New York, New York ยท Departure port guide
New York Cruise Port Guide: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bayonne
Short answer
What do you need to know before sailing from New York?
New York has three cruise terminals in three different places. Manhattan is on the West Side at 48th Street, Brooklyn is in Red Hook, and Cape Liberty is in Bayonne, New Jersey. They are 30 to 60 minutes apart, and confirming yours before booking anything is essential.
Key takeaways
- Three terminals in three boroughs and states; they are not interchangeable.
- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey.
- Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and MSC use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook.
- Norwegian, Princess and Carnival use the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side.
- Manhattan parking is $45 to $60 per day, by far the most expensive in US cruising.
Overview
New York is the most confusing cruise port in the United States because it is three ports, in two states, and they are nowhere near each other. Getting this wrong is expensive: a taxi from Cape Liberty in Bayonne to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is about $90 and 45 minutes, and you will not make it if you discover the error at boarding time.
The allocation is straightforward once you know it. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and MSC use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook. Norwegian, Princess and Carnival use the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson at 48th Street.
The compensation is that New York is the best pre-cruise city in the United States and the Manhattan sail-away past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazzano Bridge is the best departure in American cruising.
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal occupies piers 88 and 90 on the Hudson between West 48th and 55th Streets, with a rooftop parking deck. It is the most central and the most expensive.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook handles Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings and MSC sailings. It is about 30 minutes from midtown and has no subway station within easy walking distance.
Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, is Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's terminal, about 30 to 45 minutes from midtown Manhattan depending on tunnel traffic. It has ample cheap parking and is the easiest of the three to drive to.
New York's cruise season runs year round, with Bermuda and Caribbean sailings in summer, New England and Canada in autumn, and transatlantic crossings from spring through autumn.
- Manhattan: piers 88 and 90, West 48th to 55th Street, most central.
- Brooklyn: Red Hook, Cunard and MSC, no nearby subway.
- Cape Liberty: Bayonne New Jersey, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, best for drivers.
- Autumn New England and Canada sailings are the region's speciality.
Terminals
- Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Pier 88 and 90, West 48th to 55th Street
- Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Red Hook, Cunard and MSC
- Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne New Jersey, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
Getting there
Newark Liberty is 30 minutes from Cape Liberty and 45 from Manhattan. JFK is 45 to 60 minutes from Manhattan and Brooklyn. LaGuardia is 30 to 45 minutes from Manhattan.
For Cape Liberty, Newark is clearly the airport to use: it is 20 minutes and $35 to $55 by rideshare. For Manhattan and Brooklyn, all three airports work and traffic matters more than distance.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal is the only one with genuinely good transit access; it is a ten-minute walk from the A, C and E at 50th Street. Brooklyn and Cape Liberty both effectively require a car.
- EWR to Cape Liberty: 20 minutes, $35 to $55.
- EWR to Manhattan Terminal: 45 minutes, $70 to $110.
- JFK to Brooklyn Terminal: 45 minutes, $65 to $95.
- Manhattan Terminal is a ten-minute walk from the 50th Street subway.
Parking, priced honestly
Parking costs vary enormously between the three terminals. Manhattan is the most expensive cruise parking in the United States; Cape Liberty is among the cheapest at a major port.
| Terminal | Cost per day | Seven-night total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, rooftop deck | $45 to $60 | $315 to $420 | The most expensive cruise parking in the US |
| Brooklyn, terminal lot | $30 to $40 | $210 to $280 | Reserve in advance; capacity is limited |
| Cape Liberty, official lot | $25 to $30 | $175 to $210 | Ample capacity, easiest to drive to |
| Offsite New Jersey with shuttle | $14 to $20 | $98 to $140 | Serves Cape Liberty; limited options for the others |
| Drop-off only | Free | Free | No charge to stop at any terminal |
Where to stay the night before
Midtown West near the Manhattan terminal runs $320 to $580 and is walkable to the pier, Times Square and the theatre district.
Jersey City and Bayonne hotels at $180 to $300 are the practical choice for Cape Liberty departures, 10 to 20 minutes from the terminal, and a PATH train reaches Manhattan in 20 minutes.
Brooklyn Heights and downtown Brooklyn at $250 to $420 are 15 minutes from Red Hook and considerably more pleasant than Red Hook itself.
- Midtown West: $320 to $580, walkable to the Manhattan terminal.
- Jersey City and Bayonne: $180 to $300, best for Cape Liberty, PATH to Manhattan.
- Brooklyn Heights: $250 to $420, 15 minutes from Red Hook.
- New York hotel rates swing enormously; book early and refundable.
- Consider staying in New Jersey and commuting; the saving is substantial.
Worth your pre-cruise day
New York needs no recommendations, but two are specific to a cruise. The High Line and Hudson Yards are a 20-minute walk from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and make an easy morning before a mid-afternoon boarding.
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is moored at Pier 86, immediately beside the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and is a genuinely good two hours.
For Cape Liberty departures, Liberty State Park in Jersey City gives the best free view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline anywhere.
- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, immediately beside the Manhattan terminal.
- The High Line and Hudson Yards, a 20-minute walk from Pier 88.
- Liberty State Park, Jersey City, best free skyline and Statue of Liberty view.
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, 15 minutes from the Brooklyn terminal.
- Be on deck for the Verrazzano Bridge sail-away regardless of terminal.
Embarkation day, step by step
New York embarkation is fine at every terminal. The problem is always which terminal, not the terminal itself.
Confirm your terminal, then confirm it again
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Cunard and MSC use Brooklyn Red Hook. Norwegian, Princess and Carnival use Manhattan. A wrong assumption costs $90 and 45 minutes.
Complete online check-in when it opens
Boarding windows are allocated first come, first served, and New York summer sailings fill quickly.
Allow 90 minutes on cruise day
New York traffic and tunnel queues are unpredictable. Ninety minutes from any Manhattan hotel to any terminal is the realistic planning figure.
Consider Cape Liberty parking if driving
At $25 to $30 per day against Manhattan's $45 to $60, Cape Liberty saves $140 to $245 over a week. This only helps if your line sails from there.
Hand bags to a porter at the curb
Attach luggage tags before arriving. Tip $2 to $5 per bag.
Clear security and check-in
Expect 15 to 30 minutes inside your window. Manhattan is the slowest of the three on a two-ship day.
Be on deck for the sail-away
All three terminals produce a departure past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazzano Bridge. It is the best sail-away in American cruising.
Terms worth knowing
- Cape Liberty
- The cruise port at Bayonne, New Jersey, used by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, about 30 to 45 minutes from midtown Manhattan.
- Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
- The Red Hook terminal used by Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and MSC, about 30 minutes from midtown with no nearby subway station.
- Manhattan Cruise Terminal
- Piers 88 and 90 on the Hudson between West 48th and 55th Streets, used by Norwegian, Princess and Carnival.
- Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
- The bridge at the entrance to New York Harbor, passed by every departing cruise ship and the reason ships from New York have air draught limits.
| Factor | Manhattan | Brooklyn | Cape Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines | Norwegian, Princess, Carnival | Cunard, MSC | Royal Caribbean, Celebrity |
| Location | West 48th to 55th Street | Red Hook, Brooklyn | Bayonne, New Jersey |
| Parking per day | $45 to $60 | $30 to $40 | $25 to $30 |
| Nearest airport | LGA, 30 to 45 minutes | JFK, 45 minutes | EWR, 20 minutes |
| Subway access | Yes, 10-minute walk | No | No |
| Best for | Staying in Manhattan | Transatlantic crossings | Drivers |
Planning a New York departure
New York's only real complication is the three-terminal problem. Solve that and the rest is easy.
Confirm your terminal before anything else
Choose it when: You are booking a hotel, a transfer or parking. The three terminals are in different boroughs and states.
Fly into Newark for Cape Liberty
Choose it when: You are sailing Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. Newark is 20 minutes and $35 to $55 away.
Stay in Jersey City
Choose it when: You are sailing from Cape Liberty and want a cheaper hotel. The PATH reaches Manhattan in 20 minutes for sightseeing.
Drive to Cape Liberty rather than Manhattan
Choose it when: Your line offers both. The parking saving is $140 to $245 for a week.
Arrive two days early
Choose it when: You have the time. New York is the best pre-cruise city in the United States by a wide margin.
New York port questions
Which New York terminal does my cruise leave from?
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and MSC use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook. Norwegian, Princess and Carnival use the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at piers 88 and 90 on West 48th to 55th Street. The three are 30 to 60 minutes apart, so confirm before booking anything.
How much is parking at New York cruise terminals?
Manhattan's rooftop deck costs $45 to $60 per day, the most expensive cruise parking in the United States at $315 to $420 for a week. Brooklyn costs $30 to $40 per day and Cape Liberty $25 to $30, which is $175 to $210 for a week. If your line sails from Cape Liberty and you are driving, the saving over Manhattan is substantial.
Which airport is best for a New York cruise?
It depends on the terminal. Newark Liberty is 20 minutes from Cape Liberty and clearly best for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sailings. For the Manhattan terminal, LaGuardia is closest at 30 to 45 minutes. For Brooklyn, JFK is about 45 minutes. Traffic matters more than distance in all cases.
Can you take the subway to a New York cruise terminal?
Only to Manhattan. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is about a ten-minute walk from the A, C and E trains at 50th Street. Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook has no subway station within convenient walking distance, and Cape Liberty in Bayonne effectively requires a car or a rideshare.
What cruises leave from New York?
Bermuda and Caribbean sailings dominate the summer, New England and Canada itineraries run in September and October for the autumn colour, and transatlantic crossings operate spring through autumn including Cunard's Queen Mary 2 from Brooklyn. New York also hosts occasional Northern Europe and Baltic repositioning voyages.
Is New York worth a pre-cruise stay?
It is the best pre-cruise city in the United States. Even one extra day works well: the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is immediately beside the Manhattan terminal, and the High Line and Hudson Yards are a 20-minute walk. For Cape Liberty departures, Liberty State Park has the best free Statue of Liberty view anywhere.
About the author
Ports and Destinations Writer
Lena Hartley covers the parts of a cruise that happen off the ship: departure port logistics, shore excursions, weather windows and whether a port call is worth leaving the ship for at all.
48 sailings logged across 8 cruise lines.
This page was fact-checked by Priya Raman, family and accessibility reviewer, on . Prices and policies are re-checked against cruise line sources at least every 90 days. Read our editorial policy.