Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing us another brand-new ship, and we did HOURS of digging across deck plans, press releases, social media chatter, and our own experience with the line to answer the big question: How does the upcoming Norwegian Aqua compare to the already popular Norwegian Prima? We’ve identified 40 differences and created a comprehensive list of changes coming to Norwegian Aqua.
Is Aqua just a slightly upgraded Norwegian Prima? Or are we looking at a game-changing cruise experience? Let’s dive in and compare these two ships!
If you’d rather check out the changes with Norwegian renderings, video, photos, and more, check out our Norwegian Aqua First Look video on YouTube.
A Quick Overview: Norwegian Prima vs. Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Prima debuted in 2022 as the first ship in Norwegian’s new Prima Class. The cruise line promised a ship with the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship out there. Norwegian Prima introduced luxurious designs, infinity pools, a new dining concept, and a strong focus on outdoor spaces. And guess what? The marketing worked! Prima shattered Norwegian’s sales records upon launch.
Now, here comes Norwegian Aqua, set to launch in 2025 as the very first ship in the Prima-Plus Class. The ship is 10% larger (156,300 Gross Tons) and promises exciting new features. But how different is it, really? Let’s break it down.
New Dining & Food Venues
Indulge Food Hall Tweaks
Norwegian Aqua keeps the tablet-based ordering system from multiple venues that we love. However, Starbucks is gone in favor of more seating. This change was already made on Norwegian Viva, Prima’s twin sister, based on guest feedback so we’re not surprised to see this change on Aqua.
Introducing Planterie
Norwegian Aqua debuts a new complimentary dining option called Planterie, focusing on plant-based dishes like Tofu Poke Bowls and a Mediterranean Goddess Bowl. This new venue replaces The Garden found on sisters Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
Bye-Bye, Food Republic—Hello, Sukothai!
Norwegian Aqua removes Food Republic, replacing it with Norwegian’s first-ever Thai restaurant at sea, Sukothai. Expect authentic Thai flavors in a specialty dining setting.
Outdoor Spaces & Thrill Rides
The Aqua Slidecoaster
Gone are The Rush dueling dry slides, The Wave water slide, and the Go-Kart track. In their place is the first-ever Aqua Slidecoaster, a high-speed water coaster with twists and turns over the side of the ship. This attraction really looks to up the game for Norwegian Cruise Line in the adventure space.
The Aqua Slidecoaster is one of the most talked about and touted changes to Norwegian Aqua and we can’t wait to check it out in person!
Glow Court – A High-Tech Sports Space
This new LED-powered sports floor will transform at night for immersive play experiences. According to Norwegian, this space will also transform at night to become a nightclub. Curious to see how this actually turns out!
New Bullseye Bar
While a similar concept originally debuted on Norwegian Prima, this bar was removed in 2024 to make space for a teen club. This was an oversight of the Prima-class: leaving out a teen club from the ship’s design.
The bar returns to Norwegian Aqua on Deck 18 as the Bullseye Bar. We’ll talk about the teen club next!
Relocated Teen & Kids Spaces
Entourage (Teen Club) moves to Deck 14, right below Splash Academy (Deck 15) for a more convenient setup.
Venue Swaps & New Additions
Cagney’s, Le Bistro, and Hasuki oh my!
Le Bistro’s old location now houses Cagney’s Steakhouse with a new entrance (yay!) facing Metropolitan bar/lounge, while Le Bistro moves to Hasuki’s spot on Deck 7. Hasuki, in turn, shifts to Deck 6 to Cagney’s former spot. This allows Norwegian to expand their Teppanyaki grill to include 9 stations – the largest at sea!
This game of musical chairs is said to help with traffic flow. We’ll see once we get on board!
Bar Swaps and a New Bar
Norwegian Aqua moves Belvedere Bar – one of our favorite spots on board – from the aft of Deck 6 up to Deck 8 taking over the Whiskey Bar. The Whiskey Bar moves to Deck 6 and takes the place of the former Belvedere Bar. Newly introduced Swirl Wine Bar has been added behind the new Whiskey Bar.
The Improv Relocates and the Casino Grows?
This venue received negative feedback for being too small. Norwegian Aqua moves The Improv to Deck 6 mid-ship, replacing some casino space. With that said… The casino expands into the atrium according to the deck plan! We know this isn’t fully accurate based on ship renderings and early looks, so we’ll update you in our ship tour once on board.
In the space where The Improv was, we find some of the onboard shops for fine jewelry and watches. Additionally, we see an expanded shopping area on deck 8 in the Penrose Atrium for more cruise exclusives.
With the Casino expansion and changes, the Cruise Next desk moves out of the Deck 6 space up to Deck 7 where all of the other services are. Another swap up there is Shore Ex and the Internet Desk swap sides of the ship. The nice thing about these changes is that it brings all services to a single deck on Aqua.
More Staterooms
Thanks to the longer footprint of the Aqua, we see the addition of more cabins across multiple different decks. The Norwegian Prima has a capacity of 3,099 passengers at double-occupancy, whereas the Aqua can hold 3,571 passengers.
Expanded Spaces & Premium Offerings
The Haven Expands
Let’s talk about The Haven, Norwegian’s ship-within-a-ship concept. Norwegian Aqua promises a larger, more luxurious The Haven, and the ship introduces a three-bedroom, two-story penthouse!
Vibe Beach Club Upgrades
This adults-only retreat gets more space and a new waterfall feature. According to Norwegian Cruise Line, this space DOUBLES in size providing ample room for lounging and enjoying the peaceful serenity in adults-only style. This space is still a “pay-to-access” area on the ship, so keep that in mind.
Bigger Pool Deck & More Lounge Space
With the removal of the Go Kart racetrack, Norwegian touts that the top-deck pool space nearly doubles. This is good news considering the negative feedback Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have received about their pool decks. On the Norwegian Aqua, the pool shifts back slightly, opening up space for deck parties. Additionally, there’s more space for loungers and day beds.
Plus, with the removal of The Wave waterslide, the runout area that used to take up deck space can also now be used for more seating.
The Local Gets a New Layout
The Local, one of our favorite spots, gets an updated layout! The bar is actually shifted aft from where it is on Norwegian Prima to open up the hallway into the restaurant and move restrooms from the entrance of Indulge to this space. Everything else looks to be unchanged with indoor and outdoor seating for The Local.
Los Lobos vs. Onda by Scarpetta
Los Lobos appears to have lost some space to Onda By Scarpetta according to the deck plan. This makes sense, as Los Lobos seems to be a concept the line is pulling back from, even sunsetting the location from other ships during dry dock.
The Commodore Room
The mid-ship main dining room, The Commodore Room, gets expanded an additional 33 feet to accommodate the additional passengers that will be sailing on the Aqua.
Casino Expansion & Changes
The VIP casino moves to the center of the casino and the main casino now extends into the Penrose Atrium. As mentioned above, we know this isn’t fully accurate based on renderings, but will keep you posted on YouTube!
Kids Aquapark
We’re not sure why this change happened, but we see the movement of the Kids Aquapark from starboard side of the ship on Deck 18 to the center of the deck space on the same deck.
Starbucks Expanded area
Thanks to the larger Penrose Atrium, Starbucks sees and expansion in the seating area offering more places to relax and enjoy your brews with a view!
New Entertainment & Shows
Revolution: A Celebration of Prince
The cruise line introduces a brand-new tribute show dedicated to the music and legacy of Prince.
Elements: The World Expanded
This all-new version of Norwegian’s Elements show promises bigger visuals, acrobatics, and magic.
Hull Art
Last but not least, and this one is probably the most visible and prominent: Aqua has a new paint job! Her Hull art, titled, “Where the Sky Meets the Sea” looks to be absolutely stunning. We can’t wait to see this ship in person.
Mystery Areas: What We Still Need to Learn
Aqua Game Zone: What’s Inside?
This new space replaces Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva and will feature VR games, a bowling alley, and more.
Indulge Food Hall Changes
Norwegian’s site mentions that Indulge Food Hall will have Coco’s. This is the cruise line’s upcharge chocolatier and malt shop. The concept was removed on Norwegian Viva to make room for the included desserts stand and more seating. Will Coco’s actually return to Norwegian Aqua? Stay tuned!
Casino & Shopping Adjustments
Deck 7 removes Effy Jewelry and Fine Watches from the deck plan. We’re curious to see how Norwegian makes use of this space. More seating? Pop up events? More to come!
Final Thoughts: Which Ship Should You Choose?
If you love the Prima-class experience and want to cruise now, Prima and Viva are already amazing choices. But if you’re excited for brand-new thrills, an upgraded The Haven, and fresh surprises, Aqua might be worth the wait!
What do you think? Will Aqua be the ultimate upgrade, or is Prima already perfect? Let us know in the comments!
And don’t forget—we’ll be on board Norwegian Aqua in early April, bringing you live updates, tours, and first impressions! Make sure to follow us on YouTube and Instagram (@thiscruiselife) to join the adventure!
Don’t forget to claim your free onboard credit when you sail with Norwegian Cruise Line! Check out the NCLH Shareholder Credit Program for more details.