Norwegian Cruise Line and Nintendo of America have announced that they are expanding their partnership to offer Wii U video game systems and Wii U games fleet wide.

As part of the partnership expansion, the line will feature Nintendo’s newest video game console in all ships’ atriums and youth and teen centres.

In addition, the new HD Wii U systems will be featured at various competitions and events on board each ship.

Norwegian first partnered with Nintendo in March 2007, when Wii systems were introduced fleet wide. Now, with the introduction of Wii U, the successor to Wii, the gaming experience is being elevated to new levels.

The interactive Wii U gaming system complements Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising by offering gaming opportunities to guests of all ages.

The new consoles give guests the chance to experience a variety of new action, adventure, party, racing, strategy, puzzle and sports games.

Upcoming game rollouts will include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, a high-definition re-release of one of the greatest Nintendo games of all time; Super Mario 3D World, the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for Wii U; New Super Luigi U, starring Mario’s green-clad brother; Pikmin 3, which asks players to command an army of colourful creatures; and The Wonderful 101, which puts players in control of a band of superheroes fighting off an alien invasion.

Wii U delivers great video game experiences with exclusive Nintendo characters in HD.

Wii U also features the GamePad controller, which removes the traditional barriers between players, their favourite games and the television by giving one player a second touch screen, while other players use traditional controllers.

It’s perfect for the kinds of multiplayer game-playing parties found on board cruise ships.

“The Wii consoles have always been extremely popular among our guests,” said Richard Ambrose, Norwegian Cruise Line’s vice president of entertainment.

“The new Wii U systems are guaranteed to take gaming on board to the next level, and will surely be a hit.”