When Norwegian Cruise Line introduced the Prima class of ships in 2022, many (me included) called it a game-changer with its sleek look.
This week, I got to check out their latest ship, the Norwegian Aqua, which represents the newest evolution of the class… so much so that it’s the first in what might be considered sort of a “sub-class” known as Prima-Plus.
Before boarding, I knew the basic differences between Aqua and its older sisters.
This ship has the first Aqua Coaster at sea (although the folks at Disney might argue that point), it’s 10 percent larger than Prima and Viva, etc. But I had many questions, which we will explore over the next few days.
Plus, I was somewhat familiar with Aqua, given that last fall, I’d flown to Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy to don a hardhat and poke around the then-under-construction ship.
This time, the ship will hit the high seas for a preview sailing from Lisbon to Southampton.
The Penrose Atrium
Talk about making a great first impression! The first space we entered was the redesigned Penrose Atrium on deck six. This particular atrium style was first introduced on Prima and got mixed reviews.
While we’ll talk more about this area in a bit, I’ll just say this: The changes made on Aqua made it feel more spacious and gave it a quality that pictures won’t fully capture.
The New Thai Venue
There was a whole ship to explore, but first on my agenda was visiting Sukhothai, the new-to-Norwegian Thai restaurant. This was a welcome addition because Asian food is at the top of my favorites list.
The sit-down venue replaces Food Republic, which has been a pretty popular Norwegian venue for years now.
This is the first dedicated Thai restaurant I’ve encountered on a cruise ship, and a colleague at dinner remarked that it’s exactly what the cruise industry needed.
And you know what? After sampling satay chicken, spring rolls, Pad Thai, and mango sticky rice dessert, I completely agree. NCL knocked it out of the park with this one. It fills a void in the industry with a simple, yet tasty menu.
I also thought it was interesting that Pad Thai was one of the most ordered dishes in the Indulge Food Hall, which began the evolution of Sukhothai.
Dinner lasted about an hour and a half from start to finish. There were no long waits between courses, just good conversation and excellent food.
Following the delicious meal, I explored my stateroom since there was no time between my late embarkation and the dinner reservation.
Exploring the Stateroom
As a self-proclaimed minimalist who loves sleeping on weekends, Norwegian’s staterooms have always appealed to me. This cabin is no exception, offering plenty of plugs, ample space, and genuinely effective blackout curtains.
That last thing — the curtains — is something those of us who sometimes operate on an odd schedule appreciate.
There’s nothing worse than trying to catch a catnap in the afternoon and the curtains doing a half-assed job of blocking the sunlight. I assume people who travel with nap-needing kids probably feel the same way.
My cabin on this sailing is a balcony stateroom located on deck nine aft, directly above the South Beach pool area on deck eight.
If you prefer a quieter spot or more privacy, I recommend choosing a higher deck—friends of mine are on deck 15 and love the location.
The main differences between this stateroom and Norwegian Viva are subtle but noticeable. The bedside lighting now includes USB and USB-C ports, a thoughtful upgrade.
Another change is the nightstands—where Viva had a nightstand with two drawers and a stationary unit; Aqua features two open nightstands, each with two shelves (instead of drawers).
The bathroom feels spacious for a cruise ship, boasting an oversized shower head with several settings and plenty of storage shelves.
The shower door swivels and opens halfway into the shower and bathroom. Also, the drawer in the bathroom will be welcome for some guests. I didn’t think I would be that impressed with the stateroom.
Walking After Midnight
There’s something peaceful about wandering around a ship late at night, exploring it while most others sleep and the lights glow.
One ritual I follow on every new ship is a top-to-bottom walkthrough, and with 20 decks, Norwegian Aqua is quite the journey… and a great way to get your steps in! It took over an hour to see everything, and a few details stood out. Passenger decks start on deck six, so it was only 13 decks.
Starbucks has expanded seating on the port side, providing ample room for coffee. I have also noticed that the seating around Starbucks has plugs, which makes it perfect for remote workers or people who want to charge their phones.
Speaking of remote work, at half capacity (which this preview cruise is sailing) the internet is blazing at 119 Mbps download speeds.
I said earlier we’d return to the Penrose Atrium, and here we are. It feels noticeably larger than the space on Viva.
Several bars have also shifted locations: the Belvedere Bar moved up to deck eight in the Penrose Atrium, while the Whiskey Bar and the new wine venue Swirl Wine Bar are on the back of the ship outside the Commodore dining room.
The most notable change is the casino on deck six. It seamlessly blends into the atrium, opening into three spacious passageways—one right down the middle and others along the port and starboard sides. This arrangement especially gives you three hallways of slots and eliminates the cluster of slots in the casino.
Popular slot games like Mo Mummy, Buffalo, Flamin’ Hot Pots, and Huff N’ More Puff will attract slot players.
A quick note: the gorgeous three-story glass walls make the atrium the ultimate sea-day spot. Chairs facing the water offer an ideal place to unwind and enjoy sunny sea days. It was my favorite hangout during Viva’s European sailing.
Nightcap at The Local Bar and Grill
Wait, is it still a “nightcap” if you have food instead of a drink? Anyway, I had a Cobb salad and an order of chicken wings, which this late-night hotspot is known for.
While Playmakers on Royal Caribbean serves what I think are probably the best wings at sea, the ones at The Local Bar and Grill are certainly the best complimentary wings at sea.
For reference, Royal Caribbbean charges $10.99 for six wings.
Stopping by at 2:00 AM put me right in with the late-night crowd. As the nightclub was shutting down, the restaurant started filling up with folks trying to soak up that late-night booze. It came to life in front of my eyes.
But even with a pretty big crowd, service was efficient and quick—I was in and out in under 30 minutes.
That’s it for this entry. I’m about to call it a night and catch up on some sleep.
Over the next few days, I’m excited to try out the new Aqua Coaster, tour the upgraded Haven suites, and sample plenty more food.
