I took my first Norwegian cruise on the line's newest ship out of New York City, and after four short days aboard Norwegian Aqua, I'm already itching to go back.
Although the vessel isn't the largest in NCL's fleet, she's one of the most modern, with high-tech mini-golf, a hybrid water slide-roller coaster, upscale restaurants, and more.
Here's what it was like onboard Norwegian Aqua.
Norwegian Aqua set sail in March 2025
Measuring 156,300 gross registered tons with a passenger capacity of 3,571 at double occupancy, Norwegian Aqua isn't a small vessel.
However, she's a far cry from the world's largest cruise ships, like Icon and Star of the Seas.
Still, she is packed with state-of-the-art thrills, restaurants, upscale bars, and more.
I went on a short 4-night cruise from New York City
I'm always looking for an excuse to visit New York, so I booked a cruise departing from Manhattan and combined it with a trip to see one of my close friends from college.
I wish I had booked a longer cruise, though. 4 nights on the Norwegian Aqua simply wasn't enough.
Between the original production shows, numerous restaurants, and other activities, we barely scratched the surface of everything the ship offers.
Norwegian Aqua has 16 public decks
The lowest, Deck 5, is home to interior and ocean-view cabins. However, it's just one floor below the snazzy multi-level atrium.
The architecture, particularly the thick white staircase, reminded me of the whitewashed buildings in the Greek Isles, albeit without the light blue accents.
Norwegian Aqua's atrium was a lively hub that hosted game shows. It also doubled as a gathering spot for live music and Mario Kart tournaments.
It's also home to Starbucks and a couple of bars
Starbucks isn't included in Norwegian's More at Sea Unlimited Open Bar package. However, we did use our onboard credit for iced coffee one morning.
Other bars and lounges surrounding the atrium include the Penrose Bar on Deck 5 and the Belvedere Bar on Deck 6.
Both are great spots to unwind with a hand-crafted cocktail and take in the atmosphere.
The casino is right off the atrium
One thing I found strange about the Norwegian Aqua was the location of the casino. Instead of being tucked away, it’s right off the main atrium on Deck 6.
You have to walk through the casino to get to the amenities at the aft of the ship, including the Improv at Sea comedy club, Whiskey Bar, Swirl Wine Bar, and the Commodore main dining room.
The Commodore Room is one of the two complimentary dining rooms on Norwegian Aqua
The other is Hudson’s on Deck 7. The menu is the same, regardless of which dining room you eat in.
The Commodore Room is darker and more intimate, while Hudson’s has massive floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light, giving it a more formal atmosphere.
Thanks to NCL’s Freestyle Dining, you also don’t have to worry about stuffy dress codes or reservations. The longest we ever had to wait for either dining room was just ten minutes.
We preferred eating at Hudson’s
We were lucky enough to be seated at the window on embarkation day, so we got to watch the sunset as we sailed away from New York.
Hudson’s proximity to the Metropolitan Bar was also a major perk. It was easy to grab a drink at the upscale bar before heading to dinner.
My favorite was the Crossiant Mai Tai!
After dinner, we bounced between different shows and activities
Most of the game shows were held in the atrium, so you will want to arrive early to grab a seat, especially if you want one of the comfy chairs.
To increase the seating capacity, Norwegian’s crew members brought out folding chairs. Still, the available seats went quickly.
We played Majority Rules and had a lot of fun trying to put ourselves in everyone else’s shoes to determine the most popular answers.
The theater shows were wildly popular
I was surprised by how quickly the Aqua Theater filled.
After barely securing seats for The Price is Right (which was the only show that allowed reservations), we thought we’d be okay if we got to the theater 20 minutes before showtime.
After two more failed attempts and ending up in the standing room-only sections, we realized it was best to arrive at least 30–45 minutes early if you want a guaranteed seat.
“Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” felt more like a concert than a traditional cruise show
The performers captured the energy and spirit of Prince’s music with powerful vocals, strong choreography, and colorful costumes.
It was fun standing in the pit, too. We moved with the stage as it rotated, which immersed us in the performance.
We also caught a show at Syd Norman’s Pour House
Syd Norman’s had such a fun atmosphere. The intimate venue made it easy to feel the energy of the rock n’ roll show.
The quirky décor added to the charm — think old Rolling Stone magazine covers, neon signs, wood paneling, and vintage beer advertisements.
The Local was open for late-night bites
As a nacho fiend, I was excited to see The Local had nachos on the menu. Unfortunately, the late-night menu after 11:00 p.m. offered fewer selections.
Still, options ranged from chicken wings to pretzel bites, beef chili, hot dogs, and reuben sandwiches.
Although the food was tasty, I prefer grab-and-go options, especially when I’m tired. I was surprised there wasn’t a place to get a slice of pizza to take back to my cabin!
The stateroom on Norwegian Aqua was tiny but modern
I stayed in the least expensive room, which cost $2,456.22 for 4 nights and didn’t have a window.
The interior cabin was stylish and up-to-date, fitting the ship's vibe. Not only that, but it was comfortable and functional.
My friend and I had plenty of storage space, and we loved the abundance of power outlets available at the vanity and beside the bed.
Even the bathroom was nice
It had good lighting, a large sink, and lots of storage.
However, my favorite part was the extra-spacious shower positioned along the wall, rather than tucked into the corner.
The showerhead had four different settings, and — unlike other cruise ships I’ve been on — there were two shelves for toiletries.
The top deck was filled with thrills
In lieu of the multi-story go-kart track, Norwegian Aqua’s most unique attraction is the Aqua Slidecoaster.
The complimentary slide is part roller coaster and part water slide. Once seated in an inflatable tube, a robotic arm whisks you up a steep incline before sending you plunging through twists and turns.
It was a lot of fun, but we would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t 60°F.
Tee Time mini-golf isn’t included, but it is worth the extra charge
For just $5 per person, Norwegian Aqua has perhaps the most interactive mini-golf course at sea.
Each hole is themed after a different destination, from London to Alaska, New York, Greece, and more.
You don’t have to worry about keeping track of your score, either. The course features an electronic scoring system that automatically records each putt, so you can focus on making the super shots for extra points!
The main pool area gets crowded very quickly
Even on our unexpectedly chilly cruise to Canada (thanks, Hurricane Erin!), passengers flocked to the pool deck.
That said, there are tons of lounge chairs available the further you move away from the main pool, though it can be a little disappointing if you prefer to stay close to the action.
There's also an extra-charge adults-only area
We didn't explore the Vibe Beach Club on our cruise.
However, if you want a time away from children, it may be worth the extra cost. Just make sure you book early, as reservations fill up quickly.
Inside the adults-only retreat, there are multiple hot tubs, plush lounge chairs, a bar, and an infinity pool.
We spent a lot of time in the Observation Lounge
Our initial cruise aboard Norwegian Aqua was scheduled to visit Bermuda. However, Hurricane Erin had other plans in mind, so we diverted north to Canada.
Because it was chillier than expected, we spent a lot of time in the Observation Lounge, where we could comfortably take in the ocean views.
The Observation Lounge also had a bar and a small self-service buffet, so we didn't have to wander far when we wanted a drink or light snack.
My favorite place to snack was the Indulge Food Hall
The Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Aqua is a must for all foodies. There were eight different food stalls to try.
Everything we ordered, from the pesto gnocchi to the nachos and Singapore street noodles, was packed with flavor and so much better than anything you'd find at a cruise buffet.
My biggest complaint about Indulge was the seating. On both of our visits, we had to circle the food hall until someone left.
Although there were seats at each kiosk's counter, you could only order from that specific stall. We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so that wasn't ideal for us.
We also ate at the only specialty Thai restaurant at sea
We added Norwegian's "More at Sea" offer to our booking, which included a specialty dining credit for us to use during the cruise.
With Sukhothai being the only specialty Thai restaurant at sea, we knew we had to give it a try. The menu was filled with classic Thai dishes, from fragrant curries to roasted duck and flavorful noodles.
The desserts were also impressive, with options like mango sticky rice, lychee sorbet, fried bananas, and more.
Overall, there's a lot to explore on the Norwegian Aqua
Four days weren't enough to get the full experience, and I disembarked wishing I had booked a longer sailing.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. 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!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Royal Caribbean Blog and Business Insider.
