Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Aqua made a splashy debut in March 2025 with several new and notable dining, bar, and entertainment enhancements designed to appeal to both couples and families. It's the first ship in Norwegian Cruise Line's Prima Plus Class, following two Prima Class vessels, 2022's Norwegian Prima and 2023's Norwegian Viva Slightly larger (3,571 guests vs. 3,195) than those two vessels with an extra 91 feet in length, this new ship has attempted to remedy one of its older siblings' design flaws: a small and uninspired Main Pool.
The biggest change, however, is evident even before guests board: The multi-deck Speedway racetrack that dominates the top of the past five Norwegian ships has been replaced by the new Aqua Slidecoaster. This hybrid waterslide and rollercoaster takes guests seated in a raft on an exhilarating one-minute ride as they're launched at speeds up to 31 miles per hour into a pair of looping tubes with trippy LED lighting effects. This onboard thrill is best appreciated in warmer weather and Norwegian Aqua will spend her first several seasons cruising The Bahamas and Caribbean from Miami as well as sailing to Bermuda from New York.
Beyond the abovementioned tweaks and with the exception of a few venues that have changed location or been expanded, 20-deck Norwegian Aqua's layout will be familiar to anyone who has sailed on Prima or Viva.
What We Love
The Expanded Pool and Whirlpool Spaces: Deck 17 on Norwegian Aqua has undergone some welcome upgrades, although guests whose main objective is pool time may still find that the spaces fall short of those offered by other mainstream cruise competitors. The Main Pool and the adults-only Vibe Beach Club both have more real estate than on Prima and Viva, thanks to the ship's extended length and the removal of two slides, The Wave and The Rush. The Main Pool now features a slightly larger pool, more sun loungers, and two more spacious whirlpools, while Vibe Beach Club retains the same layout with a round bar and two infinity-edge whirlpools but now also has more sun loungers. The side-facing pools on deck 8's Infinity Beach are similar to those on the two older ships.