Introducing Vancouver

Vancouver is counted among the world’s most beautiful cities, circled by high mountains, vast forests, and pristine ocean beaches.

The city possesses a major commercial docks, which over the history of the city has acted as a driving force towards Vancouver’s growth and success.

In the early 20th century the port functioned as a base for small ships moving goods to settlements dotted northwards up the coast. The passengers on these boats brought back stories of stunning scenery. Shipping companies saw an opportunity  and the Union Steamship, Canadian Pacific Steamers and Canadian National Steamers all started selling 7 day summer cruises along the coastline to Alaska.

However only two vessels operating summer cruises to Alaska were left by the 1950s. 1957 heralded the founding of Alaska Cruise Lines, which ran Yukon Star and the Glacier Queen. The company was sold to Holland America in 1971. In 1975 Holland America based the new ship Prinsendam at Vancouver to capitalize on the growing market. Two Princess ships, Island Princess and Princess Italia, arrived to join ms Prinsendam, and these were soon followed by further ships from other cruise lines. The number of cruise passengers continued steady growth from 20,000 in 1970 to 1 million in 2000.

But the arrival of Seattle into the cruise market in 2000 halted Vancouver’s growth. By the year 2010 Vancouver cruise passenger numbers fell to about 600,000, as the upstart’s cruise traffic continued growing at Vancouver’s expense.

Touring Vancouver

Gastown
The picturesque buildings and cobblestone streets of Gastown are the heart of historic Vancouver. Though the first timber houses were entirely burnt to the ground in the great fire of 1886. See the edifice of ‘Gassy Jack’ in Maple Square and the quirky steam clock whistle then have a quiet stop at a welcoming coffee bar. 

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
In the heart of the city’s booming Chinatown, sits the gorgeous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The Garden is based on the combining of the four main elements: water, plants, architecture and rock, resulting in perfect balance.

Stanley Park
The huge green space of Stanley Park sits on the end of the Burrard peninsula. It’s home to the Vancouver Aquarium and a wonderful assortment of Totem Poles. Enthusiastic hikers can contour the 6 mile seashore, along a path which offers magnificent views across the sea.

Vancouver Aquarium
Take a trip to Vancouver Aquarium to experience a range of ‘animal encounters’, with dolphins, sea turtles, sea otters and sea lions. Children will adore Clownfish Cove, with its sea urchins, clownfish, sea cucumbers and corn snakes.

Grouse Mountain
Vancouver’s famous winter ski hill is busy in summer as well. Summertime activities include lumberjack shows, ziplining, helicopter tours, paragliding, eco walk and falcon center. The Wildlife Refuge houses species like wolves and bears.

Cruise Ideas

Winters in Alaska are cold and long, so Vancouver’s cruising season is strictly summer only. Nearly all the cruises which leave from Vancouver to Alaska sail by way of the spectacular Inside Passage route, arriving at Queen Charlotte Sound by the notorious Seymore Narrows.  This famous sea passage was made safe by a project by military engineers to blast the top off an undersea mountain.

A very popular itinerary is the week long return trip with calls at Glacier Bay, Juneau, Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway and Ketchikan. You’ll see characterful port-of-call towns, spectacular coast and mountain panoramas and mighty glaciers calving into the ocean.

When the Vancouver cruise season finishes a variety of memorable grand voyage cruise itineraries are on offer, to destinations like Asia, Florida and Hawaii.

See cruises from Vancouver for a full calendar of cruises.

Vancouver Cruise Terminals

There are 2 cruise terminals in Vancouver. Canada Place, by the city center close to Waterfron rail station, and Ballantyne, a mile eastwards from the city center. Before boarding, all passengers are obliged to go through US customs, streamlining procedures at Alaskan ports.

Canada Place

Canada Place has developed from its beginnings as Canadian Pacific Railway pier B-C, which enabled rapid transit of corn from railway wagons to docked cargo ships. The cruise terminal is part of the former Canada Pavilion from Expo 86, with its a distinctive five sail outline, which represents the region’s long maritime tradition. Facilities available include security, baggage trolleys, restrooms, a snack shop and customs. The terminal has 3 cruise ship berths.

Ballantyne

Ballantyne terminal was expanded and renovated in 1995, and today provides efficient cruise ship embarking and disembarking. Facilities on offer include security, baggage trolleys, restrooms, taxi ranks, snack shops and customs. The cruise port has just one major berth.

See Port Metro Vancouver for the port website.

Traveling To The Cruise Terminals

By Car From the US

Canada Place

Drive across the Canadian Border via I-5. This turns into Rte 99. Continue northKeep on Route 99 crossing the Oak Street Bridge. Turn left on 70th Ave. Then make a right on Granville Street. Carry on northwards across Granville Street Bridge. Continue straight on by taking the Seymour St exit. Continue northwards along Seymour St until you reach West Cordova St. Turn left on West Cordova St. Next turn right on Howe Street, and after a block you’ll get to Canada Place. Parking are available at the Vinci car park.

Ballantyne

Head across the US/Canadian Border on I-5. I-5 turns into Rte 99. Leave at turnoff 36 and turn right onto Route 1. After two-thirds of a mile make a left onto Knight Street. Knight Street will become Clark Drive. Continue north on Clark to the foot of Clark and make a right onto Stewart St. Continue around half a mile to arrive at Ballantyne.

No parking facilites are available at the cruise terminal, but an option is cruisepark, positioned on the waterfront between Ballantyne and Canada Place.

By Air

From Vancouver International Airport

The modern Canada Line Skytrain gives a rapid connection from the airport to Waterfront station with a journey time of half-an-hour. Trains are every 8 minutes. Canada Place cruise terminal is a quick walk from Waterfront station. Ballantyne is a taxi ride away. 

Introducing Baltimore

Baltimore port has its origins in the early eighteenth century when a port was built on the coast of Chesapeake bay to export the crops of the many tobacco growing farms centered on the region. The port was a draw for merchants, and Baltimore came into life when a small town sprung up next to the quayside. As other products like rum from the Caribbean and corn from neighboring farms were exported by the docks, the town continued to expand.

Commerce through the docks expanded greatly in the 19th century, when the building of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad simplified the transport of corn to the city from the fertile mid-West. Disaster struck when in 1904 a great fire destroyed many buildings in the city center. A period of rebuilding began, this time employing fireproof bricks and paving.

In the late 20th century Baltimore again witnessed a period of energetic redevelopment as the run-down Inner Harbor shoreline received a complete renovation.

Today Inner Harbor is a big hit with tourists, and destinations include the National Aquarium, the American Visionary Art Museum, the Historic Ships Museum,  the Maryland Science Center, Harborplace shopping center and the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Baltimore has become the USA’s 8th biggest port, spreading over 22 miles of coastline. Aside from thriving trade operations, the port has a modern cruise terminal.  Cruise ships operate cruises to New England, Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Touring Baltimore

Baltimore has plenty of appeal for the tourist, with many enjoyable things to see and do. Visit the Inner Harbor Visitor Center to find information, maps and leaflets to aid the planning of your visit. 

Fort McHenry
A half mile westwards from the cruise port stands strategically sited Fort McHenry guarding the harbor. During the 1812 War, US soldiers stationed at Fort McHenry successfully defended the city from attack by the British in a furious fight. Francis Scott Key witnessed the Battle of Baltimore from a ship offshore, and he was moved into writing the words of the Star Spangled Banner.

Baltimore Museum of Industry
The museum showcases the history of commerce and industry in the Baltimore area from the early-19th century, with a set of items showing early era machinery.

Federal Hill
Federal Hill received its name after a night of rejoicing instigated by Maryland’s listing in the US constitution. Revelers launched a mockup sailing ship, named the ‘Federalist’ from atop the hill into the harbor. Today it’s a a small green area, with tended paths and tall trees, offering magnificent views over the city.

Maryland Science Center
Popular rooms at the Maryland Science Center showcase earth science, space, dinosaurs, the human body, Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab and the physics of Isaac Newton. An IMAX and planetarium are also on site.

Historic Ships in Baltimore Museum
At the Historic Ships Museum see the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse (the oldest screw pile lighthouse on the Chesapeake), the Lightship Chesapeake, the USS Torsk (a sub), the USS Constellation (tall mast clipper) and USCGC Taney (the last ship from pearl harbor).

Fell’s Point
The historic area of Fell’s Point is positioned about a mile eastwards of Inner Harbor. During the early 19th century United States ships were legally allowed to loot British vessels, and Fell’s Point was home to many yards constructing privateer vessels. The tall townhouses, cramped market places and cobblestone streets bring back those early years. Today the tourist will also discover several restaurants for a welcome stop from sightseeing.

Cruise Ideas

Popular all-year itineraries include the eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas. This far south you’ll get away from the cold Maryland winter, as you sail into warm weather. 

In summer, cruises to Bermuda typically stay 2 days, so you can enjoy the lively nightlife. Also on offer in summer are cruises along the eastern coastline of New England and Nova Scotia, stopping at charming and historic ports-of-call.

See cruises from Baltimore for a full calendar of cruises.

Baltimore Cruise Terminal

The Maryland Port Authority, in 2004, decided to move the Dundalk cruise ship port. A conveniently sited paper-shed on South Locust Point was redesigned, opening as the Maryland Cruise Terminal in 2006. The terminal building provides the basic facilities such as restrooms, pay phones, vending machines, check-in desks and an ATM. Beside the terminal building there’s a dedicated parking lot, with capacity of more than 1500 vehicles.  The port can only handle one cruise ship at any one time.

See Maryland Department of Transportation Port Administration for the port website.

Getting To The Cruise Terminal

From The Airport
BWI airport has frequent services from many cities around the US, as well as from abroad. Maryland cruise port is around 5 miles from BWI airport, ten minutes by the cruise shuttle express or taxi.

By Car
The cruise terminal is around an hour by car from both Washington and Annapolis.

Introducing San Diego

San Diego,  the Golden State’s oldest, second largest and southerm-most city is celebrated for its perfect weather, miles of beaches, and  location next to the Mexican border, opposite Tijuana.  Originally San Diego was a small Spanish settlement, in the early 19th century, and developed slowly, until the mid twentieth century, when the population boomed. San Diego bay is superb for boating, and the city boasts a long naval heritage. The city is the base for the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy.  Nowadays the city blends contemporary urban planning with historical Spanish neigborhoods, sparkling ocean scenes to the west side with dry, boulder-strewn hills to the eastside, and fine restaurants, positioned side by side with authentic tortillarias.

Touring San Diego

USS Midway Museum
It’s a 5 minute stroll on North Harbor Drive from the cruise port towards the big carrier ship, named the USS Midway, docked at Navy pier. Tour around the USS Midway Museum to find out about San Diego’s distinctive navy heritage.

Maritime Museum of San Diego
Tour the interesting Maritime Museum, a fine collection of historic ships, such as Pilot, Californian, Medea, the Berkeley and the Star India.

Coronado Beach
Catch a half hour ferry ride across to Coronado island. A  5 minute cab ride across the barrier island will get you to Coronado beach, a lovely sweep of sand on the ocean’s coastline. Drop in at famous Hotel del Coronado, one of the few surviving examples of the Victorian beach hotel.

San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, is world-famous for its size and diverse collection of animals.  There are over eight hundred species, who live in an attracively built 100 acre space. Be sure to see the Penguins and Polar Bears.  Kids will love the infant animal kindergarten and petting zoo.

Gaslamp Quarter
San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is probably the city’s most attractive section.  Development of the area started in 1867. Here you’ll find a concentration of boutique shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, sidewalk cafes, jazz clubs and nightclubs offering a charming Victorian feeling mingled with a modern buzz. The quarter is also a center for big city parties, from music and food festivals to St Patricks Day.  

Spanish Missions
San Diego is home to twenty one spanish catholic missions, built more than two centuries ago. The major aim of the missions was to covert the American Indians to Catholicism. The first ever, known as the Mother of the Missions, is Mission San Diego de Alcala. This was founded in the eighteenth century by Blessed Junipero Serra. Only six years after construction finished Mission San Diego de Alcala was burnt down in a riot, but the building was speedily reconstructed.

Available Cruises

You can choose from a wide variety of cruises from San Diego port.  Possibilities are the Mexican Riviera, Baja California, the islands of Hawaii, or through the Panama canal journeys to Florida. For unusual cruises longer routes to South America or the South Pacific are on offer. See cruises from San Diego for a full calendar of cruises.


San Diego Cruise Terminals

The main San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal is situated adjacent to North Harbor Drive on the B Street Pier, very close to downtown San Diego. The cruise terminal is a modern building with the usual variety of functions for passengers. The B Street Pier cruise terminal has now been joined by a second cruise terminal on the adjoining Broadway Pier. The cruise port is able to dock four cruise ships simultaneously.
For the port website see Port Of San Diego.

Getting To The Cruise Terminals

From the Airport
The terminal is a quick 10 minute taxi ride from San Diego International Airport. Taxi ranks are easy to find next to each of the three airport terminals.
By Train
Amtrak’s major San Diego station, the Santa Fe Depot, is just a fifth of a mile from the cruise terminal, so you can walk or take a taxi. Directions for walking are, head west on Broadway in the direction of the bay.  On reaching the bay, the cruise port is easy to spot.
By Car
If driving south on I-5, follow the road into downtown San Diego. Exit at Sassafras, marked with a sign to the airport. Proceed along Kettner for 3/4 mile, until Laurel. Make a right onto Laurel and carry on  until you reach Harbor Drive. Make a left to join Harbor Drive. The cruise ship port is one-half mile on the righthand side.If driving northwards on Interstate 5, continue on the road into the middle of San Diego. Turn off at Hawthorn, signed to the airport. Proceed along Hawthorn towards Harbor Drive.  Here, turn left. The cruise ship port is one-half mile on the righthand side. Numerous parking lots are available. It’s a good idea to arrange parking in advance.

Introduction

Barbados has a wealth of natural beauty, attractions, and seemingly never-ending stretches of white sand beaches, surelyamongst the best in the Caribbean Sea.  The island’s countryside changes from the rolling hills and big waves on the Atlantic east coast, to the flatlands and gorgeous tropical beaches on the Caribbean west coast.

During the 18th and 19th centuries the island was operated as a large sugar farm under British rule, and you can still see a few original plantations reborn as museums detailing the daily lives of the slaves working there.

Nowadays the people of Barbados are called Bajans, and the ancestors of the original plantation system live in general harmony with a representative government.

Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean and is often spared the terrible effects of the area’s tropical storms because the island is located past the principal hurricane zone. On average a hurricane only hits the island about once every 25 years.

These advantages make the island a favorite cruise ship port-of-call, and in recent years, partly thanks to the well used close by international airport, it has also become a busy starting port for cruises.

Take A Tour Around Barbados

Broad Street
The main street of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. It consists mainly of tax free shops, banking offices, large chain stores, and bars. Also worth a visit is Swan Street which has many cheap clothing stores

Harrison’s Cave    
Barbabos’s number one tourist attraction.  Get on an electric train and voyage through a fascinating subterranean world.

Sunbury Plantation House 
A Plantation Great House whose rooms are all available for tours.  The 300 year house is steeped in history, with old prints, fascinating handwritten accounts, characterful funiture and a small museum of of horse carriages.

Welchman Hall Gully
The lush tropical gardens are filled with tropical specimens — here before the British arrived in 1627 — set amid natural caves. 

Beaches
The island’s beaches are open to the public. Just a mile from the cruise terminal are the beaches of the Gold Coast.  Payne’s bay is good for swimming.  Next to Paynes bay is Fresh Water Bay, with a beautiful threesome of beaches, Brandon’s Beach, Paradise Beach and Brighton Beach . 

Mount Gay Rum Distillery and Banks Beer Tour
Get in the Spirit with a tour and sampling at Barbados’s top distillery, then travel to the Banks Brewery to enjoy the local beer.

Available Cruises

Due to its ideal position at the middle of the Southern Caribbean, Barbados makes an excellent choice as a departure port.Cruises available include the Greater Antilles (Jamaica), the Windward Isles (Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent), the Leeward Isles(St Barts, St Martin, St Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Tobago), the Netherland Antilles off the north coast of Venezuela (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) or even the Brazilian Amazon.

See cruises from Barbados for detailed cruise departure information.

Cruise Ship Terminal

The Port of Bridgetown (also called the Deep Water Harbor) is positioned in Carlisle Bay on the Western coast of Barbados. Bridgetown port handles all of the country’s cargo ships, and many cruise ships.  Built in 1961, the Deep Water Harbour was created by a manmade breakwater. In 2002 the main approach channel and the  inner docks were dredged to enable bigger cruiseships to call. Since the dredging project the port has experienced a large amount of growth in goods and cruise ship traffic.

The official port website is Barbados Port Inc.

Between the quays and the port entrance sits the new cruise terminal, officially opened in 1994.  It acts as the centre for services  for cruise passengers and crew arriving at Barbados.  The cruise terminal houses the normal departments to handle cruise passengers, including Immigration, Customs, Health Center, Animal Quarantine, Post Office and the Barbados Tourism Office. Also you’ll find cafes and bars, a business center, and an net cafe. The cruise terminal has a large amount of space filled by shops, with more than twenty duty free outlets with  lovely jewelry, attractive china, electronic goods, and Bajan craft outlets.
Cab services and car rentals failities lie just outside the cruise terminal main entrance.  

Getting To The Port From The Airport

Grantley Adams is 21 kilometres from the Port of Bridgetown. The airport is flown to by planes from North America, Europe and elsewhere in the Caribbean. The journey from airport to the cruise terminal is usually by taxi, and takes around half-an-hour.  The cost is around fifty Barbadian dollars.

Introduction

Sydney, which has a population of over four million, is the largest urban district in the country of Australia. The city is sited on the eastern coast of Australia. The Blue Mountains are located to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the east.

The town was started in 1788 when a fleet of prisoners from England arrived at Sydney Cove. The new settlement was named after Lord Sydney, the British Secretary of State, who suggested the creation of a penal colony in Australia. Just 5 years later, in 1793, the first boat of free settlers came, drawn by the mild climate and cheaply obtainable land.

Unconstrained by bureaucracy, the town developed quickly through the next hundred years, as the inhabitants established lots of farms, mines, businesses, shops and factories. The grown continued through the twentieth century, growth carried on as migrants arrived from both Asia and Europe.

Today Sydney is a multicultural, modern and large city, with inhabitants originating from all over the world. The city is a favorite destination for tourists. Celebrated sights include Bondi Beach, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge and The Rocks. The city’s many attractions and coastal location have made it a top cruise ship port, both for cruise ship departures and visits. Over one hundred and fifty cruise ships make use of Sydney port annually.

Take A Tour Of Sydney

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House, sited on Sydney Harbour at Bennelong Point, is considered by many to be an architectural marvel. Designed by Jorn Utzon and constructed with much controversy, it was inaugurated in 1973.  Try to go to an opera, a concert or a ballet, if your vacation timetable enables you to. The Opera house is a short walk up the coastline from the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

The Rocks
The first colonists landed at The Rocks, and many of the structures here are near original, like Cadman’s Cottage, Campbells Storehouse, the Merchants House and Susannah Place.  Within this historical district, the visitor will see bars, galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants. The Rocks area is next to Circular Quay.

Royal Botanic Gardens
The beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens is an oasis of greenery positioned between the waterfront and the busy city center. A trail leads around the sea front, giving great vistas across Sydney Harbour and Farm Cove.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
A pedestrians-only pavement runs across the Sydney Harbour Bridge alongside the roadway.  Call at the Pylon Lookout on the southern end of the bridge to see an absorbing  display on how the bridge was made.  If heights don’t scare you book the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, a three and a half hour expedition to the summit of the bridge.  The climb takes you up catwalks, ladders and girders during day or night.  

Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is famous across the world as a home of surfing. In the summer months Bondi beach is a centre for sun, fun and surf. The white sandy beach looks out on a large crescent shaped bay of deep blue water. Bus 380 from Circular Quay takes forty-five minutes to Bondi.

Available Cruises

Sydney is the departure port for a great range of cruise vacations. First time cruisers may like the short cruises to nowhere, a great introduction to cruising. 7 day routes would include sunny tropical Queensland, or rainforest-covered Tasmania. Slightly longer 9 or 10 night cruises visit the beautiful beaches of the Pacific islands Vanuatu and New Caledonia. 14 day itineraries would be a voyage around New Zealand, or a sailing to the stunning Pacific atolls of Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Longer cruises include voyages to the oriental wonders of Japan and China, or the fabled circumnavigation of Australia.

See cruises from Sydney for detailed cruise departure information.

Cruise Ship Terminals

Sydney’s cruise services are split between 2 places, Wharf 5 and the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Overseas Passenger Terminal

The OPT has access to a 800ft quay, able to handle one large vessel. The terminal is a contemporary building with the usual variety of facilities for passengers.  It further has an hotel, restaurants and outside dining areas. The terminal is situated at Circular Quay, opposite the Opera House within short walking distance from Sydney’s attractions.

Darling Harbour Wharf  5

Wharf 5 at Darling Harbour is a short-term terminal in use during the building of a new terminal at White Bay. Wharf 5 offers an immigration area, customs  control, a departure area and an arrivals area. The terminal is within easy walking distance of the Circular Quay area. The new cruise terminal at White Bay is only suitable for cruises originating from the city, as its location is inconvenient for the city center.  Additionally the terminal will be inaccessible to several cruise ships due to size restrictions at Sydney Harbour bridge.   With this in mind further plans for a further terminal at Garden Island, a mile east of Circular Quay, are under consideration.

Getting to the Port from the Airport

OPT - Pick up the train from either the Sydney Airport Domestic station or International Train Station to Circular Quay (green line).  The Overseas Passenger Terminal is a short walk from the station at Circular Quay.

Wharf 5 - Pick up a train from either the International Train Station or the Sydney Airport Domestic station to Wynyard station (Airport and East Hills line).  It is a 10 minutes walk from Wynyard station to Wharf 5.  Another option is a taxi.

Resources

Sydney Port Website

Introduction

All through the years of expansion of New York its shipping docks dotted around the Hudson Bay have been central growth of the city. As well as the trade of materials, passenger travel has from the beginning also been significant at the ports of the city. In the nineteenth century, Castle Garden was established as an immigration center, before being replaced in 1892 by Ellis Island. In the early 1900s, many immigrants would arrive at Chelsea Piers, on Hudson river’s east bank, and were then transferred to Ellis Island for documenting.

However Chelsea Piers was incapable of hosting big ships, and new piers were constructed between West 44th and 52nd streets in the 1930s, making the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal, nicknamed ‘Luxury Liner Row’.

Increased limitations on immigration and the arrival of cheap transatlantic flights ended the era of the cruise liner.

But the cruise lines bounced back when the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal reinvented itself as the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in the 1970s. Demand for cruising grew and two more cruise ports opened in the Hudson Bay area, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal.
 
 

Take A Tour Of New York

Empire State Building
New York’s famed Empire State Building soars over a quarter of a mile above the heart of Manhattan. Take the lift to the Observatory and walk around the promenade, 1050ft above the city’s noisy streets. It is a 30 minute walk from the cruise terminal.

Central Park
Visit Central Park, a huge green oasis in the center of the built-up city. Well worth seeing are the Zoo, Sheep Meadow, the Botanical Gardens, Strawberry Fields and the Obelisk.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
This world famous museum, founded in 1870, displays a huge number of works of art from across the globe. Don’t miss works include Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, the medieval tapestry The Unicorn in Captivity and Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses. The museum is located to the side of Central Park between E81st and E82nd streets.

The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Moder Art is best known for its wide collection of contemporary art. See  Gauguin’s The Moon And The Earth, Klimt’s HopeII, Van Gogh’s The Olive Tree, Dali’s Crucifixion, Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy and Picasso’s The Dreamer.

Statue of Liberty
For the immigrants that travelled from Europe to the United States, the Statue of Liberty was the first glimpse they had of the US. A present from the French people, the statue, originally named Liberty Enlightening the World, was constructed in Paris, and completed in 1894.  It was then taken apart and shipped to the US  where it was reassembled on Bedloe’s Island in Upper Bay to be at last dedicated in 1886. Tickets to the pedestal area may be reserved or bought on-site. Tickets to the inner stairway and crown must be reserved, as access is restricted to just 240 people per day.

Ellis Island
Ellis Island was the gateway for more than 20 million settlers to the US as the official immigration administrative center in the years 1892 to 1954. The museum presents the role of Ellis Island in immigration history and comprise voice recordings, artefacts, interactive presentations, photographs, passenger manifests and films.

Available Cruises

Favorite all year long itineraries include the Bahamas and the eastern Caribbean. This far south you’ll get away from the chilly east coast winter, as you travel into warmer weather. 

During the summer, sailings to Bermuda generally stay two days, so passengers can enjoy the brilliant nightlife. Also available in the summer months are cruises following the eastern seaboard of New England and Canada, stopping at historic and charming ports-of-call.

An alternative option during summer and fall is the classic transatlantic crossing to Europe.

See New York cruises from detailed cruise departure information.

Cruise Ship Terminals

NYC offers two cruise ports, the Mathattan Cruise Terminal beside the Hudson River on the west bank of Manhattan Island, and six miles southwards Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the east coast of Hudson Bay on the Red Hook shoreline of Brooklyn.

Also nearby is Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal, on the mainland shoreline of the Bay, at Bayonne, New Jersey.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is located between West 44th and West 52nd streets West 44th through 52nd streets on the west shoreline of Manhattan . The cruise terminal has three docks, 88, 90 and 92. A terminal building sits on each pier.  The services at the terminal include seating areas, VIP areas, snackbars, newsstands, customs and immigration, check-in areas and rest rooms. A parking area is situated on the roof of each of the cruise terminal buildings. Piers 88, 90 and 92 offer a total of 5 cruise ship berths.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal is primarily used by NCL, Carnival and Holland America cruise ships.

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Located across from Governors Island in Red Hook, the Brooklyn cruise terminal is a purpose-built facility on pier 12. Because of its previous use as a trade port, the terminal has a utilitarian look. The terminal offers restrooms, vending machines, immigration, check-in and customs.  There is an adjacent parking lot able of handling 500 cars. There is one  berth, pier 12,  length 880’, depth 34’.

Princess and Cunard ships make use of Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

Bayonne Cruise Terminal

Cape Liberty cruise terminal is situated at the Peninsula in Bayonne Harbor.  Formerly the Bayonne Navy base, the cruise terminal was started operations in 2004. The terminal offers immigration, a snackbar, restrooms, check-in and customs.  The cruise terminal is around half-a-mile from the cruise ship dock, so passengers are taken by buses from the terminal building to the ship. Convenient passenger parking is located adjacent to the cruise terminal. The terminal  access to a single cruise ship berth, 900ft length.

Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal is home to Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships.

Getting To The Ports From NYC Airports

ManhattanThe nearest airports to the Manhattan Cruise terminal are La Guardia, Newark International and John F. Kennedy. LaGuardia is closest, 7 miles away.
BrooklynLaGuardia is only 11 miles from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, John F K and Newark Liberty are a little further away.
BayonneNewark Liberty Airport is the most convenient airport to reach Bayonne  cruise terminal at a distance of about 5 miles. John F. Kennedy and La Guardia are around 25 miles in distance.
Taxicabs are available at each airport.  Often cruise lines arrange a shuttle coach.

Resources
New York Cruise Port Website

Introducing Dubai

The City of Dubai is a member of the seven emirates of the UAE. The city is situated on the shoreline of Arabia. Just sixty years ago Dubai was a quiet fishing and trading town. Today due mostly to incredible oil deposits a towering metropolis has risen. All around is bigger, taller, and more astonishing. Glass skyscrapers rise up out of the bleak sands and dreamworld islands have been built offshore, created like trees or unbelievably a world map. 

Dubai is now a large trading zone and has become a key trading center in the vicinity. Dubai has the nickname the ‘City of Merchants’, thanks to the massive quantity of trade, and also ‘City of Gold’, on account of its vast  Gold markets. Dubai’s most distinguishing element is its wonderfully appointed hotels and its enormous shopping centres, sure to astonish even the enthusiastic traveler.

The weather is sizzyingly hot so all indoor areas are cooled. In wintertime, Dubai is superb, warm and dry, wonderful for outdoors. During summer the temperature can reach 100°F and it is tiringly hot.

Take a Tour of the City of Dubai

Dubai Museum
Al Faheidi Fort, built in the late 18th century, houses the Dubai Museum, which presents an extensive collection of cultural, artistic and military items. The fort, Dubai’s oldest structure, was constructed to guard the town from warlike tribes. Today tourists can see pearl diving tools, traditional musical instruments, copper jewelry, clay pots and alabaster statues. Sited on the southern bank of Dubai Creek. 

Creekside Park and Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek, which divides the city’s Deira and Bur Dubai neighborhoods, is a saltwater thoroughfare which is hectic day and night with dhows on their way back and forth between East Africa, Arabia and India. Hire a water taxi for a trip up the Creek and back. Next walk along the creekside path, which connects the waters of the Gulf and verdant Creekside Park. Here the tourist will find gardens, a cafe, mini-golf and fishing piers.

Gold Souk
Whether or not you are thinking of buying something, a walk through the dazzling Gold Souk is enjoyable. The stores offer large amounts of silver, precious gems, diamonds, gold and platinum. It’s a good idea to negotiate. Either side of the alleys of the gold souk, each store front is crammed with gold necklaces, bangles, rings, watches and earrings. Gold prices are extremely competitive. Situated on the waterfront of Dubai creek.

Spice Souk
In the tiny alleyways of the spice market, you can smell the atmosphere and the smell of a wide range of spices. Enticing containers of spices, flower petals, incense, fragrances, aromatic oils and medicinal herbs are presented outside each stall. Close to the Gold Souk.

Burj Khalifa
At 160 stories and 2625ft Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. You can stop at the observation deck at story 124 or the Atmosphere restaurant at story 122. Reached from the lower basement story of the Dubai Mall.
Burj Al Arab hotel The fabulous Burj Al Arab is the star of the Dubai coastline. It’s 7 star rating may be preposterous, but everyone agrees upon its amazing design.One way to enter without paying for a room is to reserve a table at one of its pricey eating places. 

Bastakia Quarter
The traditional Bastakia Quarter is reminiscent of the era when Dubai was a little Gulf town. Meander through the maze of lanes and witness the characterful buildings with their functional wind towers that directed any wind downwards to the home so lowering the heat indoors. The Quarter is found on the north bank of Dubai creek.

Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Mamzar is a big park with sandy beaches and gardens. You’ll find playground, lifeguards, restrooms, picnic areas, cafes and showers.Wednesdays are restricted to women and children. Al Mamzar Beach Park is around three miles north-east of the cruise port.

Available Cruises

The most popular cruise is a circuit of the Gulf of Arabia stopping at beautiful centers such as Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Bahrain and Muscat. Longer cruises to Far East and India are also available.  A further choice is a cruise through the amazing Suez canal to the Mediterranean.  See the full range of cruises available at cruises from Dubai.



Cruise Ship Terminal

In 2010 a new cruise ship facility was opened forming part of a wide-ranging redevelopment of the Rashid zone.  Ornate inscriptions, domes and arches are the main architectural features of the building’s outside. This facade reflects contemporary Arabic design, and reflects Dubai’s long heritage as a trading port. The terminal contains many facilities like a post office, souvenir shops, duty free shop, ATM machines, business center and currency exchange.

The terminal is able to cater for four cruise ships simultaneously.

The port terminal provides free bus shuttles into Dubai city center.

The cruise port website is at Dubai Tourism.

Getting to the Cruise Terminal

Dubai Airport is situated about 3 miles northeast of the city center. The new airport is at Jebel Ali about 15 miles south of the city center. The simplest way to transfer from either airport to the cruise port is by cab.

Introducing Miami

Miami is positioned on the mainland of Florida. Offshore, due east in the Atlantic ocean, there are a series of barrier islands. Furthest south of the islands is Key Biscayne. Next to the north is Virginia Key, followed by Fisher Island, and finally comes Miami Beach. The body of water in between the barrier islands and Miami is Biscayne Bay.

Miami started as a modest rural township.  Next when a railroad was extended to the township, its warm temperatures and coastline setting were attractive to newcomers, so the settlement expanded rapidly.

At the beginning of the twentieth century resort companies looked to the Atlantic coastline of Miami Beach, and thus commenced the construction of the fashionable Art Deco buildings at South Beach. The storms of 1929 resulted in major devastation to the island, but was just a blip as new properties were built as rapidly as before. 

The 1960s saw a big influx into the city of Cuban refugees, escaping the control of Fidel Castro. This meant the city inherited the atmosphere of a Latin America city, with lots of energy mixing with a laid-back lifestyle.  

Miami has now grown into an important hub for industry, tourism, the arts and entertainment. The port is a huge undertaking and Miami is often described as the Cruise Capital of the World. Miami cruise port welcomes all the well-known cruiselines, with sailings to the sunny Caribbean or beyond.

Take a Tour of the city of Miami

South Beach (also known as SoBe)
This famous  Art Deco designed oceanfront district has everything, fine restaurants, laid-back cafes, up-market boutiques, a long, wide beach, wonderful people-watching, beautiful historic buildings and hip shops. SoBe is about twenty minutes from the port by cab.

Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove, built in the late 19th century, is Miami’s oldest area. It’s a place of eateries, trendy galleries, bars and fashionable shops.  Tour Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an early 20th century estate designed by a businessman with the aim of recreating a Renaissance like property.

Fairchild Tropical Garden
Botanical experts should head to the Fairchild Tropical Garden, here a group of man-made lakes wind through lush plants and trees.

Coral Gables

The Coral Gables area was founded in the 1920s, and has an assortment of cool bars, contemporary galleries, fashionable boutiques and classy restaurants. Bring swimsuit and make for Venetian Pool, the unique public pool hewn from a rock quarry. 

Little Havana
For a taste of Cuban life today, visit Little Havana, the place where lots of Cubans settled after leaving their homeland.  Walk down Calle Ocho, stop at a cafe for some real Cuban coffee, make a trip to the Cuban Museum and watch cigars being rolled at the El Credito Cigar factory. 

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida Park is sited at the southern side of Key Biscayne  island. It is the home of a historic lighthouse first constructed in 1825 and rebuilt in 1846.

Spend some time at the State park to swim, surf, hike, picnic and sunbathe on a superb length of sandy Atlantic beach. 

Bayside Marketplace
This large shopping mall is within easy walking distance of the cruise terminals. It’s an open air mall, so can be very hot in summertime.  There are lots of souvenir stalls, fashion stores, bars and restaurants.

Available Cruises

The range of cruises available feature the Eastern Caribbean (San Juan, Tortola, St Thomas and St Maarten), the Western Caribbean (Belize, Grand Cayman, Roatan and Cozumel), the Bahamas (Freeport and Nassau), or the Southern Caribbean (St Johns, St Kitts and Barbados). More extended cruises are occasionally on offer, like South America, the Amazon and trans Panama canal to the west coast of the USA. For a full listing see cruises from Miami.

Cruise Ship Terminals

The Port of Miami is located at Dodge Island, a piece of reclaimed land in Biscayne Bay formed by the merging of three islands, Lummus, Sam’s and Dodge. It’s only five minutes from Miami center to the cruise port.  Port Boulevard, which runs over Biscayne bay, links the city to Dodge island.

Eight cruise terminals operate at the cruise port. The B/C, D, E, F and G terminals are located at the north coast of Dodge island, terminal H on the west, and terminal J on the south. The container ship berths are along the south coast of the island.

Cruise terminals D and E, which began operations in 2007, are the most modern. These are designed to host mega ships. The total length of all cruise ship berths is some 2500 yards. Eight cruiseships can be docked at the same time. Each terminal has  the basic amenities, like cafes, bars, check in, shopping and cab ranks. 

Extra passenger facilities at terminals D and E include airline style check-ins, conveyor-belt like baggage processing, and a one stop  Multi-Agency Facility, for US Customs and Border Protection, Immigration Office and United States Department of Agriculture.

For the port’s website see Port of Miami.

Getting to the Cruise Terminals

By Road
From the North
Take I-95 south and turn off at 3B Bayside. Head southwards and make a left at 5th Street. 5th Street crosses Port Boulevard bridge. Carry on over the bridge and follow the signs to the required cruise terminal.

From the South
Take I-95 in a northerly direction and leave at NW 2nd Street. Carry on to NW 5th Street then make a right. 5th Street will lead onto Port Boulevard bridge. Continue across the bridge and follow signs to designated terminal.

Long term parking is priced at about 25 dollars a day, and should be booked by phone. 

There is a free minibus to take you from your car to the cruise terminal.

By Air
Miami port is  just seven miles from Miami International Airport. To travel from airport to cruise port, take a cab or jump on the shared-ride supershuttle bus.

Introducing Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the foremost city in the state of California, and  the second biggest city in the US. Situated on a wide basin in the South of California, the city is enclosed by the blue Pacific Ocean, huge mountain peaks, widespread forests and dry deserts.

Starting as a insignificant town in the eighteenth century, the city began to develop when the railroad arrived, and enlargened quickly throughout the following years.  Nowadays the urban region has as its center LA County, but extends into San Bernardino County, Orange County, Riverside County and Ventura County.

LA’s population of 18 million originate from all corners of the world. LA , incorporating a large Hispanic population, a major Asian community, and big populations from many further ethnic origins.

Los Angeles is an important hub for retail, culture, global trade and business, however it is most recognized as the focal point of the world’s movie industry. The glitz of Bel Air, Hollywood, Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills has increased Los Angeles’s allure as an obtainable dream contributing to the area’s huge growth.

The popularity of Los Angeles as a cruise port has increased dramatically recently, and today about 300 cruises originate from the city every year. Itineraries on offer take in the Hawaiian islands and the Mexican Riviera. A cruise from Los Angeles makes an unforgettable vacation.

Touring San Pedro

Los Angeles Maritime Museum

Discover  the history of Los Angeles harbor at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, sited at the Municipal Ferry Terminal. Check out numerous items such as old documents, models, photographs and machines of noted boats and ships. Sited by Harbor and 6th around 1/2 mile south of the cruise port.

Red Car Trolley Ride

The Waterfront Red Car Line is a 1.5 mile long trolley line interconnecting the World Cruise Center and the Marina. The car stops at the LA Maritime Museum and Ports O’ Call. The Red Cars are entirely refurbished to their former glory, with authentic wooden seats, wood paneling and ornate brass fittings. 

Designed like a New England seaside town, Ports O’ Call is an interesting stop. It has numerous shops, bars, galleries and restaurants, beside meandering cobbled walkways. There’s also a quay for boat sailings around the bay, day trips to Catalina and whale watching cruises. Ports O’Call is about a mile south of the cruise port.

Touring Long Beach

Queen Mary

In 1936 Queen Mary was launched for the famed Cunard Line and she operated formore than 30 years, including a time of military operations during World War II. RMS Queen Mary crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than a thousand times, posting speed records on several occasions. In the late 1960s RMS Queen Mary came to Long Beach to become a museum and art deco hotel.  The Queen Mary is positioned right next to the cruise terminal.

Shoreline Aquatic Park and Aquarium of The Pacific

Be introduced to the sunny waters of  California, the frigid seas of the Arctic and the colorful reefs of the Tropics at this amazing aquarium. Come face-to-face with the ocean’s ultimate predators in the large Shark exhibit. Following your trip to the aquarium stroll around adjacent Shoreline Aquatic Park, an attractive open space with an outlook over the sea.  Sited just across the bay from the cruise terminal, taking just 5 mins by cab.

Tour Naples by Gondola

Naples island possesses over a mile of canals, if one adds the straight Naples Canal and the long Rivo Alto Canal.  A singing gondolier dressed in stripes will be your guide. Gondolas for rent are offered next to the Bayshore Aquatic Playground Park. As an alternative you can hire a canoe at the park, for a much lower price. Positioned around 2 miles east of the Long Beach cruise terminal.

Available Cruises

The most popular voyage from LA cruise port is a trip following the west coastline of Mexico. Baja California cruises generally stop at Ensenada and Catalina island. Mexican Riviera cruises call in at  Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo. Longer  voyages available are journeys to the Hawaiian islands, and non-return trans Panama canal trips to Florida.  In late spring there’s a variety of cruises to Vancouver, as cruise ships reposition for the Alaska cruising season.  See Cruises From Los Angeles for a full calendar of cruises.

Los Angeles Cruise Terminals

LA’s San Pedro bay contains two cruise ports, the World Cruise Center in the Port of Los Angeles (commonly named San Pedro), and 4 miles to the east Long Beach Cruise Terminal adjacent to the Port of Long Beach. Ships dock at the World Cruise Center, except most (but not all) Carnival cruise ships which leave from Long Beach.

World Cruise Center Cruise Terminals

The World Cruise Center contains 2 cruise ship terminals, Terminal 91-92 for boarding at berths 91-92 (total length of dock 1550’) and Terminal 93 for berth 93 (length of pier 1200’). The terminals serve two to three big cruise ships.

Both cruise terminals have  the necessary services, including shops, cab ranks, bars, eateries, parking areas and check in desks. 

For the port website see Port of Los Angeles Website .

Long Beach Cruise Terminal

In 2003 Carnival deserted San Pedro cruise port and built the Long Beach Cruise Port across the bay.

The  terminal is located in the dome that once was home to the Spruce Goose airplane, now moved to Evergreen Aviation museum, in McMinnville.

Long Beach cruise center has a single 1110-foot sized berth  handle one  cruise ship.

The cruise terminal offers all of the regular amenities, like bars, shopping, eateries, check in desks, parking zones and cab ranks.

Getting to The Cruise Ports

San Pedro

By Car
Head south on the Harbor freeway (Interstate 110). Exit at CA47 and proceed across the Harbor Boulevard crossing. Go right so to arrive at the World Cruise Center.

From the Airport
Take the supershuttle service to San Pedro cruise terminal. About a forty minute journey.

Long Beach

By Car
Go along the Long Beach freeway (I710)in a southerly direction. Follow the signage showing the way to the Queen Mary.  When you arrive, watch for directions to the cruise terminal passenger parking and drop-off.

From the Airport
Take the supershuttle minibus to the cruise port. Allow for an hour’s journey.