12 Itineraries Adjusted for Norwegian Aqua Cruise Ship
Guests booked aboard the stunning Norwegian Aqua for sailings through early August have been alerted that their itineraries have been slightly adjusted as soon as the ship’s May 24, 2025 departure.
The change isn’t a significant one – just an hour’s difference in one port of call – but it is important that guests be aware of the shift in order to plan their time aboard and decide on shore tours if desired.
“Norwegian Aqua’s itinerary is getting a small refresh for sailings from May 24, 2025, through and including August 9, 2025,” the email notification read.
“In this case, we’ve updated the arrival and departure time for your visit to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, to ensure everything flows seamlessly and you get the best possible experience.”
Originally, Norwegian Aqua was scheduled to visit Great Stirrup Cay – the cruise line’s private island destination – from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the last day of the sailing.
Now, while the visit will still be on the same day, the time the ship is in port will be 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is just a one hour shift earlier, but will impact shore tour departure times. Guests who have already booked excursions through Norwegian Cruise Line will have their tours automatically adjusted as needed.
No further explanation has been given for the time change, only that it is a “small refresh.”
“When we make an itinerary change, it’s never just a line on a map, it’s something we think about carefully, always with your experience at the heart of it,” the cruise line explained.
To be clear, guests are not losing any time in port, nor are the days of the visits changed. No other ports of call on the 7-night itineraries are impacted, and Norwegian Aqua should still be visiting Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and Tortola as planned each week. In total, 12 sailings are impacted.
Of course, additional itinerary changes might be necessary due to weather – hurricane season is about to begin – or other factors. If that happens, impacted guests will be notified once details are confirmed.
Sailing on Norwegian Aqua
The brand-new, 156,000-gross ton Norwegian Aqua is the newest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, having just been officially christened in April 2025.
The first in the Prima-Plus class of ships, she is larger and more luxurious than her sister ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
She still has many of its most popular features, including the Mandara Spa, more than 20 restaurants and bars, the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, and the elegant Ocean Boulevard.
She also has exciting new features, including the innovative Aqua Slidecoaster (which takes the place of the go-kart track on her sister ships) and an exclusive new show, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” with its concert-like immersion of top hits.
Norwegian Aqua is currently homeported from Port Canaveral for most of the summer. The new schedule changes affect every upcoming departure she will have from central Florida.
In mid-August, the ship will move to New York to offer Bermuda cruises from the Big Apple through the end of September, at which time she will reposition to Miami for more Caribbean sailings. In April 2026, Norwegian Aqua will return to New York.
It is not unusual for a new cruise ship, particularly of a new or updated class design, to homeport from multiple cities in her first year or two of service.
Read Also: Norwegian Aqua vs. Norwegian Prima – What’s the Difference?
This gives many more eager cruisers the opportunity to conveniently enjoy a new ship, and entices travelers with new and updated features that may not be available elsewhere in the fleet.
Norwegian Aqua has certainly tempted me and I am looking forward to setting sail on her this summer, no matter what itinerary changes may be made!