A Sneak Peek at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Upcoming Ship Aqua

Travel Market Report has just returned from a tour of Norwegian Aqua, which is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice. Over three days, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) hosted nearly 100 guests including media and MICE partners, social media and content creators, and top-producing European travel advisors to showcase the up-and-coming vessel and what cruisers have to look forward to. 

Taking the Prima Class to a new level

Norwegian Aqua will be the third Prima-class vessel and NCL’s 20th ship, scheduled to sail its inaugural Caribbean season in April 2025. At 1,056 feet long and 156,300 gross registered tons, it will carry 3,571 guests at double occupancy.

“This ship is based on us listening to our guests, listening to our travel partners, and focusing on the best of the best that we can bring,” said NCL’s president David J. Herrera during the welcome dinner.

According to Herrera, NCL’s approach to guest satisfaction is to deliver a product cruisers will keep coming back for, and their travel partners will continue to sell. With that in mind, Norwegian Aqua will have the best features of its two sister ships but will also introduce several new concepts and enhancements.

Donning hard hats and steel-toed boots, we toured the Aqua with Nelson Martins, NCL’s regional vice president of fleet hotel operations & strategic initiatives. The ship was abuzz with activity; we were surrounded by hanging wires and steel girders as Martins guided us through various spaces while providing insight and colorful commentary.

What’s new onboard Norwegian Aqua?

Norwegian Aqua is 72 feet (22 meters) longer than Prima and Viva, which translates to a 10% increase in size, providing room for a few new additions.

A new lavish accommodation category will be introduced in The Haven by Norwegian. The 979-square-foot Three-Bedroom Duplex Suite with Large Balcony will be the first two-story accommodation for NCL and will sleep up to six guests.

On the culinary front, Norwegian Aqua will feature the first Thai specialty restaurant named Sukothai, featuring dishes that are not only flavorful but also adaptable to various dietary restrictions such as plant-based, gluten-free, and lactose-free.

The popular Indulge Food Hall will see a new vegetarian food station called Planterie, serving plant-based bowls and healthy meals supplemented with ingredients such as tempeh and tabbouleh.

Also new to Norwegian Aqua is Swirl Wine Bar, a cozy lounge serving wines by the glass, including premium and rare vintages.

Families can enjoy The Glow Court, an LED sports venue for gaming and immersive play.

The most exciting addition will be the Aqua Slidecoaster, replacing the Race Track on Decks 18 to 20.

After building five vessels with the Race Track, Herrera said it was time for a change.

“We are the innovators in the industry, we’re always trying to evolve, mix it up, and come up with something new,” he said.

The design team went through a lot of ideas before settling on the Aqua Slidecoaster, a two-person hybrid roller coaster and waterslide that will propel riders along a twisting track wrapped around the ship’s stern.

According to Herrera, “Our guests told us they wanted something that is quick, something they can enjoy as a family, something that is exciting.”

The Aqua Slidecoaster lasts one minute, with speeds up to 31 mph but without any height, age, or weight restrictions.

Announced last week is Norwegian Aqua’s headline production show “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.” Judging by the rousing sneak peek performance we were treated to, the energetic show is destined to be a hit.

Bryan White, vice president of entertainment production at NCLH said the show is another example of NCL responding to guest suggestions.

“Our guests want music they recognize, they want to be able to sing along and to participate,” he said. “They want narratives that are easy to follow. They want a simple story that they are able to engage with, and they want a visual spectacle. That’s the formula we have been working off.”

Other entertainment highlights include “Elements: The World Expanded” production show that will be enhanced from its previous format with additional acrobatics and choreography, and the first R&B experience for NCL in Syd Norman’s Pour House.

What’s changed?

Most of the changes on Norwegian Aqua involve leveraging its increased size to provide more space and convenience for guests.

“All the space that we’ve gained in the public areas is really to our guests’ benefit because they give more opportunities for guests to enjoy the area,” said Mark Kansley, senior vice president of hotel operations.

Aqua’s larger size, he added “will also be gaining more pool space, more deck space, and more space at the splash areas for families to enjoy.”

Numerous venues – including main dining rooms Hudson’s and The Commodore Room, specialty restaurants such as Hasuki and Le Bistro, the Indulge Food Hall, and Improv At Sea comedy club – will see an increase in seating capacity, which are expected to reduce or eliminate wait times. 

Additionally, some bars and restaurants such as The Whiskey Bar and Cagney’s specialty restaurant will be relocated to streamline traffic flow and to create more openness and opportunities for pop-up entertainment. The retail shops surrounding the Penrose Atrium will also be moved to provide more seating and people-watching. 

Fans of “Rumors – the Fleetwood Mac Tribute Experience,” which debuted on Norwegian Viva to standing-room-only audiences, will be happy to learn that the show will evolve into a fully staged theatrical experience and relocated into the main theater on Norwegian Aqua, which can seat over 750.  

NCL looks to the future with newbuilds

Citing macro demographics, Herrera said he believes that travelers are transitioning to cruising as they age into “that stage” of their lives. Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Luna, and future newbuilds are poised to serve that market.

In addition to Aqua and Luna, there are two additional Prima-class vessels to come, and four more ships of a yet-unnamed class. The increase in capacity will allow NCL to capture new-to-cruise guests, focus on under-serviced or unserved markets, and offer new itinerary options.

“We’re all about providing more options, more value, and more opportunities for our guests to get onboard our ships,” said Herrera.

NCLH President & CEO Harry Sommer summed it up nicely. “The future is so incredibly bright. As an industry, cruising represents two percent of vacations worldwide, we think that the potential for growth is unlimited.”

A few fun facts about Norwegian Aqua

Between 1,600 and 2,000 workers are involved with the ship’s construction at Fincantieri shipyard.

The hull art – “Where the Sky Meets the Sea,” created by Allison Hueman, features 16 colors, a departure from typical cruise ships which usually have only two or three hues.

Between the “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” and “Elements” production shows, there are 506,000 individual sequins sewn on costumes and over one-and-a-half miles of fabric.

Forty tons of water will rush through the Aqua Slidecoaster.