Manhattan Cruise Terminal
Few homeports can match the glamour of Manhattan. Set along the Hudson River in the shadow of mid-town's skyscrapers, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal has been welcoming cruise passengers since the golden age of transatlantic crossings.
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation that will include better access for passengers and a more fluid embarkation and debarkation experience. The rehabilitation of the West Side piers is part of a larger project that includes the opening of the new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook. Together, these facilities welcomed more than 1 million revenue passengers in 2006, topping that watershed mark for the first time ever.
The Terminal: The Manhattan Cruise Terminal actually comprises three passenger terminals and five cruise ship berths. The current structures were last rebuilt in the early 1970s and are currently being upgraded as part of a 30-year master plan. While other nearby debarkation points in Brooklyn or Bayonne, N.J., may be roomier and more modern, they lack the hustle and bustle of the West Side piers that is quintessentially New York.
The facilities' interior design and decor can best be described as light industrial. A newsstand/snack bar is the only source of refreshment, although plenty of glass lets in abundant natural light.
Parking is $22 a day for each terminal and is provided on the roof, a design that allows for just a short elevator/escalator ride down to the check-in / embarkation level. However, parking often overflows from one pier to the next, since the terminals were not built to handle the volume of today's megaships. Arriving and departing passengers must share the same curbside lane for drop-offs and pickups, which may lead to congestion.
Once renovations in Manhattan are complete, New York City will be able to handle four post-Panamax ships at one time - three in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. Renovations are under way in phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by Spring 2008.
Norwegian Cruise Line is New Yor's only year-round tenant. Carnival Cruise Lines bases two ships in New York on a seasonal basis. Holland America Line sails seasonally aboard the Noordam. Crystal Cruises sails seasonally aboard the Crystal Symphony.
Cruise from New York
Getting There: The Manhattan Cruise Terminal runs from 46th Street to 55th Street (the main vehicle entrance) on 12th Avenue. Taxi service is available from all three major New York airports, although the closest is LaGuardia Airport in Queens. Group-ride rates from LaGuardia have been established by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission at $8.50 per passenger for trips to the West Side of Manhattan.
Cruise lines typically run shuttle bus service on days when ships are scheduled to turnaround for guests who have purchased a fly-cruise package. Vouchers for cruise-only passengers may be purchased in advance as part of the booking process. Carnival, for example, provides transfers to and from LaGuardia and Newark airports for $40 one way and $80 roundtrip. Norwegian Cruise Line charges $35 each way to and from LaGuardia.
Early Arrivals: Until recently, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal's main tourist attraction was the Intrepid Air, Space and Sea Museum, berthed right next door at Pier 86. However, the World War II-era aircraft carrier was recently moved for refubishment and is not expected to return and reopen to the public until Nov. 2008.
In the meantime, early arriving visitors can still enjoy the Hudson River Park, a 550-acre waterfront esplanade that extends for five miles along the West Side shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street, providing the perfect venue for an afternoon stroll with views of the Hudson and New Jersey across the river.
Pre & Post Cruise Stays In New York City
Norwegian Cruise Line's hotel program in New York offers a choice of four midtown properties. Prices start at $199 per person at the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, including transfers between the hotel and the pier.
Carnival Cruises offers the opportunity to book one to three night's accommodations pre or post cruise at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Times Square. Prices start at $183 per person, including transfers between the hotel and the pier.
Holland America Line has a two-day/one-night pre cruise package for passengers sailing aboard the Noordam to the Caribbean. The package includes a choice of hotel accommodations, sightseeing to Battery Park and Ellis Island, a New York-deli lunch, and transfer to the ship. Prices run $349 to $669 per person.
Crystal Cruises provides overnight accommodations at the Mandarin Oriental New York. Prices begin at $575 per person for the first night, which includes transfers between the airport, hotel, and ship. Additional nights are available.
Cruise from New York to destinations such as Bermuda, Canada / New England cruises, Caribbean, and Bahamas.
For more information: Ports America / Manhattan Cruise Terminal, 212-246-5450. www.nycruise.com
