Cruising from the Big Apple!

When it comes to Caribbean Cruises, you may be thinking that the only way to do it is to endure a long, cramped flight to Miami, Barbados, San Juan? Wrong! Did you know that there a few different cruise lines that sail from the centre of New York City itself! Now you may, or may not be surprised by this fact, but it is often overlooked by the British market as a cruise departure port. An extended city break? Why not get the best of both worlds, both city and the seductive beaches of the Caribbean?

From this….

To this!

Royal Caribbean currently has Explorer of the Seas sailing from New York, visiting Bermuda and the Caribbean, and Quantum of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s brand new ship sailing from NYC from November 2014! Both ships offer 7 night sailings that will take you to beautiful Bermuda, where you’ll spend an entire three days enjoying their culture and fabulous beaches before spending a day or two at sea to return to New York, this type of itinerary only visits one destination, now this means that the cost may be lower than cruises that visit many ports of call, but perfect for a cheap multi-centre holiday! Both ships still offer some longer sailings to the Caribbean, sailing as far as Cozumel Mexico in 14 nights.

Explorer of the Seas in Bermuda.

Quantum of the Seas is out of the ship yard and ready for sea trials.

Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Line also offer very similar sailings with their 2013 launched ship, Norwegian Breakaway, and the Norwegian Gem, launched in 2007. Celebrity currently operates Celebrity Summit from New York, again with the 7 night ‘overnight in port’ itinerary and also the longer duration’s to the Caribbean.

Fancy something different, and can’t see yourself on an American ship? Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is offering a few special sailings from New York this year, Celebrating USA’s Independence Day, visiting New England, and Canada. She’s also offering some Caribbean sailings from Southampton or New York (depending on whether you want to do the two Transatlantic legs or not) over Christmas and New Year. Although she is probably the most British Ocean Liner out there, I can almost guarantee it will be full of Americans wish to get a slice of traditional Britain closer to home.

Queen Mary 2 offers a regular transatlantic service between Southampton and New York.

So what do you think? Undoubtedly a fantastic way to enjoy a shorter 6-7 hour flight and still visit the Tropics? Mixing City with Beach, this has to be the best way. Let me know?