There are few cruise departures in the world as genuinely cinematic as leaving New York. As your ship glides past the Statue of Liberty, beneath the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and out into the open Atlantic, your holiday has already begun in the most spectacular fashion imaginable. New York City is one of the world's great cruise homeports — with departures available year-round to destinations ranging from Bermuda and the Bahamas to Canada, the Caribbean, and across the Atlantic to Europe.

New York Cruise Terminals

New York has three active cruise terminals, each serving different cruise lines. Manhattan Cruise Terminal (Piers 88 and 90) on the Hudson River is the most central option — used by Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, MSC Cruises, and select others — within walking distance of Midtown Manhattan, Times Square, and multiple subway lines. Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at Red Hook offers sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, and is home to MSC Cruises' New York programme. Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, is just nine miles from Newark Airport and serves Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises — offering one of the most airport-convenient embarkation points on the East Coast.

Where Can You Go on a Cruise from New York?

Bermuda is the signature cruise destination from New York — close enough to reach in a day and a half at sea, yet genuinely exotic. Cruise ships dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard at King's Wharf, giving guests direct access to pink sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, the Crystal Caves, British colonial architecture, and legendary local dark rum. Ships typically spend two nights in Bermuda  more time ashore than virtually any other cruise port in the Atlantic. Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival all operate New York to Bermuda sailings throughout spring, summer, and early autumn.

Bahamas & Caribbean

Winter and early spring bring Caribbean and Bahamas sailings from New York — typically heading south to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, or MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. These longer southbound sailings (7–10 nights) are ideal for escaping the New York cold and arrive in genuinely tropical waters within a few days of sailing. Popular all-year cruises from New York include the Bahamas (Nassau and Freeport) and the Eastern Caribbean (Antigua, St Kitts, St Thomas, and St Maarten).

Canada & New England 

Autumn transforms New York cruise departures into one of the most beautiful seasonal sailing experiences in North America. Fall foliage cruises head north to Boston, Portland (Maine), Bar Harbor, Halifax (Nova Scotia), St John (New Brunswick), and Québec City — passing through vivid autumn colour across the entire New England and Maritime coastline. Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Princess all operate Canada and New England sailings from New York in September and October.

Transatlantic 

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, transatlantic cruises depart New York for Europe — typically visiting the Azores, Madeira, Spain, Portugal, and arriving in Southampton (London) or Barcelona. These longer sailings (12–16 nights) capture the classic golden age of ocean liner travel from the world's most famous departure port, with days at sea to enjoy the ship fully before Europe emerges on the horizon.

Cruise Lines Sailing from New York

Royal Caribbean sails from Cape Liberty to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean year-round. Norwegian Cruise Line departs Manhattan for Bermuda, Canada, New England, and transatlantic routes. Celebrity Cruises offers premium Bermuda and transatlantic sailings from Cape Liberty. Carnival sails Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries from Manhattan. MSC Cruises operates year-round sailings to the Bahamas and Florida from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Holland America, Princess, and Cunard (Queen Mary 2) also operate seasonal New York sailings.

With all three cruise terminals accessible from Manhattan, most guests arrive a day early and spend time exploring the city. Between the iconic landmarks, world-class dining, Broadway shows, and the allure of city life, a trip to the Big Apple is a dream in and of itself — so build in pre-cruise time to make the most of it.

GetMyCruise compares live pricing across every cruise line, ship, and sailing date from New York. Search, compare, and book your New York cruise today.