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April 17, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled the new culinary experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua, the first ship of the expanded Prima Plus Class set to sail in April 2025.

There will be three new offerings onboard Norwegian Aqua, including Sukhothai, NCL’s first Thai specialty restaurant; Swirl Wine Bar, a new luxury wine bar; and Planterie, offering a completely plant-based menu.

Sukhothai, the company’s first Thai specialty restaurant, offers an eclectic menu with authentic and traditional offerings infused with creative and dynamic flavors. Guests can enjoy new dishes such as Thai cashew chicken, salt and pepper shrimp, grilled Thai steak salad, a variety of complementary curry dishes, and much more. The restaurant’s décor, designed by London-based SMC Design, welcomes guests into a warm and inviting atmosphere with bamboo and rice paper pendant lights, a stunning geometric patterned floor, and colorful furnishings representing a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary Thai design elements.

Highlighting the new offerings in the Indulge Food Hall is Planterie, offering plant-based dishes and other healthy options. Located on deck eight, Planterie’s menu includes dishes like the Southwest Bowl with smoked tempeh and the Mediterranean Goddess Bowl filled with deliciously spiced vegetables, tabbouleh, and honey carrots. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, the Indulge Food Hall features a brand-new design curated by New York-based Rockwell Group, with 10 food stations inspired by international markets from around the world.

Third on the list of new offerings aboard Norwegian Aqua is Swirl Wine Bar, a contemporary wine lounge that strikes the perfect balance between exclusivity and accessibility for a unique and intimate experience tucked away on deck six between the popular Whiskey Bar and Hasuki, the hibachi-style restaurant. The menu will feature wine-by-the-glass and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages. Designed by Miami-based Studio DADO, the architecture draws inspiration from the captivating beauty of Arizona’s stunning Antelope Canyon, with warm colors complemented by cascading horizontal lines and blue accents creating an inviting space perfect for relaxation.

“Discovering new flavors and experiencing new culinary adventures is a fundamental part of any vacation,” said David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. “By expanding our award-winning food and beverage program, we look forward to bringing new concepts to life aboard Norwegian Aqua, continuing to offer the variety and quality that NCL delivers.”

In addition to these three exciting new additions, Norwegian Aqua will feature enhanced restaurants and lounges that have previously debuted on the Prima Class. The Commodore Room will now feature a rustic yet luxurious design inspired by its namesake sea-faring, transporting guests to past times of maritime sophistication with antique wood furnishings, leather banquettes, boardwalk-inspired flooring, and incredible stone accents, all with a delicate and modern touch.

Metropolitan, NCL’s modern Sail & Sustain cocktail bar, which won the 2024 Vibe Vista Award for “Best Beverage Program,” will boast a new design distinct from other Prima Class ships. Moving from midship to aft on deck seven, the innovative bar will now feature a grand piano and a small entertainment area with live music. Inspired by art deco and mid-century modern areas of New York City, Studio DADO has created an intimate enclave with dark tones and captivating patterns that offer an engaging atmosphere.

Nama Sushi and Sashimi, which debuted on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, will now feature a fresh and lively design inspired by the vibrant world of Manga with areas surrounded by lime green and black colors. Located on deck 17, the Surfside Café will boast floor-to-ceiling windows, offering guests panoramic views while enjoying a wide and diverse buffet-style culinary experience. With a new design curated by London-based A.D. Associates, the venue will showcase warm colors and sunset tones. Palomar, the luxury Mediterranean seafood venue of the Prima Class, will present an enhanced design with natural materials, such as rope and wood accents complemented by pops of dark blue and purple tones.

The Whiskey Bar will move to deck six, near the brand-new Swirl Wine Bar, while the Belvedere Bar will move to deck eight in the heart of the atrium, where guests can enjoy nightly entertainment. Penrose Bar and Waves Pool Bar will also feature new designs and venues such as The Local Bar & Grill, the 24-hour pub-style restaurant, Hasuki, a lively Japanese hibachi experience, and Cagney’s, NCL’s typical luxury American steakhouse, which will be expanded to accommodate even more guests.

In addition to unveiling new experiences and designs, guest-favorite restaurants will be featured aboard Norwegian Aqua, including Hudson’s, the main dining room; Le Bistro, the French restaurant inspired by the Palace of Versailles; Los Lobos, the contemporary and authentic Mexican venue with outdoor seating; and Onda by Scarpetta, the luxury Italian restaurant, which also offers outdoor dining on Ocean Boulevard.

With so many culinary options to choose from, NCL’s Free at Sea program offers guests more value with unique benefits, including special dining credits, unlimited beverage packages, shore excursion credits, Wi-Fi, and more.

Norwegian Aqua, the 20th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, will set sail in April 2025 with seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. After the Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five- and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York from August 2025 to October 2025 and then sail, with five- and seven-day itineraries, to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami, the “cruise capital of the world,” starting from October 2025 until April 2026. The ship will feature entirely new experiences for the company, including the world’s first hybrid roller coaster and water slide, the Aqua Slidecoaster; the Glow Court, a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor; and the first three-bedroom duplex suites in The Haven by Norwegian.

Stay tuned for more news, updates, and reviews from Norwegian Cruise Line on Cruising Journal with photos, videos, and cruises on offer.

Giorgia Lombardo

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