Cruises from Cape Liberty (Bayonne) to the Bahamas

Which lines sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne) to the Bahamas?

• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.

Ships recently or currently deployed on this route include Oasis of the Seas. Deployments change season to season, so we confirm the ship for your dates when we quote.

When to go

1. January: Shoulder season, average high 79 degrees F Jan 79°65°
2. February: Shoulder season, average high 80 degrees F Feb 80°65°
3. March: Best time, average high 81 degrees F Mar 81°66°
4. April: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Apr 84°70°
5. May: Best time, average high 86 degrees F May 86°72°
6. June: Shoulder season, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°76°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 91 degrees F Jul 91°77°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 91 degrees F Aug 91°77°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Sep 90°76°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 87 degrees F Oct 87°75°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 83 degrees F Nov 83°70°
12. December: Best time, average high 80 degrees F Dec 80°67°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Cruises run every month. Late spring (March to May) has warm, settled weather before hurricane season. December to February is dry but can be breezy and cool enough to make swimming chilly. June through November is hurricane season, peaking from mid-August to mid-October.

The Bahamas are squarely in the Atlantic hurricane zone (June 1 to November 30, peak mid-August to mid-October), and storms can also close Florida ports. In winter, cold fronts can bring strong winds and rough seas that cancel private-island tender stops on some ships.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Bahamas cruises most often visit:

• Nassau, Bahamas: Beaches, the historic downtown and Queen's Staircase, and day passes to big resort water parks.
• Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas: Quieter beaches, Lucayan National Park and easy snorkeling trips.
• Bimini, Bahamas: The closest Bahamas island to Florida, with clear shallow water and a relaxed beach-club scene.
• Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas: Royal Caribbean's private island with a large freshwater pool, water slides and beaches.
• Castaway Cay, Bahamas: Disney's private island, with family beaches, an adults-only beach and snorkel trails.
• Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas: Norwegian's private island in the Berry Islands, with beaches and cabanas.

Before you sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne)

Drivers usually take the New Jersey Turnpike extension to Route 440 south in Bayonne and follow signs to the port. From Newark airport, a taxi or rideshare is typically 20 to 30 minutes. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail serves Bayonne, but you still need a taxi or rideshare from the nearest station to the terminal, so most cruisers drive or book a car.

Parking is on site next to the terminal, which is one of Cape Liberty's advantages over the Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals. Check Royal Caribbean's or Celebrity's pre-cruise information for current rates and payment rules before you go.

• Fly into Newark (EWR) if you can; it is by far the closest airport.
• Bring layers for sailaway and the first sea day, even in summer.
• If you are coming from Manhattan, leave extra time for tunnel traffic.
• Cape Liberty is a separate port from the Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals, so make sure your driver has the Bayonne address.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.

More detail: our full Cape Liberty (Bayonne) cruise port guide and our Bahamas cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Cape Liberty (Bayonne): Bermuda, Caribbean, Canada & New England.

Bahamas from other ports: Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, New York City, Port Canaveral.