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Norwegian Aqua will debut upscale Thai dining, plant-based venue, new wine bar

2025's Norwegian Aqua will offer fresh food and beverage experiences including Norwegian Cruise Line's first upscale Thai restaurant and first plant-based eatery, and a new wine bar.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

April 16, 2024

4 Min Read
Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

Thai restaurant Sukhothai will feature an eclectic menu with authentic, traditional offerings. Diners can look forward to a new spin on traditional staples, such as Thai cashew chicken, salt and pepper prawns, Thai grilled steak salad and a variety of curries.

The décor, by London-based SMC Design, blends traditional and contemporary Thai design elements. The Deck 17 venue will have bamboo and rice paper pendant lights, a geometric patterned floor and colorful furniture.

Planterie joins Indulge Food Hall

At the returning guest-favorite Indulge Food Hall, the new Planterie will offer plant-based bowls and other healthy options. Dishes will include the Southwest bowl with smoked tempeh and the Mediterranean goddess bowl with spiced vegetables, tabbouleh and honey-roasted carrots.

CRUISE Norwegian Aqua Goddess

The Mediterranean goddess bowl is among the selections at a new plant-based venue within Indulge Food Hall

Offering indoor and outdoor seating, Indulge Food Hall will have a new design by New York-based Rockwell Group, with 10 food stations drawing inspiration from international food marketplaces from around the world. Architectural features include deep wood accents, gold and metal furnishings and warm, colorful tones.

Swirl Wine Bar

Also premiering aboard Norwegian Aqua is Swirl Wine Bar, a contemporary wine lounge providing an intimate experience tucked away on Deck 6 between the Whiskey Bar and Hasuki, the hibachi-style restaurant. Swirl will offer a by-the-glass menu and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages.

CRUISE Norwegian Aqua Swirl

Swirl Wine Bar is a new venue designed by Studio DADO

Designed by Miami-based Studio DADO, the bar is inspired by the beauty and curvature of Arizona's Antelope Canyon, with warm color hues complemented by cascading horizontal lines and serene blue touches.

Redesigned Commodore Room

Plus, Norwegian Aqua will feature enhanced restaurants and lounges that are part of the Prima class.

CRUISE Norwegian)Aqua Commodore

Studio DADO will redesign the Commodore Room to have a rustic yet luxurious look inspired by a captain's room of the past

One of the ship's main complimentary dining rooms, the Commodore Room, will be redesigned by Studio DADO with a rustic yet luxurious look inspired by a captain's room of the past, with maritime sophistication including antique wood furnishings, leather banquettes, floors that mimic the lines of a pier and stone accents.

Relocated Metropolitan bar

Metropolitan, NCL's modern Sail & Sustain cocktail bar, which won the 2024 Vibe Vista Award for Best Beverage Program, will return with a design distinct from other Prima-class vessels and relocated from midship to aft on Deck 7. It will add a grand piano and a small entertainment space.

Inspired by the art deco and mid-century modern areas of New York City, Studio DADO crafted an intimate enclave with dark hues, eye-catching motifs and greenery.

New looks for returning restaurants

Nama Sushi and Sashimi, which debuted on Norwegian Prima and continued on Norwegian Viva, will feature a fresh, lively design by Studio DADO. Introducing a new color palette of lime green and black, the space draws inspiration from the vibrant world of manga art.

Located on Deck 17, the Surfside Café buffet restaurant will have a new design with warm colors and sunset tones by London-based A.D. Associates.

Next door, offering the same panoramic views as Surfside Café, the upscale, Mediterranean seafood dining venue Palomar will feature an elevated design with natural materials such as rope and wood accents complemented by pops of blue and dark purple shades.

The Whiskey Bar will relocate to Deck 6 near the new Swirl Wine Bar, while Belvedere Bar will move to Deck 8 at the heart of the atrium, where patrons can revel in nightcaps and nightly entertainment. 

Expanded venues

Penrose Bar and Waves Pool Bar will also feature new designs, and venues such as The Local Bar & Grill, NCL's 24-hour pub-style restaurant; Hasuki, a Japanese hibachi experience; and Cagney's, the line's signature upscale American steak house, will be expanded to accommodate this first Prima-Plus ship.

Other returning spots include Hudson's, the elevated, main complimentary dining room offering 270-degree wake views; Le Bistro, the high-end French restaurant; Los Lobos, the contemporary Mexican dining venue with outdoor seating; and Onda by Scarpetta, the upscale Italian restaurant, which also offers alfresco dining on Ocean Boulevard.

Norwegian Aqua is set to debut in April 2025 at Port Canaveral.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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