Are you looking for the most megaresort-like, activity-packed Norwegian Cruise Line ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are, almost by definition, the Norwegian Cruise Line ships with the most “stuff” — the most pools, waterslides and other deck-top attractions (even go-kart tracks), as well as the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms. They have the biggest spas and casinos among vessels in the Norwegian fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in suite and cabin types.
With room for 4,000 or more passengers, the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are also among the most massive resorts you’ll find at sea from any cruise line. They’re comparable to some of the biggest resorts on land, too. If you’re in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Norwegian Cruise Line ships for you.
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Still, Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t just operate giant vessels. The world’s fourth-biggest cruise line also has quite a few relatively small cruise ships that carry just 2,000 or so people and provide a more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are just half the size of Norwegian Cruise Line’s biggest ships. These are vessels that, notably, have fewer deck-top activities and interior venues than the biggest Norwegian cruise ships.
The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are best for vacationers who like a less crowded, more intimate resort experience.
Related: The 9 classes of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, explained
To ensure you end up on the right Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you, it pays to understand which Norwegian Cruise Line ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.
Here, every Norwegian Cruise Line ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.
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1. Norwegian Encore
Maiden voyage: 2019
Size: 169,116 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,998
2. Norwegian Bliss
Maiden voyage: 2018
Size: 168,028 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,004
3. Norwegian Joy
Maiden voyage: 2017
Size: 167,725 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,804
4. Norwegian Escape
Maiden voyage: 2015
Size: 164,998 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,266
5. Norwegian Epic
Maiden voyage: 2010
Size: 155,873 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 4,100
6. (tied) Norwegian Getaway
Maiden voyage: 2014
Size: 145,655 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,963
6. (tied) Norwegian Breakaway
Maiden voyage: 2013
Size: 145,655 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,963
8. (tied) Norwegian Viva
Maiden voyage: 2023
Size: 143,535 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,099
8. (tied) Norwegian Prima
Maiden voyage: 2022
Size: 143,535 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 3,099
10. Norwegian Jade
Maiden voyage: 2006
Size: 93,558 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,402
11. (tied) Norwegian Gem
Maiden voyage: 2007
Size: 93,530 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,394
11. (tied) Norwegian Pearl
Maiden voyage: 2006
Size: 93,530 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,394
13. Norwegian Jewel
Maiden voyage: 2005
Size: 93,502 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,376
14. Norwegian Dawn
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 92,250 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,340
15. Norwegian Star
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 91,740 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,348
16. Pride of America
Maiden voyage: 2005
Size: 80,439 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,186
17. Norwegian Sun
Maiden voyage: 2001
Size: 78,309 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 1,936
18. Norwegian Sky
Maiden voyage: 1999
Size: 77,104 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,004
19. Norwegian Spirit
Maiden voyage: 1998
Size: 75,904 gross tons
Passenger capacity: 2,032
What is the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?
The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is the 5-year-old Norwegian Encore. While not quite as big as the biggest ships from rival lines Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Encore is still firmly in the pantheon of the world’s cruising giants.
At 169,116 tons, Norwegian Encore is bigger than all but 26 other cruise ships in the world, 20 of which are operated by the three lines mentioned above. It regularly sails with more than 4,000 passengers on board.
The biggest of four vessels in Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class of ships, Norwegian Encore is the Norwegian ship most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions. It’s home to one of the biggest go-kart tracks on a cruise ship and an unusually large virtual reality zone called Galaxy Pavilion, to name a few of its biggest attractions. There’s also plenty of room to spare for multiple pools, waterslides and a kiddie splash zone.
Additionally, Norwegian Encore offers spectacular shows in big, state-of-the-art theaters, a sprawling spa, a casino that fills half a deck, a dedicated children’s play zone and more than 2,000 rooms.
What is the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?
The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is Norwegian Spirit. At 75,904 gross tons, Norwegian Spirit is less than half the size of Norwegian Encore, the line’s biggest ship. It carries just 1,966 passengers — more than 2,000 fewer than Norwegian Encore.
Unveiled in 1998, Norwegian Spirit is not only the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship but also the oldest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. At 26 years old, it’s likely to be phased out of the Norwegian fleet in the coming years.
Norwegian Spirit, notably, was not built for Norwegian Cruise Line but for Asia-based Star Cruises. Its original name was SuperStar Leo. It was transferred to Norwegian and renamed in 2004.
In part because of its smaller size, Norwegian Spirit offers fewer venues and attractions than newer Norwegian vessels, but it still offers a lot. In all, you’ll find 13 food outlets on Norwegian Spirit, including two main restaurants, a casual buffet eatery and versions of the line’s signature Cagney’s Steakhouse and French eatery Le Bistro. There are more than half a dozen bars and cafes.
Deck-top attractions on Norwegian Spirit include several pools, whirlpools, waterslides, a basketball court and a jogging track. The ship also has a casino, spa, nightclub and theater.
Are bigger Norwegian Cruise Line ships coming?
Yes! Norwegian Cruise Line in April ordered four giant new ships that are expected to start sailing between 2030 and 2036.
Norwegian at the time said the vessels would measure about 200,000 gross tons, which is about 18% bigger than the biggest ship in the Norwegian fleet (Norwegian Encore).
All four vessels have been ordered from Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, which has built many of Norwegian’s ships. As of now, they’re scheduled to be finished and ready to sail in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, respectively.
Norwegian already had four other new cruise ships on order, all of which are in the same Prima Class series as the recently launched Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. All four have been redesigned to be as much as 20% bigger than those first two Prima Class vessels. But they’ll still all be smaller than the latest ships that Norwegian has ordered.
The first of these four additional Prima Class ships on order, Norwegian Aqua, is scheduled to begin sailing in April 2025, with the three other new vessels arriving between 2026 and 2028.
Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries
Norwegian executives said the smaller size of the new Prima Class ships would give the line more options in designing itineraries, as the vessels would be able to access smaller ports around the world than some of the bigger Norwegian ships can.
What’s the difference between bigger and smaller Norwegian Cruise Line ships?
To put it simply: The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than the line’s older vessels.
On Norwegian’s giant Breakaway Plus Class vessels (Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape), for instance, you’ll find multiple pools, waterslides, a kiddie splash zone and — on most of the ships — a sprawling go-kart racing track. Each of the vessels also offers Broadway shows in giant theaters. sprawling spas, large casinos, expansive children’s play zones and more than 2,000 rooms.
Additionally, two of the ships in the series, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, have what may be the largest and coolest gaming and virtual reality zones at sea.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian ship
Norwegian’s smaller ships, by contrast, lack many of the above features. Because of their smaller size, they have a much more intimate feel, at least when compared to the biggest cruise ships at Norwegian and other mass-market lines, and they hold far fewer people. While Breakaway Plus Class ships can hold around 4,000 passengers, based on double occupancy, the line’s smallest vessels are only designed to carry about 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Norwegian’s smallest ships are a good choice for vacationers who aren’t eager to travel with the huge crowds that are common on the world’s biggest cruise ships. They appeal to a subset of Norwegian fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.
Related: Don’t miss out on these Norwegian loyalty perks
Additionally, because of their size, the smallest ships at Norwegian are able to operate itineraries to places that aren’t as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Norwegian Encore.
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