Industry shares first impressions of Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) hosted more than 1,000 UK and Irish agents onboard its newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, this week (25-28 March) as part of a preview sailing from Southampton. Cruise Trade News caught up with agents onboard to get their reaction
The vessel, which is the third instalment in the line’s Prima Plus class, is 10 per cent larger than its sister ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
Cruise Trade News was among the first to experience the new ship on a trade-specific showcase sailing round-trip from Southampton via Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Standout features include mini golf and interactive darts, as well as a three-storey wellness facility and the first waterslide-come-rollercoaster at sea, the Aqua Slidecoaster.
One of the agents on board was ROL Cruise head of marketing Poppy Ellis, who told Cruise Trade News she believed the ship “has something for everyone”.
“For guests who typically travel on smaller ships and enjoy suite accommodation, The Haven is perfect – it’s an exclusive, suites-only area offering a more private and luxurious experience,” she said.
“You get all the benefits of a larger ship, like incredible dining options and world-class entertainment, while being able to retreat to the calm and comfort of The Haven at the end of the day.”
For solo travellers there’s a dedicated area called the Studio, which includes a lounge with refreshments designed to help independent travellers relax and connect with like-minded holidaymakers.
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director of Barrhead Travel, echoed Ellis’ comments and highlighted how the ship is a good fit for multi-generational family bookings.
“This ship is perfect for that multi-gen experience as I can imagine us really connecting and playing games together here,” she said. “From my observations during my first 24 hours [on board], it absolutely ticks the box for all of us.”
On the top deck guests will find the Glow Court, a digital sports complex featuring an interactive LED floor that adapts for different games, and the Aqua Game Zone which offers a mix of retro arcade games, immersive virtual reality challenges and interactive gaming experiences.
Jonny Peat, senior commercial manager for the Advantage Travel Partnership, described Aqua as a “real premium” family product.
“I know the family market has been relatively tough this year, so you want to make sure you are nailing it first time,” he added. “We have about 50 Advantage members on board and after hearing their first impressions, we are confident [about saying that].”
David Herrera, president of NCL, described the trade preview sailings as a “milestone moment” for the brand and Norwegian Aqua.
“During this inaugural season, we at NCL look forward to welcoming our travel partners from around the world and to give them the exclusivity of being the first to experience our newest product and to fully understand how guests can ‘Experience More at Sea’ with us,” he added.
