I stayed in the cheapest cabin aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua.
Norwegian Aqua set sail in March 2025 as the first of the cruise line’s Prima Plus ships, featuring new amenities, dining venues, and more.
There are cabin types for all travelers, ranging from balconies to spacious multi-story suites. However, I chose the most affordable stateroom onboard: a standard interior cabin.
Although the stateroom lacked natural light, it surprised me with its smart storage options and modern design.
Perhaps the best thing about the inside cabin is that I enjoyed the same amenities as everyone else onboard for a fraction of the cost.
Overall, my interior stateroom on Norwegian Aqua was the perfect home-away-from-home for a 4-night getaway.
Norwegian Aqua inside cabin layout
Because I was traveling with my friend, we opted to have the beds separated, rather than pushed together to create a queen-sized bed.
Not only did this allow us to have our own sleeping areas, but it also helped the room feel more spacious, as the separation created a walkway between the beds.
Our particular cabin, #11129, was designed specifically for two guests. As such, there weren't any pullman beds.
The cabin also lacked a dedicated seating area. Other than the vanity's stool, there wasn't anywhere to sit besides the beds themselves.
It wasn't necessarily a dealbreaker since we spent most of the short 4-night cruise exploring the ship, but it's always nice to have an extra catch-all place for tote bags, cruise lanyards, and shopping bags.
By default, the dresser vanity across from the beds, which was positioned directly below the television, became that space for us.
I kept everything from my makeup bag to medications, sunglasses, shopping bags, and other random miscellaneous items strewn about here.
Norwegian Aqua cabin amenities
Norwegian Aqua is a brand-new cruise ship, having set sail on her maiden voyage on March 28, 2025. As such, you can expect modern amenities inside the staterooms.
For example, there are a variety of charging options, ranging from standard American outlets to USB and USB-C ports.
Conveniently, the bedside lamps also had built-in USB and USB-C ports, which made it easy to keep our devices plugged in overnight.
Our interior stateroom also came with a stocked mini-fridge — although the items weren't complimentary.
The water wasn't cheap, coming in at $6.50 per bottle (before the mandatory 20% service charge).
As such, we made sure to return to our cabin with water each evening. We didn't want to pay more for beverages after adding Norwegian's "More at Sea" bundle to our fare.
Moving on, we had a few issues with the television. While minor, it was frustrating to have to watch the 7-minute safety video whenever we turned the TV on.
It also wasn't the most user-friendly TV I've ever encountered. It took us a while to figure out how to navigate to the menu to browse the complimentary movies and television shows.
For the first two nights, we thought the television only had a handful of news and ship information channels. However, we ended up randomly stumbling upon the complimentary on-demand section, which offered a decent selection of movies and TV shows.
Moreover, as a newer ship, you must place your cruise card into a slot by the stateroom door to turn on the cabin's electricity. This helps conserve energy when passengers are out enjoying the ship and ports of call.
However, we observed that we couldn't get our stateroom to a comfortable temperature. Despite adjusting the thermostat, the room always felt warm, even when we tried using the "quick cool" option.
It wasn't the end of the world because (thanks to Hurricane Erin) we were on a cooler sailing to Canada, but I can imagine how frustrating it would have been on our original itinerary to Bermuda.
Despite those cons, I was impressed with the cabin's hairdryer. It was a standard model but leagues above normal cruise ship hairdryers.
It was powerful enough to quickly dry my hair without overheating, and I appreciated not having to having to hold down a button the entire time to keep it running.
Perhaps the best part, though? The plug was hidden, so it didn't take up one of the vanity's outlets.
Norwegian Aqua cabin storage
Overall, we thought that the storage space for two travelers was solid.
Between the three closets, pull-out basket drawers, shelves, and standard dresser drawers, we did not run out of space for our belongings.
There was also enough room underneath the bed for our suitcases and backpacks, which meant we didn't have to try and cram them into one of the closets (which was the case when I sailed on Vision of the Seas last year).
That said, we were on a 4-night cruise. I could imagine the space feeling tight and cramped for 4 guests on a weeklong Caribbean cruise.
Still, for us, the storage space in our stateroom was more than sufficient. I particularly appreciated the number of hooks available on the wall.
Having five built-in hooks meant we didn't have to worry about remembering to pack magnetic hooks to increase our storage space.
They came in handy for hanging lanyards, hats, tote bags, and purses, which helped to keep our tiny interior cabin organized throughout our sailing.
Norwegian Aqua bathroom
Ever since sailing on Carnival Celebration a few years ago, I've noticed that more and more newer cruise ships (including Icon of the Seas) are adopting a similar bathroom layout.
Instead of having the shower tucked into the corner with the toilet facing the sink, the shower is positioned on the entire wall, giving it a more spacious and modern feel.
The updated design meant that I didn't have to worry about bumping my elbows while maneuvering in a small cruise shower!
Not only that, but I loved how functional the shower aboard Norwegian Aqua was. The showerhead had four different settings, and there were two shelves for toiletries, as well as a bar handy for those who need to shave their legs.
There were no issues with the water temperature, either. In fact, if you weren't careful, the water would quickly turn scalding hot!
The provided toiletries were what you'd expect on a cruise. The shower had a body wash and shampoo/conditioner-hybrid, while the liquid hand soap was practical and served its purpose.
Moving on, the bathroom vanity area was limited, with the extra-large sink taking up most of the counter space.
If you're someone with a lot of makeup products (like me), you'll likely want to utilize the vanity area in the stateroom to get ready.
Finally, the overall storage space in the bathroom was above average, with three shelves above the counter, two below, and two hooks on the door.
That said, I always travel with my hanging door organizer, which helps keep my toiletries organized and easily accessible throughout the voyage. Plus, it leaves valuable storage space for my cabin mates.
Norwegian Aqua cost
The total of our 4-night cruise came in at $2,456.22, including taxes, port fees, gratuities, and Norwegian's "More at Sea" package.
With the package, we had everything from unlimited drinks, one specialty meal, and even Wi-Fi credits included, and didn't have to worry about extra charges adding up throughout the cruise.
Without "More at Sea," the fare would have been $2,176.22, or $1,088.11 per person. As such, we thought it was a wise investment to upgrade to the package, which cost $35 per person, per night.
Final thoughts about my Norwegian Aqua inside cabin
Overall, I was impressed by my interior stateroom aboard Norwegian. Although it had its pros and cons, the space was thoughtfully designed, making it comfortable and functional.
The beds were cozy; the storage space was great; and the cabin felt very modern and up-to-date, which fit the vibe of the ship.
Had the air conditioning been stronger, the stateroom would have been nearly perfect in my eyes, especially considering its limited space restraints.
I would argue that an inside cabin on Norwegian Aqua is a smart choice for travelers prioritizing affordability without sacrificing comfort.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
