NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE has dubbed its new class of ships - LEONARDO PROJECT

The LEONARDO PROJECT of NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE and its builders FINCANTIERI have revealed the first renderings of a new class of ships for the mass market oriented cruise vacation company. 
by Earl of Cruise 
Once one of the entrepreneurs of the modern cruise industry - Knut Kloster sen., has grown after quite a number of turbulences into ones of the major players in the industry. From the beginning the cruises have been oriented to the mass market, with the ferries transformed into cruise vessels, sailing out of Miami. After "conquering" the Caribbean NORWEGIAN stepped out into the Seven Oceans.

Rendering of the Project LEONARDO of NCL - courtesy FINCANTIERI and NCL

After inaugurating the most unattractive cruise vessel ever to be built, the NORWEGIAN EPIC, this design in cooperation with Italian FINCANTIERI, is like a shining star ... for NCL and FINCANTIERI. It looks quite elegant and makes me believing Italian designers havn´t lost their abilities. Looking at the CARNIVAL CORPORATION ships I thought they have lost their love for design.

It is a speculation only, but it will be the way of easy and cheap financing, that NCL may have left its former house ship constructer MEYER WERFT and went to FINCANTIERI.

Even if the design of the superstructure is rather similar to that of SEASIDE class of MSC (MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CRUISES), the hull is totally different.

Project SEASIDE of MSC (above) and Project LEONARDO of NCL (down) - courtsey FINCANTIERI

The pictures published at the SEATRADE in Miami March, 2017, show a negative bow which is looking in profile like an old Dreadnaught. This not a recalling of the battleships, but a new bow design which is combining the ULLSTEIN XBow with the BLOHM&VOSS AXEBow. The straight stem of the MISUBISHI newbuilds for AIDA, AIDAprima and AIDAperla have AXEBows too. And these are not a `style-recalling´ of the OLYMPIC class vessel´s bows! CELEBRITY EDGE class will have a similar bow design for energy efficiency. The VIRGIN VOYAGES and PEACE BOAT newbuilds have a further different bow concept, which is based on the ULLSTEIN XBow.

The stern with the rounded structure incorporating the main dining area - courtsey NCL

Circles or rounded structures are far more pleasing our eyes, as they are a copy from nature.

The stern is like a big sponson, rising up to the ships centre, but stoped and toped by a circled structure, that will house the main dining room and one deck above an inside/outside area. This cutting edge is pushing the wake line far behind a vessel to reduce the "breake" effect of a wake line starting direct at the stern with a cruiser stern, a counter stern or a spooned stern.

The hull design is made for energy-efficiciency!

Some Super Yachts from the last years have similar hull lines - such as PREDATOR and Philippe Stark´s interior and exterior designed A.

A, exterior and interior design by Philippe Stark - Source: Wikipedia (original size)

PREDATOR a ROYAL DE VRIES custom built private yacht - SOURCE: Wikipedia (original size)

Aft of the funnel the superstructure is sliming to the stern, which reducing the massiveness of the 11 deck high suerstructure/appartment block.

The superstructure itself is with its roundings rather good looking and gives the massive constructuction a welcoming look. By the way it is one of the most expensive way to put steel and/or aluminium in a ship. The moment you have to curve the steel/aluminium, and arrange it in an angle the costs are exploding in comparision to simple edgy angles, as we see them on cheap ship constructions.

Last month the company announced its intentions to build four new ships, LEONARDO PROJECT, which will be built by FINCANTIERI. The four new ships are due to launch in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Each will be measured with 140,000 GT and accomodate 3,300 guests. There is an option for two more ships for 2026 and 2027. This is 1,000 less than BREAKAWAY class, but offering the same type of freedom and flexibility NCL is known for. This was in the beginning copied from AIDA CRUISES, when NCL was owning the first vessel, AIDAcara, of the German cruise company for some time.

Another rendering of the Project LEONARDO of NCL - courtsey NCL

According to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES Holding, the ships have "the perfect size to go to more exotic ports of call that can´t handle mega ships." And added: "Continuing the trend of bringing the sea closer to guests, the lower deck has an expansive area with infinity pools," as well as more outside space then on previous ships.

Norwegian will also prioritize energy efficiency in the design of the class, with the aim of optimizing fuel consumption and reducing the ship's environmental impact. Del Rio also said the line will feature "cutting-edge technology" that cruisers will be able to use to enhance their vacation experience.

The ships will also host innovative features, and will be designed to be as energy-efficient as possible - with the aim of optimising fuel consumption and reducing the impact on the environment. Details on the ships’ many innovative guest facing and first at sea features will be announced at a later date. They will feature a host of innovative designs that will further elevate its already award-winning guest experience. 

The front of the superstructure for Project LEONARDO of NCL - courtsey NCL

Frank Del Rio, further 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 diciplined 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."

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, said: "We are very proud of the innovative design of these ships and recognise the various stakeholders of the export chain who have contributed decisively to achieving this goal. The significant value of the order will provide substantial economic benefits by extending the employment horizon of our shipyards, and we are honoured to support the growth of our country’s economy."

The contract price for each of the four vessels is apoximately € 800 million (US $ 858.760.000,000 ) per ship. The company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80% of the contract price of each ship delivered theough 2025, subject to certain conditions.

For the past 50 years NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE has been forced on offering our guests the very best in cruising," said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE. "It is with great exitement that we look ahead to our next 50 years, which includes this next generation of ships that will offer guests the innovative experience that have come to define the `NORE`WEGIAN CRUISE LINE brand."

One of the great features of this class of ship is the open deck space. MSC seems to have maximized it with great open spaces and pools. I'm guessing NCL will place tons of "stuff" up there (aka attractions), taking up all the great deck space. By the time they are done you probably won't even be able to recognize the funnel, which is practically the case on the Breakaway Class.

Another NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE mega-tourism project is in its final stages

The NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE island HAVEST CAY, a rendering of the "alternastive reality island" for NCL cruise passengers - courtsey NCL

Another mega development project that has come under a lot of fire from various quarters is the NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE’s multimillion dollar port of call on Harvest Caye. As of mid-April 2015, the controversial environmental impact assessment that was tendered had been revised and the National Environmental Appraisal Committee has given the nod to the investors. Today, Chief Environmental Officer, Martin Alegria, gave an update saying that the Environmental Compliance Plan has been finalized and the green light has been given to the company from an environmental standpoint.

VIRGIN CRUISES is now VIRGIN VOYAGES

PEACE BOAT is planing its first purpose built ship, a revolutionairy design