Iin a world where large ships are becoming the norm, it can be difficult to stand out. But the latest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is landing on the moon.
My wife and I joined Norwegian Luna in the sparkling waters of PortMiami for its first Caribbean cruise. She is the second in NCL’s new Prima Plus class and a sister ship to Norwegian Aqua, launched last year.
A new cruise ship, like other NCL ships, it stands out on the water thanks to its elegant design.
While many other shipping lines keep their shape for the logo, NCL uses it for unique works of art.
Norwegian Luna’s it was created by Californian street artist Elle, who is also a ship’s mother, who created an image of the constellations to show the relationship between the sea and the sky. You can’t help but stare at the hand-painted lilac clouds and waves as you try to find your Zodiac sign.
The moon was even brought on board. We are greeted by a great silver light as we explore Ocean Boulevard, which wraps around the eighth floor: a great photo spot.
In fact, there is a selfie button that takes pictures of the passengers in the sculpture. It offers different angles, including cinematic video from the bridge that moves from our faces to take in the entire ship.
The video can be downloaded from the NCL app for £3.75 and is a fun way to ask a fellow passenger to take a photo or get an official photo.
It was my first time on an NCL ship, and I quickly began to understand what made the line so special.
There are no set dining times, no curfews and no strict dress code other than to ensure swimwear stays dry in the Surfside Cafe and Grill buffet.
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Their fellow riders were still smart and good-looking despite the over-sold rules.
We managed to be flexible, choosing dinner before and after the show every night, safe in the knowledge that we would get a table across the 17 restaurants.
My favorites were The Local Bar & Grill, an easy pub crawl (the smoked chicken wings are highly recommended), and the Indulge Food Hall where we ordered tapas-style dishes on the iPad. Choices ranged from nachos in delicious avocado to delicious lamb bites.
The shows are also a feast for the eyes. A high performance boat is Elton: A celebration of Elton Johndedicated to the talent of Rocket Man himself, to maintain the ship perfectly Luna theme.
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The costumes shown took us on a camping and colorful journey through his repertoire, and we heard songs like. Your Song and Don’t Break Your Heart.
The production is as good as the songs, with 12 pianos on stage at the same time, while still being an old song. Crocodile Rock it featured four actors dressed in various Elton looks, from feathers to embroidered baseball uniforms.
Another new show starts Luna i DEPUTYA Cirque De Soleil-style show with acrobats, lasers and 3D effects to transform the stage into an explosion of color.
It makes for an amazing evening but this is a busy boat throughout the day, too.
At 156,300 gross tons and with a passenger capacity of 3,565 – Luna it’s surprisingly smaller than Royal Caribbean’s Icon class ships at around 250,000 tons – it’s hard to believe how much is on board without it feeling cramped.
Gary Anslow, head of UK and Ireland for NCL, said the ship aims to cater for people of all ages, offering a range of accommodation options including the luxury Haven – with its own rooms, restaurant and pool decks – as well as family suites and single cabins throughout the ship.
He said The Independent: “Multinational cruises have become a big part of cruising and this ship offers options for families to come on board and be together and do things on their own.”
The range of options was clear as we explored the ship.
We loved the Vibe Beach Club, an adults-only area, available to any guests over 18 who buy a day pass (usually around $250 or £185 per person for the week). It is full of comfortable sunbeds and infinity hot tubs overlooking the sea.
But equally we embraced our inner child in the new Moon Climber’s assault course, where we raced through nets, hitting digital screens to chase aliens before finishing up by going down a slide that almost had my place.
Popular parts of Norwegian Aqua are brought upon Lunaincluding the neon-lit Courthouse, where my wife and I felt like we were in a video game. The GameZone has also been expanded, offering classic games like car racing and table hockey which I think will keep our kids busy for hours.
The flow of the ship is improved compared to Aqua. A staircase has been installed that takes passengers directly from the Surfside Cafe on Deck 17 to the Luna Midway performance area on Deck 18, where interactive entertainment is available.
This includes miniature golf around London-themed holes, featuring a replica of the Buckingham Palace Red Guard. Your information is useful – or sometimes useless – tracked on digital screens.
There’s also a cool new bar called Bullseye, which has interactive darts. I’ve never played darts on a cruise ship, and it was a great alternative to more traditional games like table tennis and football.
Similar to Aqua, Luna it also has its own Slidecoaster ride, an unforgettable combination between water and rollercoaster. Passengers are whisked up a rail and whisked over the side of the ship by colorful tubes on top of the flying boat. It was hard not to scream, even after trying three times. Be prepared to get wet, although there is a handy hand dryer.
My favorite slide on the ship was The Drop on deck 18. It’s a dry slide that starts with a suspenseful readout before the trap door opens and sends you down a short vertical drop over the sea. It’s as good as any helter skelter I’ve been on.
It may not be the biggest ship in the ocean but Norwegian Luna it is among the brightest, bringing a charming combination of silence and spectacle.
How to do it
Norwegian Luna cruises the Caribbean through April 2027, including a stop at the newly renovated private island of Great Stirrup Cay.
Prices start from £780 per person based on June 2026 departures.
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