From JFK, LaGuardia and Newark to the New York cruise terminals

For most people with bags, a taxi or rideshare is the simplest way from any of the three airports. We found no direct public route from an airport to either terminal, so the train options all end with a second leg by subway, bus or cab.

LaGuardia is the closest by road, and JFK and Newark both have a train to Penn Station in about 30 minutes. First confirm which terminal you need, because they are about 8 miles apart and the answer changes.

Fares below were read on 30 October 2026 from the Taxi and Limousine Commission and the Port Authority. Cruise NYC's own taxi estimates are undated and look old. It still gives $52 for JFK, against the TLC's $70.

Airports to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Airport	Road distance	Drive time	Yellow taxi	Train or bus
LaGuardia	About 9 miles	About 60 minutes	Metered, about $30 to $52 to Times Square before tolls and tip	Free Q70 bus, then subway at $3.00
JFK	About 19 miles	70 to 90 minutes	$70 flat, about $76 to $82 with surcharges, before tolls and tip	AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station, about 30 minutes, $14.00 or $16.00
Newark	About 16 miles	30 to 60 minutes	$70 by zone, plus fees, tolls and tip	AirTrain and NJ Transit to Penn Station, about 30 minutes, $17.25

The drive times are Holland America's published ranges, which depend on traffic. The road distances are our own, measured on 30 October 2026 from each airport to the lot entrance.

Airports to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Airport	Road distance	Yellow taxi	Train or bus
LaGuardia	About 12 miles	Metered, about $28 to $50 to Downtown Brooklyn before tolls and tip	Free Q70 bus, then subway, then B61
JFK	About 16.5 miles	Metered, about $73 to $90 to Downtown Brooklyn	AirTrain and LIRR to Atlantic Terminal, 50 minutes or more, $14.00 or $16.00, then subway and B61
Newark	About 17 miles	Cruise NYC estimate of $80 to $100, before tolls and tip	AirTrain and NJ Transit to Penn Station, then subway and B61

We found no published drive time to Brooklyn. Red Hook is not on any of the Port Authority's fare lists, so we quote the closest destination it does list.

How to get from JFK to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal

A yellow taxi is the simple choice, because trips between JFK and Manhattan are a flat $70 in either direction. On 30 October 2026 the TLC added these to the flat fare:

• 50 cents MTA State Surcharge and a $1.00 improvement surcharge
• $2.50 New York State congestion surcharge
• $2.00 airport access fee, on pickups at JFK only
• $5.00 rush-hour surcharge, 4pm to 8pm on weekdays except legal holidays
• 75 cents congestion toll, if the route enters the zone

That makes about $76 to $82 from the airport, before tolls and tip. One fare covers everyone going to the same place, up to four people, or five in a minivan.

By train, take the AirTrain to Jamaica, then the LIRR to Penn Station. The Port Authority gives about 30 minutes and $14.00 off-peak or $16.00 peak, including the $8.75 AirTrain. The E train is cheaper and slower, at about 50 minutes to Penn Station for $11.75. From Penn Station, Cruise NYC says taxis are readily available.

The Port Authority warns that taxi pick-ups and drop-offs at JFK may take longer because of construction. It lists Airlink New York, on +1 212 812 9000, and ETS Air Shuttle, on +1 718 221 1200, as authorized van and shuttle services. Ask them whether they stop at your terminal.

How to get from JFK to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

A taxi runs on the meter here, because the flat fare covers Manhattan only. The Port Authority's JFK page gives two estimates for Downtown Brooklyn, $90 in its fare table and $73 to $78 in its FAQ. Cruise NYC's estimate of $45 to $60 is well below both. Add the $2.00 access fee, tolls and tip.

By train, the LIRR from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal takes 50 minutes or more for $14.00 off-peak or $16.00 peak, including the AirTrain. The A train to Hoyt-Schermerhorn takes 60 minutes or more for $11.75. Neither reaches Red Hook, so you still need a taxi, or a subway to Borough Hall and the B61 bus.

How to get from LaGuardia to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal

A taxi runs on the meter. The Port Authority estimates $30 to $52 to Times Square and the Theater District, the closest place it lists, before tolls, tip and congestion charges. The TLC adds a $5.00 LaGuardia surcharge and its standard surcharges, and there is a $2.00 access fee on pickups.

By bus, the free Q70 LGA Link runs from Terminals B and C to the subway at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue and 74 Street-Broadway. The subway was $3.00 on 30 October 2026. The M60 bus serves all terminals and runs to stops along 125th Street.

How to get from LaGuardia to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

A taxi is the practical option. The Port Authority estimates $28 to $50 to Downtown and MetroTech, before tolls, tip and congestion charges, and the same $5.00 surcharge and $2.00 access fee apply. By public transport, take the free Q70 to the subway, then continue to Borough Hall for the B61.

How to get from Newark to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Newark taxis charge by zone, not by meter. The terminal's 55th Street entrance is in Zone 3, West 51st to West 96th Street, at $70 on 30 October 2026. On top of that, the Port Authority lists:

• $2.00 airport access fee
• $10.00 surcharge to New York during rush hours, which are 6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm on weekdays, and noon to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday
• $1.00 a bag
• Tolls, tip and any congestion charge

By train, take the AirTrain to the airport station, then NJ Transit to Penn Station. The Port Authority gives about 30 minutes and $17.25. The Newark Airport Express bus takes about 50 minutes for $23.50 one way to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, which Cruise NYC calls the closest bus terminal to the Manhattan terminal.

The Newark AirTrain is being modernized. The Port Authority warns of temporary disruptions, with shuttle buses when it is not running.

How to get from Newark to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

A taxi is the simple option, and the most uncertain on price. The Port Authority publishes no Brooklyn fare. Cruise NYC estimates $80 to $100 before tolls and tip, but its figures are undated, so ask the dispatcher for the fare before you leave.

By train, take NJ Transit to Penn Station, then the 2 or 3 subway to Borough Hall and the B61 bus. That is $17.25 plus a $3.00 subway fare, and a long trip with luggage.

Which airport is closest to the New York cruise terminals?

LaGuardia is the closest to both, at about 9 miles from the Manhattan terminal and 12 from Brooklyn. Closest does not mean quickest. Holland America gives about 60 minutes from LaGuardia to Manhattan, and 30 to 60 minutes from Newark.

Do taxis to the cruise terminals pay congestion pricing?

Trips to the Manhattan terminal can, depending on the route. The MTA's Congestion Relief Zone covers Manhattan south of and including 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street. The terminal entrance is on the West Side Highway, so the route decides it.

The TLC says the charge is per trip to, from, within or through the zone. Its fare page gave 75 cents for yellow taxis on 30 October 2026, and its December 2024 notice gives $1.50 for Uber and Lyft.

A separate New York State surcharge applies to every trip that begins, ends or passes through Manhattan south of 96th Street. That is $2.50 in a yellow taxi and $2.75 in a for-hire car, so rides to the Manhattan terminal pay it. A ride to Brooklyn that stays out of Manhattan pays neither charge.

Do Uber and Lyft go to the New York cruise terminals?

Yes. The Port Authority lists Uber and Lyft as authorized at its airports, and Cruise NYC's traffic plans cover for-hire cars dropping passengers at both terminals. They set their own prices, so compare the app with the taxi fares above before you leave.

For the trip back, Cruise NYC says each terminal has a taxi stand for on-demand rides and a holding lot for pre-arranged trips, both outside the terminal.

Do cruise lines run airport transfers in New York?

Some do, and Cruise NYC's traffic plans say most cruise companies run shuttle and transfer services from airports, hotels and train stations. Carnival's is the clearest published example. It runs between Newark, LaGuardia or JFK and the port on embarkation and debarkation days only, and you buy it up to two days before sailing.

We could not confirm a current price on any line's own page, so we quote none. Ask your line for the fare, and whether it is per person. A taxi fare covers the whole car, so a couple or family may pay less that way.

Can you fly to New York on the day of your cruise?

You can, but a morning flight leaves little margin. Princess strongly recommends arriving at least one day before if you fly in, and says the ship will not wait for late guests. Carnival's transfer needs a flight that lands by 12:00 PM, with coaches at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Norwegian wants you on board an hour before departure.

If you would rather arrive the night before, see hotels near the cruise port.

What is the earliest flight home after a New York cruise?

Carnival's rule is a useful guide, because its transfer requires a return flight no earlier than 1:00 PM on debarkation day. Cruise NYC says ships arrive between 7 and 8 am, and passengers who parked are often off the property by 10 to 10:30 am. Holland America allows 70 to 90 minutes to JFK from the Manhattan terminal.

Taxi fares change on the way back. From Manhattan to JFK is still the $70 flat fare. To LaGuardia is the meter plus $5.00. To Newark from New York City is the meter plus a $20.00 surcharge, and you pay the driver's return tolls.