Cape Liberty Cruise Port Guide: Bayonne, New Jersey

Terminal and which lines use it

Cape Liberty has one cruise terminal at 4 Port Terminal Blvd, Bayonne, NJ 07002, on the peninsula signed "Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor."

• Royal Caribbean lists Cape Liberty as its New York departure port ("cruises out of New York, NY (Cape Liberty)").
• Celebrity Cruises sails from Bayonne too. Celebrity's port page names Celebrity Silhouette and notes free Wi-Fi in the terminal.

Ships move between seasons, so check your cruise documents for your ship and check-in time.

Getting there

• From Newark Airport (EWR): Royal Caribbean gives the distance as 9 miles. Take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 14A, then follow Route 440 South and turn left at the traffic light at Port Terminal Blvd. Go past the guard gate and follow the cruise signs. EWR is the closest major airport. Celebrity calls the port "in close proximity to Newark Airport."
• From Manhattan: Celebrity says the port is less than an hour's drive from New York City. Drivers coming from the Lincoln Tunnel take the NJ Turnpike south to Exit 14A.
• By train: Take PATH to Jersey City or Hoboken, then the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the 34th St station in Bayonne. Finish with a taxi; Royal Caribbean says the port is about two miles east of the light-rail line.
• By bus: Take NJ Transit bus 119 or 99S from Port Authority Bus Terminal to 33rd St and Kennedy Blvd, then a taxi for about three miles (Royal Caribbean).
• Celebrity notes there are no shops near the port beyond a small kiosk in the terminal, so pack your essentials before you arrive.

Parking

There's a garage next to the terminal. Royal Caribbean says no reservations are needed and parking is guaranteed. The garage height limit is 7'4". Taller vehicles and RVs use the open overflow lots, and a free shuttle runs between those lots and the terminal. The parking operator says the garage may be limited to vehicles with disability placards in peak season, with everyone else using the overflow lots. Drop your bags at the terminal first, then park.

Current rates and payment rules: Cape Liberty parking (official operator) and Royal Caribbean's Cape Liberty FAQ.

Where to stay the night before

If you're flying in, stay near Newark Airport or in Jersey City or Bayonne, which keeps the morning drive short and away from Manhattan tunnel traffic. If you'd rather have a night in the city, stay in Manhattan and book a car to Bayonne for the morning. Our NYC pre-cruise hotel guide covers both options.

Boarding-day timeline

1. The night before: Check your check-in window in your cruise line's app or documents, and keep passports or ID in your carry-on.
2. Morning: Leave plenty of buffer for NJ Turnpike and bridge traffic.
3. At the port: Drop luggage with the porters at the terminal, then park in the garage or an overflow lot. Overflow lots have a free shuttle.
4. Check-in: Go through security and check-in at your assigned time. Royal Caribbean warns that security and immigration can cause delays.
5. Onboard: Grab lunch, then find your sail-away spot for the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

Return-day tip

If you're flying home, book a flight later in the day out of Newark, the closest airport. If you parked, the operator says payment is processed when you leave the facility. Have your card on file or ready.

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