Two Oldest Norwegian Cruise Ships Leaving Fleet
Norwegian Cruise Line fans will be sad to learn that the fleet’s two oldest ships, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun, will soon be leaving. Fortunately, however, the ships are not about to be scrapped, but will be joining a new cruise line.
Cordelia Cruises, a new line based in India, has acquired the two ships through a long-term charter agreement and the vessels will be transferred over the next two years.
“It’s official. We started with one – and now, we’re a fleet,” Cordelia Cruises shared on social media. “We’re proud to announce that two magnificent ships – Sky and Sun – will soon be joining the ever-iconic Empress.”
Cordelia Cruises’ first vessel was also acquired from another line – Empress was originally Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) with Royal Caribbean.
It is not unusual for new cruise lines to first set sail with tried-and-true vessels retired from larger lines. The ships are typically updated and renovated to match the new line’s personality and goals.
Exactly what updates are planned for both Sky and Sun have not yet been announced, but the ships will create quite a step forward for the new cruise line.
“We’re not just adding capacity – we’re unlocking new destinations, introducing longer itineraries, and reimagining what cruising means for India and beyond,” Cordelia Cruises said.
“More importantly, this expansion reinforces our vision of making cruise holidays more accessible, immersive, and proudly Indian. This marks the beginning of a bold new chapter. And we can’t wait to welcome you onboard.”
Each vessel’s unique hull art – the warmly-colored, stylized sun on Norwegian Sun and the tropical flowers on Norwegian Sky – will remain, but likely both ships will be updated with new venues and features onboard.
Sky is scheduled to launch for Cordelia Cruises in late 2026, followed by Sun in late 2027. In the meantime, the ships will continue to sail for Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We’re thrilled that Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun will begin new chapters in the Indian cruise market through a long-term agreement with Cordelia Cruises, a leading operator in the region who we look forward to collaborating with into the future,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
What About Norwegian Cruise Line Sailings?
Details for booked guests on both ships will undoubtedly be forthcoming about cruise cancellations as both ships are transferred to Cordelia Cruises.
Refunds and future cruise credits are likely to be offered to impacted guests. The first impacted cruises are more than 15 months away, giving travelers plenty of time to make alternative vacation plans.
Of course, the announcement of the two ships’ departures does give eager travelers time to “collect” the vessels if they’ve never sailed on them before (I need to get planning!).
Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Ships by Age – Newest to Oldest
Past guests will also now have the chance to revisit the ships, which is a popular choice for cruisers whose first voyages may have been aboard either ship.
Norwegian Sky is currently offering diverse itineraries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe from a variety of departure points. Beginning in December 2025, she will remain homeported from La Romana in the Dominican Republic for Southern Caribbean itineraries that include Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, and other top ports.
Norwegian Sun is sailing a broad range of cruises from homeports in southeast Asia and the South Pacific, including Singapore, Brisbane, and Papeete. The ship will offer several sailings from Honolulu and Vancouver in the coming months, as well as voyages from Japan, China, and Korea.
The two ships first debuted with Norwegian Cruise Line in 1999 and 2001, respectively.
Their departure from the line comes as newer, larger, and more innovative ships are joining the fleet with Norwegian Aqua now sailing and Norwegian Luna scheduled to debut in April 2026.
Two more Prima-plus class ships are scheduled for 2027 and 2028, with a brand new class – the largest ever for Norwegian Cruise Line – coming in 2030 and beyond.