Getting to the New York cruise terminals from the airport
All three airports are 10 to 20 miles from the Manhattan terminal, but traffic makes every trip 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. From JFK a taxi is a flat $70 plus surcharges, tolls and tip, roughly $95 to $110 in all. From LaGuardia the free Q70 bus, the E train and the M50 bus get you to Pier 88 for $3.
For Brooklyn, a taxi or rideshare from LaGuardia is cheapest, about $28 to $38 by cab. On busy cruise days a free NYC Ferry shuttle runs from Wall Street's Pier 11 to Red Hook, next to the terminal.
Fares and schedules checked . How we check
From JFK to the Manhattan terminal
20 miles, 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNYC yellow cab, JFK flat fare | A flat $70 to Manhattan, about $77 with the required surcharges, plus $5 on weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m., tolls and tip. Expect roughly $95 to $110 in all. | Taxi stand outside every terminal; no booking needed. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's average from JFK to Manhattan is about $96. The airport adds a $3.50 fee per pickup. | Terminals 5 and 7 pickups have moved to the Howard Beach AirTrain station during construction. |
| Shared shuttleGO Airlink NYC | About $35 per person, taxes and airport fees included. | Book online; after landing, check in at the Welcome Center. |
| Cruise line transferCarnival Cruise Line | $44.99 per person each way. | Your flight must land by noon. Norwegian sells its own transfers; prices aren't published. |
| Train and busAirTrain, E train and M50 bus | $11.75 per person: AirTrain $8.75 plus $3 for the subway and bus. | AirTrain to Jamaica, E train to 50th Street, then walk about 0.8 miles west or take the M50 along 49th Street to 12th Avenue. |
| Private carDial 7 and other car services | Sedans from about $69, before tolls, tip and fees. | Pre-book. |
From LaGuardia to the Manhattan terminal
10 miles, 30 minutes to over an hour, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNYC yellow cab, metered | Metered, plus a $5 LaGuardia surcharge, a $2 airport fee, Manhattan congestion charges, tolls and tip. | Taxi stand at each terminal. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's average to Midtown West hotels near the terminal is about $55, and about $70 to Manhattan overall. Plus a $3.50 airport fee. | Pickup zones differ by terminal; follow the signs. |
| Shared shuttleGO Airlink NYC | About $33 per person. | Book online. |
| Cruise line transferCarnival Cruise Line | $44.99 per person each way. | Your flight must land by noon. |
| Bus and subwayFree Q70 bus, E train and M50 bus | $3 per person, about an hour or more. | Q70 LaGuardia Link (free) to Jackson Heights, E train to 50th Street, then the M50 west to 12th Avenue or a 0.8-mile walk. |
From Newark to the Manhattan terminal
15 miles, 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the Lincoln Tunnel, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNewark airport taxi, flat-rate zones | $65 or $70 depending on the zone, plus a $2 airport fee, a $10 surcharge to New York at rush hour, tolls and tip. | Use the dispatcher at the taxi stand and keep the receipt. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's average from Newark to Manhattan is about $75. No flat rate; tolls are added. | Pickup zones differ by terminal. |
| BusNewark Airport Express | $23.50 one way to Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park or Grand Central, about 50 minutes. Then a short cab ride to the pier. | Tickets online or at the airport. |
| Shared shuttleGO Airlink NYC | About $39 per person. | Book online. |
| Cruise line transferCarnival Cruise Line | $44.99 per person each way. | Your flight must land by 1 p.m. |
| TrainAirTrain and NJ Transit to Penn Station | $17.25 including the AirTrain fee, about 30 minutes to Penn Station. Then a cab, or the subway and M50 bus, 1.7 miles to the pier. | NJ Transit app or station machines. |
From JFK to the Brooklyn terminal
16 miles, 35 minutes to 1.5 hours, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNYC yellow cab, metered | Metered (the JFK flat fare covers Manhattan only), plus a $2 airport fee, tolls and tip. | Taxi stand. Tell the driver Bowne Street and Imlay Street, Red Hook. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's average from JFK to Brooklyn is about $72, plus a $3.50 airport fee. | Terminals 5 and 7 pickups are at the Howard Beach AirTrain station during construction. |
| Cruise line transferCunard and Princess | Cunard includes transfers when you book flights with it; otherwise prices aren't published. | Ask your cruise line. |
| Train and ferryAirTrain, A train and NYC Ferry | $11.75 for the AirTrain and subway, plus the ferry from Wall Street's Pier 11 to Red Hook, free on busy cruise days, otherwise $5. | AirTrain to Howard Beach, A train to Fulton Street, walk to Pier 11, then the South Brooklyn ferry to Red Hook/Atlantic Basin. |
From LaGuardia to the Brooklyn terminal
12 miles, 25 minutes to over an hour, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNYC yellow cab, metered | About $28 to $38 before tolls and tip, according to Cruise NYC, plus the $5 LaGuardia surcharge and $2 airport fee. | Taxi stand at each terminal. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's average from LaGuardia to Brooklyn is about $55, plus a $3.50 airport fee. | Pickup zones differ by terminal. |
From Newark to the Brooklyn terminal
17 miles, an hour to 90 minutes, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiNewark airport taxi | About $80 to $100 before tolls and tip, according to Cruise NYC. Confirm the fare with the dispatcher. | Use the dispatcher at the taxi stand. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | No published average; tolls are added to the upfront price. | Pickup zones differ by terminal. |
| Train and ferryNJ Transit, PATH and NYC Ferry | About $12 by train and PATH to the World Trade Center, then walk to Pier 11 for the ferry to Red Hook (free on busy cruise days). | Practical only with light bags. |
Want a private car or shared van booked ahead? Compare airport-to-port transfers in New York City from several companies on Viator.
Booking.com Taxis also books a private car from the airport to the terminal at a price fixed when you book. The driver tracks your flight and waits if it's late, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Good to know
- Only Pier 88 has been running at the Manhattan terminal since January 2026, so ships sometimes share it. Stick to your arrival time.
- Rides into Manhattan below 60th Street pay the MTA congestion toll ($0.75 for taxis, $1.50 for Uber and Lyft) and the state congestion surcharge, which drivers add to the fare.
- The Port Authority raised airport fees in March 2026: $2 per taxi pickup and $3.50 per Uber or Lyft pickup or drop-off at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.
- On cruise days with more than 2,000 passengers, a free NYC Ferry shuttle runs between Wall Street's Pier 11 and the Red Hook landing next to the Brooklyn terminal.
- Neither terminal stores luggage. Carnival won't book its transfer for a JFK flight home before noon, or a LaGuardia flight before 1 p.m.
- NYC Airporter, still named in older guides, stopped running in 2020.
Common questions
How much is a taxi from JFK to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal?
A flat $70, about $77 with the required surcharges, plus $5 on weekday afternoons, tolls and tip. Expect $95 to $110 in all.
What's the cheapest way from the airport to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal?
From LaGuardia, $3: the free Q70 bus to Jackson Heights, the E train to 50th Street, then the M50 bus west to 12th Avenue. From JFK it's $11.75 with the AirTrain.
How do I get from the airport to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal?
A taxi or rideshare is easiest: about $28 to $38 by cab from LaGuardia, or about $72 by Uber from JFK. There's no subway nearby, but on busy cruise days a free ferry runs from Wall Street to Red Hook.