Norwegian To Remove Its Last Broadway Show: “Beetlejuice”

February 3, 2026 Randy Young

Norwegian’s Broadway shows are dropping like flies. On the heels of Norwegian cancelling “Jersey Boys” on the Norwegian Bliss, the cruise line has now announced that “Beetlejuice” will be leaving as well. “Beetlejuice” was the last true Broadway show running on Norwegian’s ships.

“Beetlejuice” on the Norwegian Viva To End March 27

bettlejuice broadway cast — Image credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

When the Norwegian Viva was first revealed, Norwegian made a big announcement about “Beetlejuice” coming to its newest ship. The show is based on Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy classic featuring big names like Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton, and it ran on Broadway for nearly 700 performances between 2019 and 2023. It was nominated for eight Tony Awards. The show was widely viewed as a fun, comedic take on the movie but suffered a relatively short run due to the pandemic.

The production on the Norwegian Viva was Broadway caliber and actually used some of the original Broadway crew to design the exquisite sets and elaborate costumes.

But guests will only have a few weeks left to see the show. According to the Norwegian website, the final performances will take place on the sailing from March 21 to March 27.

Beetlejuice’s Replacement on Norwegian Viva

The show will be replaced by two productions.

“Burn the Floor”, a ballroom dance show seen on several other Norwegian ships, will debut May 24 to May 25. Norwegian describes the show as “An international championship cast show off their best ballroom dance moves with plenty of European flair. From Grand Viennese waltzes to the sensual Tango and provocative Rumba, experience all their passion as they heat up the stage.”

Norwegian has also added “Motor City Moves”, a celebration of Motown presented as a musical tribute, which will debut May 1 to May 2.

The End of Norwegian’s Broadway Era

It is the end of an era. For over a decade, Norwegian Cruise Line was known for offering high quality Broadway entertainment on board its newer ships. The line brought hit shows from Broadway such as “Kinky Boots”, “Six”, “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”, “Footloose”, and “Rock of Ages”. These productions elevated cruise ship entertainment into something closer to actual theater, going far past the run of the mill musical revue and dance production numbers that cruise ships have traditionally been known for.

In 2022, the cruise line said in a press release;

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its unwavering commitment to bringing Broadway-caliber entertainment to the high seas, having previously debuted “Kinky Boots,” “Six,” “Jersey Boys,” “Footloose” and more across its current 17–ship fleet, and this latest addition to the Company’s lineup is another first for the cruise industry.”

Now, that programming has been replaced with cheaper, in house entertainment with lower licensing fees. Popular shows currently in the fleet include “Burn the Floor”, a ballroom dance focused production, “Elements”, which features acrobatics and magic, and “Icons”, a musical tribute that is not far off from what many passengers would simply describe as cruise ship entertainment.

Norwegian leadership has indicated that guests are enjoying the new programming and that demand for Broadway shows is no longer there,

The comments section on our Facebook post tells a very different story.

“I’m sad they’re getting rid of actual Broadway shows. It definitely set them apart from other lines.”
Samantha Fierro

“NCL continues to water down their entertainment and cut back on the quality of the food. More and more of their guests are moving to Royal, Celebrity, and MSC.”
JD Rothgeb Jr.

“So sad. Part of NCL being my favorite was the great Broadway shows. Please no more game shows.”
Michelle Smith

“Horrible move on NCL’s part. Broadway productions were one reason I booked their line.”
Carla Sanders Drysdale