New York City

From Canada, we headed down the coast to our only stop in the USA. An overnight stay in New York City.

It was our first visit to NYC and we were keen to see all of the sights. Or at least as much as we could fit in. We were due to dock at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal so we would not have to travel far to get to the city. We made our approach in darkness and fog so we were not well-placed to get pictures of the Statue of Liberty on the way in. As it turned out I was in the shower when we passed it. Here is a photo donated by another better organised passenger. (Thanks to Peggy from Canada)

Day 1

US Immigration can be slow, particularly when 2000 passengers all try to get off at the same time. So once again the cruise line operated a ticketing system to control the flow. I had joined the queue for tickets before we docked. Our party (consisting of Kathy and I plus Glen and Peggy from Canada) was in the first group called. This time immigration was quick and painless. Perhaps because we had an actual visa and they already had all our fingerprints it was just a photo and a question about how long we were visiting for and if we were staying overnight on the ship and we were out into the Hells Kitchen neighbourhood at Pier 88 an hour and a half before we were due to meet our guide for a 3-hour introduction to NYC. A map of our tour is below.

As we were off the ship early and there were no facilities at the cruise terminal we set off on foot into the Big City. My first impressions were surprise about the amount of construction and other activity constantly going on. Many buildings had minor construction happening with sidewalks blocked off and trucks double parked unloading materials. In addition, there were many people walking past carrying parcels and possessions as if they were in the process of moving apartments. We walked past what looked like a trade lumber yard with trucks collecting building materials for use in the minor construction going on.

After walking past the spearmint rhino gentlemen club we found our way to a bakery and stopped for breakfast. The coffee and baked goods were just what was needed and the service was good. A number of customers drifted in and out while we were there, some with their dogs. Again there were many dogs being walked at that time of day throughout the city.

Our guide met us at the Bakery and we set off on our tour. A short walk up West 47th Street then we were on the Bus headed uptown. (note the impressive use of the local lingo) The bus (and later the subway) were paid for by tapping on with a card or phone. As there is a single ride price there was no need to tap off which made things simple. We stepped off at Lincoln Centre. If I thought about this at all I would have thought of a single concert hall but it turned out to be a campus-type complex of performance spaces for Opera, Ballet and Theatre and even included the Julliard School for the performing arts on the same site along with green space between the buildings.

From here we walked to Columbus Circle and the South West corner of Central Park. Here there were street vendors and guides touting tours and the start of the green expanse of the park. We could see some of the new high-rise towers beloved by billionaires in the background. There were a couple of police vehicles parked near but not quite in front of Trump Tower.

From here we took the Subway to 72nd Street to see the Dakota Appartments and the memorial to John Lennon set up just inside Central Park. Piney paid his respects in between tour groups and a busker who obviously thought he was meant for better things played George Harrison songs.

Back on the Subway, we headed downtown (I've still got it) to Bryant Park. From this open space, we saw and then looked inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, part of the New York Public Library. This is just one of the many public buildings in the city originally built by the Robber Barrons of the Gilded Age (1877 to 1900) when obscene wealth was channelled into opulent buildings meant to demonstrate the wealth of the owner. This imposing building was once the private library of a single man. No further commentary or comparison with modern times is needed. From the park, we also caught a glimpse of the Empire State Building.

We then walked a short distance to another spectacular public building. This time Grand Central Station. Pictures don't do the interior justice. I tried a short video on my phone but that also fell short. The main hall is cavernous and lit by stained glass windows and bustling people. Recently refurbished the marble seemed to shine.

At this point, our tour ended and we thanks our guide and retraced our steps back towards the station entrance where Piney had seen a Wine Bar. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch in a quiet restaurant with a good wine list just around the corner from the ornate grand hall.

It was now time to head back to the Ship and this involved the use of another mode of public transport when we stepped outside the station and piled into a cab. Cab driving in New York City is an occupation reserved for those brave souls who do not fear death or disfigurement every minute of every day. While some of the streets are wide and many are one way to improve traffic flow the reality is that two lanes are often taken up with parked vehicles, One lane is a bus lane and double parking is common. So if there is a single lane available it is a bonus. Traffic is then held up when the intersections are blocked by traffic so Cab drivers live by that motto originally uttered by Bob Hudson in his 1974 hit "The Newcastle Song" i.e. "Don't you ever let a chance go by"

We returned somewhat shaken to the ship with an hour to freshen up before heading out again and hailing another Cab.

This time we headed to Times Square for an early BBQ Dinner and then a Broadway Show. Food and drink were suitably supersized and as we had only recently finished lunch we struggled with a few shared dishes before returning to the insanity of Times Square.

Perhaps this video gives some idea.

We saw The Lion King. A safe choice which delivered as expected but the real entertainment was outside and during the cab ride back to the Ship.

Day 2

Day 2 for us was a much more relaxed affair. (except for the Cab rides)

We took a Cab around 10 am for the SoHo district and had a coffee, looked at a couple of shops and stopped for lunch to marvel at the traffic jam caused when an ambulance stopped and parked blocking off the single lane of traffic. Each time the light changed a new group of cars would be caught behind the ambulance blocking the cross street until they realised they could not go forward and managed to reverse and turn left out of the intersection. It was still going on when we left even though the ambulance team had already escorted their patient into the back of the ambulance.

We returned to the ship through some of the other districts including Chelsea and the West Village in another white knuckle ride.

Now it was time for Sail Away. Up on the deck where drinks already include the tip we occupied a table and prepared to take photos. This edited 7-minute video shows us backing out into the Hudson and then heading past the buildings, tall and taller as we headed for the sea. The tops of the tallest buildings such as the Empire State and the Freedom Tower are obscured by clouds so you don't see their full height. Still, it is an impressive sight and towards the end of the video there is footage of the Statue of Liberty as we exit the harbour and set a course for the Panama Canal.

There is so much more to see and do in NYC but this was a good first trip and an introduction to the Big Apple which was more accessible and interesting than we had anticipated.