All about the Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Aqua cruise ship
Norwegian Aqua

The Norwegian Aqua is still being built and will debut in 2025. It's considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,056 ft long and 133 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.5 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 15-story building. The Norwegian Aqua will be the 20th ship in the NCL fleet and will debut in March 2025. The Aqua is still under construction and Norwegian hasn't released all the details yet. This page will be updated as we learn more.

Norwegian Aqua Overview

Norwegian Aqua Size and Passengers

The Aqua can hold 3,571 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Aqua has a space ratio of 44. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.



Norwegian
Aqua
ClassPrima Plus
Gross Tonnage156,300
Length1,056
Beam/Width133
Passenger Decks15
Passengers (double occupancy)3,571
Crew1,388
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)44
Norwegian Aqua Space Ratio
30 44 52

The Aqua is one of two Prima Plus-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian. The Prima Plus-class ships are 10% larger than Norwegian's Prima and Viva, but still smaller than Norwegian’s Breakaway-plus-class of ships. They have more outdoor space than any other Norwegian cruise ship with an expansive Ocean Boulevard wrapping around the ship. The ships also feature the popular Indulge Food Hall, a 10-story dry thrill slide, and a hybrid roller coaster / waterslide. The Aqua is very similar to its sister-ships; Luna, although each ship may have some differences.


Norwegian Aqua Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Aqua. You have 16 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 6 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 10 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 38% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Cagney's SteakhouseSit downA la cartSteakhouse
HasukiSit downFlat feeJapanese
HudsonsSit downIncludedAmerican
Indulge Food HallSit downIncludedFood Hall
Le Bistro FrenchSit downA la cartFrench
Los LobosSit downA la cartMexican
NamaSit downA la cartSushi
Onda by ScarpettaSit downA la cartItalian
PalomarSit downA la cartMediterranean
StarbucksQuick serveA la cartCoffee
SukhothaiSit downFlat fee
Surfside CafeQuick serveIncludedBuffet
Surfside GrillQuick serveIncludedBurgers
The Commodore RoomSit downIncludedAmerican
The HavenSit downExclusiveAmerican
The LocalSit downIncludedAmerican

Norwegian Aqua Bars and Drinks

Observation Lounge Bar on the Norwegian Aqua
Observation Lounge Bar on the Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Aqua has 14 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail. It also has 2 other bars that are available for select guests.

BarLocation
Belvedere BarDeck 8 MidSee Menu
Improv at SeaDeck 7 Mid
Luna BarDeck 8 AftSee Menu
Metropolitan BarDeck 7 AftSee Menu
Observation Lounge BarDeck 17 ForwardSee Menu
Penrose BarDeck 6 MidSee Menu
Proof Whiskey BarDeck 6 AftSee Menu
Soleil BarDeck 8 AftSee Menu
StarbucksDeck 7 MidSee Menu
Swirl Wine BarDeck 6 Aft
Syd Norman's PourhouseDeck 7 Mid
The Haven Bar*Deck 16 AftSee Menu
The Local BarDeck 8 AftSee Menu
The Bull's Eye BarDeck 18 Mid
Vibe Beach Club Bar*Deck 17 AftSee Menu
Waves Pool BarDeck 17 MidSee Menu
* = this bar is exclusive and not open to everyone.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Aqua

The main pool on Norwegian Aqua
The main pool on Norwegian Aqua

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 in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. 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 Norwegian Aqua has a total of 4 pools and 6 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 4 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
Total Pools4
- Pools - General Access3
- Pools - Adults Only
- Pools - Exclusive1
Total Hot Tubs6
- Hot Tubs - General Access2
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive4


Norwegian Aqua Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Aqua. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Norwegian
Aqua
Adult Only Relaxation Area (extra fee)Flat fee
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Cigar LoungeIncluded
Comedy ClubIncluded
Dart LoungeA la cart
Escape RoomFlat fee
Fitness CenterIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SlidecoasterIncluded
SpaA la cart
Splash parkIncluded
Thermal SuitesFlat fee
Thrill SlideIncluded
Virtual ArcadeA la cart
Water slidesIncluded

Cruise Costs

Norwegian is 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Norwegian Aqua will likely cost more than other ships in the fleet.

Norwegian Aqua 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 understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$20.00
Tip added to drinks & services20%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$7.00
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$109
Learn more
Internet Plan$29.99 - $39.99 per cabin per day, with $5 for each extra device
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at 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 More 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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