I tried the Norwegian Aqua Slidecoaster and lived to tell the tale
Table of Contents
Pros
- Stupendous range of dining options.
- Revolution was one of the best shows at sea – and it’s only an hour long.
- It’s a better designed ship which means things flow better.
Cons
- While everything is priced in US Dollars, it’s important to make sure you pick your More at Sea options carefully.
The beauty about the evolution of a class of ship, is that each vessel keeps getting better and better.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s third Prima-class vessel, Norwegian Aqua has taken all the best from her big sisters, Prima and Viva and evolved them to a more mature and sophisticated experience.
I’m onboard the second “shakedown” sailing from Southampton for a fast and furious look at the Norwegian Aqua.
Many travel agents are onboard with me, and they have commented, that while the ship is designed for the contemporary market, it looks and feels like a luxury ship.
NCL has taken guest feedback from their previous two vessels and applied their learnings to Norwegian Aqua.
It’s an indication of a change in the NCL guest preference – there is a bigger focus on food, more deck spaces, and larger public areas, especially in the outer areas of the ship. Not to mention the addition of suites in The Haven.
The new Aqua Slidecoaster is a drawcard, as it’s the first of its kind – replacing the race track on other Prima class ships.
And while she might not be sailing Down Under (we wish), it is the kind of ship – with its 21 food and beverage offerings, activity centres, and value proposition – that would attract Australians to the Mediterranean or even the Caribbean.
Food, glorious food
NCL has always prided itself on the array of dining options. But there are now three new choices which include a dedicated Thai specialty dining venue, a plant-based eatery in the popular Indulge food hall as well as Swirl, designed for wine tasting and connoisseurs.
Sukhothai, located on deck 17 near NCL’s seafood restaurant Palomar is a nod to authentic Thai cuisine.
Jason Krimmel, head of NCL’s Sales, Marketing and Brand Communications said one of the most popular dishes in the Indulge Food Hall (a dining area with several cuisine stations, where guests can order from iPads) was the Pad Thai.
This spurred the line to come up with the idea of opening a dedicated Thai restaurant as part of the line’s specialty dining option. The authenticity comes across in menu items like the beef salad, spring rolls as well as an assortment of curries like red, green as well as duck and of course, their famous noodle dishes.
The bold flavours of the desserts are reminiscent of the street food one would find in the middle of Bangkok. You must order khao niew mamuang (mango with sticky rice) or the khanom chan (a steamed pandan pudding topped with coconut sauce, coconut chips and sesame).
Another new addition is The Planterie which serves plant-based options like poke bowls, using soy-based products and a deliciously heart-warming lentil soup.
The NCL favourites have returned – the French Le Bistro, Cagney’s steakhouse, the seafood specialties at Palomar, Mexican cuisine at Los Lobos as well Onda by Scarpetta, Indulge Food Hall and much more.
But some of the most popular dining options – Commodore has grown in capacity from 417 to 490 seats, while Hudson’s will be able to accommodate 470 guests, an increase from 458 on Norwegian Viva.
The popular Teppanyaki restaurant which has been a big hit across the fleet, once had six stations for guests, now has nine tables for groups of 18.
And the French restaurant, Le Bistro, now has increased capacity from 82 to 96 guests.
And because of the robust choice of dining options, it works well with NCL’s More at Sea promotion where guests can choose up to five perks. They currently offer an unlimited open bar, specialty dining credits, free shore excursion credit, free WiFi or on some sailings, reduced fares for the third and fourth guest in a cabin.
The bars reimagined and repositioned
Like Prima and Viva, many of the bars have drinking areas have returned but have been improved. The most noticeable is the size of the Metropolitan Bar.
Previously on Viva and Aqua, the watering hole felt unloved and lost. The team have cleverly made the bar bigger and run parallel to the walkway. It’s the place where you’ll find NCL’s sustainable cocktails. But with more seating and warmer colours, it’s a good place to grab a drink before walking towards other specialty dining as well as Hudson’s, the ship’s main dining room.
A new addition is the Swirl Wine Bar which has blends taken across from vineyards across the world – whether it be Spanish varieties, French vintages or Californian reds and whites. The sommeliers host wine tastings as well as masterclasses.
The Whiskey Bar will relocate to deck six near the brand-new Swirl Wine Bar, while Belvedere Bar will move to deck eight at the heart of the atrium. There are bands playing even throughout the day and has been designed as a hangout both in the afternoon and late into the night.
Where you’ll sleep
In keeping with the elegant tones of the public areas, Norwegian Aqua’s staterooms have all been designed with cream lounges as well as beige panelled walls. There are little adornments of colours – from the artwork behind the bed to the pillows on the sofas.
But what is impressive is the size of the bathrooms and the balconies. With plenty of storage and sink space, the bathroom is one of the biggest and most comfortable.
The Studio for NCL’s solo travellers is expansive with the staterooms spread across two levels, and the lounge is for exclusive use for those travelling by themselves.
The piece de resistance, is a much larger Haven, NCL’s ship-within-a-ship concept.
The cruise line has made the move to now include 123 suites in The Haven which is a step up from 107 suites on Viva.
New for the brand is the Two- and Three-Bedroom Duplex Suites. These expansive two-story accommodation offerings will feature separate living and dining areas; three bathrooms; a balcony; and three bedrooms which are designed for multigenerational families.
The entertainment
NCL has moved away from licensing Broadway shows and have started to invest heavily in their own productions.
Rumours, the highly popular Fleetwood Mac tribute show has now moved from the Syd Pour bar to a full-scale musical in the theatre. It was so popular on other ships that lines were snaking out the door. Guests on Norwegian Aqua won’t have the problem, as in its interactive theatre, you can hit the dance floor and boogie away.
The best though, is Revolution: A Celebration of Prince. The musical details the life of the famed pop star and combined with great talent, sparkling costumes, and a rocking band, it’s a well thought out, and well-constructed show.
It really hits some of the high notes and there are some truly powerful performances from the cast and dances. It’s a great show that is the perfect tribute to the Purple One.
NCL has been working on 112 new show and experience projects which will roll out across different ships, by March 2026. Interestingly, they’ve taken on guest feedback and cruisers have said they want music they recognise and shorter shows.
The Aqua Slidecoaster and activities
There are a plenty of activities for not just the children, but for the adults. NCL has brought back the top deck games area which has a larger putt putt course, pickleball as well as ping pong tables.
The Aqua Slidecoaster has replaced the famous racetrack. After five ships, the team thought it was time to try something new and it does live up to the hype. Guests are placed, sitting down in upright rafts, and are then propelled through slides that twist around the ship’s funnel.
Even sailing in five degree weather through the North Atlantic Ocean, it was great fun.
The Norwegian Aqua space
Taking inspiration from the ship’s name, there are lovely wave motifs weaved into the lighting, the carpet, the decor as well as the artwork onboard.
The colour palettes are a lot more muted on the ship, with dark blue, brown, tan and beige toned walls and carpets, accented with warm greens- and copper-coloured chairs and banquettes as well as splashes of bright gold lighting themes.
Norwegian Aqua is welcoming – especially the atrium which is the heart of the ship. The tall, light filled space is also home to the shore excursions, concierge and guest services desk. Across deck 6, 7 and 8 in the atrium is where you’ll also find bars, lounges as well as the very popular Starbucks.
What do we think?
Overall, the ship is a nod to a more sophisticated version of the Prima-class vessels, and the design team has taken into account the flow of the ship – you’ll move effortlessly from one bar, to the next, before heading off for dinner.
While some people might miss the colourful motifs, it’s a welcome change. The ship is a lot calmer and more relaxing. And it’s definitely designed to accommodate every type of cruiser.
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