If you love cruising, then the entire process of ship building may fascinate you as much as us. That’s why we were thrilled when we were invited by Norwegian Cruise Line to visit the Fincantieri shipyard to see the construction progress of NCL’s newest cruise ship. Now, we’re back and want to share this exclusive Norwegian Aqua first look with you.
Norwegian Aqua: Our Exclusive First Look from the Shipyard
Norwegian Aqua is Norwegian Cruise Line‘s newest cruise ship set to debut in April 2025. This 156K gross ton ship is the first in NCL’s Prima Plus class of vessels, with sister ships Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, and the newly named Norwegian Luna (debuting in 2026).
While we’ve sailed on the previous Prima class ships, we were intrigued by some of the changes made to this new ship. Norwegian Aqua will be home to some firsts at sea as well as some relocated and redesigned spaces to address some of the pain-points on these previous vessels.
This is made possible by the fact that Norwegian Aqua is 10% larger in terms of size and capacity than her sister ships with the addition of two 11-meter sections. Spanning 1,056 feet long, she will accommodate 3,571 guests at double occupancy. Further, Norwegian Aqua will offer more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship.
Known for colorful hull art, NCL’s new ship will feature the design “Where the Sky Meets the Sea” by the first major female hull artist, Allison Hueman.
Aqua Slidecoaster
Perhaps the most exciting new addition to Norwegian Aqua is the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster. With dual slides and magnetic lifts, this attraction will feature two unique experiences propelling guests at up to 30 mph in two-person rafts.
The Aqua Slidecoaster will be the longest and fastest slides at sea. So, all the thrillseekers out there definitely won’t want to miss this new attraction. Replacing the Speedway on other Prima ships, these slides will feature three stories of twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.
The details like height and weight requirements are still in the works, but we were told that this activity will be complimentary.
Other Top Deck Attractions
At the very top of the ship on Deck 20, Norwegian Aqua will also feature a new Glow Court. This digital sports complex will have an LED floor. This space will offer a variety of interactive activities during the day and then transform into a nightclub in the evening.
The Drop slide will make a return on Norwegian Aqua as well. Debuting on Prima, The Drop is the first free-fall slide in the world. This dry slide plunges 10 stories, reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line. It too is a complimentary attraction.
The Stadium can also be found on Norwegian Aqua with a new expanded space offering a variety of complimentary activities.
When examining the Norwegian Aqua deck plans, the two top deck attractions that are still missing include the Tee Time mini-golf and the Bull’s Eye dart lounge. Thus, it remains to be seen whether the ship will feature these for-fee activities.
We also suspect that the new Glow Court may take the place of the Galaxy Pavilion previously found on Deck 17 near the Observation Lounge on Prima and Viva as the gaming complex is presently absent on deck plans (and it’s recently been removed on Norwegian Joy).
However, the Aqua Slidecoaster does officially take the place of The Rush and The Wave slides. This will also make room for an expanded kids aquapark on Deck 18.
One of the complaints of the previous Prima ships was the omission of a dedicated teens club. Well, Entourage makes a return on Norwegian Aqua. Kids aged 13-17 can enjoy their own space now on Deck 14.
New and Reimagined Dining and Bars
One of the things we love about Norwegian Cruise Line is its dining lineup. While we are sad to see one of our favorites go, we’re excited to check out all the new and reimagined food and drink spaces coming to Norwegian Aqua.
Sukhothai
The biggest new addition is Sukhothai, NCL’s first-ever Thai specialty restaurant. Unfortunately, this restaurant will take the place of Food Republic on Deck 17. This new specialty dining venue will offer menu items like Thai Cashew Chicken, Salt and Pepper Prawns, and Thai Grilled Steak Salad.
The atmosphere is described as “a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary Thai design elements” with features like bamboo and rice paper pendant lights and a geometric patterned floor.
Planterie
One of our favorite additions to the NCL dining lineup is the Indulge Food Hall. The Indulge Food Hall offers 10 food stations with cuisine from around the world in a quick-service style setting. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we visited this space on multiple occasions during our cruises.
In addition to favorites like Nudls, Tamara, and Q Texas Smokehouse, Planterie will make its debut. Planterie is NCL’s first dedicated eatery offering a full plant-based menu. It will feature plant-based bowls and other healthy options.
Returning Favorites
When it comes to specialty restaurants, all the other favorites will return to Norwegian Aqua. However, some will move to new locations. Palomar will feature the same Mediterranean seafood selections in an upscale setting on Deck 17. Deck 8 will be the home of Onda by Scarpetta and Los Lobos.
Cagney’s, NCL’s signature steakhouse, will move upstairs to Deck 7 across the way from the Metropolitan Bar and will accommodate even more guests. In turn, Le Bistro will also relocate, taking the place of Hasuki on Deck 7 across from Nami Sushi. Don’t worry, the popular teppanyaki location isn’t going away! It’s just moving down to Deck 6 to allow for more space. In fact, it will be the biggest iteration yet with even more hibachi tables.
When it comes to complimentary dining, guests can still enjoy the Surfside Cafe and Grill on the pool deck. The Local Bar and Grill also returns in the same location on Deck 8 but with even more space.
Hudson’s and The Commodore Room will be the two main dining rooms once again. However, The Commodore Room will be expanded to offer increased seating capacity.
Updated Bar Spaces
On Norwegian Aqua, there will be one completely new bar concept. Swirl Wine Bar will be located on Deck 6. This hidden enclave will feature a comprehensive wine-by-the-glass menu and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages.
The Metropolitan Bar, NCL’s Sail & Sustain cocktail bar, will boast a new design. The bar will now feature a piano and a small entertainment space for live performances for guests to enjoy while sipping their sustainable cocktails, like the croissant mai tai, and biodynamic wines. We are glad to see this space get a makeover as it is a large area that seemed underutilized during our previous sailings.
Another change up on Norwegian Aqua, the Whiskey Bar and Belvedere Bar will swap locations. This change makes complete sense to us. Moving from Deck 8 in the Penrose Atrium, the Whiskey Bar will shift down to Deck 6 near Hasuki and The Commodore Room. This more out-of-the-way location will allow the bar to focus on delivering refined spirits. The Belvedere Bar will move up to Deck 8 with a new design, allowing for ocean views and front row seats to all the nighttime action in the Penrose Atrium.
New Entertainment
During our shipyard visit, we got a sneak peek at the newest show to join the Norwegian Cruise Line entertainment lineup. Revolution: A Celebration of Prince will debut on Norwegian Aqua. Shifting towards the entertainment model of all original productions, this new show will be a concert-like experience celebrating the music of the iconic artist. With hits like “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain”, guests are sure to be singing and dancing along during this hour production show.
The second signature production reimagined for Norwegian Aqua is Elements: The World Expanded. Elements has become one of NCL’s highest-rated guest shows of all time and is featured across four ships in the fleet. Thus, the show is being revamped into a better-than-ever, more immersive version. It will feature magic, aerial acrobatics, music, and dance.
These two productions will take place in the 3-story transformational Aqua Theater & Club. This dyanmic theater can transform into a Vegas-style nightclub featuring an expansive dance floor, interactive chandeliers, and state-of-the-art lighting. The venue will also feature three parties: 90s Party, Livin’ La Vida Loca, and Pop Life (which will take place after the Prince show and be reminescient of the early ages of MTV), along with a brand-new Welcome Aboard Show.
Other returning shows include The Price is Right LIVE on NCL game show and Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours. This Fleetwood Mac tribute experience will be offered in the Aqua Theater & Club to accommodate more guests.
The popular entertainment spaces, Syd Norman’s Pour House (which will feature a new R&B experience) and an expanded Improv at Sea Comedy Club, will also return on Norwegian Aqua. Though, the exact locations of these venues have not been confirmed on deck plans just yet. What is known is that the comedy club will be redesigned so the stage is no longer at the end of a rather long and narrow space.
Improved Outdoor Spaces
One knock on Norwegian Cruise Line ships has always been the pool deck. Even on earlier Prima class ships, the area felt small and rather closed off. Now, with the elimination of the Speedway and the extra space, Norwegian Aqua will feature an improved pool deck. For the first time, day beds will be available near the main pool for guests to enjoy as well.
After walking this unfinished outdoor deck during our shipyard tour, it certainly felt more spacious. So, we can’t wait to see the finished product.
Another enhancement is the expanded Vibe Beach Club. This elevated, adult-only space will be larger, in fact, nearly twice as big.
Further, the Deck 8 Ocean Boulevard has been enhanced to offer even more outdoor space on Norwegian Aqua. As the largest-to-date, this fully wrap-around promenade will feature more seating (by eliminating The Rush slides landing area), the Oceanwalk glass bridges, Infinity Beach with its infinity edge pools, the La Terrazza lounge space, and the Soleil Bar at the aft of this deck.
Largest Haven Complex
Finally, Norwegian Aqua will have the largest Haven complex at sea. This ship-within-a-ship concept will feature 123 well-appointed suites. They will all have access to an expansive sundeck with an infinity pool, an outdoor sauna and cold room, and two hot tubs. The Haven also features a private lounge, exclusive bars, and a restaurant.
Not to mention, Norwegian Aqua will debut the first-ever 3-bedroom Duplex Haven Suites. These two-story suites have separate living and dining areas, three bathrooms, a sprawling balcony, and three bedrooms.
Outside The Haven, Norwegian Aqua will offer a variety of the most spacious accommodations in the fleet. These include solo, inside, ocean view, and balcony category staterooms.
Norwegian Aqua Itineraries
When she sets sail, Norwegian Aqua will offer 7-day itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida. From August through October of 2025, the ship will position to New York for 5- and 7-day voyages to Bermuda. Then, she will sail Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami through April 2026.
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