Don't Fight Over Poolside Space: Why Norwegian Went Bigger With Its Newest Cruise Ship

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• Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, is the first in the line’s Prima Plus Class and is 10% larger than its predecessors, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
• Aqua features expanded public spaces, including a larger atrium, more outer deck space, and a bigger Vibe Beach Club.
• The ship also boasts new Haven suites, bringing the total number to 123, and a new lounge, Swirl Wine Bar.

On a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line earlier this month, I watched the waves crash off the coast of Brest, France. Sitting in a plush chair in a corner of the Penrose Atrium on the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, I snagged what felt like a prime spot even on a busy morning.

That’s not necessarily by chance. The atrium is one of several areas the cruise line expanded on Aqua, the first in the line’s Prima Plus Class. Two 11-meter (36-foot) blocks were added to the ship to make it larger than Prima Class vessels Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, according to Mark Kansley, the line’s senior vice president of Hotel Operations.

“We had some flexibility on where we would place those blocks, and I think we listened to our guests,” he told USA TODAY on board. “It was very, very important that we gave them sufficient space throughout the ship.”

Aqua, which welcomed its first passengers this month, is 10% bigger than its Prima Class predecessors – but that feels like more than it sounds. Here’s what to know.

While Aqua retains the aesthetic of Prima and Viva – an understated, modern look and a largely blue-and-beige color palette – there are several major distinctions.

In addition to enlarging the atrium, which houses Starbucks and is a hub of activity, the cruise line removed a retail store from its seventh deck, which opened up much more seating in front of expansive windows.

Norwegian also heard from guests on Prima and Viva that they wanted more outer deck space, including at the pool, according to Kansley. Aqua will sail in the Caribbean with “more fun-in-the-sun” itineraries, he said. “So, it made sense to increase the pool deck.”

The pool area felt spacious during a March preview cruise, with room for rows of loungers, infinity hot tubs and large day beds. The adults-only Vibe Beach Club, also located on Deck 17, is about 45% bigger.

The ship’s increased size also enabled the cruise line to add more cabins, including its first Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites spanning two stories. The Haven, the line’s upscale ship-within-a-ship concept, increased from 107 suites on Prima and Viva to 123 on Aqua amid “extremely high” demand, Kansley said.

In some cases, the updates are less quantifiable and more about how the ship feels. “Just the flow of the vessel is so much more guest-centric,” Kansley said. “It’s intuitive.” By contrast, the flow of Prima and Viva “could be challenging until you got to know your way around the ship.”

I usually expect to get lost at some point when exploring a new cruise ship, but during my five-night stay on Aqua – which has 20 decks and can accommodate around 3,600 guests at double occupancy – I only got turned around once. And while Norwegian scaled up from Prima and Viva, the ship is still smaller than those in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class.

• Sukhothai: After the pad Thai at Nudls in Indulge Food Hall proved to be a best-seller on previous ships, Norwegian created an entire Thai specialty restaurant, Kansley said. Sukhothai, which costs $40 per guest, served the classic rice noodle dish alongside others like red curry with roasted duck, tom kha gai chicken soup and mango sticky rice.
• Planterie: Rather than just a few vegetarian or vegan dishes, Aqua has an entire plant-based eatery. Located inside Indulge, the complimentary venue’s Hawaiian bowl with sweet potato glass noodles, grilled pineapple slaw, cucumber salad and a ginger tahini sauce was a highlight (guests can also add tempeh, falafel and more). Other menu items include lemon lentil soup and a Mediterranean Goddess bowl with quinoa and kale tabbouleh, hummus, kalamata olives, honey sweet potato and chickpeas.
• Swirl Wine Bar: Guests might have to go looking for this lounge, tucked into a cozy space on Deck 6 near the ship’s Whiskey Bar. The bar features wines by the glass, a menu that features rare and premium vintages and a sleek design inspired by Arizona's Antelope Canyon, from Miami firm Studio DADO.

Read more about the new activities on board, like the Aqua Slidecoaster, by clicking here.

Following a transatlantic cruise that departed from Southampton, England, last week, the ship will sail on Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries with home ports in Miami, the Orlando-area Port Canaveral and New York through March 2027.

Available cruises on Aqua currently start at $335 per person based on double occupancy, according to Norwegian’s website. The fares include accommodations, many meals onboard, live entertainment and more.

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Norwegian Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.