The ports of New York City and New Jersey are gateways to the world. Leave soaring skyscrapers and busy streets behind for tropical beaches, rugged Arctic landscapes, charming European streets, the Panama Canal, or an around-the-world adventure.
You can cruise to just about anywhere from New York City. Norwegian Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking, Virgin Voyages, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, and Holland America sail from midtown Manhattan, steps away from Times Square and Broadway’s iconic theaters. Princess and Cunard sail from a cruise terminal in Brooklyn that’s just a couple of miles from the Brooklyn Bridge and a short walk from Brooklyn Heights Promenade, where you’ll find one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sail from New Jersey, making it easy to catch a postcard view of the Statue of Liberty en route to your dream vacation.
New York City is home to the oldest cruise port in the US, and there are few better places to experience a pre-cruise city break. Catch a show before boarding your ship. Head to the top of the Empire State Building, One World Trade, or Rockefeller Center. Shop your heart out on Fifth Avenue, museum hop across Manhattan, eat your way across Queens, or explore Brooklyn art galleries. Depending on where you stay, you may even be able to walk to your cruise ship, and that may be the best perk of all to sailing from New York City.
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Viking Cruises
Best overall cruise from NYC
Trade the soaring skyscrapers of New York City for coastal Canada, remote Greenland, and endless Icelandic summer days. This Viking itinerary makes two stops in Canada and two stops in Greenland before circumnavigating Iceland, beginning with the remote Westfjords and ending in Reykjavik. Sail the same seas as legendary Norse explorer Leif Erikkson (on a far more luxurious Viking ship) while learning about the American Revolution and Canadian exploration from the cruise line’s resident historian. Lounge by the pool, visit the spa, or look out for whales and puffins. Viking has several nearly identical ocean ships sailing this itinerary from New York—each can accommodate a maximum of 930 passengers, allowing them to dock in ports larger ships cannot access.
Virgin Voyages
Best for solo travelers
You may step onboard Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady as a solo traveler, but chances are you’ll leave with new friends. From fitness classes to creative writing sessions and unforgettable parties, Virgin Voyages journeys are designed for making new friends. Virgin Voyages sails round-trip from New York City to Bermuda, and these adults-only, five- to eight-night itineraries include two full sea days—plenty of time to experience an immersive Scarlet Night party, live music, sunset cocktails, Virgin’s highly lauded dining options, and maybe even a spin class. Cruise fares include Wi-Fi, food, nonalcoholic beverages, and fitness classes, making it easy to relax without needing to worry about anything. Best of all, cocktails on board can be ordered for around $11, including tip. Good luck finding that in Manhattan.
Filippo Ciappi/Courtesy Norwegian Aqua
Best family cruise from NYC
One thing’s for sure, no one is getting bored on board the Norwegian Aqua. One of Norwegian’s newest Prima class ships, the Aqua features the world’s first slide coaster—a thrill ride that’s a combination of water slide and roller coaster. Or go for a spin on the 10-foot drop slide, which will make you feel like the ground just slipped away underneath your feet. Prefer something a little less thrilling? There’s something for every interest on board: Grab the family for a game on the glow court, a little geography-themed mini golf, or a pickleball challenge. Catch a Fleetwood Mac tribute show or sing your heart out to Prince’s greatest hits; lounge by the pool; spend a day at the spa; and in between it all, eat your way around the world at the ship’s food hall, which includes Indian, vegetarian, pasta and barbecue spots.
Seer/Courtesy Scenic Eclipse
Best cruise from NYC for US history
This 11-night itinerary on the Scenic Eclipse is a celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Sail the Atlantic Coast on what feels like your own private yacht, visiting historic sites like Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began; Jamestown, the first English settlement in the US, and Mount Vernon, the former home of founding father George Washington. This cruise stops in Baltimore, Maryland; Yorktown, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Key West, Florida; before ending in the Bahamas. En route, dive deeper into US history with lectures from an onboard historian. Eat and drink your way across more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and lounges, one of which has a whiskey menu with more than 130 options. Or relax on your spacious veranda while a butler tends to your every need.
Best cruise from NYC to Puerto Rico
This cruise departs from Manhattan, exchanging the city’s skyscrapers for the turquoise waters and sandy beaches of the Caribbean. Sail the newly revamped Crystal Serenity, a ship that accommodates up to 740 passengers and includes almost everything—beer, wine, spirits, Wi-Fi, soft drinks, fitness classes, and specialty coffees—in cruise fares. Start your nine-night vacation onboard the Crystal Serenity with a laid-back sea day en route to Bermuda before heading to Antigua, Guadeloupe, and St. Barts before pulling into San Juan, Puerto Rico’s lively, colorful capital. Onboard, take advantage of a 3,000 square foot fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, a glamorous casino, and a supper club.
Best luxury southern Caribbean cruise from NYC
Take the long way from New York to Miami on the luxurious Oceania Vista. This 14-night cruise stops in 10 idyllic ports, including St. Lucia, Curacao, St. Kitts, and Aruba, and includes five sea days to enjoy a space that feels more like a luxurious resort than a high-end cruise ship. This is one of Oceania’s newest ships, and with capacity for just 1,200 guests, it feels manageable but will still keep you busy on sea days. Catch a comedy show or Broadway-style revue. Eat your way through a dozen dining venues, or lounge around your cabin, taking in endless ocean views. Worried you’ll feel cramped? Don’t be. Staterooms start at 240 square feet; the largest suites on board the Oceania Vista are around 2,400 square feet.
Best cruise to Iceland from NYC
Iceland and Greenland are two bucket-list travel destinations that are hard to reach and pricey. Fret not: The Celebrity Silhouette makes the journey accessible and affordable. This cruise sails from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, stopping in charming Eastern Canadian towns, a town in Greenland, and three fascinating Icelandic destinations. Wander the colorful streets of Reykjavik, look for whales or puffins in Isafjordur, or seek out waterfalls, lava fields, and fjords from Akureyri. Prices start at around $5,500 per person for 13 nights, not including alcohol or Wi-Fi. The ship has space for about 2,900 passengers. On board, there’s a spa, fitness center, casino, and kids camp. Many of the ship’s cabins have balconies perfect for taking in glacier views.
Best Panama Canal cruise from NYC
For those with vacation days to burn (or retirement plans in sight), spend 19 nights on the Viking Polaris, a luxurious expedition ship that largely splits its time between the Great Lakes and Antarctica. This sailing includes a full transit of the Panama Canal—a 50-mile waterway that connects the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Transiting this engineering marvel takes between 8 and 10 hours, allowing for a close-up look at the lock system that lifts and lowers ships to help them pass through the artificial waterway. Expert guides will walk you through the mechanics and help you recognize the geographical features and wildlife you pass along the way. This ship accommodates just under 380 passengers, making it cozy enough to make new friends but spacious enough not to feel crowded. There are four restaurants onboard as well as a fitness center and Nordic spa that’s free to access. This itinerary also visits the Bahamas, Jamaica, Peru, and Chile.
Ivan Sarfatti/Explora Journeys
Best cruise from NYC to Canada
There’s no place like the eastern coast of Canada in the fall, and there’s no better way to experience it than on board an Explora Journeys ship. These family-friendly ships are perfect for leaf-peeping in luxury, whether it’s from the pool deck, outdoor gym, or your spacious private balcony. Every cabin on board this ship is a suite, and even the smallest suites are larger than the average Manhattan studio. Luxury bathrooms come equipped with Dyson hairdryers, and almost everything onboard—including premium beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi, and most specialty dining—is included in your cruise fare.
STEPHEN BEAUDET/Regent Seven Seas
Best world cruise from NYC
Let New York be your literal gateway to the world with this 92-night cruise on the Seven Seas Mariner. Leave the skyscrapers and hustle and bustle of Manhattan behind as you set off toward Halifax, Casablanca, Lisbon, and beyond. This cruise visits more than 60 ports, including several of Europe’s most popular capitals. Museum-hop across Berlin. Stroll the charming Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia. Sip a Guinness in Dublin. Stroll along the River Thames in London. Soak in Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon. Onboard the ship, enjoy the comforts of home. Every cabin on this ship is a suite. There’s a desk, bedside USB chargers, and even a walk-in closet. Every guest is greeted with a bottle of Champagne, and it’s hard to find better service at sea.
Best transatlantic cruise from NYC
High flight prices got you down? Consider cruising from New York to Europe on this 14-night cruise onboard Odyssey of the Seas. For under $1,500, this transatlantic sailing will take you from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Rome via Malaga, Barcelona, the Azores, and the Cinque Terre. And if you’re wondering what you’re going to do with all those sea days, don’t. There’s so much to do on this ship, you’ll run out of time before you run out of options. Check out the view from the North Star glass capsule, which rises to 300 feet above sea level to show off unforgettable 360-degree views. Go roller skating. Test your bumper car skills, try out a surf simulator, play laser tag, or give yourself a taste of skydiving with the ship’s onboard skydiving simulator. Don’t worry about going hungry, either. The ship has 15 dining venues, ranging from a poolside taco joint to high-end immersive experiences.
FAQ:
Which cruise lines sail out of New York?
Both large cruise ships and a few smaller ships cruise from New York, giving you the option to pick a vessel with lots of restaurants and lounges, or one that’s more intimate and can visit smaller ports. A variety of cruise lines—including Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Cunard, Silversea, Oceania Cruises, and Viking—sail from New York City. This variety caters to all types of traveler budgets, so whether you’re looking to cruise from New York for as little as a few hundred dollars or drop thousands on a bucket list vacation, there’s something for you.
Where do cruises go from New York?
Cruises from New York sail to Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, the United Kingdom, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and beyond. Several world cruises also stop in New York. The short version of the story is that whether it’s a short island escape or the unforgettable journey of a lifetime you’re after, a cruise from New York will result in PTO well spent.