Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened bookings for its first Prima Plus class vessel Norwegian Aqua, which is set to launch in April 2025.

From Wednesday (2 November), travellers can book Aqua’s first voyages to the Caribbean with seven-day itineraries departing from Port Canaveral.

Sailings include calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.

The vessel, which is being constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, will offer a 10 per cent size and capacity increase compared to its sister ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

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

New NCL ship ‘a true testament’ to ‘pushing the boundaries’

“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 NCL president David Herrera.

“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.”

Aqua will premiere the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster, complete with dual slides and a magnetic lift which propels guests through two different courses.

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.

Returning favourites include The Drop, NCL’s 10-story free-fall slide, and the Stadium, a now expanded game space offering complimentary activities.

Aqua to offer series of Bermuda sailings from New York

Boasting NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, Aqua will offer all-new accommodations in the brand’s premium keycard-access-only-complex, The Haven by Norwegian.

These four two-story spacious suites feature separate living and dining areas; three bathrooms; a balcony; and three bedrooms, of which two include a king size bed, with the master offering floor-to-ceiling windows.

Following a series of seven-day Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, the vessel 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, beginning October 2025 through April 2026.