Norwegian Aura Adds Two Mediterranean Sailings From May 2, 2027 on Expected Early Delivery
If you want to sail Norwegian Aura early, the May 2 (Trieste to Piraeus, 10 nights) and May 12 (Piraeus to Trieste, 9 nights) 2027 sailings are bookable now. If you are booked on the May 21 sailing, you will no longer be among the first aboard, and the itinerary ends in Tarragona rather than Barcelona. Norwegian has not said whether those guests can transfer to the earlier departures, so contact the line or your travel agent to ask before planning around either date.
My read is that Norwegian is turning a bad news cycle into extra revenue. The announcement lands just six weeks after a fire aboard Aura at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard, yet the line now expects delivery ahead of schedule, which is an unusual twist for a ship that was just damaged. Two added sailings on May 2 and May 12 extend the Mediterranean season by nearly three weeks without replacing anything, so the line gains inventory at no cost to existing itineraries. The losers are the guests booked on May 21, who booked what was billed as the maiden voyage and now get the third sailing, with no stated compensation or transfer option. That silence is the detail I would watch. In your shoes, if you hold May 21, I would ask Norwegian directly about a transfer before the new sailings fill. If you are shopping, the May 2 Trieste to Piraeus route with Santorini and Mykonos is the real first-guests prize. Note the delivery is still described as expected, not complete.