Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Major Expansion with Three New Ships from Fincantieri
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has embarked on a significant shipbuilding agreement with Italian shipyard Fincantieri. This agreement entails the design and construction of three new cruise ships, each representing one of its brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The announcement, made on February 17, 2026, marks a substantial expansion of the company’s newbuild pipeline.
As a result of this agreement, NCLH now boasts a total of 17 newbuilds on order through 2037. This supports an expected 4% compound annual growth rate. The company operates Norwegian Cruise Line with eight newbuilds planned, Oceania Cruises with five vessels to be delivered through 2037, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises with four ships scheduled through 2036.
The new ships will incorporate advanced environmental features. The final two Prima Class vessels are being designed and reconfigured to accommodate the use of green methanol as a future fuel source. This investment showcases NCLH’s commitment to sustainable cruising and next-generation ship technology, while maintaining a measured fleet expansion.
The announcement comes at a time when the global cruise industry continues to see strong demand. There are 15 new oceangoing cruise ships scheduled for delivery in 2026 across 13 cruise lines. This represents approximately $10.4 billion in investment and adds 31,905 lower berths to the global fleet.