This post covers the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and Cape Liberty Cruise Port
So you’re contemplating a cruise sailing from the New York area, or maybe you’ve already booked it. Congrats! Whether you’re headed to the Bahamas/Caribbean, Bermuda, north to New England and Canada, or to Europe, it’s a great place to sail from. Now that you’ve made the decision where to depart on your trip, you might be thinking about the logistics of getting to, parking, and staying in the city.
For me, the Sail Away from New York is simply unforgettable. Passing by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, seeing the impressive New York Skyline fade away into the distance, and passing what seems like mere inches under the towering Verrazano-Narrows Bridge are all fantastic experiences.
When going on a cruise, embarkation day is typically the most stressful and least fun part of the whole experience. This guide is meant to help take away some of that anxiety of traveling to New York City to board a ship.
For many people, traveling into the city can seem to be a daunting task. I know many who try to avoid it at all costs. New York is known for its traffic, and there are some who would think to avoid embarking on a cruise from Manhattan because they assume getting there is a hassle. The good news is that it’s far easier than one would think, and there are several options available.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal
Located at 711 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is right in heart of midtown Manhattan. Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Oceana, AIDA, and Holland America depart out of Manhattan.
Situated just north of the Intrepid Museum and within walking distance to Broadway shows, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.
The terminal’s website has the directions pretty well covered. All cars enter the Terminal from the north at the intersection of 55th Street and 12th Avenue (State Route 9A).
- New Jersey and Points South
From the Lincoln Tunnel, follow signs to 42nd Street, make a left onto 42nd Street, go 3 blocks and make a right onto 12th Avenue. Take 12th Avenue for a half mile and make a left on 55th street, which is the entrance to the terminal. From the Holland Tunnel, take exit 1 (9A). Pass 3 lights and make a right onto West Street (which is also 12th Avenue). Take West Street/12 Avenue one mile and make a left onto 55th Street, which is the entrance to the terminal. - George Washington Bridge/Westchester and Points North
Go southbound on the Henry Hudson Parkway (Route 9A), exit to the right at 55th Street, which is the entrance to the terminal. - Long Island
From the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, go west via 34th Street to 12th Avenue. Turn right onto 12th Avenue and continue north to the New York Cruise Terminal on 55th Street. - Midtown Manhattan
Take 55th Street, and cross 12th Avenue to enter the Terminal. - For drivers originating in Manhattan and points north.
Potential alternatives to I-278 include exiting at Exit 27/Atlantic Avenue and using Columbia Street, Degraw Street, and Van Brunt Street to access to the terminal.
Parking at the Pier
By far, the most convenient option is parking right at the pier. They offer parking right next to the dock. Like most parking in Manhattan, it is very expensive at $45/day. They only take Visa/MC (no cash), but parking can be prepaid online. Note that you won’t be able to drop off your luggage prior to parking if you’re using this lot, as you’ll have to exit the cruise terminal after dropping off your luggage.
There are, of course, other (and cheaper) options. One has to weigh the convenience vs. the cost.
There are several lots very close to the terminal, all offering different rates. I like to book and pay for parking ahead of time, and I prefer using Spothero. Here are their lots close by:
Parking Lots near the Manhattan Cruise Terminal
Parking in New Jersey and Taking the Ferry
Port Imperial Ferry Parking Lots in Weehawken, NJ
Another great option is to park in New Jersey at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken. Parking here is right across the street in a garage at only $20/day and can be prepaid as well through Spothero. The $9 Ferry runs to Manhattan every 20 minutes and drops off just south of the Intrepid. It’s about a 10-minute walk north up the Hudson River Greenway to the cruise terminal. Here’s a really good YouTube video explaining the process:
As easy as it is, if driving into Manhattan and dealing with parking isn’t for you, there’re other options.
Hotels
There are a few hotels that offer a shuttle to and from the cruise terminal and allow you to park your car at the hotel.
- Hilton Garden Inn, in Ridgefield Park, NJ
- Hampton Inn, in Ridgefield Park, NJ
- Fairfield Inn & Suites in North Bergen, NJ
If you’re staying in Manhattan either before or after your cruise, there’s a virtually unlimited amount of hotel options. I personally like to choose a room that is in between the cruise terminal and the theatre district. INK 48 is clean, reasonable, and at just 1/4 mile from the terminal, is one of the closest.
Other lodging options:
- Compare Hotels near Madison Square Garden
- Compare Hotels near the Theatre District/Times Square
- Compare Hotels near the Manhattan Cruise Terminal
It is ALWAYS recommended that you arrive AT LEAST the day before your embarkation if you’re not local. Flight delays and cancellations are common, and you definitely do not want to miss the boat!
By Bus
There also are motor coaches that can be ridden from various locations.
- Upstate NY/Albany – Yankee Trailways that begin in Albany, NY and travel to the cruise terminal. They make several stops along the Hudson River. The cost is $120/pp round trip. They sell out fast, so it’s best to reserve early. An important thing to note is that there is not overnight or long-term parking at any of these pickup locations.
- Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, PA – TransBridge Bus Lines runs a shuttle from LVI Airport in Allentown to both the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and the Cape Liberty Cruise Port. The cost is around $100/pp, and parking is available at ABE Airport. Parking is free for the first 3 days, $5 per day for 4 to 30 days (rates subject to change). The permit must be purchased prior to departure. All violators will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Trans-Bridge Lines and Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA) are not liable for theft or damage to vehicles while parked at ABE. Parking terms are subject to change at any time, with or without notice.
- Philadelphia/King of Prussia/Princeton – King Transportation offers shuttles to ALL NY-Area cruise ports, as well as Baltimore. At this time I am unsure of the price or availability of parking.
Several bus lines serve New York, with Greyhound being the largest. If you choose to arrive in Manhattan by bus, it’s best to pick a line that will drop you off at the New York Port Authority’s Midtown Bus Terminal, which occupies the blocks between 8th and 9th Avenue and West 40th/42nd Streets. It is the largest bus terminal in the world, right at the Manhattan end of the Lincoln Tunnel. It is 1.3 miles from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and a Taxi/Uber/Lyft would be the easiest way to get to the ship.
By Train
If you’re traveling by rail, Penn Station is ideally where you’d like to end up at. Amtrak provides service throughout the northeast corridor (Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Hartford, Boston). It’s about a 15-20 minute walk, so you might want to consider a taxi or Uber to get from the station to your ship. It’s a much longer walk/ride from Grand Central Station, located on the east side of the island.
By Air
If you’re flying in, you’ll have to choose your NY-area airport, and weigh the transportation costs. The Long Island Rail Road provides services from JFK to Penn Station. Besides Uber/Lyft/Taxi or getting a transfer through your cruise line, there’s another very good option. Go Airlink NYC operates a shuttle to and from the cruise terminal from all major airports.
- New York La Guardia (LGA) Airport is 6.6 miles away.
- Newark (EWR) is 11 miles away.
- New York JFK (JFK) is 14.2 miles away.
Embarkation
A friendly reminder, make sure that you have all of your cruise documentation with you, and not in the bags that you checked with the porters!
Upon arriving at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, you’ll need to find your way up to the second level, as previous cruise guests will be disembarking on the first level (street level). There are elevators on each side of the terminal, right at the very front by the street. The terminal employees are very good at directing people into the correct lines. After going through the security line and the check-in line, there may be some waiting depending on what time you chose to arrive. I have found that the first time slots fill up quickly, but after the check-in process there’s a lot of waiting around until the boarding process begins. I’m the type of person who wants to get on the ship ASAP, so I don’t mind waiting. Plus, if you need to make or change reservations for dinner or shows, getting onboard early definitely is a great way to ensure you get into the events you want. If you want those early time slots, it is best to find out exactly when you are allowed to complete your online check-in and select a time slot. Make sure you’ve got everything ready to go at that moment. For me, my online check-in started at midnight, 21-days prior to boarding. I had everything complete by 12:05am, and easilly got the very first time slot.
Everybody seems to like to head to the buffet for that first meal aboard, and it fills up VERY fast. I’d recommend not hitting the buffet if you’re not one of the earlier groups to board. If you’d rather a less painless waiting experience, arriving just after noon is typically super easy with minimal (if any) waiting in those uncomfortable seats.
TIP: many cruise line’s apps will change once you connect to the ship’s WiFi to allow you to view the day’s events and activities. Most will even allow you to book reservations that can only be made onboard. Usually, since the ship is right next to you while you’re waiting in the terminal, you’ll be able to connect and book what you’d like. This comes in handy because you won’t need to scramble to find the area to book these reservations and wait in line. Who wants to race aboard a ship just to wait in a line? …I know I don’t.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Located at 210 Clinton Wharf, Brooklyn, NY 11231, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is located at Pier 12 of the Red Hook neighborhood. Cunard, Princess, and MSC typically depart from Brooklyn.
Their website has very thorough directions. All cars enter the Terminal from the Bowne Street and Imlay Street intersection.
- From Manhattan and Points North
Take the Battery Tunnel (I-478-E) into Brooklyn. Continue onto the westbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278-W) and immediately take the first exit on the right: Exit 26- Hamilton Avenue onto the service road. Stay to the left and make a left-U-turn at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue with Clinton Street/9th Street, then continue west along the westbound Hamilton Avenue service road. Continue on the service road to its end at Van Brunt Street. Turn left at Van Brunt Street, travel 2 blocks and then turn right onto Bowne Street to enter the terminal. - From Long Island and Points East
Take the LIE west to the westbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278-W, just after Exit 18 Maurice Avenue) and take Exit 26 – Hamilton Avenue onto the service road. Stay to the left and make a left-U-turn at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue with Clinton Street/9th Street, then continue west along the westbound Hamilton Avenue service road. Continue on the service road to its end at Van Brunt Street. Turn left at Van Brunt Street, travel 2 blocks and then turn right onto Bowne Street to enter the terminal. - From New Jersey and Points South and West
Take the NJ Turnpike south to Exit 13. Cross the Goethals Bridge to I-278, Staten Island Expressway and cross Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn. Continue north on Gowanus / BQE and exit at Exit 26 (Hamilton Avenue). After the exit, go down the ramp to Van Brunt Street to its end, make a left turn on Van Brunt and travel 2 blocks and turn right onto Bowne Street to enter terminal.
Like the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, parking is available at $45/day, and can be pre-booked and paid for via Visa/MC. The main difference is that you can (and should) drop off your luggage prior to parking your car there.
While there are other parking options available, none are really within walking distance of the cruise terminal and would require a taxi or Uber. Many of them are substantially cheaper, so you’d have to determine if saving a few bucks will be worth the trouble of having to get a ride to the port.
By Bus
There also are motor coaches that can be ridden from various locations.
- Upstate NY/Albany – Yankee Trailways that begin in Albany, NY and travel to the cruise terminal. They make several stops along the Hudson River. The cost is $120/pp round trip. They sell out fast, so it’s best to reserve early. An important thing to note is that there is not overnight or long-term parking at any of these pickup locations.
- Philadelphia/King of Prussia/Princeton – King Transportation offers shuttles to ALL NY-Area cruise ports, as well as Baltimore. At this time, I am unsure of the price or availability of parking.
By Train
Grand Central Station and Penn Station are the nearest rail hubs to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and would entail a pricey taxi or Uber/Lyft ride. Public transportation via bus/subway is also available.
By Air
Besides Uber/Lyft/Taxi or getting a transfer through your cruise line, there’s another very good option. Go Airlink NYC operates a shuttle to and from the cruise terminal from all major airports.
- La Guardia (LGA) is 12.2 miles away
- JFK is 13.3 miles away
- Newark (EWR) is 18.3 miles away
Hotels
As far as hotels go, while there are hotels in Brooklyn, not many are very close to the terminal. My recommendation is to stay in Lower Manhattan in the Financial District/Wall Street area and take the South Brooklyn Ferry from Pier 11 to Red Hook. The ferry terminal is very close to the cruise terminal, and very walkable.
Embarkation
A friendly reminder, make sure that you have all of your cruise documentation with you, and not in the bags that you checked with the porters!
The terminal employees are very good at directing people into the correct lines. After going through the security line and the check-in line, there may be some waiting depending on what time you chose to arrive. I have found that the first time slots fill up quickly, but after the check-in process there’s a lot of waiting around until the boarding process begins. I’m the type of person who wants to get on the ship ASAP, so I don’t mind waiting. Plus, if you need to make or change reservations for dinner or shows, getting onboard early definitely is a great way to ensure you get into the events you want. Everybody seems to like to head to the buffet for that first meal aboard, and it fills up VERY fast. I’d recommend not hitting the buffet if you’re not one of the earlier groups to board. If you’d rather a less painless waiting experience, arriving just after noon-time is typically super easy with minimal waiting in those uncomfortable seats.
TIP: many cruise line’s apps will change once you connect to the ship’s WiFi to allow you to view the day’s events and activities. Most will even allow you to book reservations that can only be made onboard. Usually, since the ship is right next to you while you’re waiting in the terminal, you’ll be able to connect and book what you’d like. This comes in handy because you won’t need to scramble to find the area to book these reservations and wait in line. Who wants to race aboard a ship just to wait in a line? …I know I don’t.
It is ALWAYS recommended that you arrive AT LEAST the day before your embarkation if you’re not local. Flight delays and cancellations are common, and you definitely do not want to miss the boat!
Cape Liberty Cruise Port
Located at 4 Port Terminal Blvd, Bayonne, NJ 07002, the Cape Liberty Cruise Port is home to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise lines.
Their website has detailed driving directions.
- From Exit 14A:
Follow the signs for Route 440 South. Proceed 1 1/2 miles and make a left into the Bayonne Ocean Terminal. The cruise terminal is two miles straight ahead. - From the North
Take the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 South to Exit 14A – Bayonne. - From the South
Take the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 North to Exit 14A – Follow directions above from Exit 14A.Bayonne. - From the West, via I-80
Take I-80 East to I-95 South to the New Jersey Turnpike. Take the turnpike south to Exit 14A- Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From the West, via I-78.
Take I-78 East directly to Exit 14A- Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From the East/Staten Island/Long Island
Take the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Staten Island. Take I-278 West to Route 440 North over the Bayonne Bridge (Check for Bayonne Bridge Closures). Continue on Route 440 North approximately 3 miles. Make a right into the Bayonne Ocean Terminal. The cruise terminal is 2 miles straight ahead. - From NYC, via The Lincoln Tunnel
Take the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey. Follow I-495 West to the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 South. Take the turnpike south to Exit 14A – Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From NYC, via The Holland Tunnel
Take the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey. Take the New Jersey Turnpike west to Exit 14A – Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From The Bronx/Connecticut/New England
Proceed to and across the George Washington Bridge. Follow signs for the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 South. Take the turnpike south to Exit 14A – Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From Westchester County
Take I-684 South to I-287 West to I-87 South. Follow signs to and over the George Washington Bridge. Follow signs for the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 South. Take the turnpike south to Exit 14A – Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A. - From Rockland County
Take the Palisades Parkway South to I-80 West. Follow signs for the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95 South. Continue to Exit 14A Bayonne. Take the turnpike south to Exit 14A – Bayonne. Follow directions above from Exit 14A.
Current parking rates at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port are $30/Day. Parking cannot be reserved ahead of time, but a parking space is guaranteed. Unfortunately, there are no cheaper parking alternatives nearby.
By Bus
Motorcoach transportation is available, serving the following locationns:
- Upstate NY/Albany – Yankee Trailways that begin in Albany, NY and travel to the cruise terminal. They make several stops along the Hudson River. The cost is $120/pp round trip. They sell out fast, so it’s best to reserve early. An important thing to note is that there is not overnight or long-term parking at any of these pickup locations.
- Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, PA – TransBridge Bus Lines runs a shuttle from LVI Airport in Allentown to both the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and the Cape Liberty Cruise Port. The cost is around $100/pp, and parking is available at ABE Airport. Parking is free for the first 3 days, $5 per day for 4 to 30 days (rates subject to change). The permit must be purchased prior to departure. All violators will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Trans-Bridge Lines and Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA) are not liable for theft or damage to vehicles while parked at ABE. Parking terms are subject to change at any time, with or without notice.
- Philadelphia/King of Prussia/Princeton – King Transportation offers shuttles to ALL NY-Area cruise ports, as well as Baltimore. At this time I am unsure of the price or availability of parking.
By Train
Take the PATH train from Manhattan to Jersey City (Newport or Exchange Place) or Hoboken. Separate from the PATH Station, take the NJ Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train toward 8th street Bayonne. Get off at the 34th Street Station in Bayonne. You are now directly across Route 440 from The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, which includes the Cape Liberty Cruise Port. Call one of the three Bayonne cab companies to drive you to the cruise port, which is about two miles east of the Light Rail line.
By Air
Go Airlink NYC’s airport shuttle service to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port. Lyft, Uber, and taxis are also always an option.
Hotels
Here’s a list of my favorite hotels that have a park and stay package with a free shuttle to and from Newark Airport.
- Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport — Park, Stay, and Go (Up to 7 nights parking)
- Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel — Park Here, Cruise There (8 days parking, $22 each additional night)
- Hilton Newark Airport — Park, Stay, and Go (7 nights parking)
- Courtyard Newark Liberty International Airport — Park Here, Cruise There (7 nights parking, $25 each additional night)
Other Hotels near the Cape Liberty Cruise Port
It is ALWAYS recommended that you arrive AT LEAST the day before your embarkation if you’re not local. Flight delays and cancellations are common, and you definitely do not want to miss the boat!
Embarkation
To save time, drop off your luggage first at the terminal then head to parking. A free shuttle is available from all overflow lots. The terminal employees are very good at directing people into the correct lines. After going through the security line and the check-in line, there may be some waiting depending on what time you chose to arrive. I have found that the first time slots fill up quickly, but after the check-in process there’s a lot of waiting around until the boarding process begins. I’m the type of person who wants to get on the ship ASAP, so I don’t mind waiting. Plus, if you need to make or change reservations for dinner or shows, getting onboard early definitely is a great way to ensure you get into the events you want. Everybody seems to like to head to the buffet for that first meal aboard, and it fills up VERY fast. I’d recommend not hitting the buffet if you’re not one of the earlier groups to board. If you’d rather a less painless waiting experience, arriving just after noon-time is typically super easy with minimal waiting in those uncomfortable seats.
TIP: many cruise line’s apps will change once you connect to the ship’s WiFi to allow you to view the day’s events and activities. Most will even allow you to book reservations that can only be made onboard. Usually, since the ship is right next to you while you’re waiting in the terminal, you’ll be able to connect and book what you’d like. This comes in handy because you won’t need to scramble to find the area to book these reservations and wait in line. Who wants to race aboard a ship just to wait in a line? …I know I don’t.
It’s always a good idea to arrive AT LEAST the day before your ship departs. New York City presents a limitless amount of things to see and do. If you’re looking for ideas, please check out my post on Pre/Post cruise activities.
Please feel free to like, comment, and share this post. It is my hope that I covered all of the bases, but if I didn’t, I’d like to know. Things change all the time, and it is my goal to keep this information up-to-date. If you have found that something has changed, please reach out to me.
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