First cruise from Bayonne, NJ: questions and answers

These are the questions people ask before a first cruise from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, answered from the cruise lines' and government pages and the day-by-day itineraries we hold, all read on 4 November 2026. Royal Caribbean runs 97 of the 114 sailings on our schedule, Celebrity 16 and Silversea 1, and the line you book sets the rules on board. We are an independent schedule, not the port or a cruise line.

How does a 7-night Bahamas cruise from Bayonne work, day by day?

You leave Cape Liberty on a Sunday afternoon, spend a day at sea, then call at Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau on three days in a row before two sea days back to Bayonne. That is the pattern on Odyssey of the Seas' 7-night Bahamas sailings and on most of Oasis of the Seas' summer ones.

This is the itinerary for Odyssey of the Seas on 14 November 2027, as listed on 4 November 2026:

Day	Where	Times listed
1, Sunday	Cape Liberty, Bayonne	Leaves 3pm
2, Monday	At sea
3, Tuesday	Port Canaveral, Florida	11:59am to 7pm
4, Wednesday	Perfect Day at CocoCay	8am to 5pm
5, Thursday	Nassau, Bahamas	7:30am to 5:30pm
6, Friday	At sea
7, Saturday	At sea
8, Sunday	Cape Liberty, Bayonne	Arrives 6am

Other sailings on this route shift the port times by up to an hour. Oasis of the Seas' Friday departures skip Port Canaveral and run two sea days, Nassau, CocoCay and two more sea days. The other routes from Bayonne look like this:

• 5-night Bermuda on Independence of the Seas. One sea day, then the Royal Naval Dockyard from 9am on day 3 to 5pm on day 4, one sea day and back at 7am.
• 7-night Bermuda on Celebrity. Two sea days, three days at the Dockyard from day 4 to the afternoon of day 6, one sea day and back at 7am.
• 4-night Canada on Independence of the Seas. A sea day each way around a day in Halifax, 8am to 6pm.
• Winter Caribbean on Odyssey of the Seas. Three sea days in a row on the way south and three on the way back, with four or five islands in between.
• Transatlantic to Civitavecchia. Five sea days before the first port, Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

The Caribbean and Bahamas guide, the Bermuda guide and the Canada and New England guide compare the routes in detail.

What time do cruises leave Cape Liberty, and when do they get back?

Royal Caribbean's round trips leave at 3pm and dock back at 6am on Odyssey of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, or 7am on Independence of the Seas. Celebrity Silhouette leaves at 3pm and Celebrity Summit at 4pm, and both are back at 7am.

The one-way sailings leave at 4pm, except Silver Shadow's voyage to Montreal at 7pm. The documents the line sends for your booking carry the times that apply to you.

What time should I arrive at Cape Liberty for my cruise?

At the arrival time you picked when you checked in. Royal Caribbean says guests who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding and late arrivals may wait for a later group. Celebrity asks you to arrive during the window you selected.

The deadlines differ by line:

• Royal Caribbean. You can check in in the Royal Caribbean app until 8am on sailing day, and Royal Caribbean encourages doing it at least 3 days ahead. If you have not checked in ahead, you finish at the pier at least two hours before the published sailing time. Royal Caribbean requires guests to be checked in no later than 90 minutes before the scheduled sailing time and says late guests will not be permitted to sail. For a 3pm sailing that is 1:30pm, by our arithmetic.
• Celebrity. Online check-in opens 45 days before the cruise and closes 3 days before, and app check-in runs until the morning of sailing. If you arrive outside your slot, Celebrity says to finish before the "All Aboard Time" in your Guest Documents.

For the terminal itself, parking and transport, see the Cape Liberty Cruise Port guide, parking at Cape Liberty, Newark Airport to Cape Liberty and New York City to Cape Liberty.

Do cruises from Bayonne sail past the Statue of Liberty?

Celebrity's 7-night Bermuda sailings list it. Their day-by-day itineraries include an entry called "Statue Of Liberty (cruising)" on the first evening, from 4:45pm to 5:30pm, after the 3pm or 4pm departure.

None of the Royal Caribbean or Silversea itineraries we hold has that entry, and neither do Celebrity's Greenland and Iceland voyages. The itineraries give only the name and the times. The Celebrity page lists the sailings.

What is included in a Royal Caribbean cruise fare?

Your stateroom, meals in the included restaurants, basic drinks, most entertainment and activities, the Adventure Ocean youth program and access to its private destinations such as Perfect Day at CocoCay. That is Royal Caribbean's own list on 4 November 2026.

• Dining. The Main Dining Room, the Windjammer buffet and casual and quick-service spots.
• Drinks. Water, tea, select juices and classic coffees, at meals and at various places on the ship.
• Activities. Pools, whirlpools, the fitness center, sports courts, trivia and game shows. Rock climbing, mini golf, waterslides and the FlowRider are included on the ships that have them.
• Shows. Production shows, live music and comedy, plus ice shows and AquaTheater shows on select ships.

Royal Caribbean lists these as optional add-ons: beverage packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, arcade play, bingo and casino gaming. Gratuities are charged separately, as below.

What is included on a Celebrity cruise from Bayonne?

Celebrity's onboard FAQ lists coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk, non-bottled water, hot chocolate, orange juice and other juices as complimentary. Its All Included fare adds Basic Wi-Fi and the Classic Drink Package, with the drink package's gratuities, for everyone in the stateroom. Onboard staff gratuities are still charged separately.

The Classic package covers drinks up to $12 a serving and the Premium package drinks up to $19, by Celebrity's FAQ on 4 November 2026. Specialty restaurants cost extra, with cover charges of $45 to $150 per person that day plus a 20% gratuity. Celebrity Silhouette has six: Murano, Tuscan Grille, Le Petit Chef, Sushi on Five, Lawn Club Grill and The Porch. Celebrity Summit has Tuscan Grille, Le Petit Chef and Sushi on Five.

Silversea's one sailing is different. Silversea lists onboard gratuities, port taxes and fees, unlimited champagne, spirits and wines from its cellar, and Wi-Fi in its All-Inclusive Fare for Classic voyages such as Silver Shadow's.

How much are cruise gratuities on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity?

On 4 November 2026 Royal Caribbean's page gave $18.50 per guest per day in every cabin except suites, and $21.00 in suites. Celebrity's gave $19.50 in Inside, Oceanview and Veranda staterooms. Both lines add the amount to your onboard account each day unless you prepaid gratuities when you booked.

	Royal Caribbean	Celebrity
Standard cabins, per guest per day	$18.50	$19.50
Higher categories, per guest per day	$21.00 in any suite	$20.50 in Concierge and AquaClass, $24.50 in The Retreat
Added to drinks and packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar	18%	20%
Added to spa and salon	20%	20%

For two guests in a standard cabin that is $37 a day with Royal Caribbean and $39 a day with Celebrity, by our arithmetic. Both lines say gratuities are optional and that you can change or remove them at the Guest Relations desk before the morning you leave the ship.

Are taxes and port fees included in cruise fares from Bayonne?

In the starting fares on our pages, yes. Each is per person for the cheapest cabin listed, with taxes and fees included. On 4 November 2026 the lowest starting fare on our schedule was $504.

Royal Caribbean says taxes, fees and port expenses vary by sailing and that its website shows prices with them included. Gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and excursions are not in any fare we show. Add them, and parking or a hotel, when you compare.

Can I bring alcohol on a cruise from Bayonne?

Only wine or champagne. Royal Caribbean allows one sealed 750 ml bottle per guest of drinking age on embarkation day, and Celebrity one 750 ml bottle per guest of drinking age, which it asks you to pack in your carry-on. Royal Caribbean bans beer and hard liquor. Celebrity's prohibited-items list includes alcoholic beverages, and its FAQ makes the exception for that one bottle of wine.

• Royal Caribbean bans boxed wine. Bottles you buy on board or in port are stored and handed back on the last day, on both lines.
• On 4 November 2026 Celebrity charged corkage of $35 a bottle in its restaurants and bars, waived for guests with the Classic or Premium package.
• Celebrity's onboard FAQ lets you carry on non-alcoholic drinks on embarkation day, as much as you can hand-carry.
• The drinking age is 21 on both lines for sailings from North America. Royal Caribbean applies 21 at Perfect Day at CocoCay too.

Is Wi-Fi included on a cruise from Bayonne?

Not on Royal Caribbean or a standard Celebrity fare. Royal Caribbean sells VOOM Wi-Fi on every ship and says prices vary and are subject to change. Celebrity includes Basic Wi-Fi in its All Included fare and sells Wi-Fi packages to everyone else.

Celebrity's Basic Wi-Fi covers web browsing, email and texting on select messaging apps. Video calls, streaming and posting photos or videos need Premium Wi-Fi, which All Included guests can upgrade to for $9.99 per person per day in the Cruise Planner, by Celebrity's FAQ on 4 November 2026. Silversea includes Wi-Fi in its fare.

What should I pack for a cruise from New Jersey?

Clothes for two climates on the winter and spring sailings. In January the average low in New York's Central Park is 27.8°F, while the average high at Nassau's airport is 78.9°F. The table sets National Weather Service normals for Central Park against the Bahamas Department of Meteorology's for Nassau, both for 1991 to 2020.

Month	Central Park, New York, average high and low	Nassau, average high and low
January	39.5°F and 27.8°F	78.9°F and 64.8°F
February	42.2°F and 29.6°F	79.9°F and 65.3°F
March	49.9°F and 35.8°F	80.9°F and 66.4°F
April	61.8°F and 45.6°F	83.7°F and 69.8°F
May	71.5°F and 55.0°F	86.4°F and 72.3°F
June	79.7°F and 64.4°F	89.2°F and 75.6°F
July	84.8°F and 70.2°F	90.9°F and 77.0°F
August	83.4°F and 68.9°F	91.0°F and 77.0°F
September	76.3°F and 62.3°F	89.9°F and 76.4°F
October	64.5°F and 51.4°F	87.0°F and 74.5°F
November	54.1°F and 42.0°F	82.9°F and 70.1°F
December	44.4°F and 33.9°F	80.3°F and 67.2°F

Nassau's normals show 15 to 18 rain days a month from June to September. The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. For cooler climates, Celebrity's packing page suggests long sleeves, sweaters and pants that layer, and waterproof jackets, hats, gloves and umbrellas where rain or snow is likely.

On board, the lines ask for this:

• Royal Caribbean. Days are casual and swimwear stays on the Pool Deck. There is one Dress Your Best night on a 5-night cruise, two on 6 to 10 nights and three on 11 to 14 nights. No bare feet anywhere, and no tank tops at dinner in the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants.
• Celebrity. Smart Casual is required in the main and specialty restaurants and the theater, and shorts and flip-flops do not count. Each itinerary has one or two Evening Chic nights, when Smart Casual is still acceptable.
• Leave at home. Both lines prohibit clothing irons and garment steamers. Royal Caribbean says camouflage clothing is illegal in several Caribbean countries, including Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia, which the winter voyages visit.
• Carry-on. Keep documents and medicines with you. Celebrity says checked bags should reach your stateroom within a few hours of sailing if tagged properly.

How do I avoid seasickness on a cruise from Bayonne?

Stay low in the ship and near its middle, watch the horizon, and use any remedy before you feel ill. Royal Caribbean says the lower and more central you are, the less movement you feel, and that wristbands and over-the-counter remedies should be used before you start to feel ill.

Every Royal Caribbean and Celebrity itinerary from Bayonne starts with at least one day at sea, and the winter Caribbean voyages have three in a row each way. The CDC Yellow Book, dated 23 April 2025, adds this:

• Avoid high-motion spots such as the bow, look at the horizon and avoid reading.
• Alcohol and smoking increase motion sickness, and lack of sleep makes it worse.
• Medicines work best taken before the motion starts. The most common side effect is drowsiness, and a scopolamine patch takes about 6 to 8 hours to start working.

Celebrity says it provides Bonine, which is meclizine, free of charge on all ships, 24 hours a day, at the Medical Facility or the Guest Relations desk. Ask your doctor before you rely on any medicine.

Which cabin should I book on my first cruise?

Most starting fares on our schedule are for an interior cabin, the cheapest one listed for that sailing, so any other cabin on the same sailing costs the same or more. The choice also changes your gratuities and, if motion worries you, how much movement you feel.

• Gratuities. Both lines charge more in their higher categories, as in the table above.
• Motion. Royal Caribbean says you feel less movement lower in the ship and closer to its center.
• Under-21s. Royal Caribbean puts a guest under 21 in a stateroom only with a guest aged 21 or older. It waives that for children whose parents are in a connecting or adjacent room or one directly across the hall, for married couples with proof and for active-duty U.S. or Canadian military. Celebrity says children can stay next door or directly across the hall.

Can I take kids or a baby on a cruise from Bayonne?

Yes. Both lines take babies from 6 months old on the first day of the cruise. Royal Caribbean requires 12 months on transatlantic crossings and on any cruise with 3 or more days in a row at sea. Celebrity requires 12 months on transatlantic crossings, on voyages of 3 or more sea days in a row where medical care is limited and in remote areas such as Greenland.

From Bayonne, Royal Caribbean's 12-month rule covers the transatlantic crossings, the 11 and 12-night Caribbean voyages and the one-way trip to Fort Lauderdale, which all have three or more sea days in a row. Celebrity's covers its Greenland and Iceland voyages. Royal Caribbean says guests with an infant who does not meet the policy will be denied boarding.

• Kids' clubs. Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean is for ages 3 to 17 and is included in the fare. Celebrity's Camp at Sea takes ages 3 to 17 who are fully potty trained, with free sessions on port and sea days.
• Pools. Celebrity says children in diapers, swim diapers or pull-ups are not allowed in pools or whirlpools.
• Documents. The documents guide covers what children carry and the consent form for a child sailing without a parent.

Can I leave the cruise early in Port Canaveral?

No. Royal Caribbean says it no longer allows guests to pre-plan an early debark. Its U.S. ticket contract says that on a round trip from a U.S. port you must complete the entire voyage, that failing to do so may bring a fine or penalty from government agencies, and that you agree to pay it.

In every port, Royal Caribbean says the all-aboard time is usually about 30 minutes before sailing and is posted near the gangway. It also says the ship will not wait for a guest touring on their own.

Do I need a passport for a cruise from Bayonne?

Not on a round trip, if you are a U.S. citizen. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity accept an original U.S. birth certificate with a government-issued photo ID on round trips from Bayonne, though both recommend a passport. The one-way sailings need a passport book.

The documents guide covers Bermuda, the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, children and non-U.S. citizens.

Where do I start if I have not picked a cruise yet?

Start with the full schedule, which lists 114 sailings from 8 November 2026 to 18 June 2028. The Bahamas has 59 of them and Bermuda 29.

The shortest trip we list is 4 nights, and the cruise length page groups sailings by nights. For the lowest starting fares, see cheap cruises. The season guide shows what sails in each month.