NCL details dining on Canaveral-bound Norwegian Aqua
With more room than its two sister ships, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest vessel will feature several new and redesigned dining options when it arrives at Port Canaveral next spring.
Norwegian Aqua is the first of what the line is calling its Prima Plus class, 10% larger than 2021’s Prima and 2023’s Viva. The ship comes in at 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tons and a 3,571-passenger capacity based on double occupancy. That’s still smaller than the line’s popular Breakaway Plus class ships Escape, Joy, Bliss and Encore.
Still, the extra room means a shift of some returning venues found on Prima and Viva and the introduction of three new offerings.
At the top of the list is the line’s first dedicated Thai venue called Sukhothai, a specialty restaurant headed to Deck 17 with items such as Thai cashew chicken, salt and pepper prawns and Thai grilled steak salad. There also will be a variety of curries.
It joins a pair of returning Asian fare venues, the Japanese hibachi Hasuki as well as a relatively new offering Nama Sushi and Sashimi, which is found on both Prima and Viva, but will feature an updated look on Aqua.
Planterie is a second new food offering that will actually be one of 10 cuisines to be offered at returning food hall concept Indulge Food Hall on Deck 8.
The menu will be all plantbased bowls and other healthy options, the line’s first dedicated eatery with a full plant-based menu. Example items include the Southwest Bowl with smoked tempeh and the Mediterranean
Goddess Bowl with spiced vegetables, tabbouleh and honey-roasted carrots.
Another new venue will be dedicated to wine. The Swirl Wine Bar also designed by Studio DADO will be “tucked away” on Deck 6.
“The hidden enclave will feature a comprehensive wine-bythe-glass menu, and an extensive
list of rare and premium vintages,” a news release from the line stated.
Aqua will begin seven-night sailing of Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral beginning in April 2025 before migrating to New York in August and then back to Florida, but sailing out of Miami from October 2025-April 2026.
Among the ship highlights will be what the line says is the first hybrid coaster at sea, a digital sports complex and the first three-bedroom duplex suites for the cruise line in its exclusive area called The Haven.
Set to become NCL’s 20th ship in its fleet, construction continues at the Fincantieri shipyards in
Italy, and it marks the first of four planned ships in the Prima Plus class through 2028.
NCL’s parent company recently announced it was also working to secure funding for what would be the biggest class of ship ever for the line at more than 200,000 gross tons with four ships on order from 2030-2036.