The Best Cruises From NYC to Bermuda, Disney, Iceland, Miami, Rome, and More
Picture it: trading in the subway for a luxurious cruise, losing the skyscrapers for the rippling expanse of the ocean.
New York City may be a favorite travel destination for many, but it’s also a great jumping off point for vacations both big and small. And while the Big Apple has several airports and train stations, there’s also a thriving cruise industry with major ports in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan and Brooklyn’s Red Hook.
Cruise companies like Norwegian, Crystal, Cunard, and Holland America all call the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal or Manhattan Cruise Terminal home. And with 1,000-foot-long berths in Manhattan and 182,000 square feet of space in Brooklyn, a trip to the Caribbean or even Europe is only a subway ride away (plus some time being pampered on the luxurious cruise ships themselves).
So go ahead, spend some time surveying the all-you-can-eat buffet as you head off for a busy week of lounging on a beach chair in the Bahamas (or explore the rich historical past of Nassau), taste your way through the simple seafood dishes on the fishhook-shaped island of Bermuda, or watch the sea spray blow from a plush armchair as you speed north toward the charming New England cape.
To inspire your seafaring wanderlust, below are some of the coolest cruises departing from New York City:
New York City to Southampton, England; 7 nights
Ship: Queen Mary 2
Price: Starting from $909/person for the sailing leaving Jan. 3, 2020
Ship size: 2,691 guests
What you’ll love about it: This transatlantic crossing features elaborate dinners of salmon with poached quail eggs and bitter chocolate soufflé, as well as daily afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and scones. Enjoy performances of Shakespeare and settle in with a good book in the ship’s library.
New York City to Bermuda Round-trip; 7 days
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Ship: Norwegian Escape
Price: Starting from $599/person
Ship Size: 4,266 guests
What you’ll love about it: Leave the concrete jungle for the quiet tranquility of Bermuda’s pink sand beaches. When you’re not exploring the coves of the island, enjoy the thrills of the ship’s Aqua Racer — a tandem waterslide — or try your hand at mini golf. It the temperature jumps, cool off in the ship’s Snow Room, which is meant to stimulate blood circulation.
New York City to Quebec, Canada; 7 nights
Ship: Queen Mary 2
Price: Starting from $649/person for the sailing leaving Sept. 1, 2019
Ship size: 2,691 guests
What you’ll love about it: Discover the remote calm of Canada’s coastal towns before sailing into the French-speaking province of Quebec. You’ll feel like you’ve gone to Europe without the jet lag when you disembark onto the cobblestone streets of Quebec City, the only fortified city north of Mexico.
New York City to Stops Along the Panama Canal and Tampa; 15 days
Ship: Norwegian Dawn
Price: Starting from $1,069/person
Ship size: 2,340 guests
What you’ll love about it: Explore the colonial past and multi-colored buildings in Cartagena, Colombia, sail by the Panama Canal, and stroll along the white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of Roatán in Honduras on this multi-country cruise. And Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” program lets guests pick options like free unlimited open bar, free shore excursions, or free Wi-Fi, so you can indulge during your time on board.
New York City to Bermuda and the West Indies; 15 days
Ship: Viking Sea, Viking Sun, or Viking Star
Price: Starting from $3,499
Ship size: 930 guests
What you’ll love about it: Visit seven countries in only 15 days on this tropical cruise. You can photograph the pastel-colored buildings in Bermuda’s capital, swim in the deep blue waters off the coast of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and sample some tostones (twice-fried plantains) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Relax back on board with a glass of wine (it’s included during lunch and dinner) and upload all those photos to Instagram with the ship’s complimentary Wi-Fi.
New York City to Rome, Italy; 15 days
Ship: Norwegian Getaway
Price: Starting from $1,099/person
Ship size: 3,963 guests
What you’ll love about it: Relax at sea (and take advantage of the ship’s five water slides and open-air promenade) for five days as you journey to the Portuguese Azores islands. Feast on fresh fish in Ponta Delgada, try Lisbon’s sweet, buttery pastel de nata, sample the croquetas in Spain, and when you finally disembark in Italy, heaping plates of pasta await.
New York City to Los Angeles; 87 days
Ship: Viking Sun
Price: Starting from $25,999/person, sailing Oct. 10, 2019
Ship size: 930 guests
What you’ll love about it: You’ll be bird-watching along the Amazon River in Brazil, making friends with penguins in the Falkland Islands, and sipping pisco sours in Peru during this 18-country, months-long tour. When you’re not exploring the cities and vistas of the Americas (there’s 38 included guided tours), you’ll be sipping on an espresso and reflecting on your travels from the private veranda in your stateroom on this luxurious and intimate ship.
New York City to New Brunswick, Canada Round-trip; 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Serenity
Price: Starting from $2,499/person
Ship size: 980 guests
What you’ll love about it: Start your day with complimentary yoga and finish it with high-end dining on this luxurious and small cruise ship. Revel in the slow pace and charm of New England towns like Newport, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and sample some lobster rolls in the quaint town of Bar Harbor, Maine as you sail up and down the coast.
New York City to Quebec City, Canada; 12 days
Ship: Zuiderdam
Price: Starting from $1,599/person
Ship size: 1,964 guests
What you’ll love about it: Holland America offers fall sailings up the east coast toward Canada, providing the perfect opportunity to watch the leaves change and feel the crisp air start to take hold. Sit by the window and watch the waves ripple past with a hot chocolate in hand or take a hands-on cooking workshop with America’s Test Kitchen before arriving in the historic and quaint Quebec City, Canada.
New York City to Disney’s Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral, Florida Round-trip; 7 nights
Ship: Disney Magic
Price: Starting from $3,678/person
Ship size: 2,713 guests
What you’ll love about it: Calling all mini-ghosts and ghouls (and their parents too, for that matter) for this themed “Halloween on the High Seas” cruise. Sail into Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, where you can go snorkeling, greet beloved Disney characters, or sit back on the beach before heading to Port Canaveral — only about an hour away from Disney World itself.
New York City to the Amazon and Miami; 24 nights
Ship: Crystal Serenity
Price: Starting from $6,649/person
Ship size: 980 guests
What you’ll love about it: Learn about the Boi Bumbá festival in Brazil and spot the wildlife of the Amazon River as you sail through during your exploration of the region. When you finally disembark in Miami, you’ll feel pampered (there’s a staff-to-guest ratio of 1 to 1.5) and ready to hit the bars along Miami Beach with a cocktail in hand.
New York City to Reykjavik, Iceland; 15 nights
Ship: Seven Seas Navigator
Price: Starting from $9,399
Ship size: 490
What you’ll love about it: This luxurious cruise offers the chance to explore the rarely-visited Greenland — breathe the fresh air and spot whales in the fjords of Nuuk, the capital, which only has around 16,800 residents. While on board, sip a gin and tonic thanks to the ship’s open bar, take a cooking class, or simply enjoy a whole Maine lobster or filet mignon from the onboard steakhouse. Passengers will enjoy a business-class seat on the flight from Reykjavik, which is included in the room fare.
New York City to Bermuda Round-trip; 4 days
Ship: Carnival Sunrise
Price: Starting from $419/person
Ship size: 2,984 guests
What you’ll love about it: This cruise is a short, but sweet getaway to the pristine beaches of Bermuda with two full days at sea to kick back and relax. Adults can relax at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat while the kids can hang out with Thing 1 and Thing 2 thanks to the cruise line’s Seuss at Sea (we’re partial to “Oh the Places You’ll Go”).
New York City to Greenland Round-trip; 16 days
Ship: Caribbean Princess
Price: Starting from $1,563/person
Ship size: 3,140 guests
What you’ll love about it: Shop for Inuit handicrafts and learn about traditional skills like hunting, kayaking, and fishing, then spot polar bears on ice during the summer in the remote and breathtaking island of Greenland. Back on board, indulge in a chocolate and wine tasting or book a chocolate body treatment at the spa before gambling the night away at the casino.
