In a world where megaships are becoming almost routine, it can be hard to stand out. But the latest vessel from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is reaching for the moon.
My wife and I joined Norwegian Luna on the sparkling waters of PortMiami for its debut Caribbean sailing. It is the second in NCL’s new Prima Plus class and a sister ship to Norwegian Aqua, which was launched last year.
The new cruise ship, like other NCL vessels, stands out on the water due to its beautifully designed hull.
While most other cruise lines save their hull for a logo, NCL uses it for unique artwork.
Norwegian Luna’s was designed by California street artist Elle, also godmother of the ship, who created a constellation-themed artwork to illustrate the connection 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 own Zodiac sign.
The moon has even been brought on board. A giant silver crescent greets us as we explore the Ocean Boulevard, which wraps around deck eight: a perfect spot for a photograph.
In fact, there is even a selfie button that takes pictures of passengers by the sculpture. It offers different angles, including a cinematic video from the bridge that zooms out from our faces to take in the whole ship.
The video can be downloaded to the NCL app for £3.75 and it is an interesting alternative to asking a fellow passenger to take a picture or finding an official photographer.
It was my first time on an NCL ship, and I quickly started to understand what made the line unique.
There are no set dining times, no formal nights and no strict dress code beyond ensuring swimwear is dry in the Surfside Cafe and Grill buffet.
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Fellow passengers were still smart and presentable despite the more relaxed rules.
We thrived in the flexibility, choosing dinner before a show one night and after on another, safe in the knowledge that we would get a table across 17 dining venues.
My favourites were The Local Bar & Grill, a complimentary pub style venue (the barbecue smoked chicken wings are highly recommended), and the Indulge Food Hall where we ordered tapas style dishes off an iPad. Options ranged from nachos in a delicious avocado dip to juicy lamb shish bites.
The shows are also a feast for the eyes. The ship’s flagship performance is Elton: A Celebration of Elton John, dedicated to the talent of the Rocket Man himself, perfectly maintaining the ship’s Luna theme.
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The costumes on display took us on a camp and colourful journey through his repertoire, and we heard hits such as Your Song and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
The production is just as good as the tunes, with 12 pianos on stage at one point, while a classic rendition of Crocodile Rock featured four performers wearing outfits portraying Elton’s various looks ranging from feathers to a sequinned baseball uniform.
Another new show debuting on Luna is HIKO, a Cirque De Soleil-style show featuring acrobats, lasers and 3D effects to transform the stage into an explosion of colour.
It makes for an amazing evening but this is a ship that is full of activity throughout the day, too.
At 156,300 gross tonnes and with capacity for 3,565 guests – Luna is surprisingly smaller than its rival Royal Caribbean’s Icon class ships at around 250,000 gross tonnes – it is hard to believe how much is actually on board without it feeling cramped.
Gary Anslow, head of UK and Ireland for NCL, said the ship aims to serve a wide age range, giving a range of accommodation options including the luxury Haven area – with its own rooms, restaurant and pool deck – as well as family suites and solo cabins on the rest of the ship.
He told The Independent: “Multi-generational travel is becoming a major area of cruising and this ship offers options for families to come on board and be together and also to do their own thing.”
The range of options was clear as we explored the ship.
We loved the onboard Vibe Beach Club, an adults-only area, available to any guests over 18 who purchase a day pass (typically around $250 or £185 per person for a week). It is full of soft sunbeds and infinity hot tubs overlooking the ocean.
But we equally embraced our inner child on the new Moon Climber assault course, where we raced through nets, batting digital screens to chase aliens before finishing by going down a slide that just about had room for me.
Popular parts of Norwegian Aqua have been brought onto Luna, including the neon-lit Glow Court, where my wife and I felt like we stepped into a video game. The GameZone arcade area has also been expanded, offering classics such as car racing and table hockey that I imagine would keep our children occupied for hours.
The flow of the ship has been improved compared with Aqua. Stairs have been installed which take passengers directly from the Surfside Cafe on Deck 17 to the Luna Midway activity area on Deck 18, where the interactive entertainment is accessible.
This includes mini golf around destination-themed holes such as London, which has a Buckingham Palace Red Guard model. Your score is helpfully – or sometimes unhelpfully – tracked on digital screens.
There is also a cool new bar called Bullseye, equipped with interactive darts games. I've never played darts on a cruise ship before and it was a nice alternative to other traditional games such as table tennis and table football.
Similar to Aqua, Luna also has its own Slidecoaster ride, a memorable mix between a waterside and rollercoaster. Riders are pushed up a track at speed and then swung around the side of the ship through colourful tubes on an inflatable raft. It was hard not to scream, even after three attempts. Prepare to get wet, although there is a handy walk-in dryer.
My favourite slide on the ship was The Drop on deck 18. It is a dry slide that starts with a suspense-building countdown before a trap door opens and sends you on a brief vertical drop over the ocean. It's as good as any helter skelter I have ever been on.
It may not be the biggest ship at sea but Norwegian Luna is among the brightest, bringing a charming mix of serenity and spectacle.
How to do it
Norwegian Luna is sailing in the Caribbean until April 2027, including stops on the cruise line’s revamped private island Great Stirrup Cay.
Prices start from £780 per person based on a June 2026 departure.
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