After not seeing each other for over a year and a half, my best friend and I booked a Norwegian cruise and began planning a much-needed girls' trip.
Girls' trips can be difficult to plan because everyone has different expectations for how they want to spend their PTO. However, cruises typically offer something for everyone, from foodies to adrenaline-junkies and those with wanderlust.
For my friend Hayley and me, a Norwegian cruise was the perfect solution. We didn’t have to choose between pool days, late-night parties, or exploring new places because we could do it all.
Although our warm-weather itinerary to Bermuda was changed to a Canada cruise due to a hurricane, we had a great time and would happily go on another girls' cruise together.
The Norwegian Aqua cruise ship was beautiful and offered a lot to see, do, and eat
Hayley and I previously cruised together in 2022 aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, which offered everything from a zip-line to a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, FlowRider surf simulator, Broadway-caliber productions, and more. As such, I knew we couldn't book just any cruise after sailing on an Oasis Class vessel.
Although the Norwegian Aqua cruise ship isn't as large as Allure of the Seas, it holds its own with impressive dining options, high-tech attractions, and unique shows.
Even better? The 4-night cruise departed from New York City. I flew in early and spent two nights at Hayley’s apartment. We got to run around the city, eat our way through her favorite spots, and catch up before the cruise began.
Because our sailing was only 4 nights, we had a limited amount of time to enjoy everything Norwegian Aqua had to offer. As such, sailing on a mid-size ship was more enjoyable than on a massive vessel like Allure of the Seas.
From admiring the Manhattan skyline during sailaway to catching a comedy show, riding the brand-new Aqua Slidecoaster, watching the Mr. Sexy Legs competition, and more, there was little downtime after we set foot on the ship.
Sharing a tiny inside cabin wasn't awkward
Cruise cabins are smaller than standard hotel rooms. With less storage and space to move around, it's important that you feel comfortable with the person you're sharing the cabin with.
Thankfully, Hayley and I have never had any issues when staying together. In fact, she'd often sleep on the couch in my studio apartment when I lived in New York.
We quickly settled into our small inside cabin, divvying up the storage without even discussing it. Moreover, we were pleased to walk into the room and see that our beds had already been split, rather than pushed together to create one larger bed.
Throughout our 4-night cruise, we took turns rotating who showered first, and we successfully managed to keep the space neat and tidy — quite an accomplishment for two girls with a lot of makeup and accessories!
Generally speaking, it's smart to come up with some house rules when traveling with a friend. In our case, though, we didn't really need to. At night, we'd both wind down at the same time, and it did not bother me if Hayley stayed awake reading on her Kindle.
The diverse food options appealed to both of us
Hayley is a vegetarian, while I love everything from juicy filet mignon to chicken, pulled pork, calamari, and shrimp.
Thankfully, Norwegian had a good selection of food that appealed to both of us, whether the vegetable pad thai or bacon and bourbon-glazed chicken breast.
The Indulge Food Hall, in particular, was a hit. With its wide variety of global cuisines and small plates, we could each order exactly what we wanted. The pesto gnocchi was to die for, as was the Singapore street noodles.
The Norwegian Aqua-exclusive Sukhothai was another one of our favorite spots. Good Thai food is something I crave about every other day. Unfortunately, living in North Carolina means my options are limited, and I'm never truly satisfied.
Before we embarked, Hayley took me to her favorite Thai place near her apartment in Astoria, Queens. While I'm not saying Sukhothai was even close to that neighborhood gem, I loved eating one of my favorite cuisines in the middle of the ocean!
The menu was filled with classic Thai dishes, from Tom Kha Gai to Som Tum, fragrant curries, flavorful noodles, and more.
We loved the entertainment and activities
As we made our way north, the weather was chillier than expected. However, Norwegian Aqua offered plenty to keep us entertained (and warm). From original production shows and live music to game shows, comedians, and late-night parties, there was always something happening somewhere on the ship.
Getting from one activity to another wasn't an issue, either. Whereas at home, we’d be driving or using the subway to attend a comedy show or make a dinner reservation, everything on the ship was close by.
We did brave the elements to try the Aqua Slidecoaster and Tee Time mini-golf. The latter, though not included, is worth $5 per person. We enjoyed the interactive mini-golf course more than we thought, putting our way through holes themed after different destinations around the world.
Read more: 7 things I loved and hated about my first Norwegian cruise
Traveling with friends is fun, even if there are unexpected changes along the way
When we initially booked our Norwegian cruise, we were excited because it was going to sail from New York to Bermuda. As luck would have it, a major hurricane formed in the Atlantic at the same time, so we were rerouted to Canada.
That was, to be honest, disappointing news. We had been dreaming about pink sand beaches, turquoise water, and fruity cocktails, not sweaters and chilly breezes.
Still, we made the most of it, not wanting an itinerary change to ruin our trip together. We threw on our long-sleeved shirts, grabbed hot beverages from a Canadian coffee shop, and explored the streets of Saint John.
As we walked toward the downtown area from the cruise ship pier, we passed Area 506, a waterfront container village filled with local vendors selling food, clothing, and other trinkets.
We then ventured up King Street to the Saint John City Market, Canada's oldest farmers' market, and explored quirky, artisanal shops, including the Obscruity Shop and Backstage Records.
Although we didn't get the vacation we had hoped for, we walked away with more stories and memories than we can count.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
