Getting to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port Without a Car (Port Transportation)

Flying into New York for your cruise? Or maybe you simply don’t want to deal with the headache and expense of dealing with parking your car. No matter the reason, if you’re needing transportation from area airports or hotels to Cape Liberty, then we have you covered.

There are a number of ways to get to Cape Liberty for your cruise, including a taxi, Uber, and public transportation.

The good news is that in a city with a mature transportation network like New York, you have a number of options in getting to the port. And if you’re overwhelmed with trying to get around the city, don’t worry, we have you covered with exactly how to get from the city to Cape Liberty.

Uber/Lyft

As for convenience, it’s hard to beat transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. By downloading the app, you can call a car on demand, anywhere in the New York/New Jersey area.

Rates for Uber/Lyft are roughly in line with their taxi counterparts, but it does depend on where you are coming from and where you are going.

For example, if you are flying (or staying) in New York and sailing from Cape Liberty, then you’ll be charged extra for your car going from New York to New Jersey or vice versa. Uber and Lyft charge $20 extra for going between the two states. Certain bridges and tunnels can also add to the cost.

Because of these extra charges, if you are headed to Cape Liberty (in New Jersey) from anywhere in New York, the cost of the trip is considerably higher.

If you can, it’s a good idea to take public transportation (see the Public Transportation section below) to get from New York over to New Jersey. Then, you can take an Uber/Lyft for about $20 the rest of the way to the cruise port. This can save you a fortune.

Below, we’ve listed their estimated prices from the areas around town to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port.

Keep in mind that these prices are per car, not per person.

Uber, Lyft and taxi cost to Cape Liberty

If you are considering using a rideshare service, be sure to read more details about them here.

Taxis

When you think of New York, one of the most iconic images is of a person waiting on the side of a busy street hailing a yellow taxi. With thousands of taxis in the city, they are a popular (and highly visible) way to get around.

If you are coming from the Newark airport to Cape Liberty, then picking up a cab at the airport is easy as you’ll head to the taxi station where you can hop in. If you are staying in New York, it can be a little more challenging.

New York taxis can decide whether or not to offer a ride to New Jersey. You will negotiate the flat fee before you get in the car.

You can see the estimated taxi fare from popular areas to Cape Liberty in the chart above. If you are interested in seeing the estimated fare from your specific location, visit this helpful page to calculate a fare.

Cruise Line Shuttles

One option is to book a transfer via your cruise line. Since the lines have many cruisers that fly into town to sail out of a port, they offer transportation services between the airport and cruise port.

However, we generally recommend other methods of getting to the port.

The issue is that transfers tend to be expensive, and don’t run on your schedule. For example, you can expect a transfer for one person from Newark to Cape Liberty run about $30 per person (one way) based on historic prices. That’s roughly the cost of an Uber or taxi, which can seat multiple people for the same amount. 

As well, there are multiple major airports in the area, and they may not all be serviced by a cruise line transfer. According to the representative we talked to, there was no service between New York’s JFK or LaGuardia airports and Cape Liberty (although that could change). 

Cruise transfers are also limited in that they operate only on the day of sailing and only go between the airport and cruise port. So if you come in a day or two early to visit New York or are staying at a hotel in the area, then the cruise line transfer isn’t a viable option.

If you are still interested in a transfer, contact your cruise line directly to learn more.

Independent Shuttles/Car Services

If you are traveling with a larger group to Cape Liberty, then your best bet is likely to look for an independent shuttle or private car service. These providers can offer private service to the port, usually for less per person than a taxi or other service, assuming you have seven or more passengers.

To be frank, the number of shuttles and car services in the New York area is extremely high. That means we can’t list them all here. Instead, we’ve rounded up a sample list of area companies to give you a good start to go from.

The prices quoted by these companies can vary widely depending on what sort of service you need and exactly where you are coming from. However, as a general rule expect it to be a better value the larger a group you need to transport. Be sure to shop around before selecting a service as it can save you considerable money.

One other thing to keep in mind is that the prices you are quoted won’t include gratuity, which can add on another 15-20% to your fare.

Public Transportation

Bayonne, New Jersey and the Cape Liberty port are served by Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. Specifically, the North Jersey Coast Line takes you from the Hoboken Terminal all the way to Cape Liberty.

If you are coming from Manhattan, you’ll need to take the PATH rail to the Hoboken Terminal. Then, you’ll transfer to light rail, which will drop you at the 34th Street Light Rail Station near the port. From there, you will need to call a taxi or Uber to take you the couple of miles down the port to the cruise terminal.

You can also simply take the PATH train from Manhattan and get off at the first station in New Jersey (Hoboken, Newport or Exchange Place, depending on which train you take) and then take an Uber/Lyft the rest of the way to the cruise port. This saves you the surcharge of using Uber/Lyft or a taxi to go from New York to New Jersey.

Expect the public transit trip to cost about $5.

Honestly, given the transfers and the fact that the closest rail station to the port is still about two miles away from the ship, we think many people would just be better offer with a taxi or Uber/Lyft.

Bottom line: If you are in New Jersey, then Uber/Lyft will likely be your easiest and cheapest way to get to the port. If coming from New York State, then we’d suggest taking public transit (PATH) over to New Jersey, and then an Uber/Lyft the rest of the way to the port to save money.

More on Cruising From Cape Liberty

Cape Liberty Cruise Parking — Parking at the port? We’ve got you covered with all your parking options, including costs and discounts.

Cape Liberty Cruise Hotels — Getting in late? Leaving early? Simply need a place to rest your head? We’ve rounded up the options for places to stay near the port.

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5 COMMENTS

  1. The port itself is easy. Professional porters. Breezy check in and embarkation. RC staff helpful and friendly Parking was a PIA! Sold out cruise. Garage was reserved for handicapped only. An insanely long line to park in an open lot among old shipping buildings with minimal security. Forced in the overflow lot no cameras and a 4 ft fence in the last row. Our car and the line of cars next to us were broken into. $150 for five days. No other choice once you’re in the line to park. I guess could’ve found a hotel to park at.

  2. Non parking lot available, EWR parking lot is cheaper but you will pay $40 in Uber one way. Its pain take cruise from Cape Liberty.
    Thanks America.

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