Yankees and Southern transplants living in New York and New Jersey looking for a vacation combining gourmet dining, high-caliber entertainment, shopping, socializing, relaxing and touring new cities may find cruising an ideal match. With cruise ports in both the Big Apple and the Garden State, cruise enthusiasts will find many ships setting sail with itineraries for new adventures.
Carnival
- Sail out of New York City and into Canada on a five-day itinerary aboard the Carnival Glory. Enjoy two days at sea and the Canadian cities of Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia. While off the ship, try port excursions: ride a horse drawn trolley or the Big Pink Bus, tour with a professional photographer, drive by the Bay of Fundy, kayak, golf the Rockwood Golf & Country Club, explore the Hopewell Rocks Biosphere Reserve and taste Moosehead beer.The Carnival offers four room styles: interior (no window), ocean view, balcony and suites. During your days at sea, enjoy ship attractions such as a casino, waterslide, nine-hole mini-golf course, arcade, kids’ areas, salon, fitness center, sauna and karaoke club. Eateries include two gourmet restaurants plus a sushi bar, coffee bar, steakhouse, pizzeria and 24-hour room service.Carnival
888-227-6482
carnival.com
Princess Cruises
- Spend more than two weeks aboard the Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess ship, leaving out of New York City and sailing for 18 days on the “Fire & Ice Explorer” itinerary. During the trip, you’ll sail into Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. Anthony, Newfoundland; Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland; Grudarfjordur, Isafjordur and Akureyri, Iceland; the Shetland Islands and Edinburgh, Scotland. The journey ends in London/Dover, England. Excursions include Godafoss Waterfalls, the Laufas Folk Museum, Botanical Gardens, a trip to Edinburgh Castle, and a Viking experience tour at the New World’s first outpost site in Newfoundland.Select from five cabin styles on the Ocean Princess: inside, ocean view, ocean view obstructed (you’ll have a cabin with a window at a reduced rate because a lifeboat or other structure may block the view), balcony and suite. Features of the Ocean Princess include a jogging track, golf practice cage, card room, boutiques, pool, fitness area, casino, bars, lounges, wine/caviar bar and art gallery with auction.Princess Cruises
800-774-6237
princess.com
Royal Caribbean
- Board the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey and set sail for 12 nights of the Southern Caribbean. The itinerary includes five days at sea, plus stops in Labadee, Haiti; Samana, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. John’s, Antigua and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Explore the port cities through trips such as a skyride, panoramic drive, wave jet tour, walking tour, butterfly farm, Dragon’s Tail Coaster and even a floating beach mat in Labadee.On board, four cabin options are available: interior, ocean view, balcony and suite. Keep up your energy with the Explorer of the Seas’ rock-climbing wall, inline skating, ice-skating rink, nine-hole golf simulator, fitness center and full-size basketball court. Also on board is the University of Miami Ocean Lab, plus dining choices such as an Italian restaurant, mystery dinner theater, '50s style diner, coffee bar, ice cream bar and three daily buffets.Royal Caribbean
866-562-7625
royalcaribbean.com
