New York Cruise Port

New York sits on the Atlantic coast where the Hudson River meets New York Harbor, one of the largest natural harbors in the world. It serves primarily as a turnaround port, with ships departing for the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda, and it is also home to the transatlantic crossings of RMS Queen Mary 2. The Port of New York and New Jersey ranks among the busiest in the country for passenger travel.

Two terminals handle the city's cruise traffic. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal sits in Hell's Kitchen on the Hudson River's western shore, spanning Piers 84 through 94 between West 44th and 54th streets. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal lies in the Red Hook neighborhood on Buttermilk Channel and serves as home port for several major cruise lines.

The port carries real history. The Manhattan terminals were built in the 1920s and 1930s to replace the older Chelsea Piers, during the golden age of the North Atlantic ocean liner. That era faded after the Second World War, and by the 1970s many berths along the Hudson had fallen out of use. A new Manhattan terminal opened in 1974, and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal followed in 2006, arriving alongside Queen Mary 2 after a 52 million dollar investment.

The setting brings real advantages too. New York Harbor stretches across more than 770 miles of shoreline, and the waterfront puts guests just steps from some of the city's best known sights. From the Manhattan terminal it is an easy walk to Times Square and Broadway, while Red Hook offers sweeping views across to the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Beyond the piers, the city has plenty to fill a pre or post cruise stay: world class museums, dining covering every cuisine imaginable, Broadway theatre, and shopping that ranges from Fifth Avenue flagships to the sprawling Macy's on 34th Street. With a bit more time, guests can wander Central Park, ride the free Staten Island Ferry, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, or take a ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Between its working harbor, city energy and cultural landmarks, New York works just as well as a destination to explore as it does a starting point for a cruise.