Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner in the world that offers a regular service between Southampton and New York City. It is an iconic route steeped in hundreds of years of history and one that to this day still remains a popular form of travel between the U.K. and the U.S.A.
As this is such a popular cruise, we decided to put together this blog which highlights some of the shore excursions offered in New York, where Queen Mary 2 docks and when you can embark on one of these wonderful crossings – in short, it is all you need to know about exploring New York with Queen Mary 2.
Cunard New York Excursions
Cunard offer a wide range of shore excursion options on voyages calling into New York City and they include:
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – Duration: 6-hours – After a brief drive to Battery Park, you will board the ferry across to Liberty Island – taking in the beauty of the New York City skyline as you go – and enjoy time to explore the base of Lady Liberty, gift shop and the exterior exhibits. Next you will re-board your ferry and head to Ellis Island, which was the main immigration centre for the United States from 1892 until World War II. More than 12 million immigrants were processed at the island, and today over 40% of Americans can trace some part of their ancestry back to Ellis Island. Free time is offered here before you make the return journey to Queen Mary 2.
New York Highlights – Duration 4-hours – This tour offers some of the most iconic buildings in all of New York City: the Rockerfeller Centre, Times Square, the Theatre District, Empire State Building, St Patrick’s Cathedral and more, all from the comfort of your coach. You will travel through New York neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village, Little Italy, the Financial District and Fifth Avenue. The highlight of this tour is a visit to St Paul’s Chapel. Built in 1766, it’s Manhattan’s oldest public building in continuous use with an historic cemetery. It also features an exhibit honoring the voluntary ministry that supported recovery workers immediately following the 9/11 tragedy.
9/11 Memorial & Museum – Duration 4 1/2 hours – You will leave Queen Mary 2 and head towards the World Trade Centre area. You will be given approx. 2 hours to explore the 9/11 Memorial Museum independently before meeting your guide and walking across to the 9/11 Memorial. The museum houses a growing collection of images, audio and video tapes, personal effects and expressions of tribute and remembrance and recorded testimonies.
A Walk Around Central Park – Duration 4-hours – The title of this tour is pretty self explanatory. You will stop at areas including, Central Park Mall, Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields and Central Park’s Belvedere. You’ll also have the opportunity to stroll through ‘The Ramble’, a tranquil wooded area that offers a forest feel. A short stop will also be made at the park’s landmark Loeb Boathouse Express Café.
Where Does Queen Mary 2 Dock in New York?
Queen Mary 2 docks at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal – located in the Red Hook area – which opened in 2006 and went on to receive numerous accolades, including ‘Best New Homeport’ by PortHole Magazine. In its first year of operation the terminal welcomed 40 ships.
The Red Hook area is actually one of Brooklyn’s new hot spots and offers a large variety of restaurants, bars and retailers just a minute away from the terminal – ideal if you are on a transatlantic round-trip and want to grab a few things ashore without heading deep into the heart of New York City.
A fun fact: Red Hook is the only part of New York City that has a full frontal view of the Statue of Liberty, which was oriented to face France, the country which donated the statue to the United States of America following the country’s centennial.
Cunard Line Transatlantic Cruise Schedule
Cunard’s Transatlantic crossings are offered as various itinerary options, with the most popular being the regular service between Southampton and New York City. However, Cunard also offer Southampton round-trip, which briefly calls into New York before returning to U.K. shores and a selection of U.S. east coast itineraries which offer ports including, Boston, Maine, New England and Halifax.
Queen Mary 2 also offers a kennel service on her Transatlantic crossings between Hamburg, Southampton and New York City. So if you have a beloved dog or cat, then you can take them with you!
Book Your Queen Mary 2 Cruise with The Cruise Line
If you have decided that a cruise to New York aboard Queen Mary 2 is the voyage for you, then we highly recommend you contact us today for details on our best offers. Founded in 1993, The Cruise Line has established a reputation for offering clients outstanding customer service alongside highly competitive pricing and special offers.
Many of our Cruise Experts have first-hand experience of cruising with all of the lines we feature on our website and they would be delighted to offer you impartial advice with a view to securing the right Transatlantic cruise option for you. For further details, please call one of our Cruise Experts on 0800 008 6677.
