Sailing from New York is an event in itself: you leave from the middle of the city and glide past the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty on the way out. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal, on the Hudson River at the end of West 48th Street, is Norwegian's year-round New York home and also hosts Carnival on a seasonal basis. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook is where Cunard's Queen Mary 2 docks for its transatlantic crossings, and Princess uses it too.
Itineraries follow the seasons. Bermuda runs from spring into fall, Canada and New England peak in September and October for fall foliage, and winter brings longer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings that need a couple of sea days to reach warm water. Queen Mary 2's crossings to Southampton make New York the classic U.S. port for transatlantic voyages.
Practically, New York rewards a transit-first plan. NYC's Economic Development Corporation encourages passengers to use public transportation to the Manhattan terminal, parking is limited and expensive, and Midtown traffic can be slow. Both terminals are managed by Ports America on behalf of the city.
Where cruises from New York City go
- Bermuda Pink-sand beaches and British island charm, two days' sail from the Northeast, with ships docked overnight.
- Canada & New England Lobster towns, lighthouses and fall foliage from Boston and New York to Nova Scotia and Quebec.
- Bahamas The quick escape: short cruises from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines' private islands.
- Caribbean Warm water, short flights and the widest choice of ships and itineraries anywhere in cruising.
- Transatlantic A week or more at sea between North America and Europe, with island stops on many routes.
Cruise lines sailing from New York City
- Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle cruising: no fixed dinner times, no formal dress rules, lots of restaurants.
- Carnival Cruise Line Casual, affordable Fun Ships sailing from more US ports than almost anyone.
- Cunard Line British ocean-liner tradition, ballroom evenings and the last scheduled transatlantic service.
- Princess Cruises Classic, comfortable cruising with tech-smart service and an Alaska specialty.
Line schedules change by season. We confirm which ships sail from New York City on your dates when we quote.
Cruise terminals
| Terminal | Used by |
|---|---|
| Manhattan Cruise Terminal (Piers 88 and 90) 711 12th Avenue at West 48th-55th Streets. Vehicles enter from the north at 55th Street and 12th Avenue. | NCL, Carnival |
| Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (Pier 12, Red Hook) Atlantic Basin in Red Hook. Opened in 2006 and the first East Coast port with shore power (2016). | Cunard, Princess |
Getting there
Manhattan: take the A, B, C, D or 1 train to 59th Street-Columbus Circle and walk west to 12th Avenue, or take the M57 or M31 bus. Drivers and taxis must approach from the north at 55th Street and 12th Avenue. Brooklyn: the terminal is served by the B61 bus and by NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route, and taxis and rideshares can drop off at the curb. JFK is usually the easier airport for Brooklyn; LaGuardia is closest to Manhattan.
- LGA LaGuardia Airport: about 9 miles (to Manhattan terminal)
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport: about 16 miles (to Manhattan terminal)
- JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport: about 18 miles (to Manhattan terminal)
Parking
At the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, cruise parking is on the terminal rooftop, run by ProPark and bookable through the cruise.nyc website. It is credit card only (no cash), opens at 8 a.m., and has a height limit for passenger vehicles. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal has on-site parking and dedicated bus stalls. In both cases, parking costs more than at most U.S. cruise ports, so transit or a car service is often the better value.
Where to stay the night before
For the Manhattan terminal, Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen and the Times Square area are a short taxi ride or a long walk. For Brooklyn, consider Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan.
Season: Year-round. Norwegian sails from Manhattan all year; Carnival's New York season runs summer and fall; Bermuda and Canada/New England sailings run roughly spring through October.
Embarkation-day tips
- Check which terminal you are sailing from; Manhattan and Brooklyn are about 7 miles apart and a wrong guess costs real time.
- Approach the Manhattan terminal from the north at 55th Street; vehicles cannot enter from the south.
- Book a window seat on sailaway: the route down the Hudson past the Statue of Liberty is one of the best departures anywhere.
- Pack layers. Even summer Bermuda cruises can be cool and windy on the first and last days.
- Allow generous time for airport transfers on disembarkation day; city traffic is unpredictable.
Cruising from New York City: questions
Which cruise lines sail from Manhattan and which from Brooklyn?
Norwegian sails year-round from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and Carnival uses it seasonally. Cunard (Queen Mary 2) and Princess use the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Always confirm the terminal in your booking.
Can I take the subway to the Manhattan cruise terminal?
Yes. Take the A, B, C, D or 1 train to 59th Street-Columbus Circle and walk about 20 minutes to 12th Avenue, or use the M57 or M31 bus.
Is there parking at the New York cruise terminals?
Yes. Manhattan has rooftop parking run by ProPark that you can reserve on cruise.nyc (credit cards only), and Brooklyn has on-site parking. Both are pricey, so many cruisers use transit or car services.
Does MSC still sail from Brooklyn?
No. MSC Meraviglia sailed year-round from Brooklyn starting in 2023 and left New York in April 2026.
Sources and fact-checking (last checked October 14, 2026)
We write our own guides and check hard facts like fleet sizes, ship specs and published fees against these sources. Cruise lines change things often, so we re-confirm details in every quote. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
