At the NCL- Walk for Wellness 2024, I won a cabin on the inaugural cruise of the new Norwegian Aqua!
Journey
On March 20, 2025, the time has come. We fly to Lisbon, where the ship is already waiting for us. Immediately after landing, I receive an email from NCL. Norwegian Aqua has not yet been able to call because the port is closed due to the very bad weather. What a bad surprise! With me, about 2000 other people receive this message. Mainly travel agency employees from all over the world and also journalists. These news do not come as a complete surprise to me, because the weather has been very bad here in the region for several days now. Storm and heavy rain. So now we are also affected. By bus, NCL brings us to a hotel in Lisbon and since it is not yet clear if and when the Norwegian Aqua will arrive, we are allowed to stay here and are served drinks and snacks. Then we have to wait until we can finally go on board…
Now we have a lot of time to talk to our fellow travelers. After a while, the news comes that Norwegian Aqua has arrived. Of course, it will be quite a while before we are allowed to board the vessel- Because first, the ship has to be cleared by the port authorities and that takes a while. It’s pouring incessantly, so going out and looking around Lisbon a bit is not an option either. At least, we are taken by bus to the beautiful Norwegian Aqua. She lies there like a skyscraper, in the middle of the old town at the cruise terminal. Like all NCL ships, it is brightly painted. Allison Hueman was the first female artist to paint the bow of the ship.
The huge slides at the top are the first thing you´ll notice. I’m really looking forward to that!
Aboard
All formalities have been completed, so we hold the cabin card in our hands. Those who have already downloaded the NCL app, have already been able to watch the safety film. So, we can go straight to the sample station. Each cabin is assigned to one station and in an emergency, everyone has to report there. Here you can register who is present or who is still missing. In the worst case, life jackets will be handed out here and the groups will be assigned on the life boats . Now we are allowed to go to our cabin. It´s on Deck 10, with balcony. One of the many fast and very quiet lifts takes us to the 10th deck.
In front of the cabin, Jay, our cabin steward, welcomes us. He addresses us directly by name and asks us to let us know if we have any questions or requests.
Restaurants
My only wish at the moment is to eat something. We decide on Hudson’s, one of the restaurants that are included in the tour price. Our cabin pass gets scanned, and a waiter leads us to our table for two by the window. Like all the tables here, it is lovingly set. Our waiter at the table introduces himself by name. Water and a breadbasket quickly appear, and our order is taken via tablet. Therefore, there are no long waiting times, because all orders are transmitted directly to the kitchen. The three-course menu is exquisite and sumptuous. If that’s not enough, you can order more any time and let yourself be pampered.
There are many different restaurant options. Some of them, the specialty restaurants, can be used by reservation and with an extra charge.
The restaurants with no extra fee include f.e. “the Commodore”, the main restaurant.
– The Local Bar & Grill, which is open 24 hours a day and offers snacks depending on the time of day
– Indulge, the food hall, where everyone can choose their favorite dish for lunch or dinner and then order it via tablet, including pasta dishes, vegan dishes, wraps, etc. These are delivered to the table. The dessert, you´ll go and get by yourself.
– Surfside Café & Grill, this is the large buffet restaurant on deck 17. Water, coffee and tea are always included in the price, as well as juices from the vending machine for breakfast.
Restaurants for an extra charge are f.e.:
– Le Bistro
– Cagney’s Steakhouse
– Sukhothai, which we test on the second night, and we are thrilled with the quality of the Asian dishes
– Nama, for Sushi
– Los Lobos
Bars and lounges
There are different bars and lounges on all public decks. The bars are very different, f.e. the large sports bar, which is part of the Local Bar & Grill. Here, sports enthusiasts can watch international sports broadcasts on various screens and have a bite to eat at the same time.
In the Metropolitan Bar, you´ll listen to live music in the evenings and the bar menu can be viewed on the tablets on the tables. Orders are then placed with the waitress.
At Syd Norman ́s Pour House you feel like you’re in a club, the music style of the live bands is different every night.
There are many more bars, to explore all of them unfortunately I had not enough time during these 4 days on board.
There is also a Starbucks café on board for a fee, directly in the atrium, with many comfortable seating areas and cozy sofas at the large window fronts. The Guest Service and Shore Excursions are also located there.
Entertainment
Every evening a show is performed in the Aqua Theater, at the front of the ship. We have the pleasure of being the very first guests to see all the shows that have been specially designed for this ship. Videos or photos of any kind are not allowed, so I can only say you have to watch them yourself! They are unbelievable good and absolutely on a musical level. I counted 18 singers and dancers only for the show “Revolution”, which is based on the Prince concert, plus the band. Another show is based on the album “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac. Comedians are on board and there is a show which we unfortunately missed because we preferred to eat on the first evening.
The seating of the Aqua Theater can be “folded away”, e.g. to include the guests in the show or to get a dance floor instead.
In addition, there are many live bands and performers who entertain guests with different music genres in the various bars and in the atrium.
If that’s not enough for you, you can go to the nightclub in the evening, the glow court can also be converted into a dance area or enjoy the view in the Observation Lounge on deck 18. Here, for example, a small breakfast is set up in the mornings.
Gambler can try their luck in the large casino on board. Here, slot machines are waiting for the inclined players, but there are also enough gaming tables with croupiers.
Fun and games aboard Norwegian Aqua
It never gets boring here!
Norwegian Aqua is a family ship, but it is also well suited for couples of all ages and singles.
Even from afar, the huge slides at the top and outside of the ship are noticeable. There is “The Drop”, a dry slide (see video) that you enter on deck 18 and debark on deck 8.
Furthermore, you can immediately see the “Aqua Slidecoaster”. Here you get wet! In two-man bobsleighs, two “teams” can start at the same time and compete in a race. It is a kind of roller coaster as a water slide.
Mini golf with electronic play grounds! That´s really amazing and funny!
On deck 8, the Ocean Boulevard, where you can walk around the whole ship, a few meters of the path run along the outside of the ship, and these are transparent! What a great feeling to see the white spray of the sea below you and you stand and walk over the water with dry feet!
Kids have their own water play park. The slightly older children and adults have fun in the video arcade, with electronic mini golf with unusual courses, at the kicker tables and the glow court, where basketball can be played. These are just a few of the possible pastimes on board.
Wellness and relaxation
Who doesn’t want to have that on vacation? Sun, relax, let yourself be pampered! Or would you prefer sports? Anything is possible on Norwegian Aqua.
A large area of the ship is dedicated to well-being, relaxation and beauty.
I don’t just mean the large pool or the infinity pools on deck, the whirlpools or the quiet lounge corners on deck.
I am referring above all to the large wellness and spa area inside the ship. There are facials, even a barber salon and a hairdresser. Massages can be booked alone or as a couple’s massage. “Zero Gravity Massage”, also acupuncture, with prior consultation with a doctor, lifting treatments, even intravenous booster shots are offered. Tooth bleaching, manicure and pedicure are also possible. And of course, there are also various saunas and an indoor pool.
Not to forget the numerous sports courses and the large fitness center, even spinning courses are offered.
And afterwards you can relax and rest in the relaxation area on heated benches, drink a tea and let your thoughts run free with the view of the seemingly endless sea. Pure relaxation!
The cabins of Norwegian Aqua
As on most cruise ships, there are inside, outside and balcony cabins.
One area is particularly designed for solo travelers, with its own lounge. Solo travelers can meet here, perhaps to arrange a joint excursion or to have a bite to eat and drink. The single cabins are very functional, the bed is queen-size size. All the cabins and the lounge are inside and the whole area can only be entered by the guests accommodated there.
The outside cabins are located on the lower decks of the ship and have a large round window that cannot be opened. However, they are not smaller than the balcony cabins, which have a full window front and a balcony, which is equipped with two chairs and a small table.
The suites, which are not located in the “The Haven” area, are usually located at the stern or front, with a fantastic view of the sea, large rooms and a very large balcony, some of which are equipped with loungers.
“The Haven” is a special, luxurious area that can only be entered by the guests of this area. With its own lounge and bar, its own restaurant and of course its own pool area.
The suites here are even larger and more comfortable, some are maisonette suites that means they go over two floors and have several bedrooms and very large verandas, some with their own whirlpool.
What can I tell you?! I think the ship is beautifully styled, the service is excellent and the food of course anyway. There is so much to discover, and I probably didn’t see everything in these 4 days. So, come and see for yourself!
You can find more information, news, etc. on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. No matter where, I look forward to your comments and likes!
Follow me!
Here are some more pictures of the Norwegian Aqua:
You love sailing boats as well? Fine! Here is what you are looking for!
Be First to Comment