Bayonne NJ Travel Deals Cruise Port Attractions Excursions Things To Do

Bayonne, New Jersey is home to Cape Liberty, one of the newest and most modern Ports of Call in the United States, and a terrific destination for those wanting to explore this fascinating historical city and the surrounding New York Metropolitan area.

Bayonne was originally known as Bergen Neck, founded by the Dutch in the 17th century as a vital trading post. For more than four hundred years, Bayonne has enjoyed a colorful history as a ship and yacht-building hub, a naval supply center, and the home port of many of the regions fisherman and oysterman.

Bayonne is a city that, although situated in one of the densest metropolitan areas in the world, has still managed to retain a charming, welcoming personality that guests will surely come to love as they embark on their discoveries of the surrounding sights and attractions.

However, one of the greatest draws of Cape Liberty, and Bayonne itself, is its close proximity to New York City. If you?d like to view the city from afar, consider taking a three-hour romantic evening cruise around the island of Manhattan. Better yet, take the short, seven-mile trip to Manhattan and marvel at this phenomenal center of world culture, commerce and cuisine. From the world-class museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the Museum of Modern Art, to the awe inspiring skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, you?ll treat yourself to a feast for the senses that you won't soon forget.

The diversity and originality that New York City has to offer, borough by borough and street by street, is truly incredible. Historic Battery Park is an educational mecca. Little Italy and Chinatown have marvelously maintained their immigrant population and heritage. Today they offer a cultural richness that is truly a gift to the city. Soho (South of Houston Street) and Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street) exist on the cutting edge of fashion and style, and are proof of an industrial area's potential for chic.

Gramercy Park will make you feel as if you have somehow made your way to London. Chelsea is a hip, artsy region that is home to many of New York's photography studios and galleries. These are just some of the city's gems, each offering a unique flavor and pace. Visitors could spend days in any one of them, but for the ultimate New York experience, make your trip a mélange of them all. To truly see the city could take a lifetime, but sampling from the bits and pieces of New York's variety is a treat for any tourist.

As of June 2015, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas uses Cape Liberty as its main home port, replacing the Quantum of the Seas. In November 2015, that ship will be replaced by the new Anthem of the Seas for the winter season of 2015-16 after its maiden season in Europe.

The 2015 cruise season Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas through April, offers cruises to the Caribbean, including 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-night Eastern Caribbean, 12-night Southern Caribbean, and 7- and 8-night Bahamas cruises. Also, an 11-night Transatlantic cruise to Spain in May.

Celebrity Cruises Summitfrom May through August, offers 7-night Bermuda cruises. Also, a 6-night Caribbean (October) and 14-night Canada and New England cruises (September-October). Celebrity Cruises bases the Celebrity Summit out of Cape Liberty from May to October.

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas from May through August, offers 5-night Bermuda and 9-night Bermuda and Caribbean cruises. Also, in May and October, 10-night Bermuda and Caribbean cruises. And a 12-night Southern Caribbean cruise in November.

Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas offers 10-night (September) and 12-night (October) Fall Foliage Northbound cruises Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas beginning in November, offers 7- and 8-night Bahamas cruises, and a 12-night Western Caribbean cruise.

Docking & Local Transportation
Ships dock at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port, just off the New Jersey Turnpike in Bayonne. Cruise terminal is located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Fifteen minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and seven miles south of Manhattan.

Whether you will be sightseeing locally or across the Hudson River in Manhattan, you will find both public transportation (buses and rail lines) and taxis to take you to your destinations.
Local Interests

Things To See and Do

In Bayonne
Although you might focus your attention on the attractions that New York City has to offer, don?t overlook the wonderful sights that Bayonne provides as well. The Chief John T. Brennan Fire Museum, located at 10 W. 47th St. in Bayonne (201/858-6199) will delight adults and children alike, as you explore the history of the storied 140-year-old firehouse. Tour the facilities, and learn about the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to fire safety and prevention.

If you're looking for a wonderful park to enjoy an afternoon picnic or a leisurely stroll amidst spectacular scenery, look no further than Dennis P. Collins Park on W. 1st Street. The park features a dedicated skate and bike area as well, sure to delight the son and daughter looking to show off their skills!

In New York City
Museum lovers can?t miss a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Ave., 212/535-7710, www.metmuseum.org). "The Met," as it is fondly called, is the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere and is home to five thousand years of art history. Contemporary art aficionados will love the Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd St., 212/708-9400, www.moma.org) where visitors can pay homage to Matisse, Picasso, and Renoir as they take in some of the world's most stunning and famous art.

No trip to the Big Apple would be complete without a walk through Central Park. Here, 843 acres of forestry and pathways sprawl across the city, providing a peaceful retreat from the grit of its urban surroundings. Bikers, runners, walkers and picnickers also abound at New York's first official park, Bowling Green, in Battery Park. This beautiful and lush natural reserve is within walking distance from Wall Street. Battery Park City on Manhattan's southern tip is also the place to catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The walkways of Battery Park offer great views of both if you are just looking to snap a picture of Lady Liberty or see the sunset.

Rockefeller Center (212/332-6868, www.rockefellercenter.com) is the pride of midtown. This is home to Channel Gardens, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Radio City Music Hall. And of course, do not even consider leaving the city without experiencing the dazzling display of lights and images that adorn Times Square. Located on 7th Avenue and 42nd Street, Times Square is commercialism at its best, with crowds of sightseers twenty-four hours a day. See a show on Broadway, the theater district between 42nd and 53rd Streets. Myriad theaters line the main and side streets, giving you the chance to take in anything from musicals to drama to opera. The Empire State Building at 5th Avenue and 34th Street is an awesome sight to behold, as it is one of the world's most famous skyscrapers.

Bayonne has over fifteen Park and Recreation Centers that cater to wide variety of athletic endeavors. Running, cycling, fishing, canoeing, baseball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and much more is only a phone call away. Contact the Bayonne Parks and Recreation Office (201/858-6122) for specific information.

If you're feeling the urge for a shopping spree close to port, consider the Bayonne Town Center, located on Broadway between 17th and 30th Streets (201/339-9409, . Here you?ll find a variety of apparel and retail shops, as well as a delightful assortment of restaurants, ice cream parlors, and coffee houses.

If you?re looking for a lovely meal while touring Bayonne, consider the Lighthouse Restaurant (201/437-8650). The Lighthouse serves up delicious burgers, fries, steaks and more at reasonable prices, and can be found at 669 Broadway. If you?re in the mood for fine Italian cuisine, look no further than Amici?s (201/437-4299). Specializing in great pasta and veal dishes, Amici?s is located at 184 Broadway, and features wonderful live piano and jazz on the weekends.

In New York City
Bicycling is hugely popular in the city. Rental locations are all over the city, and the best place to ride is around Riverside Park (between West 72nd and West 110th Streets), also along the Hudson. The park attracts a slower-paced crowd of leisurely sightseers, especially on the weekends.

Golfers will delight in the scenic Golf Club at Chelsea Piers (212/336-6666, www.chelseapiers.com). Right on the Hudson River, this two-hundred-yard fairway is green, gorgeous, and even heated for winter use. Central Park Lake is a lovely place to rent a rowboat or take a moonlit ride on a Venetian gondola. Loeb Boathouse (212/517-2233) is a good place to embark from on your water excursion. Manhattan Kayak Company (212/924-1788, www.manhattankayak.com) is a favorite among athletes, and is also on the Hudson. This is the place to rent kayaks or take lessons.

Eating Out

For the ultimate dining experience, Tavern on the Green (Central Park at W. 67th St., 212/873-3200, www.tavernonthegreen.com) offers a dreamlike atmosphere of lavish foliage lit year-round by thousands of tiny white lights. Weather permitting, dining in the garden is unbeatable, although the wait is often long. Seafood is the specialty here, as calamari and lobster promise not to disappoint.

The best of Little Italy is tasted at Rialto (265 Elizabeth St., 212/334-7900, www.rialtonyc.com). The diversified menu here ranges from classic pastas to hearty burgers and elegant fish. This old school restaurant is always busy with neighborhood regulars and tourists alike. Pastis (9 9th Ave., 212/929-4844) in Greenwich Village is a New York favorite. This place manages to pack the house for every meal, but you never need a reservation. A casual atmosphere and succulent dishes like New York steak or swordfish in lemon sauce make for a delightfully elegant yet laid back experience.

The city that doesn't sleep has a good reason not to. Bars and clubs all over town go nonstop all night, every night. Hogs & Heifers (859 Washington St., 212/929-0655) is a fun place to grab a beer or two while listening to soulful music. This tavern-style pub is about as unfussy as Manhattan gets, and the atmosphere is always entertaining. To see and be seen, go to 21 Club (21 W. 52nd St., 212/582-7200, www.21club.com), a Manhattan classic, for a drink. And if you're bold, head over to the outrageously diverse Cream (246 Columbus Ave., 212/633-9800), arguably the city's best dance club. Or, for a more low-key evening, the famous Blue Note (131 W. 3rd St., 212/475-8592) is the ideal locale for exceptional jazz.

Shopping
New York is a shopper?s paradise, and as Audrey Hepburn would tell you, 5th Avenue is of course the center of it. Home to some of the finest shops in the world, this is a haven for Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman, and Gucci. Madison Avenue can rival 5th Avenue in its grandeur, and is well worth the trip. Soho is another shopper's haven. South of Houston Street (hence its name) and above Grand Street is where stores such as Helena Rubenstein, Sephora, and Prada Sport call home. Kiehl's Since 1851 (109 3rd Ave., 212/677-3171, www.kiehls.com) is an understated sanctuary of ultra-simple skin and hair care products that are unmatched in quality. This is their only store in the US and is a must-visit if grooming is your fancy.

Bayonne Crossing is located at the corner of NJ Rte. 440, E. 22nd St. & New Hook Access Rd., Bayonne. It is a Power Center which opened in 2008. It is an Open shopping mall. It covers an area of 400,000 sqft. and has about 24 stores. Address: NJ Rte. 440, E. 22nd St. & New Hook Access Rd., Bayonne, NJ 07002
State: NJ

Greenwich Village is the place to get ridiculous deals on anything from jewelry to jeans. Here you can bargain your way down crowded streets overflowing with merchants beckoning you to buy. Start low and see if you can talk them down to your price. Or, walk away and watch as they lower their price to lure you back.