In April 2025, Jill and I embarked on two unforgettable three-night cruises, both marking historic inaugural sailings. Our first adventure was aboard MSC World America, followed by NCL Aqua. Each ship showcased its unique charm and promised exhilarating experiences at sea—promises they effortlessly fulfilled.
Between cruises, we made the most of our day in vibrant Miami, where we strolled through a captivating sculptural garden and explored an intriguing science museum.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our fun-filled week.
This story focuses on my unforgettable experience aboard Norwegian Aqua, capturing the debut voyage and all the magic it delivered.
Between cruises, we made the most of our day in vibrant Miami, where we strolled through a captivating sculptural garden and explored an intriguing science museum.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our fun-filled week.
This story focuses on my unforgettable experience aboard Norwegian Aqua, capturing the debut voyage and all the magic it delivered.
Miami, Florida (April 13-16, 2025) Norwegian Cruise Line’s Aqua made quite a splash with its preview cruise, and I was thrilled to be part of the festivities. Thanks to an invitation from Jill, I joined a curated group of more nearly 2,000 journalists, influencers, travel partners, and their guests who explored this spectacular new ship on a three-day cruise in the Bahamas.
I was thoroughly impressed with Norwegian Aqua, and I’ll explain why in a bit, but first, I’ll take a moment to share the highlights of the naming ceremony.
This sailing marked my third preview cruise in 15 months—the first was Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, followed by MSC’s World America. But it was the first time I attended a christening ceremony, which made this preview cruise especially memorable and set the stage for an unforgettable experience aboard Norwegian Aqua.
The ceremony, filled with tradition and excitement, featured remarks from NCL President David Herrera (left-hand photo below), Captain Robert Lumberg, and other distinguished speakers. Then, Mr. Herrera had the honor of introducing the godfather of Norwegian Aqua—two-time Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (right-hand photo below).
I was thoroughly impressed with Norwegian Aqua, and I’ll explain why in a bit, but first, I’ll take a moment to share the highlights of the naming ceremony.
This sailing marked my third preview cruise in 15 months—the first was Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, followed by MSC’s World America. But it was the first time I attended a christening ceremony, which made this preview cruise especially memorable and set the stage for an unforgettable experience aboard Norwegian Aqua.
The ceremony, filled with tradition and excitement, featured remarks from NCL President David Herrera (left-hand photo below), Captain Robert Lumberg, and other distinguished speakers. Then, Mr. Herrera had the honor of introducing the godfather of Norwegian Aqua—two-time Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (right-hand photo below).
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Pastor Pete Pera of Rise Community Church added a heartfelt touch to the occasion when he delivered a beautifully crafted blessing, wishing the ship good fortune and its crew and passengers safe travels. And, in true maritime fashion, a champagne bottle was smashed against the ship’s hull (middle photo above)—an event broadcast live on the screen behind the podium—marking the official christening.
The atmosphere was electric, filled with enthusiastic applause and cheers. I was honored to be part of this incredible celebration!
The atmosphere was electric, filled with enthusiastic applause and cheers. I was honored to be part of this incredible celebration!
What impressed me most about the ship was its functional, sophisticated design, thrilling onboard activities, and fresh, exciting lineup of entertainment—an excellent balance between style, innovation, and pure fun.
Functional, Sophisticated Design
Norwegian Aqua was the first of four Prima Plus class ships—an “evolution of the Prima class, offering larger, more spacious ships with enhanced amenities and thrilling new features.” At 157,000 gross tons, Norwegian Aqua can accommodate nearly 3,600 guests on 16 passenger decks.
While its size was impressive, Norwegian Aqua avoided the overwhelming scale of true megaships—a feature I considered a major advantage. Instead of clustering venues into towering, multi-story spaces—which I found daunting on the megaships I cruised on—Norwegian Aqua embraced a modernized yet more traditional layout that struck, in my opinion, the perfect balance between grandeur and accessibility.
While its size was impressive, Norwegian Aqua avoided the overwhelming scale of true megaships—a feature I considered a major advantage. Instead of clustering venues into towering, multi-story spaces—which I found daunting on the megaships I cruised on—Norwegian Aqua embraced a modernized yet more traditional layout that struck, in my opinion, the perfect balance between grandeur and accessibility.
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The heart of the ship was Penrose Atrium, a grand three-story space located midship on Decks 6, 7, and 8. Wide corridors stretched fore and aft, seamlessly distributing key public spaces—lounges, restaurants, theaters, and retail shops—in a way that optimized flow and enhanced the overall experience.
I would describe the ship’s décor as sophisticated and luxurious, similar to the aesthetics of higher-end boutique hotels: warmer hues, textured finishes, upscale furnishings, marble countertops, and subdued lighting. Every area, from the staterooms to public lounges, was intentionally designed to blend comfort and sophistication.
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I had two favorite areas on the ship, one inside and one outside.
The inside space was the Observation Lounge, positioned forward on Deck 17. It featured floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of ocean scenery, as well as comfortable seating in which to relax and unwind. Most importantly to me, though, it was a peaceful retreat from the busier areas of the ship, making it the perfect reading spot. The outside space was Ocean Boulevard, an expanded wraparound promenade on Deck 8 that offered jaw-dropping 360-degree ocean views and experiences designed to bring me (and other guests, of course!) closer to the sea: infinity pools where I could relax while gazing at the sea, glass bridges that thrilled me as I walked more than 50 feet above the waterline, and a stylish open-air lounge where I enjoyed food, drinks, and the refreshing ocean breeze. |
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Thrilling Onboard Activities
I’ve said this of megaships, but it is equally true of Norwegian Aqua: it is a floating resort packed with live entertainment and endless activities—thrill rides, water slides, and other immersive experiences—all designed to make it a full-fledged vacation destination, even without setting foot in a port.
There was no shortage of exciting experiences on Norwegian Aqua, including The Drop (a 10-story dry slide that sends guests spiraling down the side of the ship), Aqua Slidecoaster (the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea), and Aqua Game Zone (a mix of retro arcade games and virtual reality experiences).
Full Disclosure: I tried “none of the above.”
However, one afternoon Jill challenged me to a golf match at Tee Time Mini Golf—a 12-hole, high-tech course with interactive features themed around the Wonders of the World. It wasn’t a “brush with death,” as the Aqua Slidecoaster and The Drop would have been for me, but it was great fun.
There was no shortage of exciting experiences on Norwegian Aqua, including The Drop (a 10-story dry slide that sends guests spiraling down the side of the ship), Aqua Slidecoaster (the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea), and Aqua Game Zone (a mix of retro arcade games and virtual reality experiences).
Full Disclosure: I tried “none of the above.”
However, one afternoon Jill challenged me to a golf match at Tee Time Mini Golf—a 12-hole, high-tech course with interactive features themed around the Wonders of the World. It wasn’t a “brush with death,” as the Aqua Slidecoaster and The Drop would have been for me, but it was great fun.
The system digitally records each stroke and displays the score—a function of the number of strokes and bonus points earned—on interactive screens placed near each hole. I had a comfortable lead after 11 holes, but Jill pulled out a win on the 12th hole when she earned a 100-point bonus for making a hole-in-one!
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Not to be outdone, I immediately challenged Jill to a game of Connect 4, played on a giant vertical grid. The goal is to get four colored discs in a row—connect four—which I achieved on my 12th play.
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Fresh, Exciting Lineup of Entertainment
The Aqua Theater, spanning three decks, was a multi-purpose venue that featured adaptive seating and state-of-the-art video and lighting designed to create an immersive entertainment experience. It stood out as one of the most unique and visually stunning entertainment venues at sea, making it the perfect stage for Norwegian Aqua’s impressive performance.
A scene from Elements: The World Expanded
Jill and I attended three spectacular shows during our voyage.
The first was Revolution, a Celebration of Prince—a theatrical concert developed in partnership with Prince Legacy LLC, featuring his greatest hits, including 1999, Little Red Corvette, and Purple Rain. The production was a high-energy tribute with stunning visuals and choreography. Unfortunately, due to a strict “no photography” policy, I can’t share any pictures—but trust me, it was a show to remember.
The second was Elements: The World Expanded, a breathtaking Cirque du Soleil-style production inspired by the four elements: earth, air, water, and fire. The mesmerizing show blended aerial acrobatics, dance, magic, and music to create an awe-inspiring spectacle that captivated the entire audience.
The first was Revolution, a Celebration of Prince—a theatrical concert developed in partnership with Prince Legacy LLC, featuring his greatest hits, including 1999, Little Red Corvette, and Purple Rain. The production was a high-energy tribute with stunning visuals and choreography. Unfortunately, due to a strict “no photography” policy, I can’t share any pictures—but trust me, it was a show to remember.
The second was Elements: The World Expanded, a breathtaking Cirque du Soleil-style production inspired by the four elements: earth, air, water, and fire. The mesmerizing show blended aerial acrobatics, dance, magic, and music to create an awe-inspiring spectacle that captivated the entire audience.
Finally, we experienced Rumours, a tribute concert featuring the full tracklist from the Fleetwood Mac legendary 1977 album. With classics like Go Your Own Way, You Make Loving Fun, and Never Going Back Again, it was a show I couldn’t help but sing along to—and I did!
I thoroughly enjoyed all three shows, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Elements: The World Expanded. It showcased theatrical storytelling at its finest—the art of using performance, movement, and staging to bring the four forces of nature to life in a way that was both visually striking and emotionally immersive.
And there you have it—the main reasons Norwegian Aqua left a lasting impression on me. Of all the ships I’ve sailed for the first time in the past couple of years, this is the one I’d book again.
And there you have it—the main reasons Norwegian Aqua left a lasting impression on me. Of all the ships I’ve sailed for the first time in the past couple of years, this is the one I’d book again.