First cruise from New York: questions and answers

These are the questions people ask before their first cruise from New York, answered from Cruise NYC and the lines' own pages. The one that matters most here is the first, because this city has two terminals in two boroughs. Each answer links to the guide with more detail.

Which terminal do I go to?

Go to the terminal named on your boarding documents. New York City has two, Manhattan and Brooklyn, about 8 miles apart by road, and a few ships use both. You can check your date on the schedule, which shows the terminal through 22 December 2027, the last day of the official calendar. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sail from Cape Liberty in New Jersey, which this site does not list. Our terminal guide has the addresses and the line-by-line pattern.

What time should I arrive at the cruise terminal in New York?

Arrive at the time on your boarding documents, not before it. Cruise NYC says baggage processing begins no earlier than 9:30 am, and boarding generally begins between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm, depending on when the ship arrives. For the latest arrival time, it refers you to your travel documents.

Each line sets its own rule:

• Carnival. Finish online check-in by midnight Eastern time the night before and pick an arrival appointment. Anyone not on board by the final boarding time on the boarding pass does not sail.
• Norwegian. Arrive at least one hour before the embarkation time on your documents if you finished online check-in, or two hours if you did not. You must be on board an hour before departure.
• Princess. Arrive within the check-in window you chose during online check-in, and not earlier. It says the ship will not wait for late guests.
• Cunard. Arrive at the time on your boarding pass. If you come early, staff are likely to ask you to wait until your boarding slot.

What time does the ship leave New York?

Most sailings leave between 4pm and 5pm. On the day-by-day itineraries behind this site, Norwegian and Princess mostly leave at 4pm, Cunard at 4:30pm or 5pm, and Carnival mostly at 4pm. Some smaller lines leave later. The time on your boarding documents is the one that counts, and the line wants you on board well before it.

Where do I get dropped off?

It depends on the terminal. At Manhattan, all vehicles enter at 55th Street and 12th Avenue, and cars and taxis drop you at the curb on the second level. At Brooklyn, cars enter at Bowne Street and Imlay Street.

If you are parking, park first, because Cruise NYC says you cannot drop bags and then park without leaving the terminal. The parking guide has the rates.

What happens to my luggage?

You hand your checked bags to a porter at the terminal, and porters move them to the ship. Keep your documents, medication and anything you need that afternoon in your carry-on.

Cruise NYC says baggage processing starts no earlier than 9:30 am. Carnival takes checked bags only until two hours before the ship's published departure, after which you carry them on yourself.

What should I do before I leave home?

Finish your line's online check-in and confirm your terminal first, then work through this list:

• Check your documents against your line's page, especially on a one-way sailing.
• Put your line's luggage tags on your checked bags.
• Keep your boarding pass and photo ID where you can reach them. Cruise NYC says adults need both until they are past security.
• Put phones, keys, loose change, wallets and large jewelry in your carry-on before you reach the checkpoint.

What can't I bring through terminal security?

Firearms, ammunition, explosives, incendiaries and knives of any blade length are prohibited. Cruise NYC also lists multi-purpose tools, Swiss Army-type knives and small folding knives. It says bringing a prohibited item to a checkpoint is illegal even by accident. Your cruise line's list applies on top of this one.

Medication is allowed once it has been screened, and Cruise NYC asks that it be labeled. You can ask for a visual inspection instead of the x-ray, but you must ask before screening starts. You do not have to take your shoes off, though Cruise NYC encourages it for boots and thick-soled shoes.

Where can I watch the sail-away past the Statue of Liberty?

Watch from an open deck as the ship leaves. Carnival says its ships glide down the Hudson River, and it names the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge among the landmarks to look for on the way out. Sailings from Manhattan start farther up the Hudson, so they pass more of the city first.

Brooklyn starts lower in the harbor. Cruise NYC says the terminal has views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, so look before the ship moves as well.

How many days at sea are there on a Bermuda cruise from New York?

A 7-night Bermuda cruise has three days at sea and three days docked in Bermuda. On its 28 March 2027 sailing, Norwegian Bliss leaves at 4pm, spends two days at sea, and reaches Royal Naval Dockyard at 8am on day 4. It leaves at 4pm on day 6, spends one more day at sea, and returns at 7am on day 8.

A 5-night cruise has two days at sea and two in Bermuda, and a 4-night cruise has two at sea and one in Bermuda. Because so much of the trip is on board, the ship matters more than it does on a port-heavy route. Compare the 82 sailings in our Bermuda guide.

How long does it take to get off the ship in New York?

Expect to be off the ship by mid-morning. Cruise NYC says ships arrive between 7 and 8 am, and passengers who parked are often through customs and off the property by 10 to 10:30 am. You collect your bags in the baggage hall, pass the customs inspector, then head for your car, a taxi or a coach. If you are flying home, see the earliest flight to book.

Can I leave my bags at the terminal after the cruise?

No. Cruise NYC says the terminals cannot store luggage and have no lockers. It says several luggage companies will hold bags for a fee while you see the city.

Do I need a passport?

Not on most round trips, if you are a U.S. citizen, though the lines recommend one. A one-way sailing can change the answer. The documents guide covers Bermuda, Canada, Queen Mary 2 to Southampton and voyages ending in Florida or Europe.

How do I get to the terminal from the airport?

A taxi or rideshare is the simplest way. The airport guide compares fares and trains from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark to each terminal.

Who helps with a wheelchair?

Your cruise line does. Cruise NYC says to request a wheelchair through your cruise line's agent, not the terminal. Handicap parking is available at both terminals.

Where do I start if I have not picked a cruise yet?

Start with the full schedule, which lists 262 sailings on 13 lines. If you want a short first trip, see short cruises from New York.