Norwegian Cruise Line opened bookings on October 20, 2026, for Norwegian Bella, the sixth and final ship in its Prima-class series. The vessel is the largest in NCL’s fleet, measuring 1,129 feet in length and 170,000 gross tons. Norwegian Bella will start 7-night round-trip Mediterranean cruises from the Port of Barcelona in May 2028.
Norwegian Bella’s Design and Outdoor Enhancements
Norwegian Bella features a pool deck at least 15% larger than those on the earlier Prima-class ships Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna. The ship’s Ocean Heights is a multi-level, open-air complex spanning decks 18 through 21, designed to evolve from a sunlit space to a social
area with immersive lighting at night. Ocean Boulevard, a wrap-around promenade on Deck 8, offers enhanced seating, hot tubs, and an outdoor bar. The ship’s hull displays original artwork by Australian contemporary artist George Rose.
Capacity and Luxury Suites
The ship accommodates 3,921 guests at double occupancy across nearly 2,000 staterooms. Norwegian Bella includes 159 suites inside The Haven by Norwegian, a ship-within-a-ship luxury enclave designed by Piero Lissoni. The Haven offers private access, a sundeck with an infinity pool and hot tubs, a private restaurant and bar, 24-hour butler and concierge services, and priority boarding. Early booking is recommended due to high demand
for these suites.
Port of Barcelona and Travel Considerations
Norwegian Bella will operate itineraries that call on ports including Civitavecchia (the gateway to Rome), Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Salerno (Amalfi Coast and Pompeii), Marseille in France, and Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. Barcelona, which served nearly 3.7 million cruise passengers in 2024, is the ship’s homeport. Travelers flying transatlantic routes to Barcelona El Prat Airport will need to arrange and pay for flights separately, which significantly increases travel costs for American customers. NCL has not announced any air-add-on programs for Norwegian Bella.
Prima-Class Expansion and Industry Context
The Prima-class series began in 2022 with Norwegian Prima and will
conclude in 2028 with Norwegian Bella. Norwegian Bella ties with Norwegian Aura as the largest vessels in the fleet. These ships bring innovations including expanded outdoor areas based on guest feedback from earlier Prima ships. Barcelona port plans to eliminate two cruise terminals by 2025 to manage overtourism, a change overlapping Norwegian Bella’s inaugural season. Norwegian Cruise Line has not announced any new classes beyond the Prima series as of October 2026. Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said Norwegian Bella is “the culmination of our award-winning Prima Class” combining key guest experiences in a single ship.
