VIDEO: Jazz hands! Derek Lloyd, Katie Kania unpack NCL's new shows, experiences, Luna & removing NCFs

Lights, costumes, choreography.

Last week, PAX scored a backstage pass to the place where Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL’s) onboard entertainment is dreamed up and brought to life: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ Creative Studios in Tampa, Florida.

Opened in 2013, this state-of-the-art hub isn’t just a rehearsal space—it’s an entertainment playground.

Spanning 112,000 square feet across two massive warehouse buildings, the venue holds 11 rehearsal rooms, 10 music studios, a 44,000-square-foot costume facility and a maze of workrooms where ideas are sewn, choreographed, rehearsed, and polished to perfection.

During our visit on Jan. 14, the energy was electric. Actors dashed down hallways, dancers ran steps on repeat, musicians tuned up, costumes were fitted, and creative teams fine-tuned every detail. 

Everyone was getting shipshape for life at sea.

Why all the buzz? We were there to preview brand-new productions debuting on Norwegian Luna, a 3,571-passenger Prima Plus–class ship launching this March.

Luna—sister ship to Norwegian Aqua—will sail the Caribbean from Miami and turn heads with bigger accommodations, show-stopping attractions like the Aqua Slidecoaster, and of course, new entertainment.

Taking centre stage will be Rocket Man: A Celebration of Elton John, a high-energy tribute show that will use elements of the singer’s archive of footage and imagery, and HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder, an original sci-fi spectacle that blends elite gymnasts with the latest stage technology.

Also on the marquee? A Tribute to the Eagles at Syd Norman’s Pour House, a classic rock bar and venue found on several NCL ships.

Joining us on location were two Canadian superstars from NCL – Derek Lloyd, vice president of strategic and national accounts, and Katie Kania, senior director of agency sales for North America – who spoke to us about the new productions, the incoming Norwegian Luna, new experiences at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and the cruise line’s decision to eliminate non-commissionable fares (NCFs) across all fares.

Watch the interview here!

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