Adventures on Norwegian Aqua

I was lucky enough to be invited on the inaugural sailing of the brand new Norwegian Aqua cruise ship, experiencing this wonderful ship before any guests stepped onboard. The newest sister of the Prima class, Norwegian (or NCL) Aqua can hold a maximum of 3751 guests which would make her a mid sized cruise ship. Over the course of our 3 day sailing we experienced all this ship has to offer and I can safely say I fell in love! It meets a middle ground for me that I didn’t know existed – a feeling of a premium experience but yet fun at the same time.

The food on the ship was of excellent standard and there was lots of choice of venues. Main dining operates on a “you dine when you wish” concept. We particularly loved Indulge food hall, home to made to order small plate dining, which is included in your cruise fare. We also sampled one of the many speciality restaurants, Cagneys steak house, and it was amazing.

New to this ship and to the cruise industry is the Aqua Slidecoaster, a hybrid rollercoaster waterslide. I tried it and the take-off is thrilling followed by a more relaxing journey through the slide. It is great for all ages (once above the height requirement). The Glow court is an interactive LED sports court onboard and there was also a large mini golf course amongst more.

The standout for me was the entertainment. This was my first time on a NCL cruise, and I knew they were renowned for their entertainment but I didn’t realise quite how good it would be. On our first night we attended a show devised for the ship, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince”, a tribute to the legendary musician. I was blown away by the singing, dancing and energy and this is a must see on board. On subsequent nights we experienced a Fleetwood Mac tribute and Elements, a signature show from NCL, which was a mesmerising combination of singing, dancing, acrobatics, magic and effects.

We sailed from Southampton to Zeebrugge on our short sailing and were very lucky with the weather considering it was March. I sampled the hot tubs and even had a dip in the main pool which I soon found out was heated. We had a drinks package included and the choice was extensive. What I loved most is a sense that this ship would genuinely suit all ages from families to extended families, to honeymooners, to lifelong cruises. There is something for everyone and I will be back!