It’s been an thrilling week for debuts in Miami, culminating with the extremely anticipated arrival and christening of Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest cruise ship.
Crusing into the world’s busiest port on April 11, 2025, the 156,300-gross-ton Norwegian Aqua celebrated her official launch on April 13 with greater than 2,000 attendees and the ship’s godfather, Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet.
Stonestreet, greatest recognized for his position as Cameron Tucker within the ABC sitcom “Trendy Household,” took the stage to share his enthusiasm for the position of godfather.
“As a brand new cruiser who has a deep ardour for journey, it’s completely spectacular to see the wonderful options and experiences that vacationers and their households can take pleasure in aboard Norwegian Aqua, together with the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster,” exclaimed Stonestreet.
He went on to reward Norwegian Cruise Line’s workforce and mentioned he was honored to function Norwegian Aqua’s godfather.
“As a part of the NCL household, I can’t look ahead to friends to ‘Expertise Extra at Sea’ with NCL and create unforgettable reminiscences with their households as I look ahead to doing with mine as nicely,” he mentioned.
The ceremony came about whereas the vessel was docked at NCL’s terminal, that includes a preview of Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest onboard manufacturing, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.”
The immersive Prince tribute present has been developed in partnership with the Prince Legacy to honor the Oscar and seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician.
Learn Additionally: Nice Stirrup Cay – A Full Overview of NCL’s Personal Island
Following the efficiency, David J. Herrera, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president, revealed some adjustments are in retailer of the corporate’s personal island vacation spot, Nice Stirrup Cay, which can be an everyday function of Norwegian Aqua’s sailings.
“It’s a really particular time for all of us at NCL – we’re welcoming a brand new unbelievable ship into our fleet with the christening of the gorgeous and action-packed, Norwegian Aqua, and we’re doing so alongside her godfather, Eric Stonestreet, who completely embodies the authenticity of what it means for our friends to ‘Expertise Extra at Sea,’” he mentioned.
Ultimate Preview Journeys for Norwegian Aqua
After the christening, Norwegian Aqua took its early-bird friends on a preview crusing to Nice Stirrup Cay.
It’s the second “first” have a look at all the brand new bells and whistles, as Norwegian Aqua additionally welcomed business insiders aboard the ship throughout a fast stopover in New York on April 7, 2025.
Initially slated to make its North America entrance in Boston, the vessel was compelled to skip the cease in Beantown as a consequence of a extreme storm happening within the North Atlantic throughout her transatlantic crossing from Southampton, England.
That voyage gave onboard friends, additionally crammed with journey advisors and content material creators, additional enjoyable sampling the array of facilities, together with greater than 20 eating places and bars, an interactive LED Glow Court docket sports activities courtroom, the Mandara Spa, and a number of swimming pools and sizzling tubs.
Probably the most thrilling newcomer to the excessive seas is the Aqua Slidecoaster, the primary at-sea hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide journey discovered on what the ship’s high deck Aqua Park and Foremost Pool space.
As soon as Norwegian Aqua returns to Miami, she’s going to supply just a few brief sailings to the Bahamas, together with Nassau, which just lately broke data for passenger visits.
The vessel will then make her method up Florida’s coast to Port Canaveral, the place she’s going to start a summer time Caribbean season with a 7-night roundtrip Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas, the US and British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
The cruise ship will proceed to offer the itineraries from the Central Florida port till August 2025, when she returns to New York to supply friends a collection of sailings to Bermuda by means of September.
Norwegian Aqua will homeport formally in PortMiami in the course of the 2025-2026 winter Caribbean season, starting in October.
