My Review of Norwegian Aqua – Top Attractions, Dining, and Entertainment.
Norwegian Aqua blends understated elegance with thrilling attractions, fine dining with superb complimentary offerings, and a choice of cabins and entertainment to suit all cruise styles.
Boarding Norwegian Aqua in Southampton, the first thing that struck me was the elegant interiors bore no resemblance to the ship’s bold exterior. While the cruise ship’s hull boasts Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature vibrant artwork – each vessel is uniquely designed by world-renowned artists, its interiors told a different story. Inside, I was welcomed by a contemporary sophisticated space with stylish furnishings in muted tones.
Norwegian Aqua is a new class of ship for Norwegian Cruise Line. Although similar in style to Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva ( Prima Class ships), Aqua is slightly bigger, 75ft longer to be precise, but somehow it feels much more than that. It can house a maximum of 3,751 passengers, and although only 1800 people were on board during the cruise launch, which I had the pleasure of attending, I got the feeling that even at full capacity, there would be enough space for everyone to cruise comfortably.
Swimming pools on Norwegian Aqua
The main pool deck is a huge improvement from Norwegian Prima. The pool is larger and the whole space is more relaxing. There are also two infinity pools, as well as luxury beds with shallow pools, located on Ocean Boulevard on Deck 8 – a fabulous outdoor space that wraps all around the ship with plenty of contemporary outdoor seating and loungers.
Although the infinity pools are small ( calling them Infinity Beach is a bit of a stretch ), this is one of my favourite parts of the ship and is ideal for cruisers who want to avoid the busy main pool on sea days. I also loved how many of the restaurants on this deck offered outdoor seating.
If you want complete relaxation, and don’t mind paying for the privilege, there is a separate Adult-Only beach club called Vibe. Complete with plush loungers, two hot tubs and a bar, this has an exclusive feel to it. There is a charge to come here, and price varies per itinerary, but it is worth checking out especially if you travelling without children, or have many days at sea.
There is also a luxury Spa on board with an indoor pool, Thermal Suite with a steam room, salt room, ice room, charcoal sauna, as well as the first clay sauna at sea. There are 22 treatment rooms offering massage and skin care, as well as a hair and nail salon and a Medi-Spa offering Botox, TruSculpt and acupuncture.
Top activities and attractions on Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Cruises are known for mind-blowing attractions, (Norwegian Encore and Prima have race tracks on board), and Aqua is no exception. The star attraction has to be the the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide – the Slidecoaster. I tried this and loved it!
A magnetic launch track catapults you at speeds of 30mph into a waterslide, where you enjoy a relaxing slide over three stories. Despite the initial adrenaline rush, it is actually quite a relaxing slide, and should be enjoyed by most guests.
There are two different slides, offering slightly different experiences and you can ride solo or with a partner. The Slidecoaster is free to all guests once you reach the height and weight restrictions.
The Slidecoaster is not the only activity for thrillseekers. The Drop, as the name suggests, is a dry free-fall drop slide which sends you down 10 floors. This is another one of the free activities on Norwegian Aqua and I thought it was actually scarier than the Slidecoaster!
You can also enjoy ocean views while you work out at the gym, or try some fitness classes at Pulse Fitness Centre.
Top attractions for children on Norwegian Aqua
As well as the Slidecoaster and Drop, there are plenty more attractions for adults or children who prefer more low-key activities. The Glow Court is an LED sports court which offers basketball, football, and immersive interactive games where guests can compete with each other.
There is also a high-tech minigolf course, pickleball, darts, air hockey, as well as a separate Game Zone with retro arcade games, pool tables and Virtual Reality games – some of these incur additional charges.
Little ones will love the Splash park on board and there are complimentary kids and teens clubs from ages 3 – 17.
Entertainment on Norwegian Aqua
The entertainment on Norwegian Aqua is exactly what I like from a cruise ship. There are no massive venues, each one feels intimate, like Syd Normans, which has a local pub atmosphere. There are 18 different bars on board and most have some form of live entertainment.
The theatre shows are only 60-minutes long, which is ideal if you want to catch a few different activities or enjoy a show before or after dinner. And speaking of which, the production of Prince show – Revolution: A Celebration of Prince, was superb. It was like Prince was singing and dancing in front of me. Videos and photos were not allowed, but believe me when I tell you this is a must do on Norwegian Aqua.
Rumours – a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, is also another excellent show, although I did prefer it when I saw it in the more intimate Syd Norman’s venue on Norwegian Prima.
During our three-day sailing there was another theatrical show Elements, which blends acrobatics and magic through the four elements – earth, wind, fire and water. There were also live bands in various bars throughout the ship, as well as Karakoe, and a night club. This will give you an idea of the variety on board, there is plenty of entertainment to suit all tastes.
There are also dedicated wine, whiskey and cocktail bars, a live venue for comedy and game shows and an Observation Lounge which is a relaxing space with floor to ceiling windows providing the best sea views.
Dining on Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian cruise ships don’t have a dress code and offer Freestyle dining – you can dine where you want, when you want, so the atmosphere overall is very relaxed and casual. There are 17 different dining options on Norwegian Aqua, with a wonderful mix of complimentary and speciality restaurants.
Complimentary dining on Norwegian Aqua
Complimentary dining on Norwegian Aqua includes an impressive buffet from Surfside Cafe & Grill. The choice and standard of food here was superb, there is even a wood-fired pizza oven, and a delicious carvery in the buffet station.
I liked the The Local, a pub-restaurant that serves up tasty burgers, nachos, chicken wings as well as a delicious Ruben sandwich – one of the best I’ve tasted!
The star of the show is Indulge Food Hall – a modern Food Market with 8 different restaurants where you order by Ipad and the food is delivered in minutes. From American to Asian, Tapas to Tandoori, as well as a new Plant-Based restaurant catering for Vegans – the Lemon Lentil Soup was delicious! This is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have no doubt will be extremely popular with guests.
There are also two main-dining rooms, and I ate in both, The Commodore Room, and Hudson’s – which is a stunning room with floor to ceiling windows with stunning sea views. The food in the other complimentary restaurants was superior, but it was the first sailing so I’m confident this will improve.
Speciality Dining on Norwegian Aqua
There are eight speciality restaurants on Norwegian Aqua. When you purchase the More at Sea package ( more on this below ) you can dine in these during your cruise – the number included in the package varies depending on length of your cruise and cabin type. You can also pay separately on board if you wish to dine in any of these restaurants.
I dined in Cagney’s Steakhouse. The Surf n Turf with a large lobster tail was delicious! There is also a French, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Japanese, an expanded Teppanyaki restaurant, and a brand new Thai restaurant Sukhothai, serving up authentic Thai cuisine.
Top Tip: Pre book all speciality dining the moment you get on board, if not before, as they are likely to get booked out quickly.
Cabins on Norwegian Aqua
Like most cruise ships, there is a variety of cabins to choose from, and Norwegian Aqua boasts the most spacious cabins in the Norwegian Cruise Line feet. I stayed in a balcony cabin. I liked the muted tones, the extensive storage areas, and the bathroom with large shower was particularly impressive. I wasn’t surprised to learn that Aqua has the largest-ever bathrooms in its standard cabins.
The interior and oceanview cabins are spacious too, and many hold up to four guests. Interconnecting cabins are available for larger families, and suites are also available which include additional benefits.
Norwegian Cruise Line are the market leader when it comes to solo cabins, and there are 73 on board. Their unique concept puts solo travellers in a dedicated area on the ship. Guests stay in studio cabins that have exclusive access to a separate lounge with snacks, that affords guests the opportunity to meet like-minded travellers easily. You can see more about these on my review of Norwegian Encore.
Read: My review of Norwegian Encore
The Haven on Norwegian Aqua
If you want to push the boat out (pardon the pun), then the place to stay is The Haven. The Haven is an exclusive part of the ship where guests have a separate bar, restaurant and pool deck. Like the main ship, there are many accommodation offerings, which range in size from the Penthouse right up to a three-bedroom duplex suite that sleeps up to 8.
The Haven is ideal for multigenerational families looking for a luxury cruise with access to a choice of entertainment options on the main ship.
As well as a pillow menu and luxurious L’Occitane products in your room, Haven guests enjoy a separate embarkation area – almost like a business class check-in, priority seating in the theatre, priority reservations for specialty dining and a private butler.
Norwegian More at Sea Upgrade Package
One of the huge benefits of booking Norwegian Aqua, or any NCL cruise for that matter, is the outstanding value that the More at Sea package brings. You can enjoy unlimited Premium drinks, Speciality Dining, 50$ Shore Excursion Credit on every excursion booked, and WiFi for everyone in the cabin, when you book the More at Sea package. It is no surprise that 90% of guests book this package.
If you like to have a few drinks on holiday, then you simply must add this on when booking – although I can not comprehend how premium branded drinks such as Grey Goose vodka is included but bottled water is not…
Prices vary depending on the length of your cruise, but the More at Sea package on a typical 7 night cruise costs €279 per person ( 1st and 2nd guests in the cabin, other guests and children pay less ), with one speciality dining meal included if you are staying in a studio, inside or oceanview cabin.
Top Tip: If you are staying in a balcony cabin or above, you can enjoy three speciality dining meals on a 7 night cruise – so make sure to price both cabin types with your cruise agent, as it may be wise to upgrade to a balcony cabin.
Final thoughts on Norwegian Aqua
I love the size and design of Aqua. It may technically be a Mega Cruise Ship, but the abundance of intimate venues makes it feel anything but. Nothing takes centre stage, there is no single focal point – no grand Atrium, Dome or Theatre, yet the facilities, dining and entertainment are equally impressive. Even Aqua’s interiors are refined, understated and elegant, which some will say is a new departure for Norwegian Cruise Line, but it is one that I personally welcome.
The combination of thrilling attractions and lively entertainment venues, paired with fine dining and stylish outdoor spaces, ensures there’s something for every type of traveller on Norwegian Aqua.
Is this the best Norwegian cruise ship? I think so.
I hope my Norwegian Aqua review will help you plan a cruise holiday soon. I was a guest on Norwegian Aqua’s 3-day sailing from Southampton to Zebrugge in March 2025.
