While a popular cruise port for most major cruise lines, New York City is a vacation in itself. Before or after taking a cruise to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and New England, or sailing on a world cruise, the cosmopolitan city of New York offers an endless list of attractions and excursions to check out.

Explore the highlights of Manhattan on a walking tour or take a Helicopter ride over famous landmarks like the Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and more. It’s also a great pedestrian-friendly city to explore local dining, entertainment and nightlife by foot on your own schedule. Subway lines, taxis, busses, bicycles and ferries are affordable and easily accessible and can easily take you to several boroughs throughout the city, including Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Pick up some souvenirs by the Statue of Liberty, or designer goodies at the ultra-hip SoHo, or stroll through Greenwich Village for nifty craft shops and bookstores. Enjoy art on every corner, whether it’s the glistening lights of Times Square, or the exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum.

Once you’re done with the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, you’ll appreciate the contrast of unwinding on a calm cruise at sea.