Departure port · Cape Liberty Cruise Port · New Jersey
Cruises from Bayonne
Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, is Royal Caribbean’s New York-area homeport, with year-round sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas including Perfect Day at CocoCay, the Caribbean and, in fall, Canada and New England. It sits on a peninsula facing the Statue of Liberty, about 20 minutes from Newark airport, with easy on-site parking, so it’s often simpler to reach than the Manhattan piers.
- Bermuda
- Bahamas
- Caribbean
- Eastern Caribbean
- Canada & New England
Photo: JMcgo1979, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cruise port
- Cape Liberty Cruise Port
- Location
- Bayonne, New Jersey
- Main destinations
- Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Cruise lines
- 2 lines sail from here
Sailing from Bayonne
Cape Liberty occupies the tip of a long peninsula jutting into Upper New York Bay from Bayonne, on the site of the former Military Ocean Terminal. Across the water you see the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline, and some of the largest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet sail from here, including, in recent seasons, an Oasis-class megaship.
Royal Caribbean dominates the schedule. Bermuda round trips of five to seven nights run from spring to fall. Seven- to nine-night Bahamas cruises call at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, often with Port Canaveral or Orlando, and longer winter voyages reach the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Fall brings Canada and New England sailings to Boston, Portland, Saint John and Halifax. Celebrity and other lines have used the terminal in some seasons.
Cape Liberty is a great fit if you live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or the Hudson Valley, or if you fly into Newark. Many New Yorkers use it too, but getting there from Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens without a car takes some planning, and winter departures south start with cold, sometimes rough days at sea.
Where cruises from Bayonne go
Bermuda cruises
Mainly April to early November; best May and June, with warm seas into October. Few or no sailings December to February.
Bahamas cruises
Year-round; warmest dry weather March to May. Cooler water December to February; hurricane season June 1 to November 30.
Caribbean cruises
Year-round; driest and busiest December to April. Hurricane season June 1 to November 30, most active August to October.
Eastern Caribbean cruises
Year-round; best December to April. This route is the most exposed to Atlantic hurricanes, especially August to October.
Canada & New England cruises
May to October; fall foliage late September to mid-October, warmest July and August.
Cruise lines sailing from Bayonne
Cape Liberty Cruise Port cruise terminals
There is one main terminal building beside the berth, with a large parking lot and a covered drop-off area out front. Porters take checked bags at the curb, then you go inside for security and check-in before boarding. On days when more than one ship is in port, follow signs for your vessel. Arrive in your assigned window; check-in for an Oasis-class ship moves more slowly than for a mid-size ship, so give yourself time, and aim to be on board at least an hour before departure.
Getting to the port
Flying in
Newark Liberty International (EWR) is the closest airport, about 10 miles (16 km) and typically 20 to 30 minutes by car. LaGuardia (LGA) is roughly 45 minutes to over an hour away, and JFK about an hour or more, depending on bridge and tunnel traffic. Taxis, car services and rideshare all make the trip, and Royal Caribbean sells transfers on many sailings.
Driving
Take the New Jersey Turnpike Extension (I-78) to Exit 14A for Bayonne, then follow Route 440 south and the signs for Cape Liberty onto Port Terminal Boulevard. From Staten Island, cross the Bayonne Bridge and continue north on Route 440. From Manhattan, the Holland Tunnel connects to the Turnpike Extension.
Parking
A large paid lot sits right beside the terminal, charged per day, and it’s the main reason many drivers prefer Cape Liberty to the Manhattan piers. You walk from your car to the drop-off area in a few minutes. A few hotels in Bayonne and near Newark airport sell park-and-cruise packages with shuttles.
Where to stay before a cruise from Bayonne
Bayonne has a handful of hotels a few minutes from the port, the easiest choice for an early boarding time. Jersey City’s waterfront, around Exchange Place and Newport, is 15 to 20 minutes away and has hotels with Manhattan skyline views, plus PATH trains into the city. Hotels near Newark airport are convenient for fly-in cruisers, and staying in Manhattan works if you budget for a longer car ride on sailing day.
Things to do in Bayonne before or after your cruise
- 1
Liberty State Park and the Statue of Liberty
history
About 15 minutes north of the port, Liberty State Park has a waterfront promenade facing the Statue and the skyline, and official ferries from here visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The New Jersey departure point is often less crowded than Battery Park in Manhattan. The restored Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal stands beside the ferry dock.
- 2
Tear Drop Memorial
history
Next to the cruise port at the tip of the peninsula, this 10-story sculpture, formally titled ‘To the Struggle Against World Terrorism’, was given by Russia in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001 and 1993 World Trade Center attacks. A giant teardrop hangs in a split bronze tower facing Lower Manhattan.
- 3
Liberty Science Center
family
Inside Liberty State Park, this large hands-on science museum has a planetarium, live animal exhibits and interactive galleries that keep children busy for hours. It’s a good pre-cruise option for families who want to stay close to the port.
- 4
Jersey City and Hoboken waterfront
scenery
The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway links Jersey City’s Exchange Place with Hoboken, with close-up views of Lower Manhattan across the river. Hoboken, Frank Sinatra’s birthplace, has a lively main street of bars and restaurants and frequent PATH trains into Manhattan.
- 5
Day in Manhattan
culture
From Bayonne, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail connects with PATH trains to Lower Manhattan and Midtown, so you can spend a day on the High Line, at the 9/11 Memorial or seeing a Broadway show and return to New Jersey for the night. Allow 45 minutes or more each way.
When cruises sail from Bayonne
Royal Caribbean sails from Cape Liberty year-round. Bermuda cruises run from about April to October, Canada and New England sailings cluster in late summer and fall, peaking with the foliage in late September and October, and Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries take over from about November to April. Summer weekends are the busiest days. Winter sailings start and end in cold weather, and the stretch past Cape Hatteras can be rough.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 394 | 426 | 4910 | 6016 | 7021 | 7926 | 8730 | 8529 | 7926 | 6820 | 5513 | 457 |
| Low °F (°C) | 26-4 | 26-3 | 320 | 415 | 5211 | 6116 | 6921 | 6820 | 6116 | 5010 | 383 | 310 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.1103 | 3.487 | 4.4112 | 4.1104 | 4.1105 | 3.896 | 5.4137 | 4.5114 | 4.1104 | 4.1105 | 3.793 | 4.8122 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Embarkation day tips
- Be on the top deck for departure. Ships pull away with the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline in view across the bay, then head south under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a sail-away few ports can match.
- Fly into Newark if you can. It’s much closer than LaGuardia or JFK, and you avoid the bridges and tunnels that make New York transfers unpredictable.
- Without a car, take NJ Transit’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the 34th Street station in Bayonne and a short taxi or rideshare to the terminal, rather than a long cab from Manhattan.
- Pack layers for any sailing between October and April. Even a Bahamas cruise can mean a near-freezing sail-away from Bayonne and a blustery first sea day.
- Don’t confuse Cape Liberty with the Manhattan or Brooklyn cruise terminals. Booking sites often label all three as ‘New York’.
Cruises from Bayonne: FAQs
Where is the Cape Liberty cruise port?
In Bayonne, New Jersey, at the end of a peninsula on Upper New York Bay, opposite the Statue of Liberty. It’s about 20 to 30 minutes from Newark airport and roughly 30 to 60 minutes by car from Lower Manhattan, depending on traffic.
What airport is closest to Cape Liberty?
Newark Liberty International, about 10 miles away and typically 20 to 30 minutes by car. LaGuardia and JFK are both much farther in traffic, often an hour or more.
Is there parking at Cape Liberty Cruise Port?
Yes. A large paid lot sits right next to the terminal, charged per day, and it rarely causes problems. Some local hotels also offer park-and-cruise packages with a shuttle.
How do you get to Cape Liberty from Manhattan?
By car or taxi through the Holland Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike Extension, usually 30 to 60 minutes. By public transit, take PATH to Jersey City, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Bayonne’s 34th Street station and a short taxi to the port.
Which cruise lines sail from Cape Liberty?
Royal Caribbean is the main line, sailing year-round to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Canada and New England. Celebrity and other lines have used the port in some seasons, so check current schedules.
Is Cape Liberty the same as the New York cruise port?
No. Cape Liberty is in New Jersey, separate from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Cruise lines often market it as ‘New York (Cape Liberty)’, so double-check your boarding documents.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.