Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of pushing boundaries, has unveiled the all-new Norwegian Aqua, the first of the next-generation Prima Plus Class that will set sail in April 2025.

Starting on November 19, travellers can book Norwegian Aqua’s first voyages to the Caribbean with seven-day itineraries departing from one of the world’s most sought-after cruise ports, Port Canaveral, Fla. Voyages include calls to the idyllic island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.

The legacy continues with renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri constructing this next-generation Prima Plus Class. Building upon the award-winning experiences of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua will set new standards and deliver brand-new guest experiences to be discovered with an overall 10% size and capacity increase from its sister ships, said a statement.

Spanning 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tonnes and accommodating 3,571 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Aqua will offer more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship.

"Norwegian Aqua is a true testament of fusing together what represents the future of our Brand as the first ship in the Prima Plus Class, and our commitment to pushing the boundaries in guest-first experiences that will make new waves at sea," said David J Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

"Named for both the beautiful shades of blue from the ocean and our connection to the sea, Norwegian Aqua will feature new, elevated and exhilarating offerings that once again showcase NCL as the innovator in the industry and as a key contributor to a new era of cruising."

Norwegian Aqua will showcase a colourful hull art design by NCL’s first-ever major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. World-renowned for her street art and global brand collaborations.

"I’m honoured, not only to be the first major female hull artist for Norwegian Cruise Line, but to also know that my artwork will be roaming the seas touching different parts of the world," said Allison Hueman, Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist.”

Norwegian Aqua will premiere the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster. Complete with exhilarating dual slides and a magnetic lift that propels adventurous guests through two different courses, this NCL exclusive experience will feature three stories of exciting twists and turns around the ship's funnel.

The new Glow Court, a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, will offer a variety of interactive guest activities by day and then transform into a nightclub in the evening. Guests will also their favourite Prima Class experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua, including The Drop, NCL’s 10-story free-fall slide, and the Stadium, a now expanded game space offering complimentary activities.

Boasting NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, Norwegian Aqua will offer all-new luxurious accommodations in the brand’s premium keycard-access-only-complex, The Haven by Norwegian. These four two-storey spacious suites feature separate living and dining areas; three bathrooms; a sprawling balcony; and three bedrooms, of which two include a king-size bed, with the master offering floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking ocean views.

Norwegian Aqua will offer a variety of the most spacious accommodations in the fleet including inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms, while solo travellers will continue to enjoy NCL’s signature Studio staterooms. The ship will also feature the company’s latest solo stateroom expanded categories, solo inside, solo ocean view and solo balcony, offering more space and variety of accommodations to single cruisers.

NCL’s family-favourite Splash Academy, for children ages three to 12, will return to Norwegian Aqua.

Guests looking to spend their days lounging at sea, will enjoy Norwegian Aqua’s infinity edge pool with expanded seating, and for the first time in NCL’s fleet, day beds will be available on the main pool deck for guests to lounge.

For an elevated and adults-only experience, the expanded Vibe Beach Club will also offer more lounge seating.

Following a series of seven-day Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, Fla, Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025. The ship will then sail five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the "Cruise Capital of the World," beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

Additional new features and highly anticipated guest experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua will be unveiled in the upcoming new year. - TradeArabia News Service