Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dawn

Venue Overview (5.13)

The Aqua’s dinner menu is the same as at the Venetian, the other main dining room on the ship. The only difference between the two eateries is their decor and size. Some days you’ll find traditional turkey and gravy, other days lamb chops and sea trout or a rib eye with baked potato and Mexican meatballs. There’s a “Favorites” menu that never changes. The Aqua and Venetian menus change daily, called the chef’s specialties. Dessert choices include sorbets, sherbets, pies, and puddings.

Compared to the Venetian, Aqua has a more modern decor. The walls are covered with modern art, from Matisse and others, and is brighter than the Venetian, which makes it less formal.

Lunch / Dinner

We had a mixed experience at Aqua. The salmon tartar was too salty, but the Garden Broccoli Bisque tasted the way it should.The steak we ordered here — a ribeye — was not prepared as we requested, and looked more like something you’d get at a corner diner. Although the sea trout was a little overcooked too, it tasted good, especially the sauce.

Dessert

If you over-eat during your main course and want something light for dessert, there is a lemon sorbet that fits the bill perfectly — very tasty with a lemony essence that is present but not too overpowering. There’s also a pecan pie served with chocolate ice cream and caramel liqueur on the menu that we found a bit disappointing. The pecan pie itself was done well, but the caramel liqueur was not a good choice as it did not pair well with the chocolate ice cream or the pie.