Norwegian Cruise Line’s Project Leonardo is promising to take cruise innovation to the next level with four new cruise ships. The cruise line is breaking the pattern of building larger cruise ships with the vessels being smaller than the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships. The first futuristic Leonardo class ship is scheduled debut in four years.
Four Leonardo class ships are on order for delivery in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, with an option for two additional ships to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. The 140,000 gross ton ships will hold 3,300 passengers and will build upon the highly successful offering of freedom and flexibility found on the brand’s most recent Breakaway-Plus Class ships.
They will feature a host of innovative designs that will further elevate its already award-winning guest experience. A priority of the prototype design is energy efficiency, with the aim of optimizing fuel consumption and reducing the impact on the environment. Details on the ships’ many innovative guest facing and first at sea features will be closer to the start of construction.
Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, gave the following statement: “This new class of ships will continue Norwegian Cruise Line brand’s legacy of introducing meaningful innovation to the cruise industry. This order continues to highlight our disciplined newbuild program, extends our growth trajectory well into the future, enhances our already attractive earnings profile, and drives expected long-term returns for our shareholders.”
The contract price for each of the four vessels is approximately €800 million per ship. The cruise line has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each ship delivered through 2025, subject to certain conditions.
A few more renderings of the cruise ships can be seen below.
