Brooklyn bridge at dusk, New York City - Shutterstock ID 120154516

Destinations Transatlantic USA

New York state of mind

If there’s one city that sums up the essence of the American Dream more than any other, it’s this one. Get set for an unforgettable bite of The Big Apple with Cunard.

3 min 29 Sep 2020

Cunard

Author

Even if you’ve never visited New York before, you’ll find so much of it strangely familiar thanks to the thousands of movies, TV shows, and documentaries that you’ve been watching all your life. There are the loud horns of the yellow taxis, plumes of steam rising from the sidewalks, hot dog stands on the corners, and buzzy bars and eateries, just for starters. And not least, there’s that unforgettable Manhattan skyline – because this is a city that excites and delights on every single level.

Of course, any visit to New York is full of iconic sights wherever you go: the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial … the list goes on and on. Fortunately, Cunard guests can cherry-pick their personal must-see preferences of things to do in New York with a fantastic range of carefully curated Shore Experiences.

Whether you want to visit those city “classics”, tick off cultural delights such as the Guggenheim and The Met museums, or explore vibrant multicultural districts, all bases are covered in a variety of onshore excursions available on your cruise – from a breezy open-top bus that takes in the landmarks to the classic ferry that transports city dwellers back and forth every day, and not least, exploration by foot.

Grey silhouette of a person's head and shoulders

“Go to Brooklyn Bridge Park to see the beautiful view of Manhattan, and then make your way up to Brooklyn Bridge – it’s a really unique walk that I recommend everyone should do.”

Christian Kaiser, Shore Experience Team

To experience the essence of this mesmerizing metropolis on your New York break, you can also join one of the very special Urban Adventures Tours, where your guide – a native New Yorker, naturally! – will take you way off the standard tourist track to discover a truly authentic slice of city life. Fall in love, for instance, with Brooklyn, a neighborhood that boasts family-run delicatessens, bakeries, coffee shops, and cozy corner restaurants that locals – lucky enough to live in the district’s tree-lined streets of “brownstone” houses – drop into almost every day. Take in traditional Italian and Middle Eastern stores, and explore the growing scene of cafés and restaurants specializing in New American cuisine while enjoying tempting samples from artisan cheese and bread shops, Italian pastry stores, and characterful cafés with traditional coffee roasters.

“Take in the amazing views from Top of the Rock, the observation deck at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Book your ticket in advance to avoid the lines – you can do this on board.”

Bernadette Thomason, Cunard Product Manager

Alternatively, for a fascinating close-up and personal perspective on your vacation in New York, the Urban Adventures New York City Tour is a good place to start. Kicking off at the historic City Hall Park, you’ll meander around the Lower East Side with its historic bakeries, churches, markets, and sites; stroll the streets of Little Italy; and wind through Chinatown. You’ll also sample the amazing food – from dumplings to pretzels and more – that showcases the culinary legacy of those who have passed by Lady Liberty on their way to the American Dream …

New York, New York … it is indeed a wonderful town.