New York City Before A Cruise: Sailing From the Red Hook Cruise Terminal
This post is part of a series on what to do when you have one day in port on a Cruise. You can find more posts from this series on my page,
How To Spend One Day In Port.
New York doesn’t ease you in gently. It rushes toward you in waves of yellow taxis, crowded sidewalks, steam rising from subway grates, theater marquees glowing after dark, and the constant hum of movement that pulses through the city at all hours.
Instead of flying in the night before embarkation, we gave ourselves two full days to explore Manhattan on foot — walking from museums to Broadway theaters, taking the subway downtown, wandering through neighborhoods, and simply absorbing the city’s rhythm before boarding our ship in Brooklyn.
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We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn New York Central Park South, which proved an ideal location for a pre-cruise stay. Minutes after stepping out of the hotel, we were swept into the rhythm of Midtown — walking faster, looking up constantly, and already abandoning any realistic expectation of sticking to a schedule.
Unfortunately, we arrived at the hotel too late in the evening to dine in the attached restaurant, and we were hungry. Fortunately, this being New York, there was a local bodega right across the street. Their offerings of hot food and snacks got us through the night.
Why A Midtown Hotel Works So Well If You Stay In New York City Before A Cruise
For cruise travelers looking to make the most of a short stay in New York City, Midtown makes an excellent home base. Many of Manhattan’s iconic sights are within walking distance, Broadway is nearby, subway access is convenient, and there are endless restaurant options packed into just a few blocks. We were able to do almost everything on foot, which made the city feel surprisingly approachable.
Staying a couple of days before embarkation also takes much of the stress out of cruise travel. Instead of worrying about delayed flights or rushing straight to the terminal, we were able to slow down, explore the city, and let New York become part of the vacation itself.
H2 Day 1 — Midtown Manhattan on Foot
H3 Starting the Day at the Museum of Modern Art
Our first full day began at the Museum of Modern Art, better known as MoMA. On the way there, we stopped at Halo Deli for our morning caffeine and a bagel. You can always find a Starbucks, but trying a local place like Halo gets you into the City’s vibe.
Stepping inside MoMA felt like walking into an entirely different version of Manhattan. Outside, Midtown buzzed with traffic, horns, and crowds. Inside, everything suddenly slowed down into quiet galleries, soft lighting, and room after room of iconic artwork.
Even if you are not deeply immersed in the art world, MoMA is one of those museums that feels woven into the fabric of New York itself. You turn a corner and suddenly find yourself face-to-face with paintings and sculptures you have seen in books, movies, and documentaries for years. The museum is also larger than many people expect, and after a while, we found ourselves happily slowing our pace, lingering, and trying not to rush through to “see everything.”
Surprisingly, my favorite spot in the museum was not Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” or Monet’s “Water Lilies,” but the quiet garden on the first floor.
A Book Club Moment at the New York Public Library
From MoMA, we continued walking down Fifth Avenue toward the New York Public Library Main Branch, passing through Midtown’s constant motion before arriving at one of the city’s most beautiful buildings.
For me, this stop carried an extra layer of meaning. My book club had recently read The Lions of Fifth Avenue, a novel centered on the library itself, so seeing the famous marble lions standing guard outside felt strangely familiar, especially when I saw Patience and Fortitude at the entrance. It was as if I were stepping into a place I already knew.
Inside, the library somehow feels even grander than expected. The soaring ceilings, marble staircases, and the famous Rose Main Reading Room lend the building an almost cinematic quality. I found myself searching for the author’s imagined entrances to the secret passages that were so critical to the book’s theme.
Just outside, Bryant Park offered a completely different energy, with people relaxing in chairs, office workers eating lunch, and tourists pausing between sightseeing stops. In New York, even the quieter moments still feel alive.
Rockefeller Center and the Energy of Midtown
No matter how many times you see photos of Rockefeller Center, the real thing still feels unmistakably New York. Flags lined the plaza, music drifted through the crowds, and people moved in every direction at once — tourists taking photos, office workers weaving through the sidewalks, and theatergoers gathering for the evening.
We took the elevator to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, which offered one of the best panoramic views of Manhattan during the entire trip.
The elevator ride itself was surprisingly cinematic, with lights and projections transforming the ceiling as we shot upward toward the top floors. Once outside, the city seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction — Central Park opening like a giant green rectangle to the north, while the Empire State Building rose prominently to the south.
From above, Manhattan’s constant motion suddenly looked organized and almost peaceful, giving us a completely different perspective on the city we had been exploring block by block all day.
Ending the Day on Broadway with Six
As we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the show, we inadvertently wandered into Times Square. Screens flashed overhead in every direction, costumed characters posed for photos, street performers blasted music into the crowd, and thousands of people surged through the intersection at once. It was chaotic, over-the-top, and somehow exactly what you imagine New York should feel like the first time you experience it in person.
As evening arrived, we headed toward the Lena Horne Theatre to see Six.
Broadway at night feels electric. Theater marquees glow above the sidewalks, crowds gather outside entrances, and the entire district buzzes with anticipation as the curtains rise. Even standing outside, waiting to enter, feels like part of the performance.
Six turned out to be the perfect ending to our first day in New York — energetic, funny, fast-paced, and unmistakably Broadway. After spending the day walking through Manhattan, ending the evening in a historic theater somehow tied the whole experience together.
Day 2 — From Central Park to Lower Manhattan
Walking Central Park West to the Museum of Natural History
Our second day began with a completely different side of Manhattan.
Instead of Midtown’s constant intensity, we spent the morning walking along Central Park toward the American Museum of Natural History. The Upper West Side felt calmer and more residential, with tree-lined streets, neighborhood cafés, and glimpses of Central Park as we walked along the boulevard.
The museum itself is enormous, filled with everything from towering dinosaur skeletons to massive space exhibits and detailed cultural collections. Like MoMA, it is impossible to see everything in one visit, but that almost becomes part of the charm. You wander from one exhibit to another, never quite knowing what you will discover next.
The dinosaur exhibits always get to me. Whether it’s the massive T. rex or an incredibly tall and long Brachiosaurus, I can’t imagine how they actually roamed our same planet.
Riding the Subway Downtown
While we’ve been enjoying walking around Midtown so far, we decided to trade our walking shoes for the subway and head downtown toward Lower Manhattan. Fortunately, there is a subway stop right in the Natural History Museum.
For first-time visitors, the subway can seem intimidating at first glance, but in reality, it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city. Within minutes, we had traveled from the quieter Upper West Side to the heart of Lower Manhattan.
And don’t worry about getting tickets or tokens. The system has been upgraded to meet 2020 transit standards. You can tap your credit card, use Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone, or, for those truly tech-savvy, tap your watch. The subway is also the economical option, at just $3.00 per ride, or $1.50 if you’re over 65!
Using the subway also made the city feel more accessible and more real somehow — less like watching New York from the outside and more like briefly becoming part of its daily rhythm.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial
The atmosphere shifted noticeably once we arrived at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
After the constant movement and energy found throughout most of Manhattan, the memorial feels quieter and more reflective. Water flows endlessly into the enormous pools where the Twin Towers once stood, and the names engraved around the edges serve as a powerful reminder of the lives lost there.
Surrounded by modern skyscrapers and the city’s noise beyond, the memorial somehow creates its own sense of stillness. It is one of those places where people naturally lower their voices without being asked.
Visiting the memorial added a new emotional dimension to our New York experience and became one of the most memorable stops on the trip.
Wandering Through Tribeca
From the memorial, we continued walking through Tribeca, which felt worlds away from the bright lights of Midtown.
The streets here were quieter, lined with old industrial buildings converted into restaurants, apartments, and cafés. Cobblestones and smaller crowds gave the neighborhood a more relaxed atmosphere, making it the perfect final afternoon before embarkation day.
We lingered longer than planned, stopping for coffee and simply watching neighborhood life unfold around us before eventually making our way back uptown.
Eventually, we made our way back to Midtown for dinner, stopping at a nearby Mexican restaurant, Vida Verde. While the experience didn’t quite live up to expectations — especially for two Californians spoiled by great Mexican food — it still felt like part of the New York experience. In a city with endless options, not every meal becomes memorable for the reasons you expect.
After a lackluster dinner, we returned to the hotel, repacked our suitcases one final time, and prepared for the next stage of the journey — cruise day.
New York City Before A Cruise- Embarkation Day from Brooklyn
Heading to the Red Hook Cruise Terminal
The next morning, we left Manhattan behind and headed to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook. It was an easy Uber ride, and we got to cross the Brooklyn Bridge! You could take the ferry or subway, but with luggage, an Uber was the best choice for us.
After two days spent navigating Manhattan’s streets, suddenly seeing our ship docked in Brooklyn felt surreal. The city adventure was ending, and the voyage itself was finally beginning; the cruise suddenly felt real.
Embarkation went more smoothly than expected, and before long, we were on board, watching Manhattan from the deck as the skyline stretched across the harbor.
Sailing Past the Statue of Liberty
One of the great advantages of cruising from New York is the sailaway.
Passengers gathered along the railings as the ship slowly moved through the harbor past the Statue of Liberty. Cameras appeared everywhere, conversations paused, and for a few minutes, nearly everyone on board seemed to be focused on the same view.
Watching the Manhattan skyline slowly shrink behind us as Lady Liberty stood by the harbor felt like the perfect transition from city adventure to life at sea.
Passing Beneath the Verrazzano Bridge
As evening approached, the ship made its final dramatic passage beneath the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Passengers lined the upper decks, watching carefully as the massive bridge drew closer and closer overhead. It is one of those classic New York cruise moments that somehow feels bigger in person than in photographs.
And just like that, Manhattan faded into the distance behind us.
Our cruise may have officially started in Brooklyn, but before it even began, New York City became part of the adventure. New York never really slows down, even as your ship pulls away from the harbor. Long after the skyline disappeared behind us, the city’s energy still seemed to linger on board with us as we sailed out toward the open Atlantic.
Practical “Cruise Traveler” Tips For New York City Before Your Cruise
- Arrive at least 2 days early
- Wear real walking shoes, and depending on the time of year, prepare for inclement weather.
- Don’t overplan every hour
- Use the subway at least once, you’ll be surprised at how clean and easy it is!
- Uber to Red Hook is the easiest transportation with luggage
- Broadway tickets should be booked early. There are some day-of ticket sellers that offer cheap seats at the last minute, but you won’t get the best seats or the most popular show.
