What’s onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship Norwegian Aqua?

Norwegian Aqua is the next cruise ship to join the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet next year.

The NCL ship will be the first of the expanded Prima Plus Class and is available to book now, with the vessel offering its first cruises to the Caribbean.

From cabins to entertainment, what can we expect from Norwegian Aqua when she launches in April 2025?

Building upon the award-winning experiences of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua will set new standards and deliver brand-new guest experiences to be discovered with an overall 10 percent size and capacity increase from its sister ships.

Spanning 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tons and accommodating 3,571 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Aqua will offer more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship. It will also feature industry-and-brand-first experiences!

Norwegian Aqua will showcase a lively and colorful hull art design – entitled “Where the Sky Meets the Sea” – by NCL’s first-ever major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. It evokes modern mythology through colorful mashups of abstract and figurative representations of sea and sky, ruled by ancient goddesses.

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Norwegian Aqua will premiere the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster.

Complete with exhilarating dual slides and a magnetic lift that propels adventurous guests through two different courses, this NCL cruise ship exclusive experience will feature three stories of exciting twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.

The new Glow Court, a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, will offer a variety of interactive guest activities by day and then transform into a nightclub in the evening.

Norwegian Aqua cruise ship guests will also be able to continue to enjoy some of their favorite Prima Class experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua, including The Drop, NCL’s 10-story free-fall slide, and the Stadium, a now expanded game space offering complimentary activities.

Guests looking to spend their days lounging at sea, will enjoy Norwegian Aqua’s infinity edge pool with expanded seating, and for the first time in NCL’s fleet, day beds will be available on the main pool deck for guests to lounge and relax.

For an elevated and adults-only experience, the expanded Vibe Beach Club will also offer more lounge seating. With additional outdoor spaces, guests can spend their days exploring and enjoying NCL’s most expansive Ocean Boulevard to date, the outdoor walkway that wraps around the entire ship complete with Oceanwalk, a glass bridge that offers great photo opportunities; Infinity Beach featuring expanded vistas and intimate pools overlooking each side of the ship; and La Terrazza, the open-air lounge with sweeping sea views.

For those traveling with children, NCL’s family-favorite Splash Academy, for children ages three to 12, will return to Norwegian Aqua. Adolescents aged 13 to 17, can engage in fun, age-appropriate activities at Entourage, NCL’s signature teen club, which will enjoy its very own dedicated space.

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New NCL restaurants

Norwegian Aqua is set to introduce three exciting new onboard attractions, including Sukhothai, NCL’s inaugural Thai specialty restaurant; Swirl Wine Bar; and Planterie, the brand’s debut plant-based eatery.

Sukhothai promises a fusion of authentic Thai cuisine with inventive flavors, set amidst a mix of traditional and contemporary Thai design elements. Meanwhile, Planterie, within the Indulge Food Hall, caters to health-conscious diners with its array of vegan dishes.

Swirl Wine Bar is an intimate retreat featuring an extensive selection of wines in a setting inspired by the natural beauty of Antelope Canyon in Arizona.

Returning NCL restaurants

The ship’s redesign includes enhancements to existing venues such as the Commodore Room, Metropolitan, and Nama Sushi and Sashimi, offering guests a fresh experience in familiar spaces. Surfside Café and Palomar also boast revamped designs and panoramic views.

Several bars and dining spots, including Whiskey Bar, Belvedere Bar, Penrose Bar and Waves Pool Bar, will sport updated designs. Additionally, popular eateries like The Local Bar & Grill, Hasuki, and Cagney’s will undergo expansions to accommodate more guests.

Returning favorites like Hudson’s, Le Bistro, Los Lobos and Onda by Scarpetta will continue to delight NCL guests with their signature offerings.

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Boasting NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, Norwegian Aqua will offer all-new luxurious accommodations in the Brand’s premium keycard-access-only-complex, The Haven by Norwegian.

These four two-story spacious suites feature separate living and dining areas; three bathrooms; a sprawling balcony; and three bedrooms, of which two include a king-size bed, with the master offering floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking ocean views.

The Haven aboard Norwegian Aqua will offer the largest Haven complex in the fleet with 123 well-appointed suites, including access to an expansive, dedicated sundeck; a serene infinity pool overlooking the ship’s stern; an outdoor spa complete with a glass-walled sauna and cold room; two hot tubs; a private lounge; exclusive bar pouring rare spirits and vintages; and sweeping sea views available from every public space.

Haven guests will continue to enjoy 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge team.

New NCL cruise ship Norwegian Aqua will offer a variety of the most spacious accommodations in the fleet including inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms, while solo travelers will continue to enjoy NCL’s signature Studio staterooms, which are priced and designed with the solo traveler in mind and include private keycard access to a dedicated Studio Lounge.

The ship will also feature the Company’s latest solo stateroom expanded categories, solo inside, solo oceanview and solo balcony, offering more space and a variety of accommodations to single cruisers at reduced fares that are less than the cost of paying double occupancy.

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Following a series of seven-day Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida, Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025.

The new NCL cruise ship will then sail five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

Voyages include calls to the idyllic island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.

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