New York (Brooklyn) cruise port guide

New York is a wonderful port of call for MSC cruise liners on Grand Voyages cruise itineraries. Hidden gardens next to postmodern skyscrapers; priceless art tucked away in medieval-style cloisters; a revamped waterfront you can stroll along to take in the view. Wandering through the patchwork of neighbourhoods is as great a thrill as any single sight. Frantic Chinatown edges stylish Soho , which is but a stone’s throw from the quiet, angled lanes of the once-bohemian West Village . A perfect espresso in a shabby-chic Williamsburg café, a rooftop view from Chelsea’s High Line or a ride on the “A” to Far Rockaway is worth much more than an “I Love New York” handbag. Cheaper, too, and the memory will last longer. New York City officially comprises the central island of Manhattan and four outer boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. For many, Manhattan simply is New York; indeed, when your MSC cruise takes you to New York, you’ll probably spend most of your time here. Understanding the intricacies of Manhattan’s layout, especially beyond its grid pattern , and getting a grasp of its transport network should be top priorities during your MSC excursion. New York is very much a city of neighbourhoods, most compact enough to be explored on foot (at least below 59th Street). On your Grand Voyages cruises to New York, of all America’s symbols, none is more enduring than the Statue of Liberty, looming over the harbour from its pedestal on tiny Liberty Island. Indeed, there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence than that of Lady Liberty , who stands with torch in hand, clutching a stone tablet. Measuring some 305ft from her pedestal base, she has acted as the figurehead of the American Dream for more than a century.