Cape Liberty opened to the cruise trade in 2004. Also known as Port Liberty, this New Jersey cruise ship port is located in Bayonne and boasts outstanding views of New York Harbor, the lower Manhattan skyline, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.
Drive and park
Cape Liberty is a short distance from Manhattan and serves millions of people in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. It is an excellent port for surrounding area residents who prefer to drive and park for the duration of their cruise.
The port is also just 7.5 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and that is our suggested airport to fly into when you are taking cruises out of Cape Liberty.
If you prefer to fly into Kennedy (JFK) or LaGuardia (LGA), be prepared to drive through Manhattan in order to get to Cape Liberty. A taxi can cost upwards of $200 for the short trip from any of the New York airports. Even the flat-rate taxi fare from nearby EWR was a surprising $48 plus tip.
Most economical transfers
Except for transfers from Newark International, the most economical solution for airport transfers to and from Cape Liberty is the service arranged by the cruise lines. Transfers arranged by cruise lines from Newark International run about $30, LaGuardia $40, and Kennedy $45 – per person.
If you like to take a few days to explore the port area in advance of your cruises, you might consider renting an Enterprise Rental Car from any of the NJ/NY airports. We suggest Enterprise because they have a local drop off in Bayonne that is very close to the port. The Bayonne Enterprise office is located at 1347 Kennedy Blvd, Bayonne, NJ. Phone 1.201.436.9814 . Note: This location is closed on Sunday.
Enterprise also informed us that they will pick up passengers after the cruise if they want to rent a car to spend time visiting around Manhattan before their flight home. The tab for a small auto should be less than $200 for the day’s rental, gas, and airport drop-off charge. The airport drop-off charge may be negotiable – doesn’t hurt to ask.
For ultimate convenience and comfort
If you are on vacation and want to completely relax, we can recommend the private car services of GroundLink.com. They boast being the first global, mobile, and online private car service.
We found out that they provide service in 110 different countries and have exclusive partner relationships with the likes of United, Jet Blue, AirTran, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), Omni Hotels, Expedia, and Kayak. Why had we not stumbled across them in the past? Anyway, we have found them now, and we are glad we did.
We downloaded their app to our trusty Android and made easy arrangements for our transfer from Cape Liberty to JFK. Upon our ship’s arrival in Bayonne, they kept us continually informed on the status of our car through SMS updates, and they sent us a text with the driver’s cell number so we could speak directly with him at any time.
We cleared customs and our car was waiting exactly in the spot arranged. How convenient is that at a busy cruise terminal. A very nice service.
If you arrive early and want a great place to stay
We have a couple of suggestions for those who prefer the private comforts of a nice B&B to the largely impersonal brand hotels. We had heard good things about two private inns in New Jersey, so we tried both of them. You can see photographs of these lovely B&Bs here in our photo gallery.
The Whistling Swan Inn
The Whistling Swan Inn is in Stanhope, NJ. This delightful nine bedroom B&B is about 50 miles northeast of Port Liberty along Interstate 80 in the Skylands Region of northern NJ. There are many lakes and state parks in the area, along with good restaurants and plenty of antique shops.
Here the Innkeepers have spared no effort to provide guests with all the modern amenities including a complimentary computer for guest use, and wireless DSL in each room, a DVD library – and all this is comfortably nestled in a lavishly decorated turn of the century Victorian home chock full of beautiful antique furnishings and tasteful décor.
Suites at the Inn meld the past and present, and each has a Jacuzzi tub and a fireplace to enhance the relaxing magic of another time and place.
The recently rearranged dining room is more intimate for individual conversation, but is still the milieu for the magnificent country buffet breakfast and hospitality bar. All-day complimentary beverages and homemade cookies are always waiting. After long days, those cookies go nicely with a provided glass of sherry in front of the parlor fireplace – beats a conventional hotel any day.
For more information check out the Whistling Swan’s website at http://whistlingswaninn.com
The DeBary Inn
Our second recommendation is closer to the port of Cape Liberty and located in Summit, NJ. The DeBary Inn is a large property, and each of its 16 gorgeously appointed rooms is unique, though all share luxuriant details and spaciousness.
The Inn is partly owned by Jim Cramer the Mad Money guru of CNBC fame. The owners refer to the property as an executive boutique inn, and it definitely has all the comforts of home.
Built in 1880 as a private residence, the property became a place of lodging in 1923, and took the name DeBary Inn in 2006 following extensive renovations that restored the property to its original grandeur while simultaneously providing guests with a host of modern features.
Innkeeper Jon Fuzell prides himself on service to his guests, and provides a fitting and comfortable home for any duration. Elegant and versatile, the Inn perfectly suits both romantic retreats and corporate getaways – all in a classical Victorian setting.
The DeBary is located in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by lovely Victorian homes. It is an easy walk to downtown Summit where you can find both casual and better eateries. It is also just a short walk to a train line that will take you into the heart of Manhattan in about 40 minutes.
This is an ideal place to relax and get set for your cruise vacation out of Cape Liberty, which is 19 miles to the east. EWR is just 12 miles away.
For more information about the DeBary Inn and surroundings, see their website at http://thedebaryinn.com