When Norwegian Cruise Line launched Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, their sleek design and new features quickly made waves in the industry.
Yet, some passengers pointed out areas for improvement, particularly regarding onboard navigation, venue placements, and crowds.
With Norwegian Aqua—the first ship in Norwegian’s new Prima Plus class—the line says it directly addressed passenger feedback, leading to improvements. Those changes were noticeable from the moment we walked aboard.
During a recent preview sailing, I discussed these changes with Mark Kansley, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, to learn exactly how guest suggestions shaped the design of Aqua.
More Space to Work With
One of the most significant changes is Aqua’s increased length. The ship is 22 meters longer than its predecessors, with two additional 11-meter sections.
“On Prima and Viva, guests sometimes struggle to navigate because the layout wasn’t as intuitive as we’d hoped,” Kansley explained. “With Aqua, we deliberately repositioned retail spaces, entertainment venues, and restaurants, creating a smoother flow.”
This is noted when you first step onboard as the atrium has a much larger feel compared to the first two vessels.
Improvements Based on Passenger Preferences
Passenger feedback directly influenced the expansion of venues and their capacity. Teppanyaki, a popular specialty restaurant, moved to a larger space previously occupied by Cagney’s Steakhouse, allowing more hibachi tables.
The Commodore main dining room on deck six aft was expanded, balancing increased seating with thoughtful architecture to make sure the tables weren’t just crammed in there. The Whiskey Bar was also moved to the back of deck six, along with the addition of Swirl Wine Bar.
Sunseekers, particularly those on Caribbean sailings, asked for changes to the pool deck. “Passengers specifically asked for more outdoor spaces,” said Kansley. “So, we greatly expanded the pool deck, the Vibe Beach Club, and Ocean Boulevard, adding more pools and hot tubs.”
New Attractions
Perhaps the most striking change is the introduction of the Aqua Slidecoaster on decks 18 through 20, replacing the go-kart Speedway from Prima and Viva. Not only does the coaster accommodate more guests hourly than its predecessor, but it also gives them a larger canvas to expand successful features.
“We’ve added new attractions like pickleball courts and additional lounge areas,” Kansley noted, telling us the reclaimed space will continue evolving based on guest feedback.
New Thai Food Venue
Passenger feedback influenced new food offerings aboard Aqua. For example, the popularity of Pad Thai at the Indulge Food Hall on previous ships led directly to the creation of Sukhothai, Norwegian’s first dedicated Thai specialty restaurant.
You’ll be able to read more about our evening at Sukhothai here.
This sits in the spot previously occupied by Food Republic on the Prima and Viva. We had a chance to dine there on our first night onboard, and it was a home run.
Entertainment
While additional seating wasn’t added to the theater, the lineup has definitely was one of the highlights aboard.
I caught the new “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” show in the Aqua Theater, and it felt like stepping into a live concert with Prince himself. The energy was electric, the music familiar, and the performers nailed every note. Hands down, the best performance was Purple Rain, which was complete with the killer guitar solo!
The Fleetwood Mac tribute, “Rumours,” has finally been given the space it deserves, moving from the smaller venue to the big stage in the Aqua Theater.
With the performers in both shows being legitimate musicians—something cruise industry entertainment is collectively missing these days—watching the shows with full theater production and band added a whole new dimension.
Norwegian Aqua Works Well
After five nights onboard, the design changes shaped by guest feedback are clear.
By the second day, navigating felt natural and intuitive—a testament to the changes implemented on Norwegian Aqua. When friends asked me to meet them at the Indulge Food Hall or The Local, I knew exactly where to go.
The real test of these improvements will come when Norwegian Aqua launches its Caribbean cruises from Florida in April, fully utilizing the redesigned spaces, new venues, and layout changes.
