While you may not think of landlocked Philadelphia as cruise ship central, it is so central to major departure ports that you may find yourself bewildered by the array of floating holidays at your convenience. Depending on the season, how much time you have and whether you are thirsty for knowledge, beaches, rest or unusual scenery, Philly is a gateway to a destination--and a stylish journey--for everyone.
Cruises Departing from Philadelphia
- In June and July, American Cruise Lines offers eight-day sailing trips through the canals and rivers that connect Philadelphia and Washington, DC and Alexandria, Virginia. With six day-stops along the way, you will see landmarks in American history that span the early British settlement of St. Mary's City, Maryland, to the galleries and boutiques of Chestertown, Maryland, and Alexandria. Your stay on the 100-passenger ship will also feature lectures and performances that bring history to life and dining inspired by the crops and fish of the Central Atlantic coastal region.
Cruises Departing from Cape Liberty/Bayonne, New Jersey
- Like those travelers across the New York harbor, your trip will begin and end with the sight of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan. Ninety-five miles from downtown Philadelphia, Bayonne, New Jersey, is situated on Cape Liberty across from southern Brooklyn, New York. If you want to travel by Royal Caribbean Cruises or Celebrity Cruise, Bayonne is your closest northeast destination because neither cruise line docks in New York City. Both companies offer comprehensive, year-round trips to the Caribbean and some trips include stops in Charleston, North Carolina and Key West, Florida. From June to October there are cruises to New England and Canada. As of 2010, parking at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port was $19 a day and there is room for every guest car in the cruise parking lot.
Cruises Departing from New York, New York
- New York's Manhattan Cruise Terminal and the Brooklyn Terminal are 100 miles from downtown Philadelphia. New York could be called "cruise heaven," with voyages available to every continent except the poles and a price tag for every adventurer. You can even take Carnival Cruise Lines' two-day "Cruise to Nowhere". Manhattan serves as homeport to ocean liners from five major cruise lines. Parking is not guaranteed at Manhattan's piers, although there are parking lots nearby, and more than twice the cost of parking in Bayonne. Brooklyn Terminal, which is home to two more major cruise lines, has more parking and, as of 2010, costs $18 a day. Additionally, from late September to late October, American Cruise Lines sets sail from New York City's Chelsea Piers for a week of foliage amid the remnants of the Gilded Age of the Hudson River Valley.
Cruises Departing from Baltimore, Maryland
- Like New York, the Port of Baltimore is 100 miles from midtown Philadelphia. Port Baltimore is home base for ships from Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises and together they offer a comprehensive, year-round selection of Caribbean sailings, some with ports of call in Charleston, South Carolina and Key West, Florida. From June through August, Port Baltimore is a cruise departure for a mid-month trip to New England and Canada, and bi-weekly voyages during the fall foliage in September and October. Parking at Cruise Maryland Terminal is convenient, secure and commodious. As of 2010, the cost is $15 a day.
