Manhattan Cruise Terminal — Information Guide

Manhattan Cruise Terminal is located on the Hudson River on Manhattan's West Side, in the Hell's Kitchen/Midtown West area.

• Official name: Manhattan Cruise Terminal
• Former name: New York City Passenger Ship Terminal
• Address: 711 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
• Vehicle entrance: 12th Avenue at West 55th Street
• Main telephone: (212) 641-4440
• Location: Hudson River waterfront, between roughly West 48th and West 52nd Streets
• Primary piers: Piers 88 and 90; Pier 92 is part of the historic complex but is not normally the primary passenger embarkation pier today.
• Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen / Midtown West
• Airport options: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR)

View the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Google Maps

The terminal's vehicle entrance is particularly important: if you're driving, the cruise-line information may give you the terminal address, but the actual vehicle entrance is at 12th Avenue and West 55th Street.

What is the terminal like?

Don't expect a glamorous, resort-style cruise terminal. The Manhattan terminal is essentially a large, utilitarian industrial waterfront facility designed to handle very large numbers of passengers efficiently.

The facility dates back to the 1930s, when it was built as the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal. It was substantially renovated in the 1970s. Its location directly on the Hudson gives it an enormous advantage, however: sailing out of Manhattan is one of the more spectacular cruise departures in the United States.

Depending on your itinerary, you may get views of:

• Midtown Manhattan
• Hudson River
• New Jersey waterfront
• George Washington Bridge
• Statue of Liberty
• Lower Manhattan skyline
• New York Harbor

The terminal has historically handled transatlantic voyages as well as cruises to Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Caribbean.

Piers and ship assignments

Your particular ship determines which pier you'll use. Pier 88 is currently the principal Norwegian berth, while Pier 90 is used seasonally/for overflow and by various other cruise lines. Assignments can change, so you should always follow your cruise line's embarkation instructions rather than assuming you'll use Pier 88.

Cruise lines that use Manhattan Cruise Terminal

The terminal can serve a surprisingly large variety of cruise lines. Current/recent listings include:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Cunard
• Seabourn
• MSC Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Silversea
• Explora Journeys
• Viking Expeditions
• Azamara

Not every line operates from Manhattan year-round. Cruise schedules are seasonal, and some ships may use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal instead, so your cruise documents are the final authority.

Parking at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Parking is one of the most important things to understand before driving here.

On-site terminal parking

The terminal has rooftop parking directly on/above the cruise pier, which is extremely convenient because your car is essentially at the ship.

Parking style

This is essentially open-air rooftop/pier parking, rather than a conventional enclosed Manhattan garage.

Advantages:

• You don't have to take a taxi or shuttle from an off-site garage.
• Your vehicle is at the terminal for the duration of the cruise.
• No additional transfer between your car and the ship.
• Very convenient if you're traveling with children, elderly passengers or lots of luggage.

Disadvantages:

• It's expensive.
• Parking capacity can be limited on busy sailing days.
• You're driving into one of the busiest parts of Manhattan.
• There is a vehicle-height restriction.

The terminal's published information indicates an approximately 8-foot height restriction for rooftop parking, so measure vehicles with roof boxes, luggage carriers or other equipment before relying on terminal parking.

Payment

Current information indicates that terminal parking is credit-card only; cash has not been accepted since 2020.

One unusual thing about parking

If you're driving and parking at the terminal, don't assume you can pull up, unload all your luggage, and then go park the car.

The current parking instructions generally have drivers park first and then take their luggage down to the passenger/check-in area. This is different from what many cruise passengers are accustomed to at other ports.

Off-site parking alternatives

There are several garages in the surrounding Hell's Kitchen/Midtown West area.

Manhattan Cruise Parking

660 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036

This is an indoor garage marketed specifically toward Manhattan Cruise Terminal passengers. It offers a valet-style service, which can be attractive if you don't want to drive onto the pier.

The major advantage is that you can potentially get a lower daily rate than the terminal's $45 rate, although pricing varies considerably by sailing date and reservation.

Park Right

670 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036

This is another nearby indoor/valet garage. It is particularly convenient for passengers who want to leave their vehicle in a covered garage rather than on the pier roof.

Other garages

The terminal itself has historically identified garages including:

• iPark — 518 West 43rd Street
• Enterprise 57 Parking — 640 West 57th Street

Published rates for these facilities can change, so I would reserve and verify the exact cruise-week rate before driving there rather than assuming a normal Manhattan daily rate applies.

Some nearby third-party garages advertise rates below $45/day, but there's an important catch: a low hourly or "starting at" rate isn't necessarily the price you'll pay for a 5–10 day cruise.

My parking recommendation

If convenience is your priority, I'd choose the terminal's $45/night parking.

If you're taking a longer cruise and trying to save money, investigate an off-site garage with a guaranteed cruise-parking rate and confirmed transportation to/from the terminal.

For a week-long cruise, even saving $15–$20 per day can add up to more than $100.

Hotels near Manhattan Cruise Terminal

There are many hotels within approximately a 5–20 minute taxi/rideshare ride, and some are close enough to walk if you don't have substantial luggage.

Very close options

Ink48 Hotel
653 11th Avenue

This is one of the closest upscale hotels to the terminal, approximately 0.2 mile away according to current hotel listings. It's particularly attractive if you want to stay close to the terminal the night before your cruise.

Hotel Guides

YOTEL New York Times Square
570 10th Avenue

A modern, relatively compact hotel with a technology-oriented design. It's convenient to the cruise terminal and Hudson Yards/Times Square. The rooms tend to be smaller than traditional full-service hotels, so it's worth considering how much luggage you'll have.

The Westin New York at Times Square

A good option if you'd like to combine your pre-cruise stay with sightseeing. Times Square is close enough that you can walk to many attractions, while the terminal is a short taxi/rideshare ride away.

New York Marriott Marquis

Another excellent choice if sightseeing is part of your trip. It's right in Times Square and gives you easy access to Broadway, restaurants and Midtown attractions.

Why I recommend staying the night before

If you're flying or driving a substantial distance to New York, I strongly recommend arriving the day before your cruise rather than trying to reach the ship the morning it departs.

New York traffic can be unpredictable, and you don't want a delayed flight, traffic accident, tunnel backup or weather problem to jeopardize your cruise.

Staying near the terminal gives you:

• Much less stress on embarkation morning
• More time to explore New York
• A short taxi/rideshare ride to the terminal
• A backup if transportation gets delayed
• More flexibility with your cruise's assigned check-in time

Transportation to the terminal

Taxi / Uber / Lyft

For most travelers, this is probably the easiest option.

Tell the driver: "Manhattan Cruise Terminal, 12th Avenue and 55th Street."

Don't simply say "New York cruise terminal," because there are multiple cruise facilities in the New York area.

Subway

The terminal isn't directly on top of a subway station, so if you're carrying substantial luggage, I'd generally recommend a taxi/rideshare from your hotel.

The A/C/E and 1 trains can get you into the general area, but you'll have some walking afterward.

From the airports

You have three major airport choices:

• LaGuardia (LGA) — generally the closest geographically.
• JFK — farther away but served by extensive public transportation.
• Newark Liberty (EWR) — across the Hudson in New Jersey and often a very practical option for Manhattan.

Your choice should depend heavily on airfare and traffic rather than simply choosing the geographically closest airport.

Terminal amenities

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is more functional than luxurious.

You can expect:

• Restrooms
• Passenger check-in areas
• Security screening
• Customs/immigration facilities for arriving passengers
• Elevators/escalators
• Some seating
• Limited food/snack options
• Wi-Fi

Don't expect a major airport-style shopping or dining experience.

One particularly important detail: there is no luggage-storage facility at the terminal. If you arrive in Manhattan early or want to spend several hours sightseeing after your cruise, you'll need to make separate luggage-storage arrangements.

Things to do nearby

The terminal is actually in a fantastic location for sightseeing.

Within the surrounding area you have:

• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
• Times Square
• Broadway theaters
• Hudson Yards
• The Vessel
• The High Line
• Chelsea Market
• Central Park
• Rockefeller Center
• Radio City Music Hall
• Fifth Avenue shopping

The Intrepid Museum is particularly close and is worth considering if you arrive a day early.

Important tips for cruise passengers

1. Confirm your pier before leaving your hotel. Don't assume every ship uses Pier 88. Your cruise line will tell you which terminal/pier is being used.
2. Don't confuse Manhattan and Brooklyn. This is probably the single biggest mistake to avoid. New York has Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side of Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, Brooklyn. They are completely different facilities.
3. Arrive the day before if you're flying. I wouldn't recommend flying into New York on the morning your cruise departs unless you have a very substantial buffer.
4. Don't underestimate Manhattan traffic. The terminal is easy to locate, but getting through Midtown can take considerably longer than the distance on the map suggests.
5. Check your vehicle height. Especially if you're driving an SUV, van, pickup, RV or vehicle with a roof carrier.
6. Reserve parking if possible. The terminal parking situation can be affected by how many ships are operating that day. Don't assume you'll automatically find a space.
7. Don't leave your luggage unattended. Because the terminal does not provide luggage storage, arrange a hotel or independent luggage-storage service if you have time to kill before or after your cruise.
8. Keep your cruise documents accessible. Have your cruise-line app, boarding documents, passports/identification and luggage tags readily available when you arrive.

Overall assessment

• Location: Excellent. Being in Midtown Manhattan is a major advantage.
• Convenience: Very good once you reach the terminal.
• Parking: Extremely convenient but expensive at approximately $45/night.
• Terminal facilities: Functional rather than luxurious.
• Sightseeing potential: Outstanding. You can easily turn a cruise departure into a New York vacation.

Best feature: The Manhattan location and spectacular sail-away experience.

Biggest drawback: Driving and parking can be expensive and stressful.

Best strategy for most cruisers: Stay in Midtown/Hell's Kitchen the night before, use a taxi/rideshare to the terminal, and avoid driving into Manhattan unless you specifically need to bring your car.

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