Norwegian Cruise Line ® (NCL), the innovative global cruise company that has been disrupting convention for 57 years, has just unveiled two new and exclusive entertainment offerings that will debut aboard the company’s next-generation ship, Norwegian Aqua TM , in April 2025: “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” and “Elements: The World Expanded.”
With expanded entertainment options, including NCL-only productions and the return of guest-favorite shows, there will be variety for every guest onboard. The first-ever immersive Prince tribute show, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince,” produced in collaboration with Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music, will honor and celebrate the Academy Award®-winning , seven-time Grammy® - nominated and 38-time Grammy®-nominated artist in a concert-like musical experience featuring the music icon’s most acclaimed songs, including “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Delirious,” “Purple Rain” and many more.
Additionally, NCL will include enhancements to its guest-favorite show, “Elements,” with new surprises in “Elements: The World Expanded.” Combining acrobatics, magic and intrigue, this show draws inspiration from the four elements – earth, wind, water and fire – to delight guests with an astonishing array of delightful and unexpected surprises.
Both productions were developed by NCL's own production team at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' Creative Studios in Tampa, Florida, in collaboration with Patricia Wilcox, an award-winning Broadway choreographer and director and long-time NCL partner. From original costumes to world-class entertainment, Creative Studios has been producing shows of its own since 2008.
“For decades, NCL has led the entertainment scene at sea, delivering high-quality, talented productions comparable to those in major cities like Las Vegas, New York and London,” said David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. “For Norwegian Aqua, we are thrilled to continue to build on our legacy of entertainment excellence by offering our guests more options throughout the ship, including exclusive original productions that can’t be seen anywhere else, on land or at sea.”
Other new and returning shows and entertainment venues include The Aqua Theater & Club, The Improv at Sea comedy club, The Price is Right LIVE on NCL game show and Syd Norman's Presents: Rumours – a Fleetwood Mac tribute that will be held at the Aqua Theater & Club to accommodate even more guests at the always-packed show.
Revolution: A Celebration of the Prince
The hour-long show onboard Norwegian Aqua will be an NCL production and concert celebrating the music, energy and life of Prince. The show broadly reflects the global icon's rise to popularity as one of the leaders of soul, rock and pop music. Located in the Aqua Theater & Club, the show will feature both on-stage and off-stage performances for a fully immersive experience. Guests will also have the option to enjoy the show on the dance floor with the cast or watch from regular theater seats.
“I have always been inspired by Prince and nearly seven years ago I came up with the idea to create a theatrical concert that joyfully celebrates his music and exceptional talent,” said Patricia Wilcox, creator, director and choreographer of “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.” “After being thrilled with my previous collaborations with the team at Norwegian Cruise Line, and seeing the beautiful theater onboard Norwegian Aqua, I knew we would be the perfect partners for this collaboration, and I am honored to bring this show to life alongside the team at NCL, Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music.”
Charles F. Spicer Jr., Managing Partner of Prince Legacy, LLC, said, “Collaborating with NCL to present a new show featuring the music of global icon Prince is an exciting journey into a world of timeless rhythm and electric energy. Our shared passion for his legendary sound transforms every performance into a celebration of his extraordinary legacy. We look forward to the debut of Norwegian Aqua and this exciting show, and have no doubt that this musical extravaganza will be a buzz-worthy experience that will keep people coming back for more.”
Jeffrey Straughn, Chief Branding Officer at Primary Wave Music added: “We have been working with our artists and NCL over the years on a number of themed cruises and their passion, excitement and energy remains undeniable. As a partner in Prince’s world, Primary Wave is thrilled to be a part of this tribute to his life and music by staging this concert and immersive experience aboard NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua. This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event for fans old and new alike.”
Elements: The Expanded World
Fifteen years after its creation aboard Norwegian Spirit®, Patricia Wilcox’s “Elements” has become one of NCL’s all-time top-rated guest shows and is performed on four of the company’s ships. With the debut of Norwegian Aqua, it is set to be refreshed and reinvented. The new “Elements: The World Expanded” will be a more immersive version of the already dazzling production, encompassing the four elements – earth, air, water and fire – while featuring mesmerizing magic and aerial acrobatics along with music and dance to captivate guests’ attention from the moment the show begins.
El Aqua Theatre and Club
The Aqua Theater & Club, similar to the Theater & Club onboard Norwegian Prima® and Norwegian Viva®, will transform from a three-story theater into a three-story Vegas-style nightclub, featuring an expansive dance floor, an enhanced interactive chandelier, state-of-the-art lighting and more. Featuring two distinct bars, the Aqua Theater & Club will showcase the club’s entire lineup through three distinct themed experiences: “90s Party,” where guests can relive the decade’s hits and costumes; “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” featuring the latest Latin songs for a night of non-stop dancing; and “Pop Life,” a Prince-inspired club experience where guests can dance the night away to the music icon’s hottest songs and other artists influenced by his unique style. Entertainment programming also includes a new NCL in-house production, “The Welcome Aboard Show,” where vocalists, dancers and onboard crew give guests a tantalizing preview of what’s in store for them during their voyage. Immediately following this new show, guests can continue their fun at the popular “Ocean Music Fest,” an immersive concert and the best jam session at sea, where several musicians merge their talents on stage for a top-notch concert.
Guest favorites: back even better
Norwegian Aqua, which will become the 20th ship in the NCL fleet, will also feature guest-favorite venues and shows, including the expanded seating “Improv at Sea” comedy club and “The Price is Right LIVE on NCL,” where guests will have the chance to spin the wheel and win big at the “Showcase Showdown.” The critically acclaimed “Syd Norman's Pour House” also returns to offer rock and roll tributes from Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones and other legendary Classic Rock artists. Additionally, the popular Fleetwood Mac tribute “Syd Norman's Presents: Rumours,” a staple of the intimate, always-packed bar, will now be offered in the main theater, which seats more than 700 guests per show, making it the ultimate concert experience.
“From producing amazing shows to parties, musical performances, contests, comedy and more, we’ve struck the perfect balance to offer something for everyone to enjoy on board Norwegian Aqua,” added Bryan Anthony White, NCL’s Vice President of Entertainment Production. “Our talented artists and behind-the-scenes staff who bring our original productions to life are one-of-a-kind, and their dedication, passion and hard work truly make an impression when you watch these awe-inspiring shows. Our team is already working to bring these new entertainment offerings to life on board Norwegian Aqua and we look forward to delighting our guests when they set sail next year.”
Beginning in April 2025, Norwegian Aqua will operate seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, with calls at the tropical island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. Following its Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five- and seven-day Bermuda voyages departing from New York from August 2025 through October 2025, followed by five- and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the Cruise Capital of the World, from October 2025 through April 2026.
Fuente: Norwegian Cruise Line.