21st Feb 2027 | 7 nights | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Aqua
The legacy continues with renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri constructing this next-generation Prima Plus Class. Building upon the award-winning experiences of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua sets new standards and delivers brand-new guest experiences, 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 offers more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship.
Norwegian Aqua showcases a lively and colourful hull art design by NCL's first-ever major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. World-renowned for her street art and global brand collaborations, including Nike, L’Oreal and Google, Hueman’s distinctive art style is a blend of ethereal realism. Norwegian Aqua's design, entitled “Where the Sky Meets the Sea,” is curated by Goldman Global Arts and evokes modern mythology through colourful mashups of abstract and figurative representations of sea and sky, ruled by ancient goddesses.
Norwegian Aqua premieres 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-exclusive experience features 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, offers a variety of interactive guest activities by day and then transforms into a nightclub in the evening. Guests continue to enjoy some of their favourite 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.
NCL’s family-favourite Splash Academy, for children ages three to 12, returns to Norwegian Aqua. Adolescents aged 13 to 17 engage in fun, age-appropriate activities at Entourage, NCL’s signature teen club with its own dedicated space. Guests looking to spend their days lounging at sea enjoy Norwegian Aqua's infinity edge pool with expanded seating, and for the first time in NCL's fleet, day beds are available on the main pool deck for guests to lounge and relax. For an elevated and adults-only experience, the expanded Vibe Beach Club offers more lounge seating. With additional outdoor spaces, guests 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.
Norwegian Aqua elevates dining at sea with an impressive collection of venues that celebrate global flavours, fresh ingredients and contemporary design. Guests discover a mix of beloved NCL favourites and exciting new concepts, each crafted to create memorable culinary moments throughout their voyage. From vibrant casual spots to refined speciality restaurants, the ship caters to every palate. Indulging in fresh seafood, perfectly grilled steaks or expertly prepared international dishes becomes part of the daily rhythm on board, with each venue offering its own distinct atmosphere and menu.
The ship’s spacious design also enhances the dining experience, with more outdoor seating than ever before, allowing guests to savour al fresco meals accompanied by sweeping sea views. Ocean Boulevard welcomes diners to enjoy elevated outdoor eateries, while stylish indoor venues serve everything from comforting classics to bold new creations. Whether guests are enjoying a leisurely breakfast, a relaxed lunch or an indulgent evening meal, Norwegian Aqua delivers a culinary journey that matches the innovation and vibrancy found throughout the rest of the ship.
Boasting NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, Norwegian Aqua offers 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, two of which include a king-size bed, with the master offering floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking ocean views.
The Haven aboard Norwegian Aqua features 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; an exclusive bar pouring rare spirits and vintages; and sweeping sea views available from every public space. Haven guests continue to enjoy 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge team.
Active families, picky eaters, and couples/groups who love to bar hop
People who can't stand crowds, or those seeking a relaxed onboard environment
Norwegian cruise ships draw a diverse crowd, though the majority of passengers on ships sailing to the Caribbean and in Alaska and Hawaii hail from North America. You'll find a decent number of people from other English-speaking countries, and smaller numbers from South America and Europe. On European cruises, North Americans still dominate but you'll find more people from the United Kingdom and other European countries. You'll find plenty of young families onboard Norwegian ships, especially during holidays and school breaks. However, the line's newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, is less family-friendly than the line's other ships, with all the kids clubs on the lowest levels of the ship and onboard entertainment that is decidedly adult. Generally speaking, Norwegian Cruise Line attracts mostly middle-aged and older couples, as well as groups of friends of all ages.
Norwegian Cruise Line maintains a casual atmosphere onboard; during the day, casual wear is the norm. There's no formal dress code at night either, though most people do change into something slightly less casual for dinner. Additionally, some of the speciality extra-fee restaurants do require long pants, collared shirts and closed-toe shoes. Most evenings you'll see men in dark jeans or khakis and collared shirts, and women in blouses with slacks or skirts, or sundresses. Don't be surprised if you see people in shorts in the main dining rooms. Norwegian doesn't have any formal nights, but there is an optional Norwegian's Night Out at least once per sailing, for which passengers are encouraged to dress up. You'll rarely see a tux or gown, but suits and cocktail dresses are not unheard of. Norwegian ships also typically hold several themed nights (glow party, '70s or '80s, etc.) during a typical sailing. You might want to bring a few appropriate items, such as white clothing for the glow and white parties or bell bottoms for '70s night.
No. Unless you have an all-inclusive dining or beverage package (which you can buy), you'll have to pay extra for most gratuities, speciality dining, room service, all drinks (alcoholic and non, except water, select juices at breakfast, and coffee and tea), shore excursions, visits to the spa and any retail purchases, including photos. On the newest ships, you'll also have to pay for some of the entertainment options and even some of the top-deck fun: On Norwegian Bliss, for example, the laser tag and go-karts cost extra.
On warm-weather cruises, the main pool is the line's most popular spot onboard. On ships with water slides, ropes courses, go-kart tracks and laser tag, these are also popular and often require a wait of up to 30 minutes or more. Inside, you'll find activities that range from trivia, bingo and Deal or No Deal during the day to song-and-dance revues or Broadway shows in the theatre and live music or cabaret shows in the evening. Norwegian ships also have a lively bar nightlife. There's also an always-busy casino, which opens when the ship is out to sea.