New York Celebrates Its 400th Anniversary
June 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Hottest Itineraries
The first person to sail into New York harbor was Henry Hudson aboard the Half Moon in 1609.
While his visit was less than idyllic — he reported numerous fights with natives, killing, drunkenness, looting and kidnapping – Hudson set the stage for what became one of the greatest ports in the world. When sailing in and our of my city, passengers silently line the decks as the ship slowly sails beneath the Verazano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty and the towering canyons of Manhattan. Cruise passengers are continuing a 400-year tradition in the steps of Hudson and the millions of visitors and immigrants who followed him, including our ancestors.
While the creation of airplane jet engines resulted in the demise of the great liners that plied the transatlantic route between Europe and New York in the first half of the 20th century, the city is once again a major hub of passenger shipping. Today you can still dress to the nines and take a Cunard Liner between Southampton and New York (the experience is better than the movies!).
Over a dozen ships sail on regularly-scheduled voyages including three that sail year-round.
After 9/11, when travelers were reluctant to fly, the cruise industry discovered “Homeland Cruising” was a huge magnet to attract new passengers. In 2002, Norwegian Cruise Line positioned the Norwegian Dawn to sail year-round from New York to the Bahamas and Florida.
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.
Welcome to the greatest city on earth! I’ve spent a lifetime traveling to all corners of the globe, visited every continent on earth and strolled the streets of Europe’s sophisticated capital cities. In my opinion none of it holds a candle to New York, my hometown. Whether a first-time visitor or one who knows this city well, I urge you to extend your cruise vacation and spend time exploring the myriad delights of the Big Apple.
Diverse experience range from viewing the world’s greatest art to riding a bike around Manhattan, taking an advanced culinary course from master chefs, attending performances by the best in Jazz, dance and every kind of music and paying tribute to thousands who died at Ground Zero.
While I’ve lived in New York for decades, fascinating new experiences pop up every week. In the “Best of New York” you’ll find suggestions on sightseeing, hotels, entertainment and shopping. I’m a typical New Yorker in that I love showing off my city and wish you a visit rich in memorable experiences.
Welcome!
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NCL Adds Second Ship in New York 2010/11
The cruise industry is adding tonnage to the port of New York, including Norwegian Cruise Line, which will position two cruise ships here over the winter of 2010/11. Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem, both carrying 2380 passengers, will sail from Manhattan on 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting San Juan; St. Thomas; Antigua; St. Maarten and Tortola.
NCL will also continue to offer seven-day Bahamas/Florida cruises from New York, stopping in Orlando; NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.
Royal Caribbean Enhances Family Cruising Program
Royal Caribbean was already the top cruise line for kids programs but over the past six months, the company has added even more options for families traveling with children.
Sailing from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ, RCI’s Explorer of the Seas now offers special programs for infants (six to 18 months) and tots (18 months to three years) such as Crayola sessions for tots. In addition, families traveling with infants can pack much lighter with the “Babies 2 Go” option which allows parents to pre-order diapers, wipes, cream and organic baby food which will be in their stateroom when they board the ship. Those who opt for the “Sitters at Sea” program can arrange for an RCI staff member to babysit in the cabin (children 12 and above).
The new “My Family Time Dining” is an expedited dinner service for kids so they can return to their play areas earlier. When the children finish dinner a Royal Caribbean staff member will escort them from the dining room back to their play area.
Explorer of the Seas offers a rock-climbing wall, ice skating, roller blading on deck and the whole family can play through nine holes of miniature golf. The cruise line offers supervised activities for children by age group: Aquanauts (ages 3 – 5), Explorers (ages 6 – 8), and Voyagers (ages 9 – 11). Teens, aged 12 to 17, will find a private “Living Room” hangout, a disco and private areas on deck for sun bathing.
Insurance For Worry-free Cruising
Once in a while a new product or service pops up that is perfect for the times we live in. Access America is offering travel insurance that, for this cruiser, alleviates all the worrisome reasons for not booking a cruise far in advance.
The new Access America Classic plan includes trip cancellation for practically any eventuality I can imagine. From loss of a job, financial ruin and the birth or death of a family member to terrorism, illness of a family member and jury duty, the Classic plan is based on the cost of your vacation. For example, if my cruise is $1000, I’ll pay $85 for the comprehensive plan.
Additional coverage is standard travel insurance fare: trip interruption or cancellation, baggage loss and delay, missed connections plus getting sick anywhere in the world. The policy also covers pre-exhisting medical conditions.
The only requriement is that the plan must be purchased at least 14 days before departure. You can purchase this policy through your travel agent or directly from Access America.