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CRUISING TO NEW YORK:
CAPE LIBERTY CRUISE TERMINAL |
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Although Cape Liberty serves New York Harbor, it is actually in Bayonne, New Jersey. The cruise terminal occupies a portion of a long man-made peninsula that juts out into the harbor not far from the Statue of Liberty.
The peninsula was created by private industry in the 1930s. However, as World War II approached, the Navy became interested in the site and built an extensive base there including a large dry dock, which is still in use. The base was used for ship repair and as a logistical trans-shipment facility. In 1965, Army facilities were added and the name changed from the Bayonne Navy Base to the Military Ocean Terminal - - Bayonne. The base continued to fulfill the role as a primary military logistical shipment center through the First Gulf War. Following a recommendation of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the base was closed in 1999 at a cost of some 2,500 civilian jobs. However, in December 2003, Royal Caribbean announced an agreement with the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority to create a cruise port in the old base. A new cruise terminal opened in October 2005 with a sailing by Voyager of the Seas. It was located in a converted warehouse at the far end of the peninsula. It was not a very satisfactory facility as once guests finished checking in they had to board a bus that took them to the ship. All of that changed in 2014 when a state-of-the-art cruise terminal opened at Cape Liberty. Housed in a new building close to the ship, guests now walk to and from the ship. Outside the terminal is a large paved area used for dropping off passengers. This area is also where chartered buses and taxis wait to pick up passengers after a cruise. Nearby, is a multi-level parking facility. Cape Liberty is close to and accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike. The cruise port is relatively close to Newark Liberty Airport so if you are flying in or out, Newark will be the most convenient of the area airports. Getting to Cape Liberty from Manhattan by public transportation is somewhat complicated. You have to take the Port Authority PATH subway or one of the New York Waterways ferries to New Jersey. Once there you have to take the Hudson-Bergan Light Rail to the Bayonne 34th Street station. Next, you have to call one of the local taxi companies and request a cab to take you to the terminal. Although you will be able to see the ship from the Light Rail station, it is still a considerable distance and it is not feasible to walk. Royal Caribbean sails from Bayonne year-round and its sister company Celebrity Cruises sails from there seasonally. On very rare occasions, ships from other lines berth there. FOR PROFILES OF NEW YORK HARBOR'S OTHER CRUISE PORTS
Click here for the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Click here for the Manhattan Cruise Terminal |
Above: The entrance to the terminal building.
Above: Adjacent to the terminal is a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. It was donated by Russia.
Below: Anthem of the Seas at Cape Liberty. 
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Cruise port New York - cruise ports - Cape Liberty cruise port