Answer: There’s no strict rule about how early you need to arrive for a cruise in New York, and it varies from company to company. In general, most cruise operators recommend arriving about 15 to 30 minutes before departure time, so you’ll have enough time to board with your tickets.

If you’re taking a sightseeing cruise, we recommend arriving as early as you can before the cruise starts so you can get the best spots on the boat that will allow you to see New York’s landmarks in the optimal way and take the best photos