In short: We provide cruise port transportation from Mercer County to Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and we collect you when the ship returns. Cape Liberty is the closest: about 46 miles from Princeton, usually around 60–75 minutes without heavy traffic. We size the vehicle for your luggage and send a written quote listing tolls before you book.
Why book cruise port transportation?
Cruise luggage is not airport luggage. A week at sea often means two large suitcases per person, formal outfits in garment bags and a carry-on with documents and medication. Getting all of that onto a train and then a shuttle is hard work, and driving yourself means leaving your car at the port for the whole trip.
A private ride runs from your driveway to the terminal drop-off. On the way back, your chauffeur is waiting when you come off the ship, so the trip home starts as soon as you are through the terminal.
Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne
Cape Liberty sits on the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, a long pier that was once the Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the terminal, and it has been a cruise port since 2004. For most of our riders it is the easiest of the three terminals to reach, because the whole drive stays in New Jersey.
The usual route is the NJ Turnpike north to Exit 14A for Bayonne, then Route 440 south to Port Terminal Boulevard. Cars drop passengers in front of the terminal, so put your cruise line's luggage tags on your bags before you leave home. That way the handoff at the curb is quick.
| From | Distance | Typical drive time |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick, NJ | 31 mi | about 40–50 min |
| East Windsor & Hightstown, NJ | 45 mi | about 55–70 min |
| Princeton, NJ | 46 mi | about 60–75 min |
| West Windsor & Princeton Junction, NJ | 46 mi | about 60–75 min |
| Hamilton, NJ | 51 mi | about 65–85 min |
| Lawrenceville, NJ | 52 mi | about 65–85 min |
| Trenton, NJ | 55 mi | about 70–90 min |
| Bordentown, NJ | 58 mi | about 70–90 min |
| Yardley, PA | 59 mi | about 70–95 min |
| Newtown, PA | 64 mi | about 80–100 min |
Road-routing estimates without heavy traffic. We add a buffer for weekend and holiday traffic when we set your pickup time.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is on the Hudson River on Manhattan's West Side, at Piers 88 and 90, with its address at 711 12th Avenue. All vehicles enter from the north, at West 55th Street and 12th Avenue. From Mercer County the usual route is the NJ Turnpike to the Lincoln Tunnel, then north on 12th Avenue to the entrance. Midtown Manhattan is about 54 miles from Princeton, usually around 70–90 minutes without heavy traffic, but tunnel delays vary more than any other part of the drive. Tunnel tolls and any other tolls on your route are listed in your written quote.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Red Hook
The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is at Pier 12 in Red Hook, on the Upper Bay. The terminal's own directions from New Jersey follow the NJ Turnpike to Exit 13, the Goethals Bridge, the Staten Island Expressway and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, then the Gowanus Expressway toward the Hamilton Avenue exit. Vehicles enter the terminal at Bowne Street and Imlay Street. The route crosses two bridges and all of Staten Island, so we plan a generous buffer for Brooklyn sailings.
Embarkation day: how the ride works
- Send your cruise details. Ship, terminal, sailing date and your check-in time from the cruise line.
- Tag your bags at home. Attach the cruise line's luggage tags before pickup, and keep passports, medication and valuables in your carry-on.
- We set the pickup time. We work back from your check-in window, add the drive and a buffer, and confirm the time in your quote.
- Drop-off at the terminal. At the Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals, porters take checked bags and move them to the ship. Your chauffeur helps unload and you head inside.
Debarkation day: your ride home
Ships usually dock early in the morning, and passengers leave in stages over the next few hours. Tell us how you plan to disembark. Walking off early with your own bags means an earlier pickup; waiting for luggage collected in the terminal means a later one. We set the time to match, and you message us once you are through the terminal.
The New York terminals have a holding area for pre-arranged cars outside the terminal. Your chauffeur texts the exact meeting point and the vehicle details. Only get into the car your chauffeur has confirmed to you by name and plate, and decline offers from anyone else. Waiting-time terms are stated in your quote.
Luggage, vehicles and groups
A luxury sedan suits two people with one large suitcase each. Most couples and families do better in a luxury SUV, which seats up to six with four to six large bags. Family reunion cruises and wedding groups can share an executive van and arrive together. Because trunk space differs by model, your quote names the vehicle class you are getting. Child seats are available on request. See the fleet for details.
Flying in before your cruise
Coming from out of state? Our Newark airport car service can meet your flight and take you to Cape Liberty, Manhattan or Brooklyn, or to a hotel for the night before you sail. For other trips into New York City, see our long-distance car service. Riders from Princeton and Hamilton can find drive times to every destination on their town pages. Ready to plan? Request a cruise port transportation quote or call (609) 598-2992.