Over the past two years, Norwegian Cruise Line has launched its latest class of ships, Prima Class, starting with Prima in 2022 and Viva in 2023. While the company takes a break in 2024 to construct the class’s next edition, they recently announced what that will be and when we can expect to see it.
The all-new Aqua was announced last month as the next and newest member of the fleet of ships and it looks like it will continue to uphold NCL’s innovative nature and use of forward-thinking technologies. Officially the first member of the Prima Plus Class, Aqua promises to be bigger and better than its predecessors in every way.
Once construction is completed, Aqua is expected to be 1,056 feet long and weigh 156,300 gross tons with a total passenger capacity of 3,571 at double occupancy. Each of the previous Prima Class ships have a passenger capacity of 3,099.
Like Prima and Viva, Aqua will feature a home-like environment focusing on luxurious accommodations and wide-open spaces throughout the ship — in fact, Aqua promises to offer more outdoor space than any other new contemporary cruise ship, a feature that will make it appealing to anyone looking to avoid the crowded spaces cruise ships have come to be known for.
Keeping in line with NCL’s reputation for being at the forefront of cruising, Aqua will include the Aqua Slidecoaster, an innovative combination of a water slide and rollercoaster carrying passengers up to the top of the ship and propelling them through two different courses. The ship will also feature a first-of-its-kind digital sports complex, Glow Court, which will feature an LED floor for customizable games and activities during the day, then convert to a nightclub each night. While these features offer brand new experiences for guests, Aqua will also feature things like the Drop, a 10-story free fall slide Prima Class ships are known for.
The artwork featured on the hull of Aqua will be created by NCL’s first major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. Her work will incorporate the ship’s design theme, Where the Sky Meets the Sea, which uses bold color abstracts and figurative representations of the sky and the sea.
“It’s incredibly special for me to partner with a brand that believes in the magical connection between art and exploration,” said Hueman. She is especially proud to have her work on a ship that will explore this connection by traveling to different parts of the world on its many future adventures.
Aqua will premier in April 2025 and passengers are already able to book cruises sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida. These seven-day itineraries will visit Caribbean destinations like Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic; Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s private Bahamian island.
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / Europe
May 9, 2024Popular Italian Hiking Trail Reopens in Time for Summer
Europe’s best-known hiking trail, connecting the five villages of Italy’s Cinque Terre, will finally be opened for its entire 12-kilometer (7.5 miles) length. Planned for reopening in July (in time for summer family travel), the most famous section of the trail is between Riomaggiore and Manarola and known as the Via dell’Amore or “Path of Love.”
Sponsored Content
Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip
Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems
Slideshow
May 9, 20246 Grand Rapids, Michigan, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Grand Rapids, Michigan, with us.
Destinations / North America
May 9, 2024New Hotel to Open on the Doorsteps of Some National Parks
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, soon welcomes The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa on July 1. The new lodge replaces the former family-owned property burned down in 2019. The new hotel will reveal a ground-up transformation featuring 38 guestrooms and two suites, Body Sage Spa, and Wild Sage Restaurant and Bar — perfect for family travelers.
Sponsored Content
Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet
United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.
Destinations / North America
May 8, 2024Chattanooga, Tennessee, Offers Fun for Nature-Loving Families
Memphis and Nashville may have the claim to fame as Tennessee’s top music destination, but Chattanooga, the state’s fourth-largest city, has so much going for it that family travelers won’t even realize Tennessee has other places to visit.
ShareThis