Rollercoasters, arcade games and giant slides — I've found the most fun-packed cruise ship

Times

5 days ago

There's a knot in my stomach, the kind you get before a rollercoaster drops. But this is no amusement park ride. I'm rocketing skywards on the Aqua Slidecoaster, hands gripping an inflatable raft hurtling up a steep ramp 20 decks above the Atlantic.
It's a ride that promises thrills and it delivers — just not the way I expected. Instead of a dramatic plunge, I'm launched into the gentlest, splashiest waterslide. Giggling and wet, I emerge moments later, ready to line up and do it all over again.
The Aqua Slidecoaster is a rush — and unlike many activities on board, it's free — but everything about Norwegian Aqua screams 'fun'. This is a ship built for holidays in the sun, with up to 12-night itineraries in the Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda. I joined a round trip from Miami, Florida, with a stop at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas. It was jam-packed with high-octane rides and sun-soaked infinity pools, Broadway-worthy shows, buzzy bars and dining.
Aqua is the first in Norwegian's new Prima Plus Class and its largest ship to date. At 1,056ft, it is longer than its older shipmates, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, and carries up to 3,571 passengers. I'd expected mega-ship glitz, but Aqua is more boutique resort than floating city, with clean lines, designer touches and space to spare.
It's also made for play. Glow Court, an interactive court with LED walls and floor that lights up feels just like stepping into a video game. One moment I'm shooting hoops to stop a virtual volcano from erupting and kicking balls into a honeycomb wall, exploding the tiles to win. Next, I'm stamping out glowing squares and dodging laser beams in a digital obstacle course. At night, the entire space transforms into a neon-lit lounge. Nearby, there's pickleball, a 12-hole mini-golf course, beer pong and a bar with interactive darts.
Game Zone is a blast (£132pp for a seven-day pass). The arcade hall serves up fun nostalgia hits, with retro classics such as Donkey Kong and Ms Pac-Man alongside pinball machines, mini bowling lanes and VR rides. As it is right next to the Observatory Lounge, grown-ups can unwind over a cocktail while kids play just steps away. I had dance-offs with friends, raced V8 motorcars and strapped in for a VR rollercoaster ride through a dystopian city crawling with zombies. The graphics were simple but the thrill was real.
The Drop, a slide that spirals down the outside of the ship sent me into a ten-deck freefall, where I landed, face up, laughing and dazed, outside the Local Bar & Grill. 'Fastest way to lunch,' one passenger quipped. Sure, but my stomach was still stuck where the trapdoor snapped open: four seconds of unadulterated terror before meeting up with the slide.
Fortunately, you don't have to drop through a trapdoor to find good food. Aqua has 15 dining venues, nine of them speciality restaurants. I ate at Sukhothai (£38 supplement), a temple of spice new to Norwegian and its first Thai restaurant. It's the real deal, one that happily nails the Thai key flavours of salty, sour, sweet and spicy. I devoured plump salt and pepper prawns, a zingy green papaya salad and pad Thai. Curries, especially the duck curry, were a standout: rich and saucy, with depth and spice. The kitchen will also dial up the heat if you're feeling brave.
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Hudson's, the main dining room, included in the cruise fare, is a showstopper, all chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing uninterrupted sea views. The menu is equally expansive, ranging from seared scallops to spaghetti pomodoro. Local Bar & Grill, another complimentary spot, became my breakfast go-to, with a full English breakfast, proper espresso and a laid-back vibe. Table service was a perk. It also shines late at night, with burgers and beer. Indulge Food Hall travels the globe with fast bites ordered via a menu board. The best of these included tostadas, smoky Texas barbecue, fragrant korma, bang bang noodles and salads from the new, plant-based stall, Planterie.
At the heart of the ship is the Penrose Atrium, a sleek, multi-level space wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass that floods the decks with natural light and endless ocean views. It's the ideal perch for gazing out at the horizon, Starbucks in hand or a breezy daytime drink from the Penrose Bar, one of several lounges scattered across the ship. Down on deck six, there's the Whisky Bar, a buzzy spot most hours with a killer negroni. The new Swirl Wine Bar is steps away, but cosy and quiet, with a decent wine list.
When the sun sets, Aqua comes to life with big-ticket shows. Its headline act, Revolution: A Celebration of Prince, is all velvet swagger, funk and falsetto — and excellent — with four powerhouse singers, a great band and high-voltage dancers. I boogied in the dance area in front of the stage, an experience not unlike the first Prince concert I saw back in 1994. Rumours, Norwegian's full-length tribute to Fleetwood Mac's iconic album, is another must-see, intimate and raw, blending music with the band's famously dramatic backstory. A late show at Improv at Sea proved a hoot, with American stand-up comedians delivering slick one-liners.
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Mandara Spa was the antidote to all this action. A day pass to the Thermal Suite (£75) bought me restorative hours drifting between wet and dry saunas, a menthol-infused steam room, snow room, and others lined with pink salt, clay or detoxifying charcoal. Infinity Beach was another sanctuary. Toes in the water on an overwater daybed, there was only sea and sky ahead. Up on deck 17, the main pool was buzzier: with sunloungers, a bigger pool than earlier ships and a party vibe. Vibe Beach Club upped the ante, replete with infinity hot tubs, cabanas and sunloungers shaded by vermilion umbrellas, and DJs spinning ambient tunes (£202pp for a seven-day pass).
I stayed in a Deluxe Balcony room, one of 1,037 in the category. It was spacious, with smart storage, a roomy bathroom and a clean, modern aesthetic. Solo travellers are well catered for too, with 37 Studio cabins and their own dedicated lounge. The Haven — Norwegian's ship-within-a-ship — is a step up, with its own restaurant, infinity pool, butler service, concierge and private lift. With 127 suites, it's Norwegian's biggest suite complex yet, and includes the first two-storey, three-bedroom duplex suites. It was quiet on our sailing, but no doubt will be a top pick for families and multigenerational travellers.
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At Great Stirrup Cay, our one beach day on this mini-cruise, there was no shortage of ways to while away the day — much like the cruise itself. Some guests snorkelled with schools of colourful fish while others paddled across turquoise shallows or ziplined high above the sea. Norwegian has big plans for the island, including a sprawling new pool, upgraded cabanas and a pier; as things stand, the ship anchors off the island and you're ferried ashore by tenders. But to me, it was close to perfect, with soft sand underfoot, palms swaying and a peaceful, unhurried vibe. I ended the day at Silver Cove, the island's luxe, resort-style sanctuary with private villas, a Moët & Chandon bar, a spa (all three at extra cost) and a serene infinity pool. I sat on a scoop of white sand, nothing but blue seas ahead, and drank it all in.
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Belinda Luksic was a guest of Norwegian Cruise Line, which has seven nights' full board from £1,194pp, departing on November 30 (ncl.com). Fly to Miami