The newest vessel from NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line — the Norwegian Luna — has officially begun sea trials off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, having sailed out from the yards of its builder Fincantieri in Marghera, near Venice.
Those trials are intended to push every major system aboard the ship beyond the conditions of regular service: navigation, engineering, safety mechanisms and handling under demanding maneuvers are all subjected to rigorous assessment. Representatives from Fincantieri, Norwegian Cruise Line, and the relevant classification society are on board to observe performance and record any adjustments required before final handover.
Route data suggests the vessel may head toward Palermo, Sicily — home to another major shipyard — where, if necessary, further adjustments will be made during a final dry dock phase. Such additional work often includes fine-tuning propulsion pods, bow thrusters, stabilizers or other critical systems identified during the trials.
The Norwegian Luna is slated for delivery in early 2026; the ship is scheduled to enter service in March 2026, with its first revenue sailings beginning from Miami on April 4th, 2026.
In maritime terms, the initiation of these trials marks one of the final and most important milestones before the ship takes on passengers — a necessary rite for any newbuild seeking to meet the dual standards of safety and commercial readiness.