Ports of Departure – Manhattan, New York

Broadway and Times Square and bright lights, oh my! New York is one of the top destinations to visit in the whole world, so it only makes sense that so many cruises depart from the New York cruise ports. If you are taking a cruise that is departing from Manhattan, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Plan to stay in Manhattan at least a couple of days and nights! Why nights? Well, this is the city that never sleeps and some of the most exciting things happen when the sun goes down here. For example, Broadway shows! Yes, you can usually catch a pretty decent matinee, but there is something so special and magical about going to a Broadway show at night. Seeing the marquee lit up, people dressing a little fancier because it's a night out and there is more of a guarantee that the top billed performers will actually perform instead of the understudies.
2. You'll want to hit the typical tourist landmarks while you're in town, but depending on how long you can stay you will likely have to get picky. The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building and the Museum of Modern Art are just a few of the places to visit. Make sure you plan your itinerary out in advance being sure you know exactly which spots are your must see destinations. Also give yourself plenty of time and wiggle room to visit your top choices. Waiting to go to the observation deck of the Empire State Building alone could be a several hour ordeal.
3. You gotta try the pie! Pizza pie, that is. Is it something in the water? People from all over the globe swear that the pizza in New York is the best pizza on the planet.
4. If you're visiting during the holidays you have to go to go to Rockefeller Center and enjoy the massive tree they put on display annually. Bonus points if you stay for ice skating too!
5. Finally, study the subway system before you get to New York. The last thing you want is to be the obvious tourist unsure on which train to hop on. Or worse, you could be the one looking at a map!

Ready to plan your upcoming cruise? Give Imperial Cruise & Travel a call at (480) 758-5147 and let's start planning your dream trip today!