Celebrity Edge vs Norwegian Aqua

The Celebrity Edge was built in 2019. The Celebrity Edge is the first ship to feature the "Magic Carpet," a moving platform that makes using water tenders a breeze while in port, or adds outdoor dining space while at sea. This Edge-class of ship is known to feel quite different than the rest of the Celebrity fleet as it's less geared towards traditional cruise passengers. It's 6 years older than the Aqua, which was built in 2025. The Norwegian Aqua is 10% larger than its sister ships. It gets rid of the Race Track and instead has a new Slidecoaster around the funnel. The Aqua is still under construction and Norwegian hasn't released all the details yet.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Edge is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 feet long and 128 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Norwegian Aqua, the Edge is 17% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Celebrity Edge holds 18% fewer passengers than the Aqua based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Edge has the same amount of space per person as the Aqua.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Edge has 18 different dining options like Rooftop Garden Grill, Mast Grill, and Normandie Restaurant. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 10 options have an additional fee.

The Aqua has 1 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Surfside Grill, Cagney's Steakhouse, and Onda by Scarpetta. 6 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 11 have an additional fee.

The Celebrity Edge has about the same number of dining options as the Norwegian Aqua.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Edge might be a better choice then the Aqua. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Aqua below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Celebrity Edge has a total of 3 pools and 4 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian Aqua has more pools than the Edge and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Aqua. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Edge, 67% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Aqua, only 56% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Norwegian, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a Free at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive free open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at their specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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