Norwegian Cruise Line has filed for an initial public offering in the United States, with the company valued at as much as $250 million.

NCL requested an S-1 registration, which will see it listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol NCLH, stating it would use funds raised to pay down existing debts.

NCL is the smallest of the three major North American cruise brands, competing against Royal Caribbean and the giant Carnival Corporation.

The latest listing comes under the parent company name Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd and follows an aborted attempt last October ago under the name NCL Corporation Ltd.

Norwegian is presently 50 per cent owned by Asian cruise and gaming company Genting HK.

Financial firms, Apollo Management (37.5 per cent) and TPG Capital (12.5 per cent) control the rest of the company.