the vessel. California-based street artist ELLE, who is also the ship’s godmother, brought the moon vibes to life with “La Luna,” a purple and blue celestial-themed motif on the ship’s bow. The color palette and design is repeated throughout the vessel, including in many of the staterooms.
The moon statue was a popular selfie spot onboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“If you think about the nighttime sky, the moon, the stars—Luna very, very much felt encapsulating of that experience,” said Kiran Smith, chief marketing officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “And then as you think about how it comes to life, the creative landscape that allowed us to play in… and bringing those elements throughout the ship was so easy, in a very good way, because you could see that magic that almost goes with Luna and the environment and feeling it has. It allowed us to have a theme that felt very premium, that felt very rich.”
Diverse Accommodations for Families
With 1,809 total staterooms, Norwegian Luna offers a wide variety of accommodations—from solo studios and oceanview cabins to spacious family balcony suites.
A balcony stateroom aboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
For travelers looking for a more exclusive experience, Norwegian Luna also offers the brand’s ship-within-a-ship concept, The Haven by Norwegian. Here, guests can retreat to spacious suites, take advantage of personalized butler and concierge service, relax on the private sundeck or take a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the stern. The Haven by Norwegian also has a private lounge and an exclusive bar.
Along with the diverse activities and entertainment offerings available onboard Norwegian Luna, the accommodations were designed with Norwegian’s target market in mind. The brand is primarily hoping to attract premium, multigenerational families made up of grandparents, parents and children who enjoy traveling together but may have different interests and budgets. The Haven, in particular, is one of the line’s “best selling points” for those customers, said Kazlauskas.
The private infinity pool in the Haven onboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“Being able to offer a product that says, ‘Look, if I'm paying for the family, I may go in [the] Haven and the rest of the family may take balcony cabins,’ and that allows you to have a little space,” said Kazlauskas. “There are families who want to be together every minute of every day, and there are families that want a little space, and that works really well.”
Global Cuisines for Every Palate
Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Luna can choose between 17 dining options offering 15 different cuisines, as well as 18 bars and lounges. For casual meals, the Indulge Food Hall is a standout, with nine stations offering made-to-order dishes from around the globe. The ship’s many specialty restaurants also explore world cuisines, such as Japanese at Hasuki, Mexican at Los Lobos, French at Le Bistro and Thai at Sukhothai.
Los Lobos, the premium Mexican specialty restaurant onboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“This ship… it is an incredible, incredible culinary journey,” said Kazlauskas. “Every meal, you could eat different cuisines through the week and still not eat everything.”
One of Kazlauskas’ personal favorites is Palomar, the vessel’s Mediterranean restaurant. The seafood-heavy menu features dishes like whole grilled lobster, Mediterranean sea bass and sea scallops, but Kazlauskas is a big fan of the whole branzino, which is meant to be shared.
“We salt-encrust it and we wheel it over on a cart,” he said. “The host cracks it open, individually fillets it, serves it to the table. Not only is the food amazing, but it’s an experience, right? That's what you look for in dining.”
For lunch, meanwhile, his go-to is Q Texas Smokehouse, one of the stations inside Indulge Food Hall.
A view of the Indulge Food Hall aboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“We have the only smoker at sea,” he said. “So while you would get Texas barbecue on another cruise line, let’s say, it’s just slopped in gooey barbecue sauce and they call it barbecue. Here, we smoke it. Here, I put that up against just about any barbecue restaurant in the U.S.”
Activities and Entertainment for All
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy an array of attractions and activities. Thrill seekers can try out the Aqua Slidecoaster, a cross between a waterslide and rollercoaster, while those looking for a mellower experience can play carnival‑inspired games on the open-air Luna Midway. Retro arcade games take centerstage in the Luna Game Zone, while sports and technology come together in the Glow Court. New for Norwegian Luna is the Moon Climber, a multi‑level obstacle course designed for kids and adults.
Families can play carnival-style games, including mini golf, on the Luna Midway (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Travelers looking for serenity can find it in the Vibe Beach Club adults-only outdoor relaxation area, as well as the Mandara Spa, which has an adults-only thermal suite with saunas, steam rooms, ice and snow rooms, vitality pools and a lounge.
The adults-only thermal suite in the Mandara Spa aboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
After dark, entertainment options abound. Norwegian Luna is debuting several new shows, which were developed at the 68,000-square-foot NCLH Creative Studios facility outside Tampa, Florida.
A highlight of the christening cruise was “Elton: A Celebration of Elton John,” an immersive, toe-tapping production with high-energy choreography, powerful vocals, over-the-top costumes and archival footage of the legendary British pianist.
Norwegian Luna is debuting “Elton: A Celebration of Elton John” (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
“We literally had audience members that were crying, that were huge Elton fans,” said Kansley. “We want to make you happy when you watch the show but some people were a little bit emotional.”
Another newcomer is “HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder,” a sci-fi-inspired multimedia show featuring cirque-style acrobatics and contemporary dance, as well as “Syd Norman’s Presents: A Tribute to Eagles,” a concert-style, mainstage production featuring talented musicians performing timeless classics like “Hotel California” and “Desperado.” Starting in April, “Syd Norma’s Presents: Rumours” will also be offered onboard Norwegian Luna.
“Syd Norman’s Presents: A Tribute to Eagles" aboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Travelers who are 21 and older can look forward to “LunaTique: Pop Circus,” an interactive and slightly risque show featuring outlandish characters and themed cocktails—like the Pucker Up and Swallow, made with rum, strawberry, vanilla, lemon and sparkling wine.
“The overall entertainment offered on the ship is incredible,” said Kansley. “Like we’re going to be leading with our island, like we’re going to be leading with our family programming, we’re definitely going to continue to lead with our entertainment.”
Norwegian Luna has a new show called "LunaTique: Pop Circus" (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Visits to Great Stirrup Cay and More
Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of Norwegian Luna in Italy in early March. The ship welcomed her first guests in Europe, then sailed across the Atlantic to Miami for her christening ceremony. For the next year, Norwegian Luna will remain homeported in Miami and offer a variety of three- and four-day Bahamas voyages, as well as seven-day Caribbean itineraries. In April 2027, Norwegian Luna will debut in New York City, offering four- to seven-day Bermuda voyages.
Norwegian Luna calls at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
During the ship’s inaugural season, it will regularly sail to Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s 270-acre private island in the Bahamas. The destination is in the midst of a $150 million expansion, with new amenities and infrastructure designed to improve the guest experience.
“We are well on our way to developing the premier and most premium island in the cruise industry,” said Kansley. “It is a game-changer and will continue to be a game-changer for our brand.”
Already, guests can enjoy several upgrades, including a new welcome plaza, new tram service and a massive 1.4-acre heated pool area called the Great Life Lagoon featuring cabanas, villas, loungers and two swim-up bars.
The new Great Life Lagoon at Great Stirrup Cay has two swim-up bars (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Families can explore the new 3,400-square-foot Splash Harbor splash pad, with interactive water fountains, aquatic features and a shaded bar and lounge for parents. Crews have also completed work on the new Vibe Shore Club, an extension of the adults-only Vibe Beach Club onboard Norwegian Luna. The island-based version features a private beach, loungers, cabanas and a bar and restaurant.
The Vibe Beach Club at Great Stirrup Cay is an extension of the Vibe Shore Club onboard Norwegian Luna (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Much of the destination remains an active construction zone. This summer, Norwegian Cruise Line also plans to open Great Tides, a nearly six-acre waterpark that encompasses 19 waterslides, cliff jumps, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone, swim-up bars, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a new jet karts water track and other experiences.
The waterpark will be divided into four zones. One is the Tidal Tower, a 170-foot-tall tower featuring eight different waterslides.
“Six out of the eight slides require a ride vehicle—two of them are mats, four of them are tubes—and then the last two are body slides,” said Chris Doval, who is overseeing the waterpark project for the company.
Cliffside Cove, meanwhile, will also have racer slides, as well as two different cliff jumps standing 10 and 15 feet tall. There’s also a family slide that will allow four guests to glide down simultaneously, as well as The Grotto Bar, a hidden cave bar tucked under the family slide.
Chris Doval shares an update on the new Great Tides Waterpark being built at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
“The whole thought with this location is spectators—being able to watch friends, family, being able to interact, enjoy the moment,” said Doval. “We have something for everyone at our waterpark.”
The 9,000-square-foot kids splash zone, called Splash Cay, will have an oversized tipping bucket towering more than 40 feet off the ground, as well as eight slides and surrounding water toys.
The waterpark will also feature an 828-foot “Wandering River” with an accelerated current that’s faster than a typical lazy river. According to Doval, the experience will take four to six minutes from start to finish. Along the way, guests will wind their way through an immersive, 110-foot long tunnel that’s partially illuminated with LED screens and projections; they can also stop for a drink at a swim-up bar located along the route.
“It has a little pool that jetties off of the river so you can get off the highway, get a drink, get back onto the highway and keep your drink in your hand,” said Doval. “It’s really unique.”
Many of Great Tides’ slides will have a 42-inch minimum height requirement, which is shorter than the 48-inch requirement at many waterparks.
“We did this purposely, with a design perspective of making sure that we can broaden our guest capacity, so we could get more ages involved and make it more of a family experience,” said Doval.
Construction is underway to enhance Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Norwegian Cruise Line is also building a new pier that will be able to accommodate two ships simultaneously. The pier will also eliminate the need for guests to tender from their ship to the island, a tricky proposition during the winter months. The double-berth pier is on track for completion by the end of the summer.
“A number of you, I’m sure, have sailed to Great Stirrup Cay and… seen the island in the distance and had to turn around because the weather conditions weren’t necessarily conducive to tendering,” said Kansley. “Depending on the week and the month, we could miss up to 75 percent of our calls in December and January to Great Stirrup Cay.”
Additionally, the company is adding a new recreational area called Horizon Park, featuring lawn games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course, half a sports court and more, as well as Hammock Bay, an area with more than 50 hammocks and a dedicated bar.
“You’re going to be able to chill, but it's going to have thrills for everybody—really a great experience,” said Kansley. “The feedback so far from guests on the enhancements we’ve made on the island have been fantastic, and they’re only going to get stronger from there.”
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