Best New York Ships & Itineraries 2010

Editor’s Pick: the best ships and itineraries of 2010.

Over one million people sailed from New York’s three ports (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ) in 2008/9, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and that number is expected to increase in 20010.

Since 9/11, the number of ships and passengers increased to the point that additional berthing facilities were opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey. Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100+-day circumnavigation of the globe.

Editor’s Picks for the Best Ships and Itineraries of 2009/10

The New York Star: Queen Mary 2. Ballroom dancing to a live orchestra, high tea perfectly served, scholarly guest lecturers, a dog kennel and the ultimate in creature comforts keep the British maritime heritage alive and well.   The penultimate seagoing experience in New York!

Best Ships for Families: Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. A big kid pleaser due to her rock climbing wall, roller blading, ice-skating and private teen club, Explorer of the Seas is hugely popular with cruisers of all ages.

Top Luxury Ship: Crystal Symphony (Crystal Cruises) Boasting the top levels of food and service, penthouse suites with private butlers and onboard enrichment programs, Crystal Symphony steals the show in luxury cruising.

Best Itineraries: Princess Cruises wins the prize as the cruise line offering the most innovative itineraries.  From an eight-day Caribbean/Bermuda voyage to an 18=day voyage from New York to Dover by way of Greenland, Iceland and Scotland.

Best Ships For Laid-back Cruisers: The vessels of Norwegian Cruise Line. This company’s popular “Freestyle Cruising” program means you may opt to dine in numerous restaurants when and with whom you please. And, no tuxes required.

Best Onboard Dining Program: Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess. Princess offers the choice of single open seating dining or traditional two seating dining plus a Lido Restaurant that serves great food 24 hours per day.

BEST ITINERARIES OF 2010

Caribbean: (Princess) Caribbean Princess sails on nine-day Eastern Caribbean voyages round-trip from Brooklyn to Bermuda, Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Thomas

Bermuda: In 2010 we’ll see double the number of ships sailing round-trip from New York to Bermuda.  In terms of itinerary alone, Holland America’s Veendam wins the prize because she’s the only ship docking in Hamilton and St. Charles.   Other vessels must dock in the “Dockyards”, away from most sightseeing.  And, you’ll have to take a ferry to get to Hamilton, the capital.

NOTE:  Both Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Summit sail on five day Bermuda cruises from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ.  Norwegian Cruise Line’ Norwegian Dawn makes seven-day Bermuda voyages from Manhattan from April through October in 2009/10.

Canada/New England: Princess’s Crown Princess sails on ten-night cruises between Brooklyn and Quebec City (with an overnight stay aboard the ship), departing Sept. 23, Oct. 3 and 13, 2009 . Ports of call are Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown

Europe: Six-night transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton aboard Queen Mary 2. It you only take one ship in your life I hope it is a crossing aboard QM 2

Short Cruises: Take four- or five-night Labor Day cruises aboard Queen Mary 2 from Brooklyn in 2009 to get a short sample of this magnificent liner.   And, Carnival Cruise Line’s 4- and 5-day Canada/New England cruises are a sublime escape from New York.

Best Long Cruise: The 680-passenger Tahitian Princess sails from New York on several noteworthy itineraries.  For example, the 18-day “Fire & Ice Explorer” itinerary between New York and Dover (U.K.) visits ports in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and Norway.  From Dover to NY, departing July 7, 2009. Departing July 25, 2009 from New York to Dover.

Copyright Anne Campbell, 20010