With new attractions and greater capacity, the next-generation Prima Plus is already sailing and will be officially christened on April 13 in Miami by its godfather Eric Stonestreet.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 72 – March 2025
The Aqua is the company's 20th ship and is the first of the new Prima Plus, a ship virtually identical to its predecessors in the Prima class but with 22 meters more length and some original attractions among its new features.
Among them are the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world's first hybrid roller coaster, and the Thai restaurant Sukhothai. The Aqua Slidecoaster, the world's first fusion of a roller coaster and a water slide, isn't the only new attraction. Other new features include the first Glow Court, a high-tech digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, and the Aqua Game Zone, which features classic arcade games like Mario Bros. and Pac-Man, as well as cutting-edge virtual reality experiences. NCL has also unveiled the first-ever spectacular show at sea dedicated to Prince, Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.
While maintaining the aesthetics and layout of its predecessors, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, the Aqua is 10% larger in size and capacity, with 156,300 gross tons and seating for 3,571 passengers at double occupancy. It remains a mid-sized ship designed with a focus on fun, cruise attractions, and diverse dining options.
Its 22-meter length, greater than the Prima class, allows it to offer more outdoor space, having expanded several key areas such as the main pool deck, the Hasuki Teppanyaki restaurant, the Beach Club Vibe, the Commodore Room, and the Penrose atrium. NCL also claims to have the highest crew-to-passenger ratio of any new contemporary cruise ship.
Norwegian Aqua Introduces New Duplex Suites and the Fleet’s Largest Haven
. The Norwegian Aqua debuts NCL’s first three-bedroom duplex suites. Located in The Haven, the ship’s exclusive suite complex, these four two-story suites feature separate living and dining areas, three bathrooms, and a spacious balcony. Two of the three bedrooms have king-size beds, while the master suite boasts floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.
The Haven on the Norwegian Aqua is the largest in the fleet, with 123 suites that include butler service. Guests of The Haven have access to a private deck with an infinity pool and views of the ship's stern, an open-air spa, a restaurant, and an exclusive lounge.
In addition, the Norwegian Aqua offers a variety of spacious staterooms, including interior, ocean-view, and balcony cabins. It also features new single cabin categories for solo travelers, again available as interior, ocean-view, and balcony cabins.
Restaurants on the Norwegian Aqua
: NCL has taken the opportunity to expand and relocate several of its restaurants present on the Prima and Viva ships.
The new restaurants include Sukhothai, a Thai food establishment, and Planterie, a stall in the Indulge Food Hall focused on plant-based options, which has also been expanded.
Among the returning specialty and complimentary restaurants are Cagney's Steakhouse, now located on Deck 7 next to the Metropolitan Bar; Le Bistro, the upscale French restaurant, which has moved to the aft of Deck 7 and increased its capacity by 14 seats; and Onda by Scarpetta, the refined Italian restaurant. The cruise ship also boasts the largest teppanyaki at sea, with nine cooking stations to serve up to 136 guests.
Guests can also enjoy the Whiskey Bar, located where the Belvedere Bar used to be on the Prima ships, and the Metropolitan Bar. The Local Sports Bar has been expanded, and a wine bar, Swirl, has been added, offering premium wines exclusively to guests of The Haven.
Public areas on the Norwegian Aqua:
Public spaces also appear to have increased, especially the pool deck, which will be 22 meters larger, allowing for 50% more sun loungers than on the Prima. This seems like a very sensible expansion for a ship destined for the Caribbean. The infinity pool features sun loungers/beds, which is another new addition, and the Vibe Beach Club is up to 40% larger than on the Prima, allowing for more seating in the lounge area.
Other returning family features include Infinity Beach, with pools on both sides of the ship, the open-air La Terrazza lounge, the Splash Academy for kids, and a teen club. A new space called Glow Court will serve as a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, offering activities during the day and transforming into a nightclub at night.
The public spaces also appear to have increased, especially the pool deck, which will be 22 meters larger, allowing for 50% more sun loungers than at Prima. The Vibe Beach Club is up to 4% larger, providing more seating in the lounge area
In the race to design increasingly impressive cruise ship attractions, NCL has unveiled a winning contender. The Aqua Slidecoaster is the world's first hybrid roller coaster at sea, featuring two slides and a magnetic lift system that propels passengers through rides up to three stories high at speeds of up to 50 km/h. It is claimed that this attraction can accommodate more than 200 passengers per hour.
Prince
NCL never disappoints with its shows. Revolution: A Celebration of Prince was presented at the Aqua Theater & Club. NCL has been working since 2022 with the company that manages Prince's estate to develop this show. After many rehearsals in Tampa, the show was presented to the guests of this inaugural cruise from Lisbon. The musical revisits Prince's most iconic albums, such as Purple Rain, offering an interactive concert experience where the audience can join the performers on stage. The theater, as on the Prima-class ships, also transforms into a Las Vegas-style nightclub with a dance floor, interactive chandelier, and state-of-the-art lighting. Guests can also enjoy a Fleetwood Mac tribute, Syd Norman's Presents: Rumours, and the Improv at Sea Comedy Club offers improved visibility for the audience.
Hull Art:
Following NCL's tradition of incorporating striking hull art, the Aqua features a work by American artist Allison Hueman, the first woman to design a hull for the company. Her style, which she defines as "etherealism," blends realism and abstract art, and her design for the ship, titled Where the Sky Meets the Sea, depicts a modern mythology inspired by the sea and sky, ruled by ancient goddesses.
Norwegian will continue to incorporate new features, many of which are already on the Aqua and will continue on its sister ship Norwegian Luna, such as the Aqua and Luna Game Zone, with virtual reality experiences like Space Racing and Beat Hero, as well as classic arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.
The Mandara Spa has been reinvented with a two-story indoor waterfall, a marble staircase, a clay sauna, IV therapy treatments, and a thalassotherapy area. It has also doubled the number of heated loungers. This is one of the most impressive spots on the ship, and if you have the chance, you should definitely experience it—your body and mind will thank you.
The Norwegian Aqua, after its inaugural showcase cruises around Europe and its christening in Miami, will begin service in April 2025 with a seven-night inaugural voyage through the Caribbean, departing from Port Canaveral on April 26.
From May to August, it will be sailing Caribbean cruises with a stop at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. Following this, it will offer five- and seven-night Bermuda itineraries from New York from August to October. In October, it will reposition itself in Miami, from where it will offer Caribbean cruises that include the Dominican Republic and Great Stirrup Cay.
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