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Msc Vs Royal Caribbean: Getting Onboard
Royal Caribbean has a more polished pre-cruise system than MSC. Divina passengers, for example, can’t attach a credit card to their account until they’re onboard. The MSC website, however, does not say that and has a sport where you appear to be able to add a card, but you can’t actually do it.
That creates a bit of a logjam at the onboard kiosks where you can link a card to your account. Aside from that, however, the MSC boarding process flows very smoothly with a near army of people ready to check you in and make sure you have either a vaccine card or a negative covid test.
Aside from that, both cruise lines have people both selling and offering technical help for their internet packages. There’s also lots of opportunities to buy a drink package .
Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet
Caribbean Cruises From New York
There are many Caribbean cruises from New York City. They are one week to two weeks long and may be round-trip or one-way. See the schedules of departures below.
The majority of the cruises go to the Eastern Caribbean. It’s the closest destination and includes the familiar Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and St Maarten.
Cruises to the exotic Southern Caribbean are longer. Stops include the islands of St Kitts, Barbados, and Martinique. They are more out of the way and less crowded than the Eastern Caribbean.
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New York Cruises Frequently Asked Questions
- What are New York City cruises?
New York City cruises are indeed the best way to get out and explore the world while also relaxing on boat travel days in between. They are perfect for travelers of all ages and all types. No matter what you’re interested in seeing, there is guaranteed to be an ideal cruise for you.
- Whatâs included on a New York City cruise?
Each New York City cruise has slightly different amenities depending on the cruise line, but you’ll have accommodation and dining covered. You’ll also have stops at the many different port cities throughout the trip, though that varies depending on which cruise you book!
- Whatâs the best New York City cruise?
No New York City cruise is genuinely better than the other because each one is so different. You’ll just want to do research and find the one that most suits your needs and your budget! An excellent way to do this is to calculate the cost per day for the cruise options you’re considering to see which one is affordable.
- How much do New York City cruises cost?
Every New York City cruise has a different cost. Most cruises cost at least around $150 per day, but a lot of the cruises that Affordable Tours offers include some sort of discount or promotion. We are here to help you save up to 80% on advertised prices!
Bermuda To Be Impacted
Hurricane Fiona is likely to make a slight eastern turn late Wednesday or early Thursday, putting Bermuda quite central to the storms predicted path. If the storm remains on its predicted track and at forecasted speeds, it will reach its closest approach to Bermuda early Friday morning, September 23.
The Breakaway-class Norwegian Getaway is scheduled to visit Bermuda on Saturday, September 24. The storm is forecast to be moving much more quickly at that time, however, and may be far from Bermuda at the scheduled port of call time.
Whether or not Norwegian Getaway changes its visit times or drops the call altogether will depend on how the storm behaves in the coming days, and any damage that may occur at port facilities.
No other ships are scheduled for Bermuda in the coming days while the storm is a concern.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates on Hurricane Fiona and the storms impact on cruise travel and ports of call, as well as any other storms that develop.
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Tropical Storm Fiona: Will It Impact My Cruise From Florida To The Caribbean
Port Canaveral cruise ships
Tropical Storm Fiona is making its journey over the Atlantic and will bring impacts to the Northern Caribbean Islands on its current forecast track.
The former Tropical Depression Seven strengthened Wednesday night, becoming the sixth named storm of the season.
Most cruise ships that leave from Florida often sail to the Caribbean, so news of Fiona may leave some cruisers worried about their upcoming vacations.
As of Thursday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said Fiona is located east of the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
The storm is forecast to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches in the Northern Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands andPuerto Rico, with isolated maximum totals of 10inches across eastern Puerto Rico. Eastern Hispaniola can expect 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with isolated maximum totals of12 inches.
Forecasters said the rains may produce flash and urban flooding, along with isolated mudslides in areas of higher terrain.
Track the storm live in the YouTube video player below:
While booking cruises during hurricane season mean there is a chance a storm could impact it, Gene Sloan, the cruise team lead for the travel website and blog The Points Guy, told FOX Weather it’s still relatively rare.
Bottom line: You would end up with a bunch of different ports but still get a nice, sunny cruise.
New York Cruises Highlights
- Walk around and relax at Central Park.
- Visit the High Line for the best views of the city.
- Take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
- Grab a bite to eat at Chelsea Market.
- See a play on Broadway.
- Visit the observation deck at the Empire State Building.
- Take a quick trip to Coney Island amusement park.
- Explore art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
- Walk along 5th avenue for shopping.
- Snap a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Final Thoughts On Princess Cruises Vs Royal Caribbean
Well there it is, Princess Cruises vs Royal Caribbean.
Comparing Princess and Royal Caribbean can be a challenge, as they are very different. On one hand, Princess is known for the more traditional cruise experience. Where as Royal Caribbean is well known for its cool ships with lots of bells and whistles.
When it comes to choosing which cruise line is better, it really comes down to what youll enjoy most on your cruise vacation. Both cruise lines have a big fan base and get a lot of repeat cruisers!
In this post, I shared everything you need to know about Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
Have you cruised with Royal Caribbean or Princess Cruises or are you planning to? Please let me know what you like best in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
Ethan Schattauer writes about fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com. As a frequent cruiser, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like for teens and young adults.
Cape Liberty Bayonne New Jersey
The Cape Liberty cruise port is located in Bayonne, New Jersey, on the New York Harbor. Its only seven miles from New York City and offers easy access to popular shopping and dining areas.
Cruise lines departing from Cape Liberty include:
- Royal Caribbean Destinations include exotic ports of call in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. An example itinerary is the 7-night Bahamas Cruise that stops in Florida, and then CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas. Prices start at $544 per person.
- Celebrity Cruises New England, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean are among the options here. Choose a 14-night Canada and New England cruise that starts at $1,699 per person with stops in Boston, Maine, Quebec, Saguenay Fjord, and Halifax.
Parking
Theres plenty of parking at the port terminal, so you dont need to worry about your vehicle while sailing. Rates run $20 a day. Oversized vehicles and RVs that take up more than one spot will be charged double and there is a height restriction of 74. There is an adjacent lot that is open for those vehicles with height restrictions.
Embarking and Disembarking
Luggage
Passengers can carry their luggage directly on board, with elevators available for passengers with excess luggage. There are no carts in the terminal and luggage that doesnt fit through the screening machine must be checked with the porter delivery service. Maximum dimensions are 23 x 16.
Sightseeing
While in port, consider visiting the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island.
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Why Cruise To The Caribbean
Thousands of islands make up the Caribbean, a tropical region stretching across the Atlantic Ocean. Home to some of the most popular cruise ports in the world, the Caribbean offers variations on a theme: sun, white-sand beaches and fun with a local twist, depending on the port. From Dutch and French isles to U.S. territories, the destinations of the Caribbean have cultural experiences to spare that extend well beyond the tip of the umbrella in your fruity cocktail.
A cruise offers the chance to visit multiple islands within the span of a few days, providing visitors with a sampler of new places plus balmy sea breezes along the way. Caribbean cruises offer endless variety giving vacationers the chance to get away for a long weekend or two weeks. With so many departure ports, your ship to the Caribbean might be a short flight or even a drive away.
Msc Vs Royal Caribbean: The Onboard Experience
A cabin on Divina felt an awful lot like a cabin on a Royal Caribbean Freedom or Voyager-class ship. The design touches were a little different, and aside from offering tiny TVs , on Divina, the cabin experience was very similar.
Both the MSC ship and its similar-sized Royal Caribbean counterparts make it very easy to get a drink. Divina’s various bars, however, generally lacked the distinct concepts that Royal Caribbean’s bars offer. The Schooner Bar on Mariner of the Seas has a different menu and entertainment lineup .
Royal Caribbean’s “Playmakers” sports bar tends to be in more central locations and has a more distinct drink menu, but both cruise lines deliver a good way to watch whatever the game might be.
Both cruise lines offer fairly similar casinos with a mix of slots and table games. Royal Caribbean seems to run more promotions each night, but the differences are slight. MSC and Royal Caribbean also offer fairly similar theater shows on this size ship with a mix of music revues, comedians, singers, and variety acts.
Divina rotates a piano player and acoustic guitarist in its central area . Both were competent but were more background music than the often rollicking, packed crowds for the pianists in Royal Caribbean’s Schooner Bar and the dedicated following for the guitarists in the British Pub that tends to form on most sailings.
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Port New York And New Jersey
Port New York and New Jersey is the seaport of NYC metro. It encompasses an area with radius approx 25 mi and includes all navigable waterways in NYNJ Harbor Estuary. The covered coastline is around 650 mi along both states. NYC harbor is among the worlds largest natural harbors. By annual cargo capacity, the seaport is ranked USAs 3rd largest after South Louisiana and Houston .
Within the seaport there are 2 FTZs where commercial goods receive same Customs treatment as outside USA. Annually, Port NY-NJ handles around USD 208 billion in shipping cargoes, around 3,4 million TEUs and nearly 0,4 million cars.
- In July 2017, ports largest container ship so far passed under the raised Bayonne Bridge.
- The channels and the bridges limit the vessels that can enter the harbor.
- Verrazano-Narrows Bridges clearance is 228 ft .
- Brooklyn Bridges clearance is 135 ft .
- Bayonne Bridges clearance is 155-215 ft .
The company Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was established in 1921 to manage all facilities and services within the combined NY-NJ harbor area. The company also controls all vehicular and rapid-transit systems connecting New York and New Jersey, several of the airports, as well as real estate developments. It also maintains its own police force.
Ports foreign trade zones FTZ 1 and FTZ 49 handled in 2010 a combined shipping traffic of 4811 vessels and over 32,2 million tons of cargoes valued over USD 175 billion.
Norwegian Cruises From New York
Norwegian Cruise Line dominates the cruise schedule in New York. Two of their ships leave from Manhattan year-round. See the full list of departures below.
The Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Gem, new Norwegian Prima and other ships sail from NYC to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda and New England & Canada.
On a Norwegian cruise you can do everything, or nothing at all. For those who prefer to be active there are adventurous shore excursions, art auctions, health programs, cooking demonstrations all kinds of activities to challenge your mind and your body. Or you can just relax and enjoy not having a schedule to follow. You can wear what you want. Resort casual attire is as dressy as youll ever have to get for dinner. But if its elegance youre looking for, you can indulge. Many of the restaurants offer formal options. If you prefer to be more casual, thats fine, too. Its all up to you on Norwegian Cruises.
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Cape Liberty Cruise Port
Three ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises currently call the Cape Liberty Cruise Port home. The terminal is across the harbor from Brooklyn in Bayonne, New Jersey, where secure paid parking is available for cruise passengers. Departures are for New England and Canada, the Bahamas, and Bermuda and the Caribbean, which are all itineraries on sailings by the ships Anthem of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Celebrity Summit.
References
Open a map, touch New York City, and starting from there, trace lines across bodies of water. Chances are that whatever route your finger follows, theres a cruise line that goes there. New York City is the port of embarkation for cruises to Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Latin America, New England, Canada, Iceland, transatlantic crossings and beyond. Two cruise terminals are in operation in New York City, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. A third cruise terminal to supplement New York Citys capacity is Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, which came into operation in 2004.
Princess Cruises Is Best For:
Cruisers who enjoy a relaxed, luxurious vacation while traveling and exploring new destinations. The beautiful ship design, calm atmosphere and great service is why passengers love to cruise with Princess.
Typically, the clientele on Princess Cruises tends to be a little older, however during school breaks and summer vacation there will be some younger and more lively cruisers onboard.
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When Is A Good Time To Cruise To The Caribbean
Winter and spring are great seasons to travel to the Caribbean due to a slight reduction in crowds and moderate temperatures, though the warm weather holds year-round here.
Atlantic hurricane season, from June through October, means a higher chance of rain and possible storms, though summer is still one of the most popular times to visit the Caribbean. If you book a summer sailing in a Caribbean region within the hurricane zone, there’s a chance nothing will happen — but buying insurance and keeping a flexible schedule helps manage expectations.
Msc Vs Royal Caribbean: Loyalty
As a Diamond-plus member on Royal Caribbean, I get a number of meaningful perks. First, I get access to a dedicated lounge which has a fancy coffee maker, a concierge who can make dinner/show reservations, a light breakfast in the morning, and an early evening appetizer offering. And, in lieu of the former “happy hour,” which offered unlimited drinks in the lounge for a couple of hours each night, Diamond members now get four drink “tickets” each day that can be used any time of day, at any venue on board, while Diamond+ members get five.
MSC matched my status to their equivalent so I was “Gold” in their system. That’s a positive, on paper, but having Gold status seemed to mean very little. In addition, MSC does not seem to have a formal casino loyalty program whereas Royal Caribbean’s would offer me free drinks in the casino and a variety of gifts sent to my room most nights.
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What Are Popular Regions Of The Caribbean
Choose from Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean itineraries. Youll primarily find the U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John — on Eastern Caribbean sailings, as well as St. Maarten/Martin and the Dominican Republic. The ABC Islands are featured on Southern Caribbean cruises. Western Caribbean cruises often include ports in Mexico and Jamaica, along with Belize and Grand Turk.
Lengths also vary — Western Caribbean itineraries can be limited to just a few days for those who want a quick getaway or don’t have time for longer sailings. Southern Caribbean sailings tend to last at least 10 nights, and these often depart from San Juan. Eastern Caribbean sailings are typically a week long.