Over one million people sailed from New York's three ports (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ) in 2007, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and that number is expected to increase in 2008. Since 9/11 the number of ships and passengers increased to the point that additional berthing facilities were opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey. Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100-day circumnavigation of the globe. Four cruise lines (Cunard Line, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line) have year-round service from New York. Itineraries range from one-day party cruises to a 99-day full circumnavigation of the globe. Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 continues the tradition of regularly scheduled transatlantic service between New York and Southampton. Picks for the Best Ships and Itineraries of 2008/09: BEST CRUISE LINES AND SHIPS The New York Star: Queen Mary 2. Ballroom dancing to a live orchestra, high tea perfectly served, scholarly guest lecturers, a dog kennel and the ultimate in creature comforts keep the British maritime heritage alive and well. Best Ships for Families: Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. A big kid pleaser due to her rock climbing wall, roller blading, ice-skating and private teen club, Explorer of the Seas is hugely popular with cruisers of all ages. Top Luxury Ship: Crystal Symphony (Crystal Cruises) Boasting the top levels of food and service, penthouse suites with private butlers and onboard enrichment programs, Crystal Symphony steals the show in luxury cruising. Best Itineraries: Princess Cruises' Caribbean and Canada/New England cruises from Brooklyn. Best Ships For Laid-back People: Norwegian Cruise Line. This cruise line's popular “Freestyle Cruising†program means you may opt to dine in numerous restaurants when and with whom you please. And, no tuxes required. Best Onboard Dining Program: Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess. Princess offers the choice of single open seating dining or traditional two seating dining plus a Lido Restaurant that serves great food 24 hours per day. BEST ITINERARIES OF 2008/09 Caribbean: (Princess) Caribbean Princess sails on nine-day Eastern Caribbean voyages round-trip from Brooklyn to Bermuda, Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Thomas Bermuda: (Royal Caribbean & NCL Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas sails on six-day Bermuda cruises from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ and Norwegian Cruise Line' Norwegian Dawn makes seven-day Bermuda voyages from Manhattan Canada/New England: (Princess) Princess's Sea Princess sails on ten-night cruises between Brooklyn and Quebec City (with an overnight stay aboard the ship). Ports of call are Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown Europe: Six-night transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton aboard Queen Mary 2 Short Cruise: Aug. 29, 2008 three-night cruise to nowhere aboard Holland America's brand new Eurodam sailing from Manhattan. Best Long Cruise: Sea Princess' 14-day Iceland & Greenland voyage from Southampton, U.k., to Brooklyn Aug. 30, 2008. Bergen, Norway; Shetland Islands, Scotland; Faroe Islands, Denmark; Iceland; Nanortalik, Greenland; St. Johns, Nova Scotia. World Cruise: Queen Victoria sails from New York to Barcelona on a 99-day World Cruise departing Jan. 10, 2009. The ship visits Curacao; Guatemala; Cabo San Lucas; Los Angeles; Honolulu; Tonga; New Zealand; Australia; New Guinea; Japan; China; Hong Kong; Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore; India; Dubai; Jordan; Egypt; Turkey; Greece; Rome; Barcelona. |
