The Big Apple: Five Compelling Reasons Why You Should Cruise To New York

• Iconic Attractions and Entertainment: New York, a major home port for many top cruise lines, offers instantly recognisable sights like the majestic skyline, featuring the Empire State Building and One World Trade Centre.

• A Diverse Culinary and Cultural Destination: The city is a dining paradise, boasting approximately 26,500 restaurants that offer an endless range of global cuisines, from dim sum in Chinatown to classic New York-style pizza and pastrami sandwiches.

• Urban Oasis and Architectural Feats: Amidst the monumental skyscrapers, visitors can find an oasis of calm in Central Park.

New York is one of the top-rated tourist destinations worldwide, with an average of 60 million people visiting each year. 

Fondly, and famously, known as The Big Apple or The City That Never Sleeps, it’s also one of the most recognisable cities in the world. In addition, it has more restaurants, museums and tourist attractions than almost any other metropolis, making it one of the most exciting destinations to visit for many discerning travellers.

Many top cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, have New York as their home port for their top vessels, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to visit this spectacular city on a cruise. 

There are lots of different types of cruises to choose from to see New York as part of your cruise itinerary, whether it is a transatlantic crossing from Southampton with Cunard or a seven-night Princess Cruise departing from the city, visiting gorgeous ports on the Eastside of the USA and Canada, including Halifax, Saint John and Boston. 

Here are our five fantastic reasons why we think you should book your next cruise to the Big Apple:

1. The Iconic Skyline

We’ve all seen it in movies, but experience the immense, towering district of Manhattan in person and you’ll be in awe at the imposing skyline of towering buildings that make you feel about two feet tall. The tallest skyscraper in the city, and all of the United States, is the One World Trade Center, standing at an impressive 541m. 

The Empire State Building is perhaps the most famous though. Completed in 1931, it has a tip that reaches 443.2m. Take a trip to the 102nd floor to admire the stunning views all across New York and to get a genuine appreciation of this city’s epic feats of architecture.

2. The Home of Broadway

For those who love classic Broadway entertainment on board cruise ships, you’re in for a real treat in New York. 

Head to Times Square and the beating heart of Broadway itself, where 41 mainstream theatres have accumulated in a blaze of multicoloured neon lights. With a rich and diverse history, Broadway exudes glitz, glamour and the thrill of anticipation of some of the best theatres in the world.

3. The Ultimate Destination for Dining

Dining out in New York is not reserved for special occasions; it’s an everyday occasion. And, with kitchen space so limited in New York apartments, this is hardly a surprise. 

There are approximately 26,500 restaurants in the city, including some of the world’s best fine-dining restaurants and innovative eateries.

With restaurants spanning a range of price points, New Yorkers have access to almost every cuisine imaginable for their daily delight. From Chinatown’s dim sum and shrimp dumplings to Jewish kosher delis and Parisian bistros serving traditional steak Frites, the choices are endless.

During your visit, you must try an iconic New York-style pizza or a delicious pastrami sandwich - beloved city staples!

4. The Immensely Diverse Culture

The American Dream has attracted people to New York from all over the world, creating an incredibly eclectic mix of arts, cuisine, literature and traditions all in one buzzing city. 

Millions of immigrants have settled in New York, finding a corner of this city to make their own. Walk between the boroughs to explore Irish, Italian, Asian, Russian, Indian and Latin American districts, each with its own fascinating attributes and interesting landmarks to explore.

5. A Green Haven Amidst an Urban Landscape

In the middle of New York, surrounded by monumental skyscrapers, is an oasis of calm: Central Park. In such contrast to the buzz of the city, in this vast green space, you can wander around quiet lakes, shrubbery and the tens of thousands of trees, amid other flora and fauna.

Here, you’ll also discover the bronze sculpture of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Strawberry fields, the living memorial to the late Beatle John Lennon. Open from April to November every year, you’ll find some of the world’s most incredible animals at the Central Park Zoo, which is heavily involved in preserving endangered species. 

In the spring, gaze at the stunning Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry blossoms and Magnolia trees in bloom or if you’re visiting later in the year, the park turns into a glorious winter wonderland, where you can skate on the ice rinks or sledge on the freshly laid snow.

There are many, many more reasons to visit New York. It rightly earns its status as one of the most iconic cities in the world. Whether you enjoy a stopover here during one of the bookends of your cruise or only have a day or two on your cruise itinerary, we’re sure your visit to this modern, magnificent, inviting city will be one of the memorable highlights of your cruise holiday.