What's new and different about the bigger Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Cruise Line's first Prima-Plus ship is 10% larger in size and capacity than Norwegian Prima and Viva by virtue of two additional 11-meter sections. So it's 22 meters longer, and that affords extra space for upgrades.

'I think the improvements to the public spaces will be tremendously received by our guests,' Harry Sommer told travel partners and media getting a first look at Norwegian Aqua in Venice PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

'I love Prima and Viva,' Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President/CEO Harry Sommer said, adding it's a core tenant to 'listen to our guests and not assume we know everything ... We can do a few things better.'

Sommer pointed to Norwegian Aqua's top-deck and pool deck enhancements and said the Vibe Beach Club is twice as large. The Commodore Room, a main dining venue, is considerably larger, and Norwegian Aqua will have the fleet's largest teppanyaki restaurant.

'I think the improvements to the public spaces will be tremendously received by our guests,' Sommer said this week in Venice where international travel partners and media got a first look at Norwegian Aqua under construction at Fincantieri's Marghera yard. Delivery is due in six months: March 13.

First impression

The extra space will be immediately noticeable when guests step into the triple-deck Penrose Atrium.

'The moment you get on board, it will feel like a much bigger space and it really is the heart of the ship,' Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera said.

Related:Norwegian Aqua's Slidecoaster: Fast, fun and an engineering feat

Shops were relocated away from the atrium's middle deck (7), giving more lounge space, and the always hopping Starbucks there is enlarged. That level also houses guest services and the shore excursions, Cruise Next and internet desks.

Open decks

A new thrill ride, the Aqua Slidecoaster, snakes around the ship's funnel, replacing the racetrack on the earlier Prima ships. The entrance is on Deck 18. Taking away the track almost doubled the space available on Deck 17, the pool deck, according to NCL's Nelson Martins, regional VP - fleet hotel operations strategic initiatives.

The expanded pool area, under construction and a rendering PHOTOS: ANNE KALOSH

This allowed for a redesigned and expanded pool area. 'It's much bigger, with lots of improvements,' Martins said.

The nearby Surfside Cafe/Grill and specialty restaurant Palomar are joined by NCL's first Thai restaurant, Sukhothai (replacing Food Republic).

The enlarged adults-only enclave Vibe Beach Club is aft.

Infinity Beach and Indulge Food Hall

The Drop and The Rush, two freefall dry slides entered on Deck 18 and landing on, on Norwegian Prima and Viva, on each side of Deck 8, is now just The Drop on the port side of Norwegian Aqua, giving the starboard side more deck space. This, and removing the sculpture park, allows for a larger Infinity Beach

Having just The Drop, here, landing on the port side, will open deck space for Infinity Beach on the starboard side PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

So there will be more lounge chairs near the Infinity Pool on the starboard side.

Related:NCL's next Prima-Plus ship is Norwegian Luna with dreamscape hull art by ELLE

Aft, the indoor-outdoor Indulge Food Hall, with its varied international selection and ordering from iPads, will feature Planterie with its plant-based menu, replacing the Green Station.

Further dining and bars

On Deck 6, the Commodore Room, one of Norwegian Aqua's two main restaurants, is 11 meters longer, with seating expanded to 596 from 470.

Just outside: the new, upscale Swirl Wine Bar.

But instead of Cagney's Steakhouse across on the port side, there's the expanded Hasuki, which added three cooking islands making for nine teppanyaki stations. With seating for 18 people at each, total capacity goes to 156.

Cagney's moved to up to Deck 7 (where Hasuki was) and is opposite the Metropolitan, NCL's Sail & Sustain cocktail bar, which was enlarged to accommodate a grand piano and small entertainment space. During the day, Metropolitan can host trivia and games.

NCL's Nelson Martins leads a walk-through of Norwegian Aqua's expanded spaces. At center is ELLE, who's creating the hull art for Aqua's sister, Norwegian Luna PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

The venue relocations were to reduce crowding and improve flow, Martins said.

On Deck 8, The Local Bar & Grill, open 24 hours, is enlarged and has a longer bar with big screens for sports viewing.

Aqua Theater & Club, a transformative venue. PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

Entertainment

The new production 'Revolution: A Celebration of Prince' and the enhanced 'Elements: The World Expanded' will headline the Aqua Theater & Club. That transformative venue, which has multiple configurations, includes a new one that will be used for 'Revolution,' according to NCL's Bryan White, VP entertainment production.

Related:'The big one': David Herrera on NCL's future ship platform

When 'Revolution' ends and the theater transforms into a club, the 'Pop Life' after party will transport patrons into the early days of MTV so 'You're going to find yourself in the middle of an amazing video,' White said.

In another change, NCL will be taking the Fleetwood Mac tribute experience, 'Syd Norman’s Presents Rumours,' into a fully produced theatrical experience inside the Aqua Theater to meet the high demand for that show.

But back in the intimate Syd Norman's Pour House, NCL is also creating a first-at-sea R&B experience that White said guests have been asking for.

The Improv at Sea, across from Syd Norman's on Nowegian Prima and Viva, is moving up to a much larger space with improved sightlines, with the stage on the side instead of at the end of what was a longish, narrow room.

Emotional souvenirs

White said NCL's goal is that all lounges and the pool area 'immerse guests in experiences,' and there will be activations and pop-ups on Norwegian Aqua throughout the day — what he called 'emotional souvenirs to take home at the end of a vacation.'

Research found NCL customers want three things from their cruise shows: recognizable songs they can sing along to, a simple storyline with easy to follow narratives and visual spectacle. 'So Prince immedately comes to mind,' White said, and the 'Revolution' production, two years in the making, is being cast now and will go into rehearsal in December.

More than 100 individuals including production crew are involved. And, fun fact: White said the costumes for 'Revolution' and 'Elements' have 506,000 sequins on 1.5 miles of fabric.

Optimizing entertainment ship-wide

David Herrera pushed back on the notion that NCL is trimming entertainment in response to Wall Street pressure to rein in costs.

If there's a savings by not mounting a Broadway show, 'I'm not going to pocket the difference,' he said. 'We will repurpose our investment dollars and optimize entertainment throughout the ship.' It's not just what's in the main theater, a headline show that runs a few nights a week, Herrera continued: 'It's providing more options.'

The Haven by Norwegian

The Haven by Norwegian went to 123 suites, up from 107, or a 6.5% increase. It also offers the lavish new three-bedroom duplex suite with large balcony.

NCL's first MGO-only ship

Norwegian Aqua is the largest ship built in Marghera, according to Fincantieri's Emanuele Truant, NCL project manager.

While Norwegian Prima and Viva are dual-fuel ships powered by HFO or MGO, Norwegian Aqua and 2026's Norwegian Luna will use only MGO. So these Prima-Plus ships can do away with scrubbers and scrubber towers.

Thumbs-up from a top trade partner

Claus Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Copenhagen-based MyCruise, who was among the travel partners previewing Norwegian Aqua this week, said: 'The small improvements are great. The details make a difference. They are enhancing from ship to ship.

'More space on the upper decks is a huge benefit because of the Aqua Slidecoaster,' something he's particularly enthused about.

'I love all thrill rides,' Jensen said. 'It's amazing they're so innovative. The racetrack is still a wow but the Slidecoaster is something new.'

He also gave the added restaurants a thumbs-up.

A surprise preview of 'Revolution: A Celebration of Prince' in Venice PHOTOS: ANNE KALOSH

As for the entertainment, Jensen enjoyed the shoreside preview of 'Revolution: A Celebration of Prince' at the glamorous Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort, where the NCL group stayed.

'I'm really excited to see the show in a real theater,' Jensen said. 'My expectations are very, very high. They always do great production shows. They and Royal Caribbean are the best.'