Norwegian Cruise Line has accelerated the debut of its latest flagship, Norwegian Aura, by 19 days following confirmation of an early delivery from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
The cruise line has opened bookings for two new Mediterranean sailings departing 2nd May and 12th May 2027, ahead of the vessel’s originally scheduled 21st May 2027 maiden voyage.
The anticipated early delivery represents a significant achievement for both Norwegian Cruise Line and Fincantieri, particularly given recent challenges during the vessel’s construction phase.
Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, confirmed the development in a statement celebrating the accelerated timeline.
“The early delivery of Norwegian Aura allows us to welcome guests aboard sooner than expected,” Kazlauskas said, signalling the cruise line’s confidence in receiving the 170,000-gross-ton vessel ahead of its contractual delivery date.
The announcement comes approximately six weeks after a fire incident occurred aboard Norwegian Aura whilst under construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.
Despite this setback, the shipbuilder has evidently maintained its construction schedule and now expects to hand over the vessel earlier than originally planned.
Two Additional Mediterranean Sailings Now Available For Booking
Norwegian Cruise Line has added two new voyages to Norwegian Aura’s deployment schedule, effectively extending the ship’s inaugural Mediterranean season by nearly three weeks.
The 3,840-guest vessel will now commence passenger operations with a 10-night sailing departing 2nd May 2027 from Trieste, Italy.
This inaugural voyage will navigate the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, calling at Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, Bar in Montenegro, and Corfu in Greece before continuing to the iconic Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos.
The journey concludes in Piraeus, Greece’s primary port serving Athens, on 12th May 2027.
The second newly added sailing will depart from Piraeus on 12th May 2027, offering a 9-night return itinerary to Trieste.
This voyage features calls at Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu in Greece, Bar in Montenegro, and Split and Zadar in Croatia, arriving back in Trieste on 21st May 2027.
Expanding Mediterranean Opportunities For Cruise Enthusiasts
The addition of these two sailings provides Norwegian Cruise Line with an extended presence in the Mediterranean during the crucial early summer season.
Both itineraries showcase popular ports throughout the Adriatic and Aegean regions, areas that have become increasingly important to the cruise industry’s European deployment strategies.
Trieste, serving as the embarkation port for the first sailing and the terminus for the second, has emerged as a strategic homeport for cruise lines seeking alternatives to more congested Italian ports.
The city’s accessibility to northern Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian
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