Norwegian Aqua cruise evaluate: All of the ship has to supply passengers

At a look

• It is massive on leisure and out of doors enjoyable with an industry-first, waterslide-roller coaster and Prince present.
• Room varieties vary from tiny solo cabins to multiroom and duplex suites.
• The upscale vibe will be at odds with a number of extra-fee sights.

Norwegian Aqua has many personalities, and I can not determine if that is genius or complicated.

The 156,300-ton, 3,571-passenger ship shouldn’t be Norwegian Cruise Line’s greatest, however it’s an expanded model of Norwegian Prima and Viva (the earlier two new builds). Like these ships, its design conveys a muted class with trendy styling and impartial colours. The three-deck atrium will wow you with its subtle attractiveness, and the ship’s a number of pool areas recall to mind upscale resorts.

However lookup out of your seashore membership lounger, and you may see the fun-loving aspect of the ship. Two brightly coloured tubes encircle the ship’s funnel; this placing architectural function is Norwegian Aqua’s hybrid waterslide-roller coaster attraction. This prime central space of the ship is rollicking with free-spirited enjoyable — minigolf, multideck drop slides, a retro-meets-virtual-reality arcade and a high-tech sports activities court docket with disco vibes.

Contained in the ship, Norwegian’s dedication to onboard leisure is clear. Its versatile theater converts from a club-like live performance venue to at least one with conventional stadium seating, and its reveals pay tribute to Prince and Fleetwood Mac. The intimate basement membership scene at Syd Norman’s Pour Home is at all times standing room solely, and The Improv attracts cruisers in with visitor comedians and themed dance events.

But for all of the ship’s subtle look, it is nonetheless a mass-market vessel with a variety of nickel and diming for extras. The buffet and pool deck appear small — maybe to push passengers to pay for passes to Vibe Seashore Membership, the spa’s thermal suite or the ship’s many specialty eating places. Its “Extra at Sea” fare inclusions are typically reductions fairly than freebies, however with out them, I am unsure I would pay $40 per individual for a Mexican dinner or $50 for Thai. Even the minigolf prices additional on Norwegian Aqua (although the Aqua Slidecoaster is refreshingly free). The Aqua Recreation Room can also be positive to enthrall teenagers and bankrupt mother and father.

Is Norwegian Aqua too fancy for your loved ones trip or the proper mix of subtle environment and high-energy all-day exercise? The ultimate verdict is yours.

Norwegian Aqua cabins and suites

Norwegian Aqua has 15 foremost cabin and suite varieties, starting from tiny, windowless Studio cabins that accommodate a solo traveler to 2 2,100-square-foot Premier Proprietor’s Suites that sleep eight in extremely luxurious lodging throughout the Haven suite complicated.

Normal cabins embrace the Studios, windowless inside cabins that may sleep two to 4 company, ocean-view cabins with image home windows and balcony cabins with personal verandas. The 73 Studios — discovered on decks 12 and 13 — are inside a keycard-access-only part of the ship and permit company to take pleasure in an unique lounge with hangout house, snacks and drink dispensers.

Bear in mind that the Studio loos have glass partitions, presumably to make the cabin really feel extra spacious. So, plan on internet hosting pals elsewhere on board, or issues might get awkward. Six subcategories of suites and penthouses sit outdoors The Haven and supply additional privileges however not the entire perks that Haven company obtain.

The Haven is Norwegian’s suite enclave with a personal restaurant, indoor lounge, sauna and ice room, out of doors pool and solar deck out there solely for Haven company. The four-deck space is accessible solely by keycard and has its personal personal elevator. Suites are primarily on decks 14 and 15, with the restaurant, lounge and solar deck on decks 16 and 17.

Amongst its 123 suites are 25 Proprietor’s Suites (cut up amongst 4 sizes and layouts), 38 two- and three-bedroom Household Suites and 60 penthouses. They vary in measurement from 368 sq. ft for a Haven Penthouse with a balcony as much as 2,100 sq. ft or the Premier Proprietor’s Suite. The brand new three-bedroom Haven Duplex Suite affords 979 sq. ft of house.

Haven perks embrace concierge and butler service, precedence embarkation and disembarkation, precedence restaurant and leisure reservations, in-room eating from specialty eating places, complimentary in-suite motion pictures and room service, and plush bathrobes and slippers to be used on board.

My cabin was a balcony cabin with a minimalist, trendy look. It felt spacious for 2, but it surely may need felt extra cramped with a 3rd individual sleeping within the room’s sofabed.

Cabin highlights for me have been plentiful energy shops by the mattress and the desk/vainness (together with U.S. 100V, European 220V, USB and USB-C), plentiful toilet storage and a shaving bar within the bathe, a minifridge, a full-length mirror and a sequence of round hooks on the wall for hanging hats, jackets or towels.

I appreciated the 2 deep drawers in my nightstand, however the different bedside desk solely had two slim cabinets (unfair for the individual on that aspect of the mattress).

The king mattress can cut up into twins, however the mattress was extraordinarily agency, probably as a result of I used to be the primary individual to sleep on it. I requested room service for a mattress topper, which made the mattress way more comfy.

Norwegian might enhance the in-room storage state of affairs by changing the shallow pull-out wire basket cabinets with customary drawers or cabinets and by including extra hangers to the full-length closet for clothes (or changing the mounted hangers with ones that company can transfer between the three hanging areas). Nonetheless, two folks will discover loads of house to retailer their belongings, and the beds are tall sufficient to tuck suitcases beneath.

Our balcony had two wicker-style chairs and a drinks desk — a step up from the steel ones you discover on some mass-market cruise traces.

Norwegian Aqua eating places

Norwegian Cruise Line is understood for its eating selection, however the majority of its dinner choices are extra-fee eating places. Nonetheless, your “Extra at Sea” bundle gives you a number of discounted meals, so between that credit score and the complimentary venues, you do not have to spend a ton on eating.

The 2 bigger complimentary eating places are The Commodore Room on Deck 6 and Hudson’s on Deck 9. Each provide the identical menu at dinner; Hudson’s is open for breakfast and lunch. Passengers booked into the lavish suites of the Haven could take their meals on the upscale Haven Restaurant, included of their fare.

Surfside is the poolside buffet on Deck 17. It serves three meals a day and has indoor and out of doors seating (in addition to a soft-serve ice cream machine). At peak occasions, the buffet was crowded, with slim walkways and fewer stations than I would anticipate for a ship of this measurement.

Indulge Meals Corridor on Deck 8 aft may begin out as your secret lunch spot on embarkation day, however your shipmates will quickly uncover its attraction, bringing crowds at prime eating occasions. It is like a Meals Corridor on land: You’ll be able to order from venues serving tapas, Indian dishes, noodles, vegetarian, barbecue, Latin/Mexican meals, rotisserie and dessert through a pill. Nonetheless, for those who sit on the bar for any explicit meals outlet, you possibly can solely order from that menu.

The Native Bar and Grill on Deck 8 serves a limited-menu sit-down scorching breakfast within the morning and a menu of pub grub all day and into the night time — to fulfill your burger, rooster wing, pretzel chunk and nacho wants.

All the opposite eating places include a surcharge ($40, $50 or $60 per individual). With the “Extra at Sea” inclusions, you successfully pay $20 per individual for every meal in your bundle.

Cagney’s Steakhouse (discovered on each NCL ship) and the French Le Bistro (discovered on practically each NCL ship) are Norwegian’s signature eating places.

Palomar serves upscale Mediterranean seafood, and Los Lobos dishes out Mexican delicacies in an simply missed spot.

Lovers of Asian delicacies have a number of choices on board, together with Nama Sushi, Hasuki (a hibachi restaurant) and Sukothai (Norwegian Aqua’s first-in-fleet Thai restaurant).

Sukothai’s menu is interesting with all of your favourite Thai appetizers, 4 varieties of curry and the pad Thai dish that impressed NCL to create the restaurant within the first place. Whereas my rooster satay was cooked completely and never dry, everybody’s foremost dishes wanted small enhancements. I would give the restaurant a bit extra time to come back into its personal.

Onda by Scarpetta is considered one of my favourite venues on board, and you will discover it simply off the atrium. The venue’s design is as interesting as its menu. Select from connoisseur pizzas (particularly the ricotta-stuffed-crust Macellaio pizza), decadent pastas (NCL’s president swears by the spaghetti) and meaty entrees (like veal Milanese). You may be tempted to complete with tiramisu, however the butterscotch budino is a should.

Room service prices additional for all NCL company besides these staying in suites and The Haven. It is out there 24/7 and is priced per supply, not per merchandise. Continental breakfast is half the worth of scorching breakfast or the all-day eating menu.

Norwegian Aqua bars and lounges

Most company on Norwegian Aqua are probably to decide on the road’s “Open Bar” bundle, out there at a reduction by way of NCL’s “Extra at Sea” inclusion bundle. So it is a good factor the ship affords a wide range of bars to quench everybody’s thirst.

The Metropolitan Bar on Deck 7 — a occurring spot with reside music close to a number of eating places — is essentially the most notable bar on board. It focuses on biodynamic wines and sustainable craft cocktails, utilizing banana peels, pineapple rinds and rancid croissants as substances for drinks made with sustainably produced liquors. My croissant mai tai was candy however scrumptious.

Should you’re eating on Deck 6, you possibly can seize a pre- or post-dinner drink on the tiny Swirl Wine Bar or the bigger, darker Whiskey Bar. Or head to the Penrose Bar on the alternative aspect of the deck, by the on line casino and atrium.

On the prime of the atrium is the Belvedere Bar, which focuses on bottled cocktails. The Native Bar Bar & Grill is open late and is the place to look at a sport whereas munching on bar snacks. Indulge Meals Corridor has bars in each its indoor and out of doors areas.

You will additionally discover bars within the Remark Lounge, Aqua Theater, the pool space, Vibe Seashore Membership, The Improv and Syd Norman’s leisure venues and the Bull’s Eye.

The Starbucks within the Deck 7 atrium space is at all times buzzing and is a superb assembly spot when your group will get cut up up. The Humidor on Deck 7 is the onboard spot to smoke cigars.

Norwegian Aqua actions

The standout attraction on Norwegian Aqua is its hybrid curler coaster-waterslide referred to as the Aqua Slidecoaster. Its twin waterslide tubes dominate the highest deck in the course of the ship. The experience combines the magnetic accelerator of a contemporary curler coaster with a water raft experience, and it is ridiculously enjoyable. It is also free.

The ship’s prime decks are chopped up into a wide range of play areas and haven’t got fairly the streamlined really feel of extra conventional cruise ships. Deck 17 is residence to the ship’s foremost pool and two infinity scorching tubs. It is extra spacious than the identical space on Norwegian Prima and Viva, but it surely feels small for a ship of this measurement that is dedicated to warm-weather cruising.

One deck up from the pool is the Youngsters’ Aqua Park, the place little ones can take pleasure in water sprayers and mini waterslides.

Should you’re a scorching tubber or sunbather who desires to keep away from crowds, you should buy a cross to the adults-only (18 or older) Vibe Seashore Membership behind the ship on Deck 17.

The Haven crowd has its personal unique solar deck with pool and scorching tubs on decks 16 and 17.

The enjoyable continues on Deck 18, the place you will discover Tee Time (12-hole minigolf for an additional payment), The Stadium (free out of doors video games together with desk tennis, bean bag toss and foosball), and the Bull’s Eye Bar, which options tech-enhanced darts video games.

You will additionally discover the doorway to The Drop, a dry slide that spirals down the aspect of the ship to Deck 8. Should you’re claustrophobic, you may need to keep away from this slim tube slide the place you step right into a capsule and look ahead to the ground to drop out from underneath you.

Maintain heading up for the ship’s pickleball court docket and Glow Courtroom — a sports activities court docket with a high-tech LED sports activities ground.

For indoor enjoyable, the Aqua Recreation Zone on Deck 17 affords an array of video, digital actuality and different video games (some without cost and a few for a payment). The ship’s leisure will even program a wide range of every day actions all through the ship, together with trivia video games, a homicide thriller, karaoke, artwork and dance courses, and household occasions.

You will discover extra alfresco rest and extra pool and lounge house on the Deck 8 promenade. The aft part is known as Infinity Seashore with infinity swimming pools on both aspect of the ship. The 2 sides meet behind the ship with the Indulge Outside Lounge and affiliated Soleil Bar.

On the opposite aspect of Infinity Seashore, do not miss the Ocean Stroll, which has glass walkways that enable guests to see the ocean beneath.

Norwegian Cruise Line can also be identified for its leisure, and Aqua doesn’t disappoint. The principle Aqua Theater on decks 6-8 hosts musical performances with the ship’s ensemble and visitor entertainers; the ship’s signature present is the concert-style “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince,” created in partnership with the late singer’s property. We additionally cherished the intimate Fleetwood Mac tribute, “Rumors.”

The versatile venue can rework from a typical stadium-style seating association to a nightclub-style dance ground with balcony seating for late-night dance and occasion occasions.

You will discover further musical acts at Syd Norman’s Pour Home on Deck 7 and comedy and late-night theme events at The Improv on Deck 6. The ship’s on line casino — with VIP and smoking rooms, slots and desk video games — can also be on Deck 6.

Should you’re in search of pampering, the Mandara Spa and Salon is on decks 15 and 16. E-book a remedy or purchase a cross to the attractive thermal suite, which has heated loungers, water remedy swimming pools and a sequence of therapeutic rooms together with an ice room, clay sauna, steam room and salt room.

All the way in which on the entrance of the spa on Deck 16, the Pulse Health Room affords ocean views as you stretch, run, cycle or elevate weights.

Lastly, for those who’re in search of remedy of the retail type, you will discover the ship’s outlets primarily on Deck 8; they promote all the things from brand objects, trip put on and requirements, alcohol, jewellery, watches, sun shades and pre-owned designer luggage.

All visitor providers (together with future cruise and shore tour gross sales) are within the attractive atrium on Deck 7.

Norwegian Aqua itineraries and pricing

Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral (close to Orlando) to the Jap Caribbean by way of August 2025. It should then reposition to New York to supply five-night Bermuda cruises by way of September. Come October, it would transfer to a brand new Florida residence port, Miami, for weeklong Jap Caribbean sailings by way of April 2026. It should then return to New York for weeklong Bermuda cruises earlier than heading again to Miami and the Caribbean.

Fares begin at $883 primarily based on double occupancy.

Norwegian Aqua for households

Norwegian Aqua gives the look of a extra adult-focused cruise ship, but it surely affords many sights for households with youngsters. Adventurous youngsters and teenagers will love the Aqua Slide Coaster and The Drop, and households can take pleasure in video games at Tee Time, the Recreation Zone, Glow Courtroom and The Stadium collectively (although charges may apply). Leisure employees will even manage family-focused programming across the ship.

Dad and mom can drop their youngsters off for supervised play at Splash Academy on Deck 15, and teenagers can hand around in their very own membership on Deck 14. (Each are in the course of cabin decks.) Mum or dad-supervised play time is scheduled every day for teenagers youthful than 3. Further-fee group babysitting is out there from 10 p.m. to midnight for teenagers ages 3-12.

The three-section Splash Academy house is a big multipurpose room with an space devoted to the littlest cruisers (ages 3 to five), a online game room and a play space with a video wall. It appeared small for a ship of this measurement, however Splash Academy wouldn’t give me a most occupancy or point out in the event that they anticipated points on cruises throughout holidays and college trip occasions.

Norwegian Aqua accessibility

Norwegian Aqua affords accessible lodging — which embrace extensive door frames, roll-in showers, bathe benches, high-rise bathrooms and handrails within the bathe and bathroom space — within the following classes:

• 21 Inside Staterooms
• Eight Ocean-view Staterooms
• 16 Balcony Staterooms
• Two Suite Staterooms

The principle pool and The Haven pool have chairlifts, and there are accessible loos in most public areas.

Backside line

Norwegian Aqua is certainly a ship for {couples} and pals in search of a resort-style pool expertise by day and a high-octane night with dinner, drinks and a present or membership each night time. However it would additionally swimsuit households, particularly these with older youngsters, who will adore its top-deck sights.

Simply be sure to perceive the prices and inclusion of your “Extra at Sea” bundle and plan for all the additional splurges you might be positive to make on board.

Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales: