How Many Cruise Terminals are There in New York City?

New York City has two dedicated cruise terminals inside the five boroughs: the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River in Midtown West and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the Red Hook waterfront. A third facility, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, is marketed to cruisers as a New York departure point even though it sits across the harbor in Hudson County. Passengers who book a ship out of "New York" often learn only weeks before sailing that their pier is in a different borough or a different state from the one they pictured. We wrote this guide to settle the count, explain what each terminal handles in 2026, and lay out routes, drive times, and fares for New York City cruise terminal car service from every part of the metro area.

Two Terminals in the City, Three Ports in the Region

Both city terminals are owned by the City of New York and managed through the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which markets them under a single cruise program. Cape Liberty is a private facility on the New Jersey side of the Upper Bay. The accurate count is two terminals in New York City, with a footnote that many "New York" itineraries actually sail from New Jersey. Which of the three you are booked into changes the drive time, the tolls, and even the airport you should fly into.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal: Piers 88, 90, and 92

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal runs along 12th Avenue between West 46th and West 54th Streets, with a mailing address of 711 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10019. Built in the 1930s as the New York Passenger Ship Terminal, it consists of three finger piers. Pier 88 carries most passenger traffic in 2026, Pier 90 has gone offline for a multiyear redevelopment that will let two very large ships dock at once, and Pier 92 has been closed since a 2019 city inspection found structural problems. Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line sail from Manhattan year round, and Holland America, Princess, Disney, and several luxury lines call seasonally.

Vehicle access works one way only. Every car, van, and bus enters from the north at West 55th Street and 12th Avenue, climbs to the raised roadway, and drops passengers at the pier shown in the cruise documents. Private cars exit at West 46th Street, and buses and vans exit at West 48th Street. Rooftop parking above the terminal buildings is paid by card only, with overnight rates that have reached roughly $45 in 2026. Anyone who prefers to skip the parking bill can book car service to Manhattan Cruise Terminal and step out at the pier door with luggage handed straight to the porters.

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal: Pier 12 in Red Hook

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal opened in April 2006 at Pier 12 in Red Hook, with a GPS address of 72 Bowne Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. It has a single berth built for the largest ships afloat and was the first cruise terminal on the East Coast to install shore power. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has made Red Hook its New York home since opening day, and Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises use the pier seasonally. In 2026 Virgin Voyages moved its remaining New York sailings of Valiant Lady to Brooklyn after losing its usual Pier 90 berth to the Manhattan redevelopment.

Red Hook is one of the least transit connected neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The nearest subway stop at Smith and 9th Streets is a 25 minute walk with luggage, and the B61 bus is the only line that passes the gate. That geography is why so many families book Brooklyn Cruise Terminal car service even for short trips from Park Slope or Bay Ridge. Cars approach from Hamilton Avenue or the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Exit 26.

Cape Liberty Cruise Port: The New Jersey Third Option

Cape Liberty sits at 14 Port Terminal Boulevard in Bayonne, on a peninsula that once served as the Military Ocean Terminal. Royal Caribbean opened it in 2004 and remains the anchor tenant, with Celebrity Cruises sharing the pier. The drive from Midtown runs through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel and can stretch past an hour on a Friday afternoon. Staten Island residents are the exception: for them, Bayonne is the closest port of the three, reached in under 30 minutes over the Bayonne Bridge.

Why the Terminal Count Confuses So Many Cruisers

Cruise lines print "New York" on brochures and confirmations for all three ports, and some agents add "Cape Liberty" or "Brooklyn" only in the fine print. Pier numbers add a second layer of confusion, because the Manhattan terminal alone has three of them. Our dispatch team confirms the terminal and pier on every booking, because the difference between Pier 88 and Pier 12 is 40 minutes of driving.

Car Service to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal From Every Borough

Drive times to 12th Avenue swing with the day and hour. The estimates below assume a Saturday morning departure, the most common embarkation window at the Manhattan piers.

From Manhattan Neighborhoods

• Times Square and Midtown hotels: 1 to 2 miles, 10 to 25 minutes crosstown on 57th or 42nd Street
• Upper West Side: 3 to 4 miles, 15 to 30 minutes down the West Side Highway
• Upper East Side: 4 miles, 25 to 45 minutes through the 65th or 79th Street transverse
• Financial District and Battery Park City: 5 miles, 20 to 40 minutes up the West Side Highway
• Harlem and Washington Heights: 6 to 9 miles, 20 to 40 minutes via the Henry Hudson Parkway

Our Manhattan car service chauffeurs route around the Lincoln Tunnel approach, which backs up 10th Avenue between 38th and 42nd Streets whenever Midtown traffic builds, and they take 11th Avenue for the final northbound leg because the terminal entrance sits at 55th Street.

From Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island

• Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn: 6 miles, 30 to 50 minutes via the Brooklyn Bridge and the West Side Highway
• Park Slope, Bay Ridge, and Williamsburg: 7 to 10 miles, 35 to 60 minutes via the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel or the Williamsburg Bridge
• Astoria and Long Island City: 5 to 6 miles, 25 to 45 minutes through the Queens Midtown Tunnel or over the Queensboro Bridge
• Flushing, Forest Hills, and Jamaica: 11 to 15 miles, 40 to 75 minutes on the Long Island Expressway
• Riverdale, Fordham, and Pelham Bay in the Bronx: 10 to 15 miles, 30 to 55 minutes down the Henry Hudson Parkway
• St. George and Todt Hill on Staten Island: 12 to 16 miles, 45 to 80 minutes over the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and through the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel

Our Brooklyn car service drivers favor the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel on weekend mornings because it delivers cars directly onto the West Side Highway, and Queens car service trips from the north shore use the Queensboro Bridge to avoid the Midtown Tunnel toll. Bronx car service runs are the most predictable in the city, since the Henry Hudson Parkway flows straight into the terminal's northern entrance, while Staten Island car service customers face the longest ride of the five boroughs.

From Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the Rest of Long Island

• Great Neck, Manhasset, and Port Washington: 20 to 24 miles, 45 to 80 minutes via the Long Island Expressway and the Queens Midtown Tunnel
• Garden City, Hempstead, and Long Beach: 26 to 30 miles, 55 to 90 minutes on the Northern State or Southern State Parkway
• Huntington, Melville, and Babylon: 38 to 45 miles, 60 to 105 minutes on the Long Island Expressway
• Hauppauge, Smithtown, and Patchogue: 45 to 60 miles, 75 to 120 minutes
• Riverhead, Southampton, and Montauk: 75 to 120 miles, 2 to 3.5 hours depending on the season

Long Island cruisers are the customers most likely to book a round trip in one reservation, with a pickup at the pier eight or ten days later. Our Nassau County car service and Suffolk County car service teams schedule the return leg against the ship's published arrival time and adjust in real time on the morning. For groups spread across several towns, one Long Island car service Sprinter van with two or three pickups usually costs less than separate sedans.

Tolls and Congestion Pricing on the Way to the Piers

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal sits below 60th Street, inside the Congestion Relief Zone that took effect in January 2025. Private cars pay the daily zone charge on top of any bridge or tunnel toll, while licensed for hire vehicles pay a smaller per-trip surcharge that appears as a line item on the fare. We list every toll on the confirmation.

Transportation to Manhattan Cruise Terminal from JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark

A large share of the passengers boarding at the Manhattan piers fly into one of the three regional airports the same day or the day before. LaGuardia is closest to Midtown, Newark is closest to Cape Liberty, and JFK offers the widest range of international arrivals. Prebooked transportation to Manhattan Cruise Terminal from any of the three includes flight tracking, so a delayed landing moves the pickup time automatically.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

JFK to the Manhattan piers is about 17 miles and takes 45 to 90 minutes via the Van Wyck Expressway, the Long Island Expressway, and the Queens Midtown Tunnel. International arrivals should allow 60 to 90 minutes for customs. Our JFK Airport car service meets passengers inside the arrivals hall with a name sign and loads the luggage.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia is only 10 miles from 12th Avenue, and the trip takes 30 to 60 minutes across the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge or through the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The rebuilt Terminals B and C route black cars to dedicated pickup zones, and the official LaGuardia Airport transportation guide shows where each terminal's car service pickup area sits. Because LaGuardia has no rail link, a prebooked LaGuardia Airport car service is the most direct way to reach a ship with a 1 pm boarding cutoff.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark is 14 miles from the Manhattan piers, but the route crosses the Hudson through the Lincoln Tunnel and typically takes 40 to 75 minutes. It is the smart choice for passengers sailing from Cape Liberty, only 8 miles away, and a reasonable one for Manhattan departures on weekday mornings when the tunnel flows. Our New York airport car service covers all three airports plus Westchester County Airport and Long Island MacArthur.

Should You Fly In the Day Before?

Yes, whenever the budget allows. Cruise lines close check in 60 to 90 minutes before sailing, and a winter storm at JFK or a summer thunderstorm delay at Newark can erase a morning's cushion. For same day flights, we advise landing no later than five hours before the ship departs.

Our Fleet for New York City Cruise Terminal Transfers

Cruise groups range from a couple with two suitcases to a family reunion of 50 people converging from three states. Every vehicle in ourfleet is matched to the passenger count and the luggage load.

• Sedans (1 to 3 passengers): a couple with two large suitcases; the standard choice for Midtown hotel to pier transfers and solo travelers joining a ship
• SUVs (up to 6 passengers): families of four or five with a stroller, or two couples sharing a ride from Long Island with four checked bags
• Stretch limousines (6 to 20 passengers): anniversary sailings, honeymoon send offs, and birthday groups who want embarkation day to feel like part of the vacation
• Sprinter vans (7 to 16 passengers): multigenerational families, wedding parties sailing together, and groups with golf bags or wheelchairs
• Party buses (24 to 44 passengers): bachelor and bachelorette cruise groups and milestone birthdays leaving from one gathering point in Brooklyn or Queens
• Mini charter buses (24 to 36 passengers): church groups, alumni associations, and corporate incentive trips gathering at a single hotel
• Full size charter buses (up to 56 passengers): cruise line contracted transfers, tour operators, and large school or club groups sailing as one booking

Our New York airport Sprinter van service is the class cruise families request most often, because it seats 14 with a full luggage bay behind the rear seats. For anything larger, our charter bus service handles the pier permits and staging assignments that motorcoaches require at both city terminals.

Estimated Fares to the New York Cruise Terminals

The figures below are typical starting prices for one way transfers before tolls, gratuity, and waiting time. Final quotes depend on the date, the exact pickup address, and vehicle availability, and we confirm the total in writing before the trip.

• Sedan: from about $95 from Midtown, $135 from LaGuardia, $165 from JFK or Newark, $150 from western Nassau County, and $220 from central Suffolk County
• SUV: from about $135 from Midtown, $175 from LaGuardia, $210 from JFK or Newark, $195 from Nassau County, and $270 from Suffolk County
• Stretch limousine: from about $350 for a Midtown transfer, or $175 per hour with a two hour minimum
• Sprinter van: from about $275 from Midtown, $375 from JFK or Newark, and $450 from Nassau County
• Party bus: from about $225 per hour with a four hour minimum
• Mini charter bus: from about $175 per hour with a four hour minimum, or flat group transfer quotes from $700
• Full size charter bus: from about $250 per hour with a five hour minimum, or flat group transfer quotes from $1,250

Transfers to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal from JFK or LaGuardia usually price $15 to $25 below the Manhattan equivalent because the route avoids the Midtown tunnels and the congestion zone, while Cape Liberty transfers from Manhattan add the Hudson crossing toll.

What Changes the Quote

Three factors move the price most: the pickup window, the number of stops, and the vehicle class. Saturday mornings between 9 am and noon carry the heaviest demand at the piers, so booking a week or two ahead locks in the base rate. A second pickup address adds a modest stop fee, and upgrading from a sedan to an SUV adds $40 to $50 on most routes.

Child Seats and Family Travel

Families sailing with infants and toddlers can request rear facing, forward facing, or booster seats when booking, and the chauffeur installs them before the pickup. We follow the fit guidance published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which matches seat type to a child's height and weight.

Luggage Allowances by Vehicle

A sedan carries three large cases plus carry ons, an SUV carries five to six, a Sprinter van carries one large case per passenger with room to spare, and charter buses hold one large and one small case per seat in the underfloor bays. Tell us about wheelchairs, scooters, or oversized items when booking so the right vehicle is assigned.

Landmarks and Neighborhoods Around the New York Cruise Terminals

Both city terminals sit beside neighborhoods worth an extra day. The state tourism office's guide to New York City attractions covers the headline sights, and the notes below focus on what lies within a short ride of each pier.

Near the Manhattan Piers: Hell’s Kitchen and Midtown West

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum occupies Pier 86, two blocks south of the cruise terminal, and its flight deck is the best free spot to photograph a ship pulling out onto the Hudson. Hudson River Park runs the length of the waterfront past the terminal gates. Ten minutes east lie Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the theater district, and Central Park's southwest corner at Columbus Circle is a 15-minute walk. Our Hell’s Kitchen car service handles hotel-to-pier hops in this neighborhood every sailing day.

Near the Brooklyn Pier: Red Hook and the Brooklyn Waterfront

Red Hook rewards passengers who arrive early. Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier offers a straight-on view of the Statue of Liberty across Buttermilk Channel and is the favorite spot for photographing Queen Mary 2 at her berth. Brooklyn Bridge Park is 10 minutes north. Our Red Hook car service drivers know the one-way streets around the terminal, which trip up first-time visitors and GPS apps alike.

Licensing, Safety Standards, and Lessons From the Pier

Every vehicle that carries paying passengers in New York City must be licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, the chauffeur must hold a TLC driver license, and the vehicle must pass a TLC inspection every four months. Union Limousine has operated under those rules since 1997, and every sedan, SUV, and van we send to a pier displays its TLC credentials. Vans and buses seating 16 or more add a federal layer: the carrier holds a USDOT number, follows Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours of service and maintenance rules, and assigns drivers with a commercial driver license and passenger endorsement. Wheelchair accessible transfers are arranged under the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that apply to for-hire carriers.

Experience at the piers teaches lessons no regulation covers. On disembarkation day, self-assist passengers who carry their own bags can be at the curb by 7:30 am, while those who use the porter service rarely clear customs before 9 am. Union Limousine builds both scenarios into return pickups, so the car is waiting either way.

An Embarkation Day Timeline That Works

• Night before: confirm the pier number and boarding window in the cruise line app, and reconfirm the pickup time with dispatch
• Pickup: allow the upper end of the drive time estimate for your neighborhood, plus 20 minutes on holiday weekends
• Arrival at the pier: hand checked bags to the porters, tip $2 to $5 per bag, and keep passports and boarding documents in hand
• Check in: most lines process guests in 20 to 40 minutes once the assigned window opens
• Return trip: share the ship's arrival time and your cabin deck with dispatch so the pickup matches your disembarkation group

Book Your Ride to the New York Cruise Terminal

So how many cruise terminals does New York City have? Two within the city limits, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at Piers 88, 90, and 92 and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at Pier 12 in Red Hook, plus Cape Liberty in Bayonne as the region's third port. Each has its own approach roads, tolls, parking rules, and cruise line roster. The passengers with the smoothest embarkation days confirm their pier early, choose the closest airport, and leave the driving to someone who reaches these piers every week.

Union Limousine has carried cruise passengers to all three New York area ports for nearly three decades, from single sedans out of Midtown to charter buses gathering groups across Long Island. Reserve a New York car service online, or call 718 514 9881 to speak with a dispatcher who can confirm the pier, quote the fare with tolls included, and arrange the return pickup in the same booking. Our car service runs 24 hours a day, every sailing day of the year, so the ship never leaves without you.