While many people associate cruises from New York City with just the fabled transatlantic voyages to the United Kingdom, the city is an ideal embarkation point for cruises to Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, the Caribbean and beyond. In fact, some of the best luxury cruise vacations are anchored to the Big Apple, itself a destination that delivers something new time and again, no matter how many times you visit.
Several luxury cruise lines – including Cunard Line, Silversea Cruises, Crystal, Seabourn Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruisesand Oceania Cruises – make the list for offering some of the best cruises out of New York. The three different terminals in the city – in Manhattan on the Hudson River just a few block west of Times Square, in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood and in Cape Liberty, New Jersey – could see you waving good-bye to the Statue of Liberty on the cruise of a lifetime.
Take a classic transatlantic cruise
Let’s start with the most storied voyage possible on the most famous ship of all. Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, sailing from Brooklyn to Southampton, is a mythical luxury treat to be sure – an event on the ocean. Celebrate this tradition with a formal crossing of exquisite culinary achievement, refined luxury, perfect service and proper cocktails. If your idea of the ideal day at sea is nothing but rest and relaxation with a dash of high-society sensibility thrown in, this is your cruise.
Make the short hop to Bermuda
Bermuda offers one of the best shorter cruises, a wonderful way to spend four and five nights just getting out of town and onto the ocean. Best slated for May and June to coincide with the beginning of beach season, a “Bermuda Short” delivers pink-sand beaches, azure waters and a relaxed-yet-still-traditional English vibe. Norwegian has a clever itinerary option that goes from Manhattan to Bermuda and on to Portugal and Spain.
Sail north to see the fall foliage.
Canada and New England itineraries out of New York are great any time of the spring and summer, but a 12-day September and October fall-colors cruise is one of the best ways to see these regions. Regent, Viking and Seabourn have some amazing getaways throughout the eastern seaboard and into Canadian waters.
Iconic Boston and bucolic Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, reveal an engaging link with the past. The same goes for the elegant mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. In Maine, Bar Harbor is the jumping off point for the mountainous region of Acadia National Park and the Cranberry Islands. Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia, exude maritime charm – Sydney being the gateway to the famous Cape Breton Island. Colorful St. John’s, Newfoundland, and historic Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, lead the way to the French Canadian joie de vivre of Quebec City and cosmopolitan Montreal.
Cruise from New York to Europe.
While cruises from Manhattan head to England and the eastern seaboard, many also sail to Europe, including a variety of itineraries adding in Greenland and Iceland. Cruises from New York to Italy, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are very easy to find. Regent, Norwegian and Oceania have a multitude of options for luxury adventure outside North America.
There’s never been a better time – or a better city.
The Tully Travel Designers can help you combine your cruise with luxury vacations to New York so you can get the most out of your trip. Many grand voyages and world cruises also stop in New York. The city really is another world, a whirlwind of entertainment, with Broadway shows, iconic landmarks to visit, innovative restaurants and some of the best shopping in the world.
