Our family loves to take vacations and travel cruise-style. We have been on at least one cruise per year ever since we started dating. Our son has actually been on three cruises already (and he is only 3-years-old! Every New Years Eve for the last several years has been spent out at sea with my family. While we do have to fly to other ports to depart, I am so happy whenever we are able to book a family cruise from New York City!

We are only a few minutes from the city, but I love sharing the weekend with our family members that travel into the city to spend a day (or two!) site seeing before our departure date. Cruises from New York City are not only convenient, but they also mean a lot of adventures and fun for your entire family the days prior to departure, or a great conclusion to your family trip. There are so many great ideas that I can come up with, but let’s start with just a few of my personal favorites!

Imagine a trip to vist the Statue of Liberty before a cruise out of Manhattan! You’ll board a quick and easy ferry from Battery Park through Statue Cruises and head on over to Liberty Island. The Statue of Liberty is a fun and exciting spot for tourism and the rich history is reason enough to make a visit!

Even though I am born and raised here in New York City, I still find myself amazed every time we visit or drive by the statue to catch a quick glimpse! This is an affordable and family friendly idea if you are looking for something to do before or after your cruise out of the ports in Manhattan! (Adults: $17; Children 4-12: $9; Under 4: FREE). 

Seeing a Broadway Show in NYC is something that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Right now we have a tremendous lineup and while it may be difficult to select only one (or two!) shows to see while you are waiting to takeoff on your cruise, I can tell you whatever you decide will be a memorable time for your entire family! One of the hottest shows right now in the family circuit is Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark! 

I could rattle on and on for hours, or consider turning this blog post into an entire blog by itself devoted to tourist attractions, family fun events, and all of the spots that would make your time in Manhattan quite memorable. We don’t have that sort of time, but I do want to suggest checking out some of the best restaurants in NYC! With some of the best eateries located right in the Big Apple, I can never grow tired of finding a new place to eat, or an establishment with a specific cuisine I haven’t tried yet. 

Hey, mom and dad! Be sure to squeeze in a trip to FAO Schwarz before your ship departs from NYC. Your kids will thank you later and it’ll be a great following to a visit at one of our NYC children’s museums! 

I think you will be glad to ship out of Manhattan on your next family cruise! Don’t forget to plan a mini-vacation either before or after your cruise so that your family can enjoy NYC’s hottest tourist attractions, Broadway shows, and dinner at one of our eclectic cuisine eateries here in the Big Apple! With something to do for everyone in your family, I am pleased to be a resident in the city that NEVER sleeps (we really don’t!).