Introduction
In 1626 a Dutch settlement, New Amsterdam, was founded on Manhattan Island. In 1664 English forces conquered the colony and renamed it New York. Under the British New York expanded rapidly as a key trade center. New York was home to English troops throughout the Revolutionary war, but finally came under American control in 1783. For 7 years after the war, New York served as the United States’ capital city, until that function was transferred to Philadelphia.
The 19th century saw the continual growth of the city’s population. In 1825 the new Erie Canal, which linked New York port to the agricultural area of Canada and the US Mid West stimulated trade.
In spite of the setbacks of the Great Depression, and WWII, New York continued to grow all through the 20th century turning into a world center for industry, marketing and trade. A highlight of this century was the construction plan which led to the emergence of Manhattan Island’s fabulous skyscraper filled skyline.
All through the history of New York its shipping docks dotted around the Upper Hudson Bay have been central in the city’s growth. A large reason for the docks’ importance lies in the big numbers of people that have arrived in New York by boat. At the start of the twentieth century, passengers did not land at Ellis Island rather at Chelsea Piers on Manhattan Island, from where they were ferried back to the immigration station.
In the 1930s the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal was constructed to berth bigger ships. But convenient air travel resulted in the end of the era of the glorious transatlantic liner. However cruising came back to life when the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal reinvented itself as the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in the 1970s. As the demand for cruising grew, two more cruise terminals opened in the Hudson Bay. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook opened 2004 and Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonnne, opened in 2005.
In 1626 a Dutch settlement, New Amsterdam, was founded on Manhattan Island. In 1664 English forces conquered the colony and renamed it New York. Under the British New York expanded rapidly as a key trade center. New York was home to English troops throughout the Revolutionary war, but finally came under American control in 1783. For 7 years after the war, New York served as the United States’ capital city, until that function was transferred to Philadelphia.
The 19th century saw the continual growth of the city’s population. In 1825 the new Erie Canal, which linked New York port to the agricultural area of Canada and the US Mid West stimulated trade.
In spite of the setbacks of the Great Depression, and WWII, New York continued to grow all through the 20th century turning into a world center for industry, marketing and trade. A highlight of this century was the construction plan which led to the emergence of Manhattan Island’s fabulous skyscraper filled skyline.
All through the history of New York its shipping docks dotted around the Upper Hudson Bay have been central in the city’s growth. A large reason for the docks’ importance lies in the big numbers of people that have arrived in New York by boat. At the start of the twentieth century, passengers did not land at Ellis Island rather at Chelsea Piers on Manhattan Island, from where they were ferried back to the immigration station.
In the 1930s the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal was constructed to berth bigger ships. But convenient air travel resulted in the end of the era of the glorious transatlantic liner. However cruising came back to life when the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal reinvented itself as the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in the 1970s. As the demand for cruising grew, two more cruise terminals opened in the Hudson Bay. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook opened 2004 and Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonnne, opened in 2005.
New York Cruise Ports
There are 2 cruise ports in NYC, the Mathattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River on the west bank of Manhattan Island, and 6 miles southwards Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the east coast of Hudson Upper Bay at the Red Hook shoreline of Brooklyn. Nearby Bayonne in NJ is home to the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal, sited on the west shoreline of Upper Bay.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is situated to the side of West 44th through West 52nd streets on the west Hudson River coast of Manhattan . The cruise terminal has three docks, piers 88, 90 and 92. A terminal building sits atop each pier. Terminal facilities include snackbars, VIP areas, customs and immigration, rest rooms, newsstands, seating areas and check-in areas. Parking is located above each of the cruise terminals.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Located facing Governors Island in Red Hook, the Brooklyn cruise terminal is a modern building on pier 12. On account of its previous use as a working port, the terminal has a utilitarian feel. The terminal has food vending machines, immigration, check-in, customs and restrooms. There is an adjacent parking area capable of handling 500 cars.
Bayonne Cruise Terminal
Cape Liberty cruise terminal is situated on the southern pier in Upper Bay. Opened in 2004, the port was originally the Bayonne Navy. The terminal has a snackbar, customs, restrooms, check-in desks and immigration. The cruise terminal is around half-a-mile from the quay, and passengers are taken by buses from the cruise terminal building to their ship. By the cruise ship dock lies the 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial. Near the terminal there is a big parking lot.
For a calendar of cruises, see cruises from New York.
There are 2 cruise ports in NYC, the Mathattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River on the west bank of Manhattan Island, and 6 miles southwards Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the east coast of Hudson Upper Bay at the Red Hook shoreline of Brooklyn. Nearby Bayonne in NJ is home to the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal, sited on the west shoreline of Upper Bay.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is situated to the side of West 44th through West 52nd streets on the west Hudson River coast of Manhattan . The cruise terminal has three docks, piers 88, 90 and 92. A terminal building sits atop each pier. Terminal facilities include snackbars, VIP areas, customs and immigration, rest rooms, newsstands, seating areas and check-in areas. Parking is located above each of the cruise terminals.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Located facing Governors Island in Red Hook, the Brooklyn cruise terminal is a modern building on pier 12. On account of its previous use as a working port, the terminal has a utilitarian feel. The terminal has food vending machines, immigration, check-in, customs and restrooms. There is an adjacent parking area capable of handling 500 cars.
Bayonne Cruise Terminal
Cape Liberty cruise terminal is situated on the southern pier in Upper Bay. Opened in 2004, the port was originally the Bayonne Navy. The terminal has a snackbar, customs, restrooms, check-in desks and immigration. The cruise terminal is around half-a-mile from the quay, and passengers are taken by buses from the cruise terminal building to their ship. By the cruise ship dock lies the 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial. Near the terminal there is a big parking lot.
For a calendar of cruises, see cruises from New York.
New York Shore Excursions
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building Observatory with its spectacular views across Manhattan is one of New York’s main attractions. Catch the escalator to the Observatory and stroll around the promenade, 1050ft above the city’s busy streets. The Empire State Building is a half-hour walk from the cruise terminal.
Central Park
In the center of Manhattan island sits iconic Central Park, a huge landscaped park originally designed in mid 19th century. Highlights would be the Bethesda fountain, the Botanical Gardens, the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle and the Zoo.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
This famous museum, opened in 1870, displays a huge array of works of art from all around the world. See Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses, Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher and the medieval tapestry The Unicorn in Captivity. The museum is sited on the edge of Central Park between East 81st and 82nd streets.
Brooklyn Bridge
Completed in 1883 Brooklyn Bridge which spans the East River is Brooklyn’s most famous icon. There is a walkway along the bridge, which can be reached at Tillary/Adams streets or by stairs on Prospect St between Cadman Plaza East and West. As you stroll across the bridge you can appreciate great vistas across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Hudson Upper Bayincluding the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty
For the numerous immigrants that fled from Western Europe to New York, the Statue of Liberty was the first sight they had of the US. Designed in Paris by the sculptor Bartholdi, with help from Gustave Eiffel, this marvellous testament to liberty was a present from the French to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Tickets to the base area may be booked or obtained at the statue. Tickets to the statue’s inner stairway and crown have to be reserved, as access is restricted to 240 visitors per day.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building Observatory with its spectacular views across Manhattan is one of New York’s main attractions. Catch the escalator to the Observatory and stroll around the promenade, 1050ft above the city’s busy streets. The Empire State Building is a half-hour walk from the cruise terminal.
Central Park
In the center of Manhattan island sits iconic Central Park, a huge landscaped park originally designed in mid 19th century. Highlights would be the Bethesda fountain, the Botanical Gardens, the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle and the Zoo.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
This famous museum, opened in 1870, displays a huge array of works of art from all around the world. See Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses, Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher and the medieval tapestry The Unicorn in Captivity. The museum is sited on the edge of Central Park between East 81st and 82nd streets.
Brooklyn Bridge
Completed in 1883 Brooklyn Bridge which spans the East River is Brooklyn’s most famous icon. There is a walkway along the bridge, which can be reached at Tillary/Adams streets or by stairs on Prospect St between Cadman Plaza East and West. As you stroll across the bridge you can appreciate great vistas across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Hudson Upper Bayincluding the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty
For the numerous immigrants that fled from Western Europe to New York, the Statue of Liberty was the first sight they had of the US. Designed in Paris by the sculptor Bartholdi, with help from Gustave Eiffel, this marvellous testament to liberty was a present from the French to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Tickets to the base area may be booked or obtained at the statue. Tickets to the statue’s inner stairway and crown have to be reserved, as access is restricted to 240 visitors per day.