Now that we’ve had a chance to reflect about our time on Norwegian Luna, we’re sharing everything we loved, didn’t love, and hated about the newest Prima-Plus Class ship for Norwegian Cruise Line. It seemed like the countdown for the cruise took forever to get here. So how did the 13 days on board just fly by? How does that always happen? Let’s take a look at our honest Norwegian Luna Review where we’re telling you everything!
Who is Norwegian Luna?
Norwegian Luna is the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima-Plus Class. She’s the second in the class after sister ship, Norwegian Aqua. Think of Luna as an evolution of Aqua. It’s got the same overall layout and many of the same venues. But with a few tweaks, design changes, and entertainment differences that help the ship stand on its own.
Both ships are 10% larger than the original Prima Class ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. This extra space gives Luna more room for expanded public spaces, additional cabins, and some of the line’s newest attractions. If you’re trying to decide between the Norwegian Aqua and the Norwegian Luna, be sure to check out our full comparison of Luna and Aqua. We break down every difference between the sister ships. Or, just scroll down for more!
Norwegian Luna Review
After 13 days on board, we’ve got a lot to tell you about Norwegian Luna. From unforgettable food and themed parties to a few maiden voyage frustrations, Norwegian Luna gave us a lot to talk about. In our our honest Norwegian Luna review video, we share the included breakfast spot that quickly became our favorite, the specialty restaurant that delivered our best meal of the cruise, and the one dining experience that left us genuinely frustrated. We’re also breaking down the new entertainment – from the themed parties and Elton John show – to a few brand-new experiences that still seem to be finding their footing.
Of course, no Norwegian Luna review would be complete without talking about the things that didn’t quite work. We cover the app issues, crowded venues, some surprising extra charges, and the one problem in our stateroom that had the entire theater applauding during the Captain’s Q&A. Plus, we’re sharing the little tweaks Luna made from sister ship Aqua that actually make this ship even better.
Watch our full video below for all of the details, cruise tips, and a few stories we definitely couldn’t fit into this article.
Norwegian Luna’s Not-So-Positive Online Reviews
With Norwegian Luna now sailing from Florida, more cruisers are experiencing the ship. And unlike our experience, the online reviews aren’t all positive. Some of the most common things we’re seeing cruisers complain about:
- Small Surfside Cafe (the buffet onboard)
- Small venues on board
- Disjointed design
Ironically, these are the exact same complaints cruisers had about Aqua, Viva, and Prima. Norwegian intentionally made the buffet smaller in favor of the new made-to-order Indulge Food Hall – which we much prefer! With Aqua and Luna, they’ve addressed several of the venue concerns, however, Syd Norman’s Pour House is still far to small based on the size of the ship.
When it comes to the “disjointed design” complaint, we actually disagree wholeheartedly. Norwegian set out to design the ship in such a way that spreads out more of the crowds, so you never truly feel overwhelmed on board. We absolutely love how they separated the Surfside Café (buffet) up on deck 17 from the Indulge Food Hall down on deck 8. It spreads the crowds out. We also love how the Atrium space is much brighter and open when compared to the Breakaway-Class of ships.
A New Complaint Emerges
Another complaint we’re seeing about Norwegian Luna is about lines for shows and various entertainment offerings. With Norwegian Cruise Line ending reservations for shows, we expect to see this bleed over to other ships in Norwegian’s fleet, not just Luna.
With that said, we recommend just grabbing a drink with your Free at Sea package, and enjoy some down time in the theater before the show starts. Yes, if you want the best seats, you’ll need to line up for doors open, but you’re on vacation. Where else do you really need to be?
Again, I understand that this is a complaint cruisers have. I don’t want to dismiss that. So if waiting 30 minutes before a show is something that would bother you, these sorts of articles and reviews exist to help you avoid that disappointment.
Norwegian Luna: The Top Spot
For us… Norwegian Luna has officially become our new favorite ship. Somehow, Norwegian took so much of what we already loved about Aqua and made it even better. The small design tweaks, the new entertainment, and the overall energy on board. The ship feels polished, exciting, and full of little details that make a big difference over the course of a cruise. We’re not going to spoil exactly where Luna landed in our final ratings; you’ll need to watch the full review for that. But let’s just say this ship set a very high bar and is going to be tough for anything else to beat.
If you’re thinking about booking the Norwegian Luna, watch our honest Norwegian Luna review. And be sure to reach out to Rocky for the latest deals on Norwegian – or any cruise line out there!