My daughter, Ashley, is a seasoned travel PR professional and devoted cruise aficionado - having sailed on more than 30 cruises by the age of 37. Recently I was scheduled to experience Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand-new Norwegian Aqua, offering sailings out of New York City this summer and fall. But I realized I had too many prior travel commitments and just couldn’t make it work. With that said, this particular voyage immediately caught Ashley’s attention. As a millennial and young parent, she was eager to see what life onboard one of the industry’s mega-ships was really like. Since I don’t often sail on ships of this size anymore, I was especially curious to hear her perspective, so I invited her to share her story here.
- Sandy Fenton
As parents of two young children, my husband and I were looking for a short escape - just the two of us - before the school year began. Convenience became the deciding factor, and a four-night cruise to Bermuda roundtrip New York City was very appealing. Getting there was easy: a three-hour Amtrak (Keystone Service) ride from Harrisburg to Manhattan’s Moynihan Train Hall, followed by a twenty-five-minute walk along the West Side Highway to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. In less than half a day, we had gone from central Pennsylvania to stepping onboard an international vacation - no airports, no stress, just a seamless and quick start to our trip.
Several cruise lines sail out of the New York City area - including Brooklyn, Manhattan, and nearby Bayonne, New Jersey - but Norwegian’s Aqua stood out when researching cruise vacations. Launched this past spring, Aqua is the newest addition to NCL’s innovative Prima Class and is stylish, playful, and packed with entertainment. The ship accommodates up to 3,571 guests across 1,760 staterooms, ranging from luxurious Haven suites to efficient solo studios, plus plenty of balcony, oceanview, and inside cabins.
Our own balcony stateroom on Deck 15 felt surprisingly spacious for two, decorated in calming tones of gray, blue, and brown. The balcony - with its pair of wicker chairs - quickly became our favorite retreat, whether sipping morning coffee or unwinding at sunset. It was the kind of space that made us feel both tucked away and part of the action, a private perch to begin and end each day.
Amenities & Experiences
The heart of the ship - and where our voyage really began - was the buzz of the main pool on Deck 17. It was always lively, always crowded, but with plenty of lounge chairs for (mostly) everyone. The music pulsed day and night, so if your vacation style leans toward sun-drenched energy and fun, this is your go-to spot.
We craved something more relaxed and wandered down to Deck 8’s Ocean Boulevard. This spacious, open-air promenade is a thoughtful counterpoint to the party vibe on Deck 17 - a place to stroll and breathe in the sea air. Two infinity pools sit along the starboard and port sides, offering tranquil horizon views and thoughtfully surrounded by ample loungers, daybeds, and chaise lounges. Deck 8 also features one of the ship’s highlights, the Ocean Walk, where a glass bridge lets you literally walk over the water with nothing but ocean in sight. For those wanting an even quieter retreat, the Vibe Beach Club is available as an adults-only, for-fee space. Refined and serene, with infinity hot tubs and cushioned seating, it’s the kind of indulgence that may be worth the splurge on sunny sea days.
NCL has built its reputation on big thrills and the standout amenity on Aqua is the “Aqua Slidecoaster” on Deck 19 - the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea. We watched passengers of all ages line up joyfully to launch into the ride and refreshingly, this experience is complementary. On Deck 20, the Glow Court was buzzing with teens, transforming from an LED-lit sports floor by day into a neon lounge at night, and the Game Zone on Deck 17 drew tween and teen passengers with everything from VR experiences to classic arcade favorites.
Evening entertainment was another highlight of our sailing, and having sailed on most mass-market cruise lines, I can say with confidence that NCL offers the best live music at sea. On the first night, we stumbled into the sail-away “80s Dance Party” at the Aqua Theater, where huge screens playing 80s music videos and retro beats quickly pulled us onto the dance floor. Cheesy? Yes - but irresistibly fun. The following evening, we saw Revolution: A Celebration of Prince, a spectacular concert-style performance that captivated me from the first moment. The cast even invited guests onto the dance floor, and the transformation of the theater into a full-on club was seamless and electric. Our favorite was night three’s performance of Syd Norman Presents: Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac Experience. The vocals, energy, and storytelling were so powerful that we found ourselves swaying along to every song. The entire audience was on its feet for a well-deserved ovation at the end. (My parents would have loved it!)
Bars & Restaurants
Aqua offers five included restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each with its own personality. The standout for us was Hudson’s, the ship’s stunning wrap-around main dining room at the aft. With floor-to-ceiling windows and 270-degree views, every table comes with an ocean backdrop. We were lucky enough to be seated by the windows at sunset, watching the sky shift from pink to purple while enjoying dishes that felt familiar but with a fresh, modern twist. My favorites included a simple Roma tomato bruschetta with mozzarella and a spicy, flavorful vegetable pad Thai. Service here was consistently warm and attentive, which is why we returned for lunch on most days rather than braving the busier Surfside Café or Local Bar & Grill.
The popular Indulge Food Hall is a dining concept new to the NCL fleet and another standout dining venue. The space is bright and stylish, with food stations spanning global cuisines from India to Italy to Latin America. It’s designed as the kind of place where you can wander, grab a little of everything, and settle in at a high-top, a cozy couch, or even the outdoor terrace. I ordered Dan Dan noodles from the Noodle Bar, which were spicy, rich, and just the right amount of heat—and found myself going back more than once. Even better, the patio outside Indulge became one of my secret spots on the ship. It was never crowded, and the cushioned lounge chairs and couches were perfect for lingering with a drink. Also tucked discreetly in the back of Indulge, the outdoor Soleil Bar offered panoramic aft views and quickly became another favorite hidden gem.
For those looking to splurge, Aqua features seven specialty restaurants covering everything from Japanese and French to Mexican, Italian, and Thai, along with NCL’s beloved steakhouse, Cagney’s. We dined at Cagney’s on our first night, starting with a Caesar salad prepared tableside and a ribeye cooked to medium-rare perfection, paired with garlic-smashed potatoes, buttery whipped potatoes, and sautéed spinach. Also new to Aqua is Palomar, the first Mediterranean restaurant in the fleet, with seafood and wine pairings that feel right at home on a ship at sea. These specialty venues book up quickly, so reservations are essential.
Aqua boasts an impressive 17 bars and lounges, each with its own style. We often started our evenings at the Belvedere Bar on Deck 8, where white marble counters offered a striking contrast to the blue ocean and easy-listening sets from the talented duo “Nil & Sin” created the perfect atmosphere to unwind. Their following grew night after night, with more people stopping to listen as they strolled past. Another favorite was Metropolitan, just outside Hudson’s, where soft lighting, art-deco design, and lively piano music kept us out far later than planned, especially the night we lost track of time during an Elton John tribute. For a quieter escape, the bar at the Observation Lounge on Deck 17 was often uncrowded and offered beautiful ocean views without the bustle of the busier venues.
Final Takeaway
In the end, Aqua impressed us with its mix of scale and intimacy. The ship is undeniably large and lively, but it also offers quiet corners, cozy bars, and peaceful decks for when you want to step away. The passenger mix was as diverse as the spaces onboard - families with children, groups of friends, many couples celebrating their 1st to 40th anniversaries, solo travelers, and seasoned cruisers alike. And perhaps most importantly, everyone seemed to find a place onboard that perfectly suited their own vacation style.
For us, the biggest discovery was not just the ship itself, but how easy it was to reach three hours by train from Harrisburg to New York, a short walk to the terminal, and suddenly we were setting sail. That seamless connection turned the idea of a quick, international escape into a reality, and it’s what made this cruise feel not only adventurous but also refreshingly simple.
An Unexpected Itinerary
Bermuda is one of my favorite places on the planet and when I booked this cruise through my terrific AAACP travel advisor, Jamie Snyder, our sailing was originally scheduled as a four-night Bermuda itinerary, giving us two full days at sea and one day on the island. But Hurricane Erin had other plans, and two days before our departure we learned the ship would instead head to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. At first, we were disappointed to trade swimsuits for sweaters, but the unexpected detour ended up being a welcome adventure. There is something exciting about arriving in a place you never would have chosen for yourself.
Saint John is a small coastal city best known for the dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy. We followed maps handed out by friendly local volunteers and spent the morning wandering through the historic City Market, the oldest continuously operating food market in North America, and strolling the leafy paths of King’s Square. Later we ducked into O’Leary’s Pub, where live Irish music filled the room, before browsing a waterfront cluster of converted shipping containers that housed artisan shops and felt like a winter market village. By the end of the day, what had begun as a backup port call turned into one of the highlights of our trip.
Norwegian Aqua Itinerary + Promotions
Aqua is currently sailing roundtrip from New York to Bermuda through October 2025, before repositioning to Miami for Eastern Caribbean itineraries running through spring 2026. Beyond Aqua, NCL offers a wide variety of cruises out of New York City year-round, including sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada, New England, and more.
AAA members can connect with a travel advisor to learn more about NCL’s loyalty program & AAA Member benefits, special sales, and promotions. It’s worth keeping an eye on the line’s rotating offers—such as the “More At Sea” promotion, which often includes valuable perks like a beverage package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and even “Kids Sail Free” on select sailings.
