It had been over two years since we sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line. Since that Norwegian Joy sailing in summer 2023, the cruise line has changed quite a bit. So, we took advantage of a last-minute deal to sail aboard Norwegian Aqua. Now, we’re back with our honest review of what it’s really like cruising on NCL’s latest mega-ship.
Our Honest Norwegian Aqua Cruise Review
Norwegian Aqua is the first Prima Plus-class ship, featuring a similar layout and ambiance to the first two Prima-class vessels. These ships feel like upscale resorts with their contemporary styling and sophisticated atmosphere.
Though, the first two Prima-class ships did have a few notable design flaws that guests, including us, weren’t shy about pointing out. Based on this feedback, NCL made several enhancements to Norwegian Aqua. From new restaurants to redesigned spaces, many of these changes improve the cruise experience. However, there are still areas where Norwegian Aqua falls short of its competitors.
We’re sharing what we loved, what missed the mark, and whether NCL’s newest ship is worth booking for your cruise.
Sports Deck
One change that stands out is the completely revamped sports deck.
While I do enjoy the Speedway go-kart track found on other Norwegian ships, I’m glad the cruise line removed it from Norwegian Aqua. Particularly on the Prima-class ships, I always thought the race track looked out of place on an otherwise elegant ship.
In its place, Norwegian Aqua debuts the AquaCoaster, marketed as the first of its kind at sea. This hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide is a complimentary attraction similar to Disney Cruise Line’s AquaDuck and AquaMouse. The key difference is the propulsion system – instead of a conveyor belt, the AquaCoaster uses a crane launch system that propels riders up to 30 MPH. After the dramatic launch, it’s basically a traditional raft-style waterslide. Still, it’s a fun time and I appreciate that there is no upcharge to ride.
Removing the race track allowed Norwegian to enhance other elements of the sports deck as well. Norwegian Aqua features a new glow court – an upgraded half basketball court with digital enhancements and interactive games. There’s also a dedicated pickleball court, acknowledging the sport’s growing popularity on cruise ships.
Additionally, The Drop, a 10-story dry slide, is featured on the port side of deck 18, but The Rush dual-racing dry slides have been removed, thereby enlarging the Stadium. This outdoor space features ping-pong tables, beer pong, shuffleboard, and cornhole. While the area has a more industrial appearance than we’d prefer, all games here are complimentary too.
Norwegian also reimagined the Bull’s Eye space. This darts lounge has been relocated and now features a bar. It is complimentary now too; though, the new venue only has two dartboards. Still, there were minimal wait times, and we enjoyed several games while sampling drinks on tap at the new Bull’s Eye Bar.
The only remaining upcharge on the sports deck is Tee Time, the international-themed mini-golf course, which is $5 per person. While charging for mini-golf seems excessive, the interactive features do add value. Digital scoring, various challenges, and bonus points create a more engaging experience than traditional mini-golf. Despite the charge, this 2-story, 12-hole course remained popular during sea days.
Pool Deck
While Norwegian Aqua’s capacity is 3,500 guests at double occupancy, the ship still has only one main pool. Granted, the space has been enhanced, and the pool on deck 17 is noticeably larger with two accompanying infinity whirlpools. With the Wave waterslide removed, there are additional starboard side lounge chairs as well, allowing more guests to enjoy this top-deck space. Yet, it still gets quite crowded on sea days.
The Kids Aqua Park on deck 18 has also been expanded. Surrounded by loungers, this area is ideal for families with young children. Still, the water features and overall footprint don’t compare to what you’ll find on newer ships in the Carnival or Royal Caribbean fleets.
Unfortunately, Norwegian Aqua lacks a dedicated adults-only pool as well. The Vibe Beach Club on deck 17 is an upcharge venue where guests over 18 can enjoy upgraded loungers, a dedicated bar, and two infinity hot tubs for a fee. But there’s no pool. Pricing for Vibe Beach Club starts at $269 a week and $99 for a day pass (if available). If you don’t care about a pool, Vibe Beach Club is a nice retreat from the crowds and the families.
One of our favorite features on any mega-ship is Norwegian’s Waterfront. On Breakaway and Breakaway Plus vessels, this midship promenade offers outdoor bars, restaurants, and varied seating, but the Prima-class vessels take this concept to the next level. Norwegian Aqua’s fully wrap-around Ocean Boulevard offers many of the same amenities in addition to a plunge pool and shallow pool on each side of the ship, along with sun loungers, couches, and sofas for relaxing.
This outdoor area, reminiscent of a posh beach club, felt more spacious and less crowded than the main pool deck. It offers diverse seating options in both sun and shade, making it an ideal spot away from the crowds and party atmosphere of the lido deck. One notable difference is that Norwegian Aqua’s Ocean Boulevard features fewer art installations in the Concourse and more seating instead.
Entertainment
We used to say Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offered the best entertainment at sea.
For years, Norwegian invested heavily in Broadway and West End productions, including Kinky Boots, Footloose, Six, and more recently, Beetlejuice. However, over the past couple of years, NCL has ended most of these licensing deals in favor of original productions.
On Norwegian Aqua, the signature show is Revolution: A Celebration of Prince. While I’m not particularly drawn to Prince’s music, the production quality and high energy exceeded typical cruise ship standards. The transformational features of the Aqua Theater created an immersive experience as well; still though, the show was essentially a well-produced concert.
Perhaps my favorite show in the Aqua Theater was Syd Norman’s Presents Rumours. This stripped-down show features a live band and four talented singers. While it might lack technical wizardry, watching the performers work through Fleetwood Mac’s entire Rumours album while weaving in band history made for an engaging evening.
The Aqua Theater also hosts The Price is Right Live game show, allowing guests to compete for real prizes. Complete with classic games like Plinko, it was entertaining to watch fellow cruisers “come on down.” This was the only production requiring reservations, which could only be made once onboard.
The final night of our cruise featured Elements: The World Expanded. While marketed as “revamped and reimagined” for Norwegian Aqua, it felt remarkably similar to the version we saw on Norwegian Joy two years ago. The show includes dancers and aerialists but is essentially a glorified magic show.
One of the big issues with the Norwegian Aqua entertainment is the lack of a reservation system for most of the productions in the main theater. We waited in line for over 45 minutes for the Prince show, and despite arriving 30 minutes early for Elements, we could not find two seats together.
The bottom line: Norwegian’s shift away from Broadway productions results in shows that, while entertaining, aren’t as memorable or impressive as their predecessors. However, Royal Caribbean continues to offer productions of epic scale on its newest ships, with technologically impressive shows like The Wizard of Oz and Back to the Future: The Musical, making the cruise line a clear winner now in the entertainment category.
Specialty Dining
Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the Freestyle Cruising approach to dining, offering no set dinner times or dining assignments. Guests can choose from various complimentary options or numerous specialty restaurants.
Earlier this year, NCL revamped its specialty dining pricing and menus as part of the new More at Sea.
With More at Sea, we received two specialty dinners. As fans of many of the NCL specialty venues, we paid cover charges for two additional restaurants as well.
While most restaurants will be familiar to Norwegian regulars, Norwegian Aqua debuts Sukhothai, replacing our beloved Food Republic. Located on deck 17 starboard, this venue serves authentic Thai cuisine. We were eager to try it on our first night.
Starters like chicken satays and salt-and-pepper prawns delivered bold flavors and expert preparation. Under the new dining plan, guests can enjoy up to 3 appetizers and 3 desserts but only one entrée. Entree options at Sukhothai range from various curries to pad thai, fried rice, and duck. We did think it was a bit strange that pad thai and fried rice were considered entrees. Yes, if you want fried rice with your Thai cashew chicken, that will cost an extra $25.
While the food was good, we still prefer the Food Republic. And we think the $50 cover charge is a bit steep given the menu selections.
We haven’t been wowed by Le Bistro in the past, but we decided to give the restaurant another try. Happily, we found the food much improved. In its new location on deck 7 aft, the venue maintains its glitzy décor with a striking glass chandelier centerpiece, making it the perfect spot for an intimate dinner. If paying to dine here, the cover charge is $60.
The French onion soup was rich and authentic. My lamb chops arrived perfectly seared to medium temperature with subtle Moroccan seasoning. Heidi’s coq au vin featured tender chicken in a savory red wine reduction. For dessert, both the Fraisier with strawberries and pistachio-almond cake and the ile flottante were tasty.
On night three, we paid the $40 cover charge (plus 20% gratuity) to dine at Onda by Scarpetta, one of our favorite Italian restaurants at sea up to this point. The value remains excellent here – basically all pizza, antipasti, and pasta count as starters, meaning you can order one of each in addition to an entree and desserts.
However, this visit proved more inconsistent than our previous dining experiences. The pizza was a disappointment, as it tasted no better than what you’d get in the buffet. Starters like burrata and fritto misto were on par with typical offerings at sea but not overly noteworthy.
With a table full of starters, we chose pasta as our entrées. The bolognese satisfied with tender pappardelle and hearty ragù, but Heidi’s mezzelune only marginally exceeded main dining room quality. Finally, my tiramisu and Heidi’s butterscotch budino provided light, sweet endings to an overly filling meal.
We concluded our cruise at Los Lobos, an upscale Mexican restaurant offering excellent value at $40. The tableside guacamole is essential – our “guacamole master” customized it to accommodate Heidi’s preferences. Other highlights include queso fundido and spicy salsa with chips. Heidi’s chicken fajitas arrived sizzling with well-seasoned chicken and perfectly charred vegetables. My cochinita pibil featured tender marinated pork that melted in my mouth. And we couldn’t resist ending with churros and tres leches.
Service across all four restaurants was prompt and attentive. Despite multiple courses, dinners typically lasted around 90 minutes.
Other specialty options include Norwegian staple Cagney’s Steakhouse, the Mediterranean seafood-focused Palomar, dinner-and-show at Hasuki (the largest teppanyaki restaurant at sea), and sushi at Nama. So, depending on your tastes, you are bound to find a restaurant (or two, or three) that you will want to try on Norwegian Aqua.
Complimentary Dining
While the specialty dining is excellent, you don’t need to spend extra to find something delicious to eat on Norwegian Aqua.
For sit-down meals, two main dining rooms serve dinner – the smaller Commodore Room on deck 6 and the elegant, aft-located Hudson’s on deck 7. Both offer the same rotating menu featuring daily specials alongside a classics menu with standards like Caesar salad and rotisserie chicken.
We dined here once for lunch and once for dinner and found it typical of main dining room experiences. While starters and desserts were adequate, I particularly enjoyed the Hawaiian pork belly. Hudson’s also opens for breakfast daily and offers sit-down lunch on sea days. Of note, NCL recently implemented a $5 cover charge for additional entrees.
For casual dining, the Local Bar and Grill provides an excellent option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Though restaurant seating is limited, the bar offers a select menu as well. The chicken wings here are irresistible and available until 3 AM. Other sandwiches and meals are served from 11 AM to 10:30 PM. Don’t overlook the freshly made breakfast either, available most days until 10:30 AM for late risers.
However, my favorite addition to Prima-class ships is the Indulge Food Hall. Home to seven different stalls plus dessert, the small plates offer diverse culinary options. Though, NCL has changed the breakfast format from unique grab-and-go items to a standard buffet, which was a bit disappointing as we really enjoyed the breakfast options on our Prima cruise back in 2022.
The international options at the Indulge Food Hall shine during lunch (typically noon to 2:30 PM) and dinner (5:30 PM to 9:00 PM). Arrive early and prepare to hunt for seats. Unlike other food halls, you must order from tablets at tables, with food delivered to you. You can not walk up to a stall and grab something to take with you.
While convenient in theory, food can take 30 minutes or longer to arrive. It’s also not uncommon to receive partial orders or have items go missing.
It is tough to pick our favorite stall with the mix of culinary offerings. The Latin Quarter serves chicken tostados and guacamole, while Nudls offers bold street noodles and savory dan dan noodles. Another standout is Seaside Rotisserie with freshly prepared meats and sides. Tamara delivers authentic curry dishes, Q Texas Smokehouse offers barbecue favorites, and Tapas provides small plates.
New on Norwegian Aqua is Planterie, a vegetarian-forward stand serving salads and bowls. This new hall is perfect for those with dietary restrictions or seeking healthier options.
Additional Grab-and-Go Options on Norwegian Aqua
Aside from The Local and Indulge Food Hall, Norwegian Aqua offers few casual options. The ship also lacks when it comes to truly grab-and-go options.
The Surfside Cafe, the ship’s buffet on deck 17, is too small for the number of passengers. Regardless of timing, we encountered queues and struggled to find seating even with Sukhothai open during the mornings and afternoons for overflow seating.
Breakfast typically runs from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, lunch from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and dinner from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. While not as extensive as we would expect for a ship of this size, the buffet offered your typical selections of hot and cold items.
At breakfast, there were eggs, breakfast meats, sides, continental items, and a custom omelet station. Lunch and dinner were similar, with a variety of entrees and side dishes, and a full salad bar. However, some friends pointed out that the pizza changes throughout the day. During the day, it is a thicker French bread-style pizza; whereas, for dinner, it is a more traditional pizza.
The even smaller Surfside Grill at the back of the buffet serves as the ship’s burger venue. This basic station lets you build custom burgers or hot dogs with standard toppings. But this is definitely not Carnival’s Guy’s Burger Joint.
Lastly, the Observation Lounge offers light snacks at select times, typically 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Options include cookies, small sandwiches, flatbreads, and quiche.
Norwegian Aqua lacks a complimentary cafe offering food throughout the day like the International Cafe on Princess or Cafe Promenade on Royal Caribbean. So, checking the Norwegian app for venue hours becomes essential, as many dining options operate on limited schedules.
Bars and Lounges
While the actual number of bars and lounges on Norwegian Aqua remains relatively the same, NCL has significantly scaled back its signature drink menus. Now, most bars on the ship serve identical menus with a few exceptions. We particularly miss the unique cocktails at Belvedere Bar. Now relocated to deck 8, this atrium bar swaps places with the Whiskey Bar and features a standard drink menu.
The Metropolitan Bar does maintain its signature sustainable cocktail menu alongside other classic drinks. This bar has also been redesigned, featuring a piano with live music in the evenings. Actually, it’s now one of the most popular lounges on the ship. Soleil and Luna Bar aft on deck 8 offer the ship’s largest selection of draft beer, plus exclusive cocktails on tap.
The Whiskey Bar is now on deck 6 aft, next to The Commodore Room. This secluded bar offers a variety of whiskeys and bourbons. Most of the cocktails and spirits here are included in the More at Sea Unlimited Open Bar. We think this relocation makes complete sense. Additionally, the adjacent Swirls Wine Bar is new to Norwegian Aqua and offers wines by the glass and by the bottle for enthusiasts.
Most remaining bars, like the Observation Lounge, Penrose Bar, Improv at Sea, Syd Norman’s Pour House, and the outdoor Waves Bar, all serve the same drink offerings. Interestingly, Vibe Beach Club offers an extensive list of mocktails and lower-alcohol cocktails exclusive to that venue.
For many cruisers, the standardized menus won’t matter. With nearly everyone having the Unlimited Open Bar, simplifying menus makes sense for staff. However, we miss experiencing unique atmospheres and signature drinks at different venues around the ship. For us, this variety is part of what makes mega-ship cruising special.
Onboard Activities and Nightlife
Our five-night cruise included two ports and two sea days. During the day, Norwegian Aqua offered typical cruise activities. There were poolside contests, trivia in the Atrium, dance classes, art auctions, Deal or No Deal, and bingo in the Aqua Theater. Upcharge options included virtual wine tours, liquor tastings, and spirit classes at various bars.
The Mandra Spa and Thermal Suite on deck 15 is one of the best in the fleet. It boasts a massive hydrotherapy pool plus experiences like saunas, steam rooms, and a salt room. Perhaps the best part is the forward-facing relaxation area with heated loungers and comfy seating. You can purchase cruise long passes starting at $339. Or, if they are available, opt for a port day pass for $99.
Of course, there’s also your typical spa treatments and salon services available for an upcharge and a pretty typical fitness center. However, Norwegian Aqua doesn’t have a dedicated jogging track.
The Aqua Game Zone on deck 17 replaces the Galaxy Pavilion. Stripped of most virtual reality and interactive games, it’s now simply a massive arcade. From retro games to modern digital activities, a voyage-long unlimited pass costs $199 for white and green games. The pass can be shared among players. So, it might be a good deal for families with multiple kids.
Located nearby the Game Zone, the Observation Lounge offers a completely different vibe. Here, cruisers can relax with ocean views, catch up on a book, or just enjoy the tranquility.
At night, you’ll find a variety of live music throughout the ship. The one of the most happening bars is the Metropolitan Bar. On several evenings, Marty Lake played themed piano sessions and also took requests. In between, you could usually find a duo or band. The Latin band Classic Tones held court at Penrose Atrium Bar most evenings. Towards the end of the cruise, Juci Do Carmo strung acoustic sets near the Belvedere Bar, from one-hit wonders to classic pub-style songs.
Usually standing-room-only, Syd Norman’s Pour House was home to two themed rock shows which should not be missed. This cast is talented and high energy. Aside from these shows, the venue mostly served as a karaoke bar.
Regardless of performer or venue, most bars on Norwegian Aqua were packed every night. Finding seats proved challenging as did getting drinks given there were so few servers at each venue.
For even more nighttime fun, the relocated Improv at Sea showcased two comedians with two nightly performances. Unfortunately, showtimes conflicted with the main theater productions, or our dinner times, so we didn’t get to attend any of the comedy shows. The venue doubles as a late-night dance club as well, though it never seemed busy any time we checked.
The Atrium hosts game shows like The Perfect Couple, Battle of the Sexes, and Majority Rules. The Aqua Theater transforms into a nightclub after that evening’s production, with themed parties like Awesome 80s, Crazy Sexy Cool 90s, and Glow Party led by Alvin and the assistant cruise director.
Norwegian Aqua suffers from most of the same crowding issues we noted on Norwegian Prima, as many venues are just too small for a ship of this size. They are also understaffed.
When it comes to families, Norwegian Aqua offers expanded spaces for younger cruisers. While Norwegian Prima debuted with only one multi-use space for guests 17 and under, Norwegian Aqua now features three dedicated areas: Entourage for teens aged 13-17 on deck 14, Splash Lounge for ages 10-12 next door, and Splash Academy on deck 15 for ages 3-12. When not hosting organized activities, the deck 15 space is open for self-led family play time with babies and toddlers under 3.
Staterooms
We stayed in Ocean View Balcony stateroom 10736 on Norwegian Aqua. This cabin is located forward of the forward elevators on the starboard side of deck 10. At 231 square feet with a 45-square-foot balcony, this balcony room offers considerably more space than comparable staterooms on competitor cruise lines. We appreciated the extra room and thoughtful layout. The finishes also make the room feel more elegant; though, the color palette isn’t as cheerful as other ships in this class.
Three closet areas provided ample storage for our 5-day cruise. There was one full-length closet, plus two additional closets with metal basket drawers at the bottom of each. Two nightstands flank the bed, one with two shelves and the other with two cubbies.
While on the smaller side, the desk did feature several outlets and USB ports. It didn’t offer much storage though besides a mini-fridge that we used to keep our two cases of water cold during the voyage.
Additional USB outlets can be found on each side of the bed. So, we were able to keep our phones, computers, and cameras charged throughout the cruise.
The love seat was a comfortable spot for us to unwind during the afternoon while taking a break. The bed was located closer to the balcony, which is our preferred configuration, and provided adequate comfort.
The bathroom is more spacious too. It features one of the largest showers at sea in a standard cabin. It also has several shelves for storage and ample counter space.
When it comes to the balcony, the upgraded furniture was more comfortable than the basic chairs found on many cruise lines. We appreciated this space which allowed us to enjoy the ocean views and sail into and out of ports from the comfort of our cabin.
For the price, a balcony cabin on Norwegian Aqua is well worth the upgrade. Although, even the more modest accommodations, like an inside or ocean view cabin, are roomier and better appointed than you’ll find on most other ships.
Recap of Our Norwegian Aqua Cruise Review
Having sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line since 2009, we’ve witnessed the line’s evolution over the years. Our five-night sailing on Norwegian Aqua demonstrates how much can change in just two years. With new promotions, updated policies, and redesigned venues, the cruise line has undergone a noticeable transformation.
We appreciate innovations like the AquaCoaster and the enhanced sports deck, which offer more complimentary activities. The larger pool and additional pool deck seating provide more space for relaxation as well, even if still too small.
The variety of dining options and freestyle cruising approach remain appealing features of NCL’s megaships. Casual dining continues to excel as well, with venues like the Local Bar and Grill and Indulge Food Hall; though the buffet and availability of grab-and-go items needs some work.
Not to mention, Norwegian Aqua and other Prima-class vessels feature elegant decor and upscale finishes, putting them on par with more premium cruise lines.
While entertainment quality has declined in our opinion, there’s still plenty to do. Theater productions, multiple music acts, comedy shows, game shows, and typical cruise activities fill the days and nights.
Even if NCL has been increasingly associated with nickel-and-diming tactics, the line still represents incredible value. For instance, our balcony cabin with drink package and two specialty restaurants totaled just $850 per person, including all taxes and fees.
Despite some cutbacks and more recent upcharges, we wouldn’t hesitate to sail with NCL again. The combination of freestyle cruising, dining variety, and overall experience still delivers, especially when the price is right. With Norwegian Luna launching in 2026 and several updates coming to Great Stirrup Cay, we’ll be keeping our eyes out for deals.
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