Aqua Azul Yacht Reviews

Let me start off by saying that I work in event and film production so I have a very good eye for knowing what makes a great venue experience and I am a very honest critic. I am choosing to write this to thank Dorit the owner and to express to other couples out there what I have learned and experienced from our wedding on 10.8.22 and what you can do to make sure you also have a good time.

In short--Our wedding ceremony and reception was a wonderful experience because of this venue and the vendors that Dorit recommended.

My fiancé and I looked at SEVERAL yachts before deciding on this one. I could tell right off the bat Dorit was was professional, caring, and top notch. I think our DJ company Gould Entertainment, who Dorit recommended, said it best when they said walking on the Aqua Azul is like walking into Dorit’s living room. The level of care she puts into this boat is so apparent. Gould Entertainment also said it best when they said “The Aqua Azul is also one of the only wedding yachts in NYC THAT DOESN'T SMELL!” And we noticed that after looking at other yachts trust me--Dorit cleans this boat!!! Dorit was with us every step of the way. Super organized and knowledgeable. Definitely Trust Dorit! She KNOWS what she is doing!!!

This is not your typical “booze cruise”. This is a classy, elegant, party experience that is guaranteed to blow away your expectations and leave your guests wanting more. Definitely turn up the volume and play some upbeat music because being on a boat in NYC is super fun. If you play fun music you’ll match the vibe of the experience. Just my opinion!

My fiancé and I did extensive research to make sure we got a good experience. This is the second boat wedding we have been to and we have been on other boats on the Hudson for other random parties. That being said, if you decide to go with with The Aqua Azul, here are some tips we have learned:

-Trust her vendor recommendations. AlexZ Photography, Gould Entertainment, Tiger Flowers. We also chose TM weddings which was a separate company but they fit in!

-Consider lighting upgrades through your DJ package to give the boat a little more flare. We got uplighting on the reception floor that changed colors and mood of the boat, we got spotlights to enhance the dance floor which made for better photos/videos, and we also got some LED tables for the roof. We also bought some LED flickering candles for some extra mood. Lighting is important especially on a yacht where sometimes natural light is limited.

-Add one extra hour to your contract. Time flies by FAST and you’ll be thankful you added that extra insurance policy to keep the fun going. I personally read many reviews of people saying they wish they had one more hour. They are 100% right.

-Designate some folks on your wedding party to pass out your party favors and unload your belongings downstairs when the boat finishes. People didn’t want to leave! It’s a little bit of a walk to the parking lot so if everyone agrees to carry one thing, you’ll get out of there smoothly.

-Don’t worry about what the boat looks like when you visit. Touring a boat is like looking at empty apartment. Once your special day comes and Dorit’s team decorates and lights the boat and your friends and family fill in, it TRANSFORMS. And if you look at other couples’ photos on this boat and you think it might be appear dark, then it’s the couple’s fault for not adding the lighting upgrades.

-Make sure your videographer has a Lav mic if you intend on recording you vows and tell all of your speech givers to SPEAK UP on the hand held mics. Unfortunately this is NYC and there are helicopters. Nothing much you can do about sound that so just give everyone who needs to know a heads up to be louder :-)

Thank you Dorit and the rest of the staff and vendor partners of the Aqua Azul! I hope I am able to recommend you to my clients for their parties!!! Would love to come back!

-Nick and Kayla

Write at least 30 characters about your experience. Include any details that will help other couples make their hiring decision.

My daughter’s wedding on the Aqua Azul yacht was a magical experience. The entire event was very professional from the beginning, 6 months ahead, to the final moments of the wedding evening. Dorit was very helpful in the planning process which I did from out-of-state. Her input in decisions was always in the bride’s and groom’s best interest. The contract and the plan for the evening were very clear and exact, and she delivered on all promises. The additional requests I made were willingly met. Dorit managed the entire affair with grace. She was the foundation for a truly memorable experience.
The Aqua Azul was well appointed, exceptionally clean and updated. Dorit provided all the furnishings, from tables and chairs to linens, dishes, glassware and decor. The yacht was spacious, with bathrooms and a bar on each of the four levels. The ramp and elevator were essential for guests with limited mobility.
The formality of the dinner was greatly appreciated. From the passed appetizers to the buffet and the wedding cake, the food was elegantly presented and delicious. The spacious dining room was comfortable for all. The indoor and outdoor dining options were appreciated.
I highly recommend a wedding and reception on the Aqua Azul because an event on the the Aqua Azul is truly an adventure for all.

Dorit made our dreams come true, she helped us from the first day we contacted her and guided us through the entire process from start to finish. The process was so easy with the help of Dorit, she is excellent with communication whether it's text, email, or calls she answers quickly. The yacht had more to offer than we could have ever imagined. The elegance, the view, the decorations, the food, and her amazing staff are excellent. One of the best surprises was the elevator because no one was able to see me until I walked down the aisle. We ran into a last-minute problem when we couldn't find my flowers girls' basket and pedals and Dorit saved us because she had some rose pedals available. Everyone loved it and had never experienced a wedding like ours, it was truly one of a kind. I could not have asked for any better, it was PERFECT.

Dorit, with Aqua Azul, has been amazing to work with thus far. Our wedding is in 107 days! She is great with communication and answers any texts or emails almost immediately. The boat has so many great features and the staff is well prepared to help you make your dream wedding aboard the Aqua Azul! We are so excited for our wedding and look forward to planning more with her as the event gets closer! Highly recommend!

I wish I could give them more than 5 stars! From start to finish, Dorit made our wedding dreams come true. She went over and beyond with her service! They are prompt, knowledgeable and beyond helpful. We got married in the deck and it was surreal! overlooking the NYC skyline. The venue is breathtaking. The service is spectacular. My guests said it was the best wedding food, drinks and experience they have every had. The bartenders made amazing drinks and people rarely had to wait. The night started and ended perfectly, I am beyond happy with my experience. If you are looking for a wedding venue in the NYC area, this is it. No need to look further. You won’t regret it!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM, especially DORIT! she's amazing!!!!

Dorit and her team were very professional and provided top notch service. The all- inclusive package made lives easy for us and it’s well worth the price tag. Our guests loved the whole experience and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to have our reception on the Aqua Azul.

We couldn't have had a better September 2019 "boat wedding"! My husband and I wanted more of a party rather than traditional wedding and Dorit worked with us seamlessly to create an easy going, perfect day.

The wedding package made all the decision making so simple but we really enjoyed picking out our delicious menu. The food was outstanding. The Aqua Azul is a beautiful, well laid out yacht. Our 170 guests were easily directed between decks for our ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. We lucked out with weather and had a warm and sunny late September cruise out of Jersey City. We left Liberty Landing Marina and went up the Hudson near the GWB and ended the cruise with a spectacular Statue of Liberty toast. Even our NYC guests were so impressed by the beautiful skyline and Statue of Liberty cruise and our out of town guests were blown away.

Our evening flew by and our only regret was not booking more time aboard! Dorit and her crew/team were such professionals with obvious experience. We loved the wedding and our guests had a blast. Such a unique and memorable wedding experience! Over a year later I'm smiling remembering the beautiful day. Thank you, Dorit!!

My wedding was flawless and I would recommend this without any reservation.
Food: Awesome, they have a lot of options and everything just great! (I got to eat at my own wedding too which was nice)
Decor: The boat is decorated beautifully and elegantly. People thought I spent so much money on this venue. But honestly, is was comparable to other venues where you basically just get a nice big room.
Saving Money: I think having my wedding here actually saved me money because I didnt have to buy any decorations. Also photobooth? I didnt think it was necessary on a boat wedding when you have the NYC skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop.
Staff: The staff made my wedding. I cannot begin to tell you how professional, kind, polite, and friendly the staff was. We had 2 people in wheelchairs (there is an elevator on the boat) and they were raving about how helpful the staff was to get them where they needed to be without missing anything.

I would do my wedding a million times over on this boat. If you are looking for something unique and different you have to use this venue! You will have no regrets!

We had our wedding reception in July 2019 on the Aqua Azul. Dorit and her team were excellent at coordinating and were flexible to meet our requests. Our guests commented on how attentive and kind the staff were. Thank you so much to the Aqua Azul for helping us create memories that will last a lifetime.

Dorit and her staff were amazing. We chartered the Aqua Azul for a Rehearsal dinner of 152 people. Dorit’s service to detail made our planning process painless. If you are looking for full service delivered with excellence on food and service with amazing backdrop of the City and the Statue of Liberty, then this is your venue your guest will talk about for months! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dorit/staff and the Aqua Azul!

We chartered the Aqua Azul for our wedding in September 2017. And it was spectacular! From the spacious and well-equipped yacht, to the delicious food and the professional and attentive staff - nothing was left to chance. The service provided by Dorit and team made the entire process seamless and turnkey, which was echoed by all our parties (photographer, florist, DJ). They KNOW how to run a wedding, thinking of details that would never occurred to us. The pride of ownership was apparent from the first conversation and made all the difference. Thank you for ensuring we had a magical day for us and our guests.

All our guests told us this was the best wedding! The pictures around the city skyline, and the Statue of Liberty are amazing! You literally float at the Statue of Liberty for a few minutes for pics!

We wanted a wedding that was different than your cookie cutter weddings so we started looking into weddings on a yacht on the Hudson. We looked 5 different ships before deciding on the Aqua Azul.

The Aqua Azul blew the other ships out of the water. It was the largest and the most up to date out of all of them. Plus you had the whole ship to yourselves.

We had our concerns, but Dorit took care of everything. She definitely had her hands full with us. We are very picky eaters and wanted a very specific menu. She went above and beyond to make it all work! We had the most amazing mashed potato bar during cocktail hour!

We were worried about not being able to do a rehearsal, but her and her staff have clearly done this before. They had everyone lined up in order and ready to go.

Our cake, WoW! In my opinion no one ever eats the cake but it's all very different when you have a cannoli filling! It was amazing!

When it comes to the boats you get what you pay for. The AquaAzul wasn't the cheapest but Dorit and her staff do such an amazing job you can see why.

She even helped us with an issue we were having with our photographer prior to the wedding.

What a Great Venue! My wedding was on August 19,2017 aboard the grand Aqua Azul Yacht. This was the best idea I could ever have for my Wedding (Thank you Camille from Smooth Sailing for recommending). The yacht speaks for itself - It is beautiful, classy and Dorit the owner and her staff was truly amazing. I could not have asked for anything more. The weather was beautiful. I had my wedding in the evening where ceremony begun at 7:30PM - The yacht has about 4 decks and the ceremony was on the 4th (top deck) and the cocktail hour was on deck 3 then the dinner hour was on deck 2. My guests mind was blown away, as soon as they stepped on the yacht at 7:00PM (1st deck), they were greeted with about 6 wait staff standing there holding drinks (sparkling water, wine of your choice etc.). When my guest saw that, they were looking forward to what will happen next on this fabulous yacht and they were not disappointed. Everyone has told me repeatedly and still talking about how that was the best wedding they ever attended. The food was great and bars on every deck. Couldn't have asked for a better night or better venue, with the sky light and Statue of Liberty backdrop (looks great for your pictures) Thank you Dorit so much for your kindness and your time on my special night to make everything go as smoothly as it did. It was truly an amazing wedding aboard the Aqua Azul. I will definitely recommend this yacht as well as I will use it if I should have any other event.

Thank You So Much.
Dana & Christian Bete

My wife is in the unique position of being a part of the nautical event planning industry, which means working with all of the Hudson Harbor yachts and all of the boat owners since opening her business 13 years ago.
When it came time to plan our daughter's wedding, she treated our daughter like any other bride and showed her several boats and discussed options. We secretly hoped she'd select the Aqua Azul yacht because I knew from years of experience that the boat successfully executes flawless events each and every time.
We were very glad when she told me their decision was the Aqua Azul, in part because of the covered rooftop deck with outdoor dance floor that allows guests to have the sensation of being outside even if the weather is not optimum. Weather is the one thing that Dorit cannot control! :)
We had very high expectations for the event and have to say a very grateful & heartfelt thank you to Dorit and her entire staff because those expectations were exceeded.
The event flowed exactly as we'd envisioned from start to finish and, believe me, there were numerous unusual details.
Although a yacht rooftop is non-traditional for a wedding ceremony, it was elegant and appropriately tear-inducing and made for wonderful pictures with the NYC skyline as a backdrop. The cocktail hour was plentiful & delicious, there were no buffet lines and everyone was so full of great food that the plated wedding cake & coffee had to be put out later after everyone danced to make room.
Our guests danced on the rooftop, relaxed on the white garden chairs & lounge furniture, and took their selfies while the boat sailed past the illuminated landmarks - Dorit made sure that we were at the Statue of Liberty exactly at sunset, as requested.
All our friends and family said it was the best wedding they'd ever been to and all my friends want their adult kids to get married onboard as well!

Our wedding aboard the Aqua Azul this past Sunday was more than anything we could have hoped for!!!! The yacht itself is so beautiful, but to see the way it was set up for our wedding made it magical. We had ~180 guests and it was so impressive how smoothly the entire evening flowed!! Dorit was so accommodating and flexible with all our requests through the entire planning process and the staff throughout our reception was friendly and attentive. We've had so many of our family members and friends tell us how unique our reception was, which was exactly the feeling we were going for :) Thank you so much, Dorit and everyone at the Aqua Azul for the wedding of our dreams!!!!!

Dorit was PHENOMENAL to work with. She has all the connections to florists, photographers, etc if you need it. My wedding was PERFECT!!! The yacht was exquisite. My guests are STILL talking about how lovely our wedding was...the food...the service...the cruise around Manhattan...everything. I can't wait until our 5 year anniversary because we'd love to take another cruise. I can't sing the praises of the NOA DANIELLE loud enough!

I had my wedding and reception aboard this beautiful vessel. It was AMAZING! The staff was so nice and professional. They handled my 300 guests with a smile. Everyone of our guest had the best time. Ms. Dorit and her staff went above and beyond to make this day special and it was! The food was great and the service was excellent. Thank you aqua azul!

If there is one word that describes the Aqua Azul, Dorit, and Smooth Sailing Celebrations with Camille it's "class". You won't find a nicer people to work with. If you are looking for an exceptional event venue for a yacht wedding look no further. Dorit and Camille are nothing short of amazing. From the moment my husband and I met Camille and Dorit, they answered every question we had within hours. They paid attention to every detail from the very beginning to the last moments before the wedding day.
Camille showed us several yachts and we went with the Aqua Azul Yacht for our August 13, 2022 wedding. Dorit who was professional and meticulously orchestrated the entire evening perfectly. Camille and Dorit made sure our wedding was everything we had hoped for and more. The venue was amazing and our wedding was fantastic, unique, and most importantly FUN from start to finish. I can't say enough great things. Everyone who attended is still saying it was the best wedding they ever went to! The only complaint I have is that the night went so fast...before we knew it, it was time to go home! Dorit and Camille are experts in their work. The Aqua Azul is beautiful, clean, and classy. The staff is wonderful, and the food and drinks are amazing. So happy!!! Thank you Dorit and Camille! You gave us a night we will never forget.
WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Dorit and the venue staff were so professional. The servers checked in on us constantly making sure the couple had time to eat and drink amidst all the photo ops and partying. All our guests had a great time and everything went smoothly. Even though we had to deviated from our original plans due to inclement weather but Dorit worked with us to still give us what we wanted. We had an amazing night sailing on the AA and it was an experience all our guests will never forget. Good food and great cruise!

My September wedding aboard Aqua Azul was amazing. All of my guests told me it was the best wedding they'd ever attended and a big part of that was Dorit, her staff and this beautiful venue. I got engaged in the Spring and knew I needed to find a venue quickly, this was quite difficult because I wanted to get married within 4 or 5 months. Dorit was a total professional and her team did everything they could to make our day as beautiful and memorable as possible. Because I am a professional event producer and I work in the food & beverage business, I had a lot of requests and high expectations. I can honestly say the vast majority of my expectations were met or exceeded. I know how much it takes to have a nearly perfect wedding in NYC and having it on Aqua Azul was the best decision we made. It was on the water, provided breathtaking views, great food, wonderful service and was unforgettable all around. I had a sunset ceremony of the open roof deck, followed by a cocktail hour, sit down dinner followed by dancing back on the cocktail floor. The bridal suite was spacious and useful, the flow of movement from one deck to another kept the guests entertained and I received nothing but positive feedback on all parts of the evening. Dorit and her team will work with you on all elements of what you want, including scheduling and pricing. If something doesn't work out, she'll do her best to resolve it. Total professionals all around. This is true of any venue in NYC, just make sure you have all requests and expectations figured out ahead of time so that there are no surprises or disappointments at the last minute. The pricing was beyond fair for the generous offerings all around too, a great bang for your buck. Highly recommended for a memorable, elegant wedding. I would do it all over again.

I had the pleasure of celebrating my wedding reception aboard the Aqua Azul last month, April 2022. My husband and I were very pleased with our experience. Dorit worked well with my planner, answered all of our questions, responded to emails promptly and allowed us to visit the yacht on multiple occasions. The hors d’oeuvres were very tasty. All of our guests were impressed by the size and beauty of the yacht. Everything came together wonderfully. And I would recommend this company, Dorit and her staff to others. Keep in mind that high quality is not cheap.