New Norwegian Aqua Floats Out At Fincantieri

Norwegian Cruise Line and its partners at Fincantieri celebrated the float out of the Norwegian Aqua from the drydock at the shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy.

This marks the completion of the external work on the ship ahead of its April 2025 debut.

As per maritime tradition, two ceremonial coins were welded into the Norwegian Aqua, which historically symbolized an offering to gods and goddesses of the sea in exchange for good luck and safe passage. The ceremony was followed by a blessing by a local chaplain and celebratory champagne breaking across the ship’s hull.

“We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima Class journey and supporting us in evolving the amazing experience we design and deliver for our guests,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Building upon the guest-favourite features of the award-winning vessels of this class, the 10 per cent increase in space provides us with more flexibility to deliver more offerings and more beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore on board Norwegian Aqua.”

At 156,300 gross tons and a length that spans 1,056 feet, the Norwegian Aqua will be 10 per cent larger than the first two Prima Class ships. The ship will also offer luxurious accommodations in The Haven by Norwegian®, including the line’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites.  

 “We are excited to mark this significant moment with Norwegian Cruise Line as we witness the float out of Norwegian Aqua, which represents a new chapter in our long-lasting partnership,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division. “We are proud to be part of this transformative journey in which innovation, a cornerstone of our industrial plan, is one of our key points, as we strive to push boundaries and elevate industry standards.”

Norwegian Cruise Line to Recategorize Spa Cabins

According to a statement sent to booked guests and obtained by Cruise Industry News, Norwegian Cruise Line is recategorizing the spa category cabins onboard its ships.

“We are committed to providing the best vacation at sea and work tirelessly to continue to elevate the quality of our offerings and overall guest experience,” the company said.

“In an effort to provide more availability and access to NCL’s Mandara Spa and Salon’s Thermal Suite, Spa Suites in the Haven by Norwegian, Spa Club Balcony, and Spa Balcony Staterooms have been recategorized to traditional Suites, Club Balcony and Balcony Staterooms,” Norwegian Cruise Line continued.

With the change, additional capacity at the Thermal Suite will be offered to all stateroom categories onboard, the company added.

The reclassification of the Spa Staterooms will begin for sailings after January 1, 2024.

In addition to maintaining their access to the Thermal Suite, guests who booked one of the impacted cabins prior to October 2, 2023, will see their reservations updated to reflect the change, the company said.

In related news, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced the introduction of over 1,000 new solo cabins across its 19-ship fleet.

Opening for bookings this week, the staterooms will be available for sailings starting on January 2, 2024, and include three different solo categories: Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview and Solo Balcony.

With pricing and availability dependent on the destination and demand, solo travellers can expect to pay less than a traditional double occupancy room, the company said.

Guests who stay in the new solo stateroom categories will also have access to the key card entry only Studio Lounge, which is available on selected ships.

According to Norwegian, the venue offers a dedicated space to relax, a bar equipped with beer and wine and a variety of snacks served daily.

Norwegian Prima: Top 5 Unique Features

Ushering a new era for Norwegian Cruise Line, the Norwegian Prima debuted earlier this year.

First, in a series of six new cruise ships, the 142,000-ton vessel is equipped with several new features, such as the ocean’s largest go-kart racetrack and an upscale food marketplace.

Cruise Industry News selected five of the ship’s most unique attributes.

Indulge Food Hall

The Prima boasts what Norwegian Cruise Line calls its first “upscale food hall”.

Partly located on the ship’s external promenade, Ocean Boulevard, the venue features a marketplace that offers diverse menu items from a variety of 11 different culinary options. Three full-service restaurants are also located in the adjacencies, Onda by Scarpetta, Los Lobos, and The Local Bar & Grill.

 The Haven

The Haven by Norwegian is returning on the Prima, offering the brand’s biggest and most exclusive ship-within-a-ship suite complex. Spanning eight decks of suites and public areas, it is accessible via private elevators and located aft of the ship for the very first time.

According to Norwegian, the area was designed to be more open to the sea than ever before with every public area offering ocean views. Other reimagined areas are the sundeck, which now offers a new infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake, and a new outdoor spa, with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.

Prima Speedway

The Prima is also bringing back one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most famous signature features, the go-kart racetrack.

According to the company, the Prima Speedway “will up the ante,” with the largest and first-ever three-level racetrack. Featuring a longer straightaway with a course of 420 meters in length, the speedway will go around and through the funnel of the ship and boasts 14 turns where 15 drivers can simultaneously race on the open ocean, reaching speeds of more than 50km/h.

Transformational Theater

Described by Norwegian as a “groundbreaking transformational theatre,” the ship’s showroom will double down as a nightclub.

The three-story venue, designed to seamlessly convert the space from a state-of-the-art performance stage to an expansive dance floor, will feature a customizable seating layout and moving LED screens that lower from the ceiling and are nearly half the size of the venue.

The Drop

Another unique feature of the vessel is The Drop. According to Norwegian, the attraction is the world’s first freefall dry slide where users will experience a 10-story plunge while reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line.

Located on the side of the ship, the attraction also features duelling dry slides known as The Rush.