Three Nights on Norwegian Aqua: Getting to Know NCL’s Newest Cruise Ship

First impressions 

The first thing that struck me about Aqua was the sense of space.

There are clean lines everywhere and a very contemporary feel, but the atmosphere shifts as you move around the ship. Some areas are modern, sophisticated and a little bit moody. Go up a deck or two and suddenly you are in bright, colourful, high‑energy spaces.

I loved that contrast.

It means Aqua does not feel like she has been designed for one single type of cruiser. There are places to relax, places to eat and drink, places to be entertained and places where you can properly let your hair down.

And that was just from my first wander around.

 

My home for three nights 

I stayed in a balcony cabin and was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it felt, even with the beds configured as a twin.

The décor is done in calm, muted tones, which instantly gives the cabin a relaxing feel. After all the colour and noise of the more energetic areas, it was lovely to come back to somewhere that felt peaceful.

And having a balcony always makes a difference for me. Being able to step outside, take a breath and look out to sea turns a cabin into your own little sanctuary.

 

Aqua turns up the fun

If you like your cruise holidays with a side order of adrenaline, you will want to head upwards.

Decks 18, 19 and 20 are where things get colourful and playful: Tee Time mini golf, the children’s Aqua Park, Glow Court, the Drop slide and, of course, the very dramatic Aqua Slidecoaster.

These are not your average slides.

The Aqua Slidecoaster is the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea, with duelling slides and fast uphill launches. It looks seriously impressive as riders race around the side of the ship.

Then there is The Drop: a 10‑storey free‑fall dry slide that sends you straight down the side of the ship.

Did I go on either?

No.

Was I tempted?

Also no.

I am very happy watching other people hurtle around or plummet down the side of a cruise ship while I keep my feet firmly on a sensible deck.

But it was great fun to watch, and I can absolutely see why these attractions will be a huge hit with anyone who likes a little thrill with their holiday.

 

Game on 

Just below all the slides, on Deck 17, is the Aqua Game Zone.

This was another area where you can see Norwegian has thought about different ages and tastes. There are state‑of‑the‑art VR games right alongside retro classics, so you can go from “Wow, look at this technology” to “Hang on, I remember playing that!” in a matter of minutes.

It felt like the kind of space where you could easily lose track of time, in a good way.

 

And then we get to my favourite subject…  Food.

On our first night we went to Sukhothai, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first upscale Thai speciality restaurant.

The concept was inspired by how popular the Pad Thai is at NCL’s Indulge Food Hall, so obviously I had to try the Pad Thai.

It did not disappoint.

What I particularly liked, though, was that dining onboard Aqua felt like an experience, not just “order, eat, leave”. The setting, the service and the pacing all felt considered.

The following evening we went to Los Lobos. The food was fantastic and our guacamole was prepared fresh at the table, which I loved. It is those little touches that turn “dinner” into “a night out”.

By this point, I was thinking we were on a very good run of meals.

Then came night three.

Hudson’s surprised me 

Our final evening was at Hudson’s, one of the complimentary main restaurants.

If I am completely honest, I had assumed this would be the least exciting of the three nights. We had already had Sukhothai and Los Lobos; my expectations for the “standard” main dining room were not low exactly, but I thought it might feel a bit more ordinary.

I was wrong.

I ordered steak.

Now I am going to admit something that will make some people wince: I like my steak well done.

Yes, I know. Yes, I have heard all the arguments. No, I am not changing my mind.

Somehow, Hudson’s managed to produce a steak that was properly well done all the way through and still melted in my mouth.

I honestly still do not know how they pulled it off.

It was perfect.

So much for the main dining room being the dull night.

 

Entertainment – and a small revelation 

Post‑dinner, there was plenty going on.

I watched “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince”, which was so much more than simply sitting in a seat and watching a stage. Part of the theatre seating is removed to create a much larger performance space on the floor, the stage itself changes shape and the dancers move through the room.

If you want to get up and dance, you can. If you would rather stay put and watch, that is fine too.

I really enjoyed that it gave you a choice. It felt lively and immersive, not just a show happening “over there”.

Then there was “Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours”, based around Fleetwood Mac’s iconic Rumours album.

Because this was a preview sailing and the show was only being performed once during our three nights, it was moved into the main theatre so more people could see it.

And this show taught me something about myself.

Apparently, I know a lot of Fleetwood Mac songs.

Song after song started and I found myself thinking, “Oh, I know this one!” It was brilliant fun and the atmosphere in the theatre was fantastic.

 

Mandara Spa – I need to come back 

One of the spaces that really impressed me was the Mandara Spa.

Before you get too jealous, I did not actually have a treatment; we were given a tour.

But even from a walkthrough my reaction was basically: wow.

It looks amazing, and I immediately decided that if I were sailing on Aqua for a proper holiday, I would absolutely buy a thermal‑suite pass and book at least one massage.

Some places you walk around and think, “That’s nice.” The Mandara Spa had more of a “Right, I am coming back here when I am actually on holiday” feel.

Which, to me, is a very good sign.

 

A little time off the ship 

We did have one port of call during our three nights, and I chose an NCL excursion to Ghent.

It was a lovely day out, and because I have already written a separate blog all about it, I will not repeat everything here.

You can find that one under: “A day in Ghent – shore excursion from Zeebrugge on NCL Aqua.”

 

Three nights is not enough 

This is the point where I should admit that I have only scratched the surface.

I have mentioned just a handful of the things onboard Norwegian Aqua, because if I tried to include everything, this blog would be as long as the deck plans.

And that, I think, is one of the biggest things that struck me about Aqua.

There is a lot going on, but it does not feel like everything is competing for your attention all at once.

You can dive into the bright colours, games and activities. You can enjoy fabulous food and big‑night entertainment. You can find calm, sophisticated spaces. You can disappear into the spa. You can sit on your balcony and watch the sea. Or you can be considerably braver than me and throw yourself down the Aqua Slidecoaster or take a 10‑storey free‑fall on The Drop.

 

My verdict 

So, what did I think?

For me, Norwegian Aqua really does have something for everyone.

That is what makes her work so well. If you are looking for fun and activities, great food and entertainment, somewhere to relax and unwind, or a mix of all of the above, you can put together the cruise experience you want.

I loved the contrast between the bright, energetic decks and the more refined spaces. I loved the food, especially the way each restaurant felt like its own experience. I loved the entertainment and I definitely came away wanting more time in that spa.

Three nights gave me a fantastic first look at Norwegian Aqua, but it was nowhere near long enough to see everything.

Which, if you think about it, is a pretty good problem for a cruise ship to have.