On March 20, Port of Lisbon welcomed the first call of Norwegian Aqua, the newest and most sustainable cruise ship in the world. Lisbon was chosen to be part of the preparatory trips preceding the official inaugural voyage, scheduled for March 28 between Southampton and Boston.

Reference in Environmental Sustainability
“It is a great honour and prestige that Lisbon has been chosen, once again, as one of the destinations for the inaugural voyages of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, one of the main operators that visits us, which reflects the confidence in the Port of Lisbon”, said Carlos Correia, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Port of Lisbon (APL).
Norwegian Aqua stands out as a benchmark in environmental sustainability, being equipped with cutting-edge alternative technologies, including a NOx Reduction System (SCR), which significantly reduces the ship's environmental impact.
Carlos Correia highlighted that «Norwegian Aqua is proof of the cruise industry's capacity for innovation, which continues to invest in expanding its fleet, improving passenger experiences and environmental sustainability. Alongside this investment from the global industry, APL will also continue to develop a series of actions aimed at decarbonizing the cruise industry towards sustainability, as well as actions aimed at promoting a positive and collaborative relationship between cruise companies and the community.”

Exclusive Onboard Experiences

Norwegian Aqua will offer guests truly unique experiences, highlighted by the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first three-story hybrid water coaster, which combines dual slides with a magnetic elevator that propels guests through two distinct courses.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy an innovative digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, the Glow Court, and watch the world premiere of the musical show “Revolution: a celebration of Prince”.

The ship features a stunning hull artwork, “Where the Sky Meets the Sea,” designed by Filipino-American artist Allison Hueman and produced by Goldman Global Arts, evoking modern mythology through colorful depictions of the sea and sky.

With a 10% increase in size over her sister ships, Norwegian Aqua is the first Prima Plus Class ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. At 322 meters long and weighing 156,300 tons, it can accommodate 3,571 passengers at double occupancy and 3,424 at maximum occupancy, distributed in 1,760 cabins on nine of its 20 decks, with a crew of 1,388 members.
Norwegian Aqua joins her sister ships, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, consolidating Norwegian Cruise Line's excellent fleet and reaffirming Lisbon as a privileged cruise destination on a global scale.

To mark the choice of Lisbon for the Norwegian Aqua’s maiden voyage, the Port of Lisbon maintained the tradition by presenting Captain Robert Lundberg with the customary commemorative plaque. The ship was escorted by tugboats from the company Portugs, in a ceremony that marks the second of 18 cruise ships scheduled to call at the Port of Lisbon for the first time, in 2025.