Today marks the first day of sales for Norwegian Aura, the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) — the company’s longest (1,130 feet long) and largest (169,000 tons, hosting 3,840 passengers) vessel to date.
At 10% larger than sister ships Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, Aura is currently under construction by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Interiors have been designed by AD Associates, Piero Lissoni, Rockwell Group, SMC Design and Studio Dado. The hull will feature work from Rosie Woods, an artist known for her large murals and collaborations with global brands.
What’s New Onboard Aura?
The ship will feature a brand-new, open-air activities complex, Ocean Heights, which will span four decks and feature an 82-foot-long Aura Ropes Course and a 25-foot rock climbing wall. There's also Aura Midway, where families can opt to play carnival games during a theme park-like experience.
Aura will also feature the largest number of waterslides in Norwegian’s fleet (with five in Ocean Heights). Other slides include Eclipse Racers (NCL’s first dueling mat racer slides); Aura Free Fall; The Wave (a pendulum-style raft attraction for groups); and The Drop, which is a favorite onboard other Prima Class ships, among others. For those who prefer to sunbathe or lounge poolside, Aura’s pool decks are also 20% larger than its sister ships.
Ocean Boulevard, a signature Prima Class amenity that fans of the line will be familiar with, is an outdoor promenade that wraps around the entire ship, but it will be extended by 11% compared to Aqua and Luna. The Boulevard features kids’ and teen experiences; Little Explorer’s Cove, which offers a playhouse for tots ages 2 to 6; and Adventure Alley, for kids ages 6 to 10, which will offer crawl spaces and tunnels. The Teen Hangout, meanwhile, provides an exclusive space for teenagers to relax and socialize. Aura’s Kids Aqua Park is also kid-friendly, with a splash pad.
For adults, there’s plenty on offer. There’s Vibe Beach Club, with 15% larger space than its Prima Class counterparts. The Haven, NCL’s ship-within-a-ship concept, will also be onboard Aura, featuring 159 staterooms of the ship’s 1,976 total (guests of The Haven will have access to 24-hour butler service, priority embarkation/disembarkation, exclusive events, priority reservations and more).
Sailings and Itineraries
Aura will debut in Europe in May 2027, sailing a seven-day itinerary from Trieste, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. Then, it will sail to Miami, where it will homeport and sail the Caribbean from June to October 2027.
Fans of Norwegian ships will also be pleased to know that Aura will sail to either Harvest Caye or Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s private islands in Belize and the Bahamas, respectively, during Caribbean sailings. The latter features several new amenities, including Great Life Lagoon pool area with swim-up bars and a children splash area, and the adults-only Vibe Shore Club. Still to come is a new six-acre Great Tides Waterpark.
