New york harbor highlights:

[CAPERDUO]

Shortly after passing Lady Liberty on the right, you can look back to the left and see the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

That is where the QM2 departs from. So, depending on the date and time, you might see her there. Map View

Awesome, thanks for the add. Hope to see you in 4 days!

[CAPERDUO]

Your welcome! sometimes people don't even reply to a post like mine. It is an experience to take the NY subway. Just be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts,and you'll probably be fine. I have done it all my life! You said it is hard to tell how far everything is from where you dock (at about 55 st. on the west side). If you see a map of NYC, the blocks are generally rectangular. If you count on the short side of the rectangle, that is a short block. 20 of them make a mile.So for example, walking from 40th St. to 20th St. streight down is about a mile. With the long side, that is counted as 3 short blocks.So you see, walking all the way downtown from midtown is over 2 miles, and you reallydon't wantto do that if your priority is to take the ferry and seethe Statue of Liberty. Hope that helps, when you see a map of the city.

another tool on google maps is to click the desired mode of transportation when using the directions tool. ( car, bus, train, walking man)

[CAPERDUO]

One of the cool things with Google Maps is to put in your start and end point, then click on which mode of transportation - Car, Transit, or walking. And you get the estimated time and distance for everything.

;p;p we think alike! I should have read through before posting a duplicate. silly me. OK so i will add, if using navigation while walking in Manhattan....be very careful.

[Homosassa]

If you want to take a chance on seeing a Broadway show matinee, go to the half price ticket booth that is on the uptown side of Times Square. It will have half price tickets available for that day.

 

Keep in mind that even at half price, tickets will be expensive.

[tempus137]

If you want to take a chance on seeing a Broadway show matinee, go to the half price ticket booth that is on the uptown side of Times Square. It will have half price tickets available for that day.

 

Keep in mind that even at half price, tickets will be expensive.

 

Also keep in mind that Broadway matinees are only on Wednesdays & Saturdays. The half price booth only opens for matinees on those days.

[Homosassa]

Please note the location and the availability of matinee performances on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Friday with the additional possibility of Tuesday and Friday.

 

https://www.tdf.org/nyc/8/Locations--Hours--TKTS-Discount-Broadway-Ticket-Booths

[Boatingmom]

Good info thanks. I am a New Yorker and didn’t even know what to look for.

 

Re broadway tickets, go directly to the box office of each theater for the show you want. They often have extra seats that TKTs doesn’t or can’t offer

 

 

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[GrootmoederkKr]

Caperduo, thanks so much for the great info!!

[lovecruising72]

Caperduo......you should be a cruise guide or something of the sorts! :);)(y):ship::beer-mug::cocktail:

 

 

 

p.s. We are still waiting to hear on our Nov/Dec cruise.

[kcdancerkc]

Thanks much for this!

 

Will copy and paste for our cliff notes for April!

 

:cool:

[CAPERDUO]

Caperduo......you should be a cruise guide or something of the sorts! :);)(y):ship::beer-mug::cocktail:

 

 

 

p.s. We are still waiting to hear on our Nov/Dec cruise.

Love you guys, cant wait until Alasks Bliss

 

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[mjkacmom]

We have a cruise next year that has New York as a port day ....8 am to 10 pm ... we are just starting to look at the ports and what to do .... Most of the info I find is on embarkation not just hanging out in the city for a day ....Is the dock somewhat close to downtown ??We are thinking of taking the Staten Island ferry in the morning and then doing the statue of Liberty, then maybe Times Square and finding a Deli ...yeah pretty touristy lol ... Is all of that close enough to do walking or would a cab be called for ...we walk a lot so a half hour walk to each place would not be a problem ....

The reason tourists take the free Staten Island ferry is to pass the Statue of Liberty. If you are planning on going to the Statue of Liberty, skip the Staten Island ferry. Ellis Island is great.

[Jaime0528]

Thanks for this guide, I'm commenting so it will go back onto the first page, very useful for those of us departing soon!!

[WendyCity11]

Thank you everyone for this wonderful information!

[NancyL2]

This is great info! We will be on the Gem out of NY this October. Making a word doc for when we sail.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together! :)

[Mike A]

1st off as a lifelong New Yorker who has sailed down the Hudson many times, Bravo to the OP for putting together a fabulous post about one of the most beautiful sailaway’s in the world! One more thing I would like to add about Coney Island, if you are on a Transatlantic or Canada/New England sailing the ship turns to the East at the Ambrose Tower. Shortly thereafter you will get an extended and closeup look at Coney Island on the port side.

 

 

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[graphicguy]

Yes....thanks to the OP for this wonderful info. Very helpful. I know most of this thread is several moths old.

 

But, if anyone could help, I’m sailing out of Manhattan on the Gem in a couple of weeks in an aft suite. Should I just just do the sail away from my balcony and skip the crowd topside?

[peg013]

Yes....thanks to the OP for this wonderful info. Very helpful. I know most of this thread is several moths old.

 

But, if anyone could help, I’m sailing out of Manhattan on the Gem in a couple of weeks in an aft suite. Should I just just do the sail away from my balcony and skip the crowd topside?

We have invited a couple people on the roll call to our balcony (or spend time alone) or meet some people from your roll call at the Great Outdoors for sailaway. Depends on whether you want to do it with others or not. You can hear the music from the pool sailaway party but it's not as crowded at the GO.

[graphicguy]

We have invited a couple people on the roll call to our balcony (or spend time alone) or meet some people from your roll call at the Great Outdoors for sailaway. Depends on whether you want to do it with others or not. You can hear the music from the pool sailaway party but it's not as crowded at the GO.

Thanks...appreciate the response. Will I be able to see the sail away sights from the aft cabin? I’m in #8630, if that matters.

[cruiserchris613]

Thanks...appreciate the response. Will I be able to see the sail away sights from the aft cabin? I’m in #8630, if that matters.

 

You'll be able to see all of the aforementioned sights from your aft suite. A word of caution though, since the Statue of Liberty will be on the stbd side, and the ship will be quite a distance away, it might be tough to get a good shot of her, not to mention that sailaway is around 4-5 PM, when the sun is setting behind the Statue.

 

Insider tip: change the channel on your TV to the live bridge cam and keep an eye on it once in a while. That'll show you what's coming up...especially the Verrazano Bridge!

[graphicguy]

You'll be able to see all of the aforementioned sights from your aft suite. A word of caution though, since the Statue of Liberty will be on the stbd side, and the ship will be quite a distance away, it might be tough to get a good shot of her, not to mention that sailaway is around 4-5 PM, when the sun is setting behind the Statue.

 

Insider tip: change the channel on your TV to the live bridge cam and keep an eye on it once in a while. That'll show you what's coming up...especially the Verrazano Bridge!

Great tips....Thanks!

[Dannirose]

Great thread and tips! I'm going to make up a sheet for my group- we have a lot of first time cruisers and I think they will really like this. Thanks all! :)

[baileyman42]

Here is my updated and revised guide to NY Harbor.

You might want to get up to the Bar and order a Manhattan!

Key: As on a boats bow light,

Red locations are on your Port (left) side

Green locations are on your Starboard (right) side

NEW YORK HARBOR HIGHLIGHTS:

For those who have not yet sailed from N.Y. :

One of this trips highlights are the views of the N.Y.C. skyline and N.J. shoreline during the 1 hour journey down the Hudson river and through N.Y. Harbor.

Right from port you will see the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier and Growler submarine. As we pull out, look towards the aft (rear) to see the GeorgeWashington Bridge then on port (left) side the Empire State building and the Chrysler building and the new One57, the tallest, thinnest, richest condo building in the western world. With the 96th floor selling for $95 million it is 150 feet taller than the Empire State building.

Looking ahead port side the new Freedom Tower is in view along with the waterfront 10 story glass Winter Garden Atrium which was the first building to be completely restored after 9/11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Garden_Atrium

Once we near the southern tip of Manhattan and Battery park, you want to be on starboard (right) side to see The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, a large brick building with a clock tower on the Jersey shoreline. Now a historic site, it was once home to the B & O, Reading, and Pennsylvania RR companies. This will be just passed the tall buildings and the Colgate ground clock on the Jersey side. Check out its history.http://njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/P...ages/CRRNJ.htm

Next will be Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty, the most beautiful and photographed woman in the world, get those cameras ready!

After we pass Lady Liberty and with binoculars you may be able to spot the 9/11 Teardrop Memorial at Harbor View Park, Bayonne N.J. http://www.911monument.com/

Now, for the grand finale, especially if you have kids, get up to the Freestyle Sundeck (deck 15 on the Gem class or 18 on Breakaway class) for the passage under the Varranzano Narrows Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the United States boasting 60 ft. longer than the Golden Gate Bridge and our gateway to the Atlantic ocean.

Last notable site past the bridge is the famous Coney Island amusement park and boardwalk, home to the original cyclone roller coaster and the fourth of July's Nathans hot dog eating contest.

 

Please search the web for the history behind all of these locations and share with your fellow cruisers. I have only listed a few of the harder to find ones.

Safe Travels and we hope to see all of you onboard.

Jimmy & Cyndi

 

The CAPERDUO

So glad I found this thread, I never knew of all these things. Our group is on the port side of the Escape 16th floor, will we be good to see most everything from our balconies?

 

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[msweebee]

Thanks to each of you for taking the time to post your insightful information and tips. My husband and I have sailed out of NJ and NYC both several times ; we are taking 20+ kids & g'kids with us in June to Bermuda and it will be their first time departing from NYC. When we "published" the date, cabin, ship info for each of them we also laid out what they would see during the sail away but not nearly so complete. Enough time later to worry about where luggage is and what's for dinner - first up the wonderful departure in a harbor with views like no other!

 

Once again, thanks for sharing your information!

[kirsty_r]

Thank you for this guide!! Really looking forward to my trip on escape in September!!!

 

 

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