CAPE LIBERTY

In 2004 Royal Caribbean, looking for an alternative to New York's overcrowded and inefficient cruise terminal, moved its ships across the Hudson River to New Jersey. The cruise line opened at the former Bayonne Military Ocean Terminal (now renamed the Bayonne Harbour Peninsula) on 430 acres of artificial land. In preparation for the arrival of RCI's Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas class ships, the Cape Liberty cruise facility in Bayonne has undergone major renovations to accommodate the larger ships and to smooth the flow of passengers, offering exceptional views of the port, the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. But Bayonne itself is primarily a residential community, rather than a hot spot for tourism. To tell the truth, the port is rather squalid and industrial-looking. In fact, Bayonne's best asset is its proximity to fast-paced communities such as Hoboken, Jersey City, and, of course, the Big Apple, just seven miles (or a 10-minute drive) away. For most people, the port is close enough to Manhattan to take advantage of all that the city has to offer. Do you want to stay close to the port? There are still a few detours from tourists, such as the city of Hoboken, Frank Sinatra's birthplace, and baseball - at least, that's what the sign says when you enter the city limits. The latter statement has been strongly contested over the years. Hoboken is also known as the "city of the square mile" because it is only one square mile. It's a dream for pedestrians, with shops and restaurants within walking distance of the city's train station and ferry terminal. (Thank God, because parking in Hoboken is not a picnic.)While Hoboken has become an "in" place for young urban professionals to settle (or at least rent expensive apartments in an old brownstone), groups of another jersey - and new yorkers! - come in the evenings and weekends to eat, drink and enjoy the postcard view of the Manhattan skyline from the waterfront. Another waterfront that attracts more attention is Jersey City, the gateway (on the side of New Jersey, anyway) to two of New York's most important sites: Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Liberty Island is, of course, home to Lady Liberty herself, and the main building of Ellis Island is a museum dedicated to the history of immigration.