May 30, 2003 -- Continuing the trend of cruise lines spreading their vessels around the country, closer to U.S. population centers, fully seventeen ships are sailing from New York City this summer and fall, traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, and New England/Canada. Several major vessels are spending the full season sailing from the city, and one (NCL's Norwegian Dawn) is even using it as a year-round homeport.
The latest line to announce a positioning in New York is Royal Caribbean, which has elected to homeport its newest vessel here, the 90,090-ton, 2,100-passenger Serenade of the Seas.
The ship, the third of the line's Radiance class (click here for our review in our online Cruise section), is currently in the last stages of construction at Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard, and following her July 31 delivery will sail transatlantic from Amsterdam to Boston. Her official naming ceremony will take place in the Big Apple on August 22, following which she'll offer 4-, 5-, and 7-night cruises up the coast, with stops in Halifax (Nova Scotia) and Saint John (New Brunswick).
The following cabin prices for NYC-based ships are approximate based on deals currently being offered by various online cruise sellers. All are per person, based on double occupancy. Various taxes and fees may apply.
Carnival (www.carnival.com)
- Carnival Legend sails 8-night eastern/southern Caribbean itineraries, June-Oct. Prices from $750 June, $1000 July-Aug, $600 Sept.
- Carnival Pride sails 7-night Bermuda cruises, July-Aug. Prices from $650.
- Carnival Victory sails 4-, 5-, and 7-night Canada itineraries, June-Sept. Four-night prices from $375.
Celebrity (www.celebrity.com)
- Horizon offers 7-night Bermuda itineraries June-Aug. Prices from $850.
- Zenith offers 7-night Bermuda itineraries June-Oct. Prices from $850.
Crystal (www.crystalcruises.com)
- Crystal Symphony sails two 11-night New England/Canada cruises, one-way, New York to Montreal. Prices from $4,425.
Cunard (www.cunard.com)
- QE2 is in the midst of her final transatlantic season, sailing 6 nights from NYC to Southampton June-Oct and Dec. She'll also sail a 12-night New England/Canada cruise in Oct and a 15-night Caribbean cruise in Dec. Prices from $950, including one-way air return.
Holland America (www.hal.com)
- Rotterdam offers 10-night one-way New England/Canada cruises in Sept-Oct, New York to Montreal; a 12-night one-way S. Caribbean itinerary in Oct, New York to Fort Lauderdale; a 12-night one-way S. Caribbean/Panama Canal sailing in Oct, New York to Fort Lauderdale; and a 16-night one-way Canada/Scandinavia/Greenland cruise in Aug, New York to Copenhagen. Ten-night Canada prices from $1,225.
Norwegian (www.ncl.com)
- Norwegian Dawn, the king of NY cruise ships for 2003, sails 7-night cruises from the Big Apple year-round, sailing down the coast to Port Canaveral and Miami (FL) and Nassau, Bahamas. Additionally, Jan and Feb 2004 will see the ship offering four 10- and 11-night cruises to the southern Caribbean, sailing as far south as Barbados and Grenada. Seven-night prices from $550 (lowest Sept-Nov).
- Norwegian Sea offers 7-night Bermuda cruises June-Sept. Prices from $500.
Princess (www.princess.com)
- Golden Princess offers 7-night New England/Canada cruises in Sept-Oct. Prices from $820.
- Regal Princess offers 10-night New England/Canada cruises in Oct only. Prices from $1,200.
Radisson Seven Seas (www.rssc.com)
- Seven Seas Navigator, the most luxurious ship offering regular sailings from NYC this season, sails 7-night Bermuda cruises and 7- and 9-night New England/Canada cruises, June-Oct. Seven-night Bermuda prices from $2,600.
Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com)
- Nordic Empress sails 7-night Bermuda cruises June-Oct. Prices from $720.
- The new Serenade of the Seas sails a 7-night New England/Canada cruise in August and 4- and 5-night New England/Canada cruises in Sept-Oct. Four-night prices from $475.
Seabourn (www.seabourn.com)
- Seabourn Pride offers a 7-night New England/Canada cruise in Sept and, in October, has three different NYC itineraries: a 3-night cruise to nowhere, a 7-night New England/Canada, and a 13-night East Coast/Bahamas. Three-night prices from $950. Seven-night Canada prices from $4,200.
Silversea (www.silversea.com)
- Silver Whisper sails a 9-night New England/Canada cruise in Sept (one-way, NYC to Montreal) and, in October, a 7-night Bermuda cruise and a one way 10-night East Coast/Bahamas cruise, New York to Nassau. Seven-night prices from $4,200.