The next ship to join Norwegian Cruise Line‘s fleet will be its largest yet, expanding on the Prima class with a design that is 10% larger than its predecessors.

Set to homeport in Miami beginning in June 2027, the 169,000-gross-ton Norwegian Aura is the third Prima Plus-class ship following the Aqua and the forthcoming Luna, which will debut out of Miami in April. The Aura will be the cruise line’s 22d ship overall and fifth vessel in the Prima class, which is expected to grow to include a sixth ship by the end of 2028.

“Norwegian Aura represents the evolution of Norwegian Cruise Line and the celebration of bringing together families, friends and travelers from around the world,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “With brilliance and connection at her core, the ship was created to give all guests the freedom to vacation their very own way – offering the chance to exhale, connect and effortlessly escape into the moment.”

The Aura, which will accommodate 3,840 passengers at double occupancy, features upgrades and new designs with “family-focused experiences” and “reimagined guest favorites” in mind. It will feature the all-new Ocean Heights, an open-air activities complex spanning decks 18 to 21 with five slides, the most of any NCL ship.

This new area is made possible because the Aura is 22 meters longer than its Prima Plus-class predecessors, and it does not have the Aqua Slidecoaster found on the Aqua and Luna.

Within the Ocean Heights area, guests can experience Eclipse Racers, the cruise line’s first dueling mat racing waterslides, the drop-in body waterslide Aura Free Fall and The Wave raft slide for up to four guests. The Drop dry slide returns to rush guests from Deck 18 to eight.

Ocean Heights also features an 82-foot Aura Ropes Course, a 25-foot rock climbing wall, a nine-hole mini golf course and Aura Midway, an amusement park-style outdoor area with carnival games.

“We decided to put the ropes course back in because we listened to the guests,” said Julie Valeriote, NCL’s vice president of cruise programs and entertainment operations. “They were asking for it because they loved it in the past.”

More chill offerings abound in the new outdoor space with a bar and NCL’s first overhanging private cabanas overlooking the Vibe Beach Club.

The pool deck on Norwegian Aura will be 20% larger than the ones found on the Aqua and Luna and the largest in the NCL fleet, with more seating, an additional infinity hot tub, a larger LED entertainment screen and extra open lounge areas.

Close by Ocean Heights, the Kids Aqua Park features a splash pad and interactive water features, with two nearby family waterslides. On Deck 19, guests can find outdoor lawn games and seating at Horizon Park.

The ship’s adults-only retreat, Vibe Beach Club, will be 15% larger than those found on Norwegian Aqua and Luna with increased seating, infinity hot tubs and a waterfall feature.

A Prima-class signature outdoor space can be found on Deck 8 with Ocean Boulevard, an open-air promenade that wraps around the ship with 11% more space compared with the other two Prima Plus-class vessels. Here, guests can find options for relaxation with day beds and wading pools at Infinity Beach, restaurants, lounges, ocean views and dedicated spaces for children and teenagers.

In the realm of accommodations, Norwegian Aura has 1,976 staterooms ranging from studios to suites, of which 159 are a part of the exclusive luxury complex, The Haven. This means 30% more suites than previous Prima-class ships and the most in NCL’s fleet.

While many of the amenities can only be enjoyed by sailing passengers, anyone who sees the Aura can enjoy the artfully designed hull, a product of international artist Rosie Woods‘ imagination. The artwork draws inspiration from “celestial light and bioluminescent seas,” showing the beautiful ways that light interacts with water.

Now available to book, Norwegian Aura will begin sailing out of Miami in June 2027 with weeklong Caribbean itineraries, including visits to NCL’s island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The private destination recently received upgrades with a brand-new pier, a 28,000-square-foot heated pool with swim-up bars, a kids’ splash area and the adults-only Vibe Shore Club. Later this year, Great Tides Waterpark will feature 19 water slides, an 800-foot “dynamic river,” a cliff-jumping experience and a family slide that can accommodate four sliders simultaneously.

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