New York Cruise Port Guide: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Cape Liberty Compared
New York has three cruise terminals, and the first thing to check on any booking is which one your ship uses. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal sits on the Hudson River in Hell's Kitchen. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is in Red Hook, across the water from Governors Island. Cape Liberty Cruise Port is in Bayonne, New Jersey, and is run by Royal Caribbean Group.
All three get marketed as a "New York cruise port," yet they are miles apart, they sit closest to different airports, and they use different parking setups. Picking the wrong hotel or the wrong airport can turn a 30-minute transfer into a 90-minute one, so this guide sorts out which terminal fits which trip. One caution up front: the cruise lines move ships in and out of New York from season to season, so the line names below reflect how each terminal has been used. Your booking confirmation is the final word on the terminal.
New York Cruise Port Key Facts
| Terminal | Location | Lines that have used it (confirm for your sailing) | Operator |
| Manhattan Cruise Terminal | 711 12th Ave., New York, NY 10019 (Piers 88 and 90, West 46th to West 54th Streets) | Norwegian Cruise Line has been the main user, with other lines on a seasonal basis | Ports America, for the City of New York |
| Brooklyn Cruise Terminal | Pier 12, 210 Clinton Wharf, Red Hook, Brooklyn | Cunard; Princess Cruises in some seasons | Ports America, for the City of New York |
| Cape Liberty Cruise Port | 14 Port Terminal Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002 | Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, the operator's own brands | Royal Caribbean Group |
Manhattan Cruise Terminal: The Classic New York Cruise Port
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is the one you see in photos, with ships tied up a few blocks from Times Square. The terminal now operates from Piers 88 and 90, and cars enter at 12th Avenue and West 55th Street.
Norwegian Cruise Line has long been the main line at these piers, with Bermuda, Caribbean, and Canada and New England itineraries in past seasons. Norwegian shifts ships between New York and Boston from year to year, and other lines use the piers on a seasonal or one-off basis, so check the terminal on your booking confirmation before you book a hotel.
The city has also announced plans to rebuild the terminal. In 2025, the New York City Economic Development Corporation laid out an upgrade to handle three ships at once, including two ships of up to 8,000 passengers, along with new piers, shore power, a ferry landing, and better pedestrian access. Those plans are long-term, so check the terminal notice from your cruise line close to sailing in case construction changes the drop-off routing.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal Parking
Holland America lists on-site parking at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at $45 per night, subject to change. That is steep for a week, but it is the only parking right at the pier, and the walk from the garage to check-in is short. If you are coming from New Jersey or upstate and have a car full of luggage, it can still beat a rideshare from the suburbs.
Getting to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal From JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Taxi or rideshare (as of October 2026) |
| Newark (EWR) | 15.5 miles | 30 to 60 minutes | $45 to $85 |
| LaGuardia (LGA) | 16.5 miles | About 60 minutes | $35 to $85 |
| JFK | 25.7 miles | 70 to 90 minutes | $50 to $105 |
Those are Holland America's published estimates. The surprise for many travelers is that Newark, in another state, is often the quickest airport for a Manhattan sailing. JFK is the longest ride by a wide margin.
Public transit works if you pack light. Holland America lists the M12, M42, and M50 buses and the 1, C, and E subway lines as the nearest options, with the rest of the walk along 12th Avenue. With large suitcases, I would take a car for the last stretch.
Pro Tip: Midtown traffic on a sailing day backs up 12th Avenue for blocks. If your car is stuck in the line near the piers and you can manage your bags, getting out a block early and walking is often faster.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook
The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal sits on Pier 12 at the south side of the Atlantic Basin in Red Hook, facing Buttermilk Channel and Governors Island. It opened in April 2006 with Cunard's Queen Mary 2 as its signature ship, and Queen Mary 2's transatlantic crossings have used it as their New York terminal. My transatlantic cruise guide covers what those crossings are like and how to pick one.
Princess Cruises has also sailed from Brooklyn, though its New York program changes from year to year. If you are watching for a Princess sailing from Brooklyn, keep an eye on current Princess Cruises offers before you commit to a date. For fall sailings north, my Canada and New England cruise guide covers the ports on those routes.
Red Hook is quieter than Midtown, which helps on embarkation day, though it is also farther from the subway. The terminal's transit links are the NYC Ferry South Brooklyn route and the B61 bus. Most travelers with luggage will take a taxi or rideshare from the airport or their hotel. Because Red Hook sits away from Midtown, the final approach to the terminal skips the West Side Highway backups that slow Manhattan sailings.
Cape Liberty in Bayonne: The New Jersey New York Cruise Port
Cape Liberty is the third option, on the Bayonne waterfront in New Jersey, and it is run by Royal Caribbean Group's own port operation. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are the lines that use it, and Celebrity has historically run a May to October season. Which ships are based here changes by year, so check the current deployment before you plan around a specific ship. Newark is the natural airport for this terminal, and driving in from New Jersey or Pennsylvania skips the Hudson River crossings entirely.
I have already written two full guides to this terminal, so I will keep this section short. My Cape Liberty cruise parking guide covers the on-site lot and the alternatives, and my roundup of hotels near Cape Liberty covers where to stay the night before.
Which New York Cruise Port Is Best for Your Trip
Your cruise line decides the terminal, so this is really a planning question. For Manhattan sailings, fly into Newark or LaGuardia and stay in Midtown. For Brooklyn, a Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn hotel cuts the morning ride, and JFK or LaGuardia both work. For Cape Liberty, fly into Newark and stay in New Jersey unless you want a city night first.
Bermuda is one of the most common itineraries out of New York, and it is a short sail from the harbor. My Bermuda cruise guide covers what to expect at the dock and how many days you get on the island.
Hotels Near the New York Cruise Port Terminals
For a Manhattan Cruise Terminal sailing, Midtown hotels put you a short taxi ride from the piers. I have reviewed several, including the Hyatt Grand Central New York, the Andaz 5th Avenue, the Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue, and the Thompson New York Central Park. All four are in Midtown, so plan on a crosstown ride west to 12th Avenue on sailing day.
If you land late at JFK and want to be close to the airport for a debarkation-day flight home, my review of the Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World covers that option.
Things To Do Before a New York Cruise
A pre-cruise day in New York can be as full as you want it to be. Near the Manhattan terminal, the Intrepid Museum sits on the Hudson just south of the cruise piers, and the High Line and Hudson Yards are farther down the West Side. From Brooklyn, the Statue of Liberty ferries and Lower Manhattan are close by.
For guided tours, harbor cruises, and skyline helicopter rides, you can book on Viator. Pick an activity that wraps up the day before you sail, and keep embarkation morning for getting to the pier. My embarkation day tips cover the rest.
After the cruise, note that Holland America says there is no luggage storage at the Manhattan pier. If you have an evening flight, ask your hotel to hold your bags.
New York Cruise Port Compared With Boston and Florida
New York is busier and more complicated than Boston, the other big Northeast homeport. My Boston cruise port guide covers Flynn Cruiseport, a single terminal that runs mostly spring through fall. For winter sun, the Florida ports take over, and my guides to the PortMiami terminals and Port Everglades terminals cover those.
New York Cruise Port: Frequently Asked Questions
How many cruise ports does New York have? Three serve the New York area: the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey.
Which airport is closest to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal? Newark is 15.5 miles away and LaGuardia is 16.5 miles, per Holland America. Newark often has the shorter drive time, at 30 to 60 minutes.
Which cruise lines sail from Brooklyn? Cunard is the line most associated with the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and Queen Mary 2 has used it since it opened in 2006. Princess Cruises has also sailed from Brooklyn in some seasons. Deployments change, so your booking confirmation names the terminal.
How much is parking at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal? Holland America lists $45 per night as of October 2026, subject to change. Confirm the rate before you drive in.
Is Cape Liberty in New York? No. Cape Liberty is in Bayonne, New Jersey, across the harbor from Manhattan. Royal Caribbean Group operates it for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises sailings.
Book Your New York Cruise With Jackson Jetsetting
My pricing is the same as booking direct. What you get on top of it is access to group rates and promotions that do not always appear on the cruise line's website, and a person to call when a flight into Newark cancels or a cabin category disappears. Send me your dates, and I will match the right terminal, airport, and pre-cruise hotel to your sailing.
