Question 1

New York City on Your Own

Accepted Answer

If you have a day before or after your cruise, or a few hours before boarding, there is a simple plan for each terminal. On the Hudson, the Intrepid Museum and Hudson River Park are on the same stretch of river as the Manhattan piers; from Red Hook, the ferry goes to Lower Manhattan. On the Hudson at West 46th Street: The Intrepid Museum is aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid at Pier 86. In October 2026 it opened daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry an hour before closing. Along the river: Hudson River Park runs along the West Side from 59th Street down to Battery Park, and the High Line, an elevated park on an old rail viaduct, runs 1.45 miles south from near 34th Street to Gansevoort Street. From Red Hook: The NYC Ferry from Red Hook reaches Wall Street and Pier 11. From Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, the free Staten Island Ferry crosses the harbor with a view of the Statue of Liberty, at most times about every 30 minutes. By subway: In 2026 most subway and local bus rides cost 3 dollars, tapped with a contactless card or phone. Check before you go, because hours and fares change. Getting back on time: If you are boarding, aim to reach the terminal well within the check-in time on your cruise documents. On a port call, all-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, your ship posts the exact time, and a ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own.

Question 2

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

The subway covers most of the city, and buses, ferries and taxis fill the gaps. In Red Hook the nearest subway stations are Carroll Street and Smith–Ninth Streets. The subway runs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, and it opened in 1904. Most subway and local bus rides cost 3 dollars in 2026; express buses cost 7.25 dollars. Seniors and people with qualifying disabilities pay half fare. NYC Ferry boats link waterfront neighborhoods across the city, with free transfers between ferry routes but not to the subway. The Staten Island Ferry is free, so ignore anyone selling tickets for it. Real yellow cabs have a medallion on the hood, a roof light with the taxi number, and a meter. Check before you go, because fares change.

Question 3

Where to Eat

Accepted Answer

New York has food from almost every cuisine in the world, but a few things are its own, many of them brought by immigrants. Street food is everywhere, from hot dog carts to Middle Eastern carts in Midtown. Pizza: The classic New York slice is a plain cheese pizza on a very thin crust, folded lengthwise to eat. Bagels: Boiled, then baked, with a chewy inside and a firm crust; they arrived with Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Pastrami on rye: Another specialty of the city's Jewish delis, served piled high. Cheesecake: New York cheesecake is made rich with cream cheese, heavy cream and eggs. Hot dogs: All-beef dogs in a plain bun with mustard, ketchup or relish are sold from carts across the city. Delis and bodegas: Corner delis and bodegas sell coffee, groceries and cooked food, many of them around the clock.

Question 4

Tipping in the United States

Accepted Answer

In the United States tipping is expected, and in a sit-down restaurant 18 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is usual, with many people tipping more for good service. Some restaurants add a service charge for larger groups, so check the bill first. Taxi drivers are usually tipped about 10 to 20 percent of the fare. Tour and activity guides are commonly tipped per person for a day's outing. The currency is the US dollar, and foreign currencies are almost never accepted.

Question 5

Culture & Local Life

Accepted Answer

Times Square and the theater district are in Midtown Manhattan, and uptown are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the Americas, and the American Museum of Natural History. Museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has its main building on Fifth Avenue, and the American Museum of Natural History is on the Upper West Side. Central Park: The 843-acre park runs through the middle of Manhattan, with the museums along its edges. Street art: Artists may sell their own work on the streets, and you often find them in SoHo, the Financial District and near the Metropolitan Museum.

Question 6

A Brief History

Accepted Answer

New York grew from a Dutch trading post on Lenape land into the largest city in the United States, shaped above all by its harbor. Its piers on the Hudson once served the great transatlantic liners. The Lenape: Manhattan was home to Munsee-speaking Lenape people when Europeans arrived. Giovanni da Verrazzano visited the harbor in 1524, and Henry Hudson sailed into it in 1609 for the Dutch East India Company. New Amsterdam: Dutch settlement began in 1624, the town was named New Amsterdam in 1626, and it received a city charter in 1653. New York: The English took the colony in 1664 and renamed it New York. First capital: New York was the national capital from 1785, and George Washington was inaugurated here in 1789 before the capital moved to Philadelphia a year later. The Erie Canal: Its completion in 1825 linked the port by way of the Hudson River to the Great Lakes and the interior. Immigration: The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, and millions of immigrants arrived through Ellis Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Five boroughs and the subway: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island were consolidated into one city in 1898, and the subway opened in 1904. The liner piers: The Hudson River piers at the Manhattan terminal were built between 1935 and 1937 for the largest liners, and the liner Normandie caught fire and capsized at Pier 88 during the Second World War. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal opened in 2006. Learn more: The Museum of the City of New York, at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, was founded in 1923 to tell the story of the city and its people.

Question 7

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

The Intrepid is on the Hudson at West 46th Street, and several outings are on the water. Pick one or two and leave time for the trip between them. Younger children: The free Staten Island Ferry crosses the harbor with a view of the Statue of Liberty. New York Historical, on Central Park West at 77th Street, has an interactive children's museum. School age: At the Intrepid Museum, children can see the Space Shuttle Enterprise and a Concorde and try the flight simulators. Teenagers: Walk the High Line from 34th Street down to Gansevoort Street, or take the subway to Coney Island for the beach, the boardwalk and the Cyclone roller coaster. Food on the go: A slice of pizza or a hot dog from a cart makes a meal between sights.

Question 8

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

The subway reaches most of the city, but only some of its stations have elevators, so plan step-free routes in advance. Fares: People with qualifying disabilities pay half the regular fare on subways and buses. The subway: Elevators have been added in newly built stations and some older ones, but many stations still have stairs only. New York Historical: A renovation completed in 2011 made the building more accessible. The terminals: Ask your cruise line about assistance at check-in.

Question 9

Shopping in New York City

Accepted Answer

New York is the fashion capital of the United States, with department stores, boutiques and specialty shops. Fifth Avenue in Midtown is the classic place to start. Fifth Avenue: Flagship department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman are here. Herald Square and 59th Street: Macy's flagship is at Herald Square, and Bloomingdale's is on 59th Street between Third and Lexington avenues. Street vendors: Licensed vendors sell from sidewalk tables. Brand-name goods from them are often imitations, though inexpensive items are generally fine. Sales tax: New York State and City sales tax together come to 8.875 percent, added at the register.

Question 10

Beaches

Accepted Answer

New York City has ocean beaches within its own limits, reached by subway or ferry. Two of them are Coney Island in Brooklyn and Rockaway in Queens. Coney Island: A beach and boardwalk with amusement parks, including the Cyclone roller coaster, reached by subway. Rockaway: An ocean beach in Queens, reached by the NYC Ferry's Rockaway route.

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