If you want to cruise from New York, you will find a solid selection of cruise lines, ships and destinations. Opt for a Bermuda or multi-island Caribbean cruise, a fall leaf-peeping sailing down the Hudson River or perhaps a longer sailing across the Atlantic.
The New York City area is home to three major cruise embarkation points at major terminals along Manhattan’s west side (the main New York City port), Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Cruises from New York are ideal for travelers interested in a pre- or post-cruise stay in the Big Apple to see a Broadway show, tour fantastic museums and visit amazing restaurants.
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Cruisers will find sailings from New York City for every travel style — big-ship cruise lines for an activity-packed experience, upscale luxury sailings for the ultimate in pampering and even small-ship cruises offering an intimate onboard atmosphere.
Whether you’re looking to sail in 2024 or planning a 2025 getaway, here are our top picks for cruises from New York.
Royal Caribbean: Southern Caribbean cruises
Active cruisers craving a beach getaway should consider Royal Caribbean‘s 11-night Southern Caribbean sailings aboard Odyssey of the Seas. Part of the line’s Quantum Class of vessels, Odyssey of the Seas is chock-full of every imaginable attraction.
The top deck is home to multiple pool areas, a kids splash zone, a skydiving simulator and a rock-climbing wall. Inside, you’ll find a bumper car pavilion and a sports court that can serve as a laser tag arena and a trapeze school.
Given the ship’s size and diverse activities, your group can enjoy plenty of together time — bonding during shore trips, dinner each evening or physical challenges like rock climbing. But it’s easy to find “just me” time at the vessel’s Vitality Spa, too.
Off-ship activities at various ports of call include hiking Mount Concordia or enjoying a relaxing beach day at Orient Beach on St. Maarten, touring St. Lucia’s coast by catamaran or hiking the island’s iconic twin pitons, snorkeling around shipwrecks in Barbados and relaxing on the honey-hued sands of Nevis.
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The 2025 sailing departs Jan. 16 from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Fares start from $1,430 per person, based on double occupancy, for an inside cabin. Taxes, fees and port expenses start from about $186 per person.
Related: 4 things you’ll love about Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas
American Cruise Lines: Fall foliage cruises
Leaf-peeping road trips might be popular, but why not avoid the traffic jams and enjoy a fall foliage cruise instead?
American Cruise Lines, the largest river cruise line in the U.S., operates small-ship sailings exclusively along the nation’s rivers and coasts. Among them is the seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise that departs from New York City.
The itinerary is available on five of the line’s 19 vessels — American Eagle, American Glory, American Independence, American Liberty and American Star. The ships accommodate 90 or 100 passengers.
A vibrant quilt of orange, red and yellow unfolds as you glide down the Hudson River. Port calls along the way include the Catskills, Hyde Park, West Point and Sleepy Hollow. Excursions showcase each region’s history and culture and are offered for all activity levels.
In the Catskills, passengers can take a moderate hike for sweeping views of New York’s Kaaterskill Falls, one of America’s oldest tourist attractions. Spend time exploring Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site or sampling local cheeses and apples during a call on Hyde Park. Lean into the spooky season in Sleepy Hollow with a tour of the Gothic Lyndhurst Mansion or Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the final resting place of Washington Irving, who penned the iconic short story.
Fall 2024 itineraries depart between late September and early November. Similar departure dates are available in 2025. Fares for the round-trip Hudson River Fall Foliage cruises start from $5,760 per person. Fares are all-inclusive and come with all meals, snacks, drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and gratuities. The cost also covers port charges and fees.
Oceania Cruises: Northern Europe cruises
If you’ve amassed a stockpile of vacation days, consider using them on an extended cruise through Northern Europe with Oceania Cruises.
The line offers an 18-night sailing to Reykjavik and a 23-night voyage to Copenhagen, both of which depart from New York City. Both sailings are aboard the 670-passenger Insignia, among Oceania’s smaller ships. Insignia provides a relatively uncrowded atmosphere thanks to a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than on Oceania’s larger vessels.
Additionally, the ship’s smaller size means it can visit ports that larger ships can’t access, providing a more intimate and immersive destination experience.
Port call excursions on the New York-to-Reykjavik itinerary include a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, home to the world’s largest collection of wooden artifacts from the Titanic. In Nuuk, Greenland, passengers can visit a local family and learn about their culture and customs. Stroll through botanical gardens or check out the world’s northernmost 18-hole golf course in Akureyri, Iceland.
A Copenhagen sailing also calls at Halifax, Nuuk and Reykjavik. Additional ports include Torshavn, Denmark; Kristiansand, Norway; and Gothenburg, Sweden.
Rates for an 18-night New York-to-Reykjavik sailing that departs Aug. 6, 2025, start from $6,299 per person for an inside cabin. A 2024 itinerary for a 23-night New York-to-Copenhagen itinerary departs July 12, with rates starting from $8,199 per person for an inside cabin.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on an Oceania Cruises ship
MSC Cruises: Eastern Caribbean cruises
MSC Cruises offers 10-night cruises aboard MSC Meraviglia, departing from Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. The 5,655-passenger ship features a top-deck water park and a two-deck indoor promenade area with shops, restaurants and bars. Passengers who’ve booked a Yacht Club cabin have their own lounge, restaurant and pool area.
The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls at ports in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Port diversions include snorkeling pristine waters or jumping off waterfalls in the Dominican Republic; exploring Puerto Rico’s El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System; and testing your bravery in St. Maarten on the Flying Dutchman, called the world’s steepest zip line.
The 10-night sailing departs April 18, 2024, and Jan. 23, 2025. Cruise-only fares start from $599 per person and exclude taxes, fees and port expenses (which start from about $187 per person).
Related: MSC Meraviglia review: What it’s like to cruise on MSC’s first New York-based ship
Celebrity Cruises: Bermuda cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers two seven-night Bermuda sailings from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, aboard Celebrity Eclipse or Celebrity Silhouette, both in the line’s Solstice Class of ships.
Slightly smaller than Edge Class vessels, Solstice Class ships feature chic outdoor pool decks, expansive spas, casinos and a generous selection of onboard dining, including Murano, Celebrity’s signature French restaurant.
Both sailings include two overnight stays in Bermuda, giving passengers plenty of time to take in Bermuda’s attractions. The ship docks at the historic Royal Naval Dockyard at the island’s West End, which is a hub for shops, local craft markets and restaurants. Elsewhere on the island, the 117-foot Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, one of only two cast-iron lighthouses still in existence, provides one of the best views in Bermuda. Of course, the island’s pink sand beaches offer an idyllic setting for a relaxing day off the ship.
Several 2024 itineraries are available throughout the summer, beginning with a May 19 departure. For 2025, there are seven sailings beginning with a May 18 itinerary. Fares start from $548 per person for an inside cabin and exclude taxes, fees and port expenses (about $264 per person).
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Celebrity Cruises ship
Silversea Cruises: New England and Canada cruises
For ultra-luxury afloat, consider one of Silversea Cruises‘ 11-night sailings from New York City to Montreal aboard Silver Shadow. Carrying just 382 guests, this intimate all-suite ship is still large enough to offer multiple dining venues. Options include La Dame, with its French-inspired cuisine and exceptional wines, and La Terrazza, the place to go for authentic Italian dishes.
Other onboard diversions include a pool, a full-service spa, a fitness center and a casino. Additionally, all suites feature butlers who can do everything from unpacking your luggage to securing special requests.
A highlight of Silver Shadow’s New England and Canada itinerary is an overnight in Quebec City so guests can go ashore for dining and entertainment. This itinerary also includes cruising Quebec’s forest-lined Saguenay River and port calls at Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Montreal, where the voyage ends.
The 2025 New England and Canada sailing departs Sept. 2. All-inclusive fares start from $6,850 per person.
Cunard Line: Transatlantic cruises
Cunard‘s 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 regularly plies the Atlantic Ocean between New York City and Southampton, England. This “crossing” voyage is a throwback of sorts to the “Golden Age of Cruising,” when movie stars and political leaders traveled via liner across the ocean.
Today, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience with modern amenities, elegant dining, ballroom dancing, a planetarium, a full-service spa, wine tasting, enrichment activities and special event cruises.
Opt for a seven-, an eight- or a nine-night eastbound transatlantic crossing, or choose a 14-night round-trip voyage. Savor uninterrupted sea days, enjoy live music, play shuffleboard, learn from guest lecturers or take in a 3D film in the largest planetarium at sea.
For 2024, choose from six itineraries that depart in May, June and October. Three itineraries are currently listed for 2025 in January, March and May. Fares for transatlantic cruises start from $988 per person, excluding taxes, fees and port expenses, which start from $75.45.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Mediterranean cruises
Want to explore Europe without the intense jet lag? With this Norwegian Cruise Line cruise starting in New York City, you can spend six days making your way slowly across the Atlantic before spending another 10 days exploring destinations in Spain, France and Italy.
The 16-night sailing takes place aboard Norwegian Escape, departing from New York City and ending in Rome.
Norwegian originated the idea of “freestyle cruising” — a cruise vacation void of rigid dining schedules and dress codes — and is popular for those seeking a casual, resort-at-sea experience.
The ship features a wide range of dining venues like O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill for comfort food, Food Republic for Asian-Latin fusion cuisine and Bayamo by Ocean Blue for seafood. Entertainment options include shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Plenty of attractions — including the top-deck Aqua Park, a ropes course, a casino, a minigolf course and a spa — provide onboard diversions.
Norwegian does a great job of prioritizing the 10 port calls on this itinerary, many of which average eight hours in length, so you can see as much of the destination as possible. Fill a day at the Balearic island of Ibiza in unspoiled Ses Salines Natural Park or the historic Dalt Vila district. In Cannes, France, tour the old town or peruse the Picasso Museum. Marvel at Michelangelo’s David or browse some of Europe’s oldest markets in Italy.
An April 8 sailing in 2024 is available. Fares start from $949 per person for an inside cabin. Fares exclude taxes, fees and port expenses (about $395 per person).
Holland America Line: Extended bucket-list cruises
If a monthlong voyage is on your wish list, Holland America Line offers two such cruises from New York City aboard the 1,400-passenger Volendam.
The 30-night Amazon Explorer departs from Manhattan and weaves its way through the Caribbean isles to Brazil, with port calls along the banks of the Amazon River. The itinerary then continues back through the Caribbean before finishing in Fort Lauderdale.
Cruisers have time to explore the iconic rainforest thanks to an overnight port call in Manaus, Brazil. Other destination highlights include St. Maarten; St. Lucia; Barbados; Devils Island, French Guiana; Santarem, Manaus and Parintins, Brazil; Trinidad and Tobago; Curacao; and Aruba.
Or, go all-out on a trip of a lifetime with the 45-night Ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic Passage cruise. The round-trip itinerary from New York is one to add to your bucket list. Imagine overnight stays in Rome, Cairo and Istanbul — no air travel needed.
In Ponta Delgada, Portugal, cook your lunch in the natural hot springs of Furnas. Barcelona provides the opportunity to peruse art museums and sample authentic tapas. Additional port calls include Florence and Naples, Italy; Santorini, Greece; Seville, Spain; and Madeira, Portugal.
Volendam’s smaller size means fewer onboard amenities, but guests can spend their sea days enjoying abundant and diverse live music options, a top-notch spa and fantastic food developed by culinary heavyweights like Ethan Stowell, Rudi Sodamin and Masaharu Morimoto.
The 30-night Amazon Explorer voyage departs Nov. 21, 2025. Fares start from $5,009 per person. Taxes, fees and port expenses are an additional cost (up to $845). The Mediterranean and Atlantic Passage sailing leaves Oct. 7, 2025. Fares start from $5,749 per person. Taxes, fees and port expenses are an additional cost (up to $795).
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