Sailing from New York: Your Virgin Voyages Brooklyn Homeport Guide
New York is one of the most exciting places in the world to begin a cruise — the skyline slides past as you sail out, and few departures feel more cinematic. For 2026, Virgin Voyages brings Valiant Lady to the Big Apple for a limited season. There's just one thing every Sailor needs to know before travel day: you're not leaving from Manhattan. You're sailing from Brooklyn.
Where you actually sail from
Virgin's New York departures use the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in the Red Hook neighborhood (Pier 12) — not the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side. The move came down to the piers themselves: the Manhattan terminal's aging infrastructure pushed the line across the East River to Brooklyn, which Virgin has named its dedicated New York home for the 2026 season. It's a quick, well-run terminal with easy drop-off, and Red Hook's low-key waterfront is a pleasant place to start a trip.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal — the essentials
• Drop-off / GPS address: 210 Clinton Wharf, Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Pier 12, Red Hook)
• Parking: on-site at 72 Imlay Street, about $45 per night, paid on arrival — no reservation required
• By car: vehicles enter at the corner of Bowne Street and Imlay Street
• Arrival: come at the Terminal Arrival Time in your Virgin Voyages app; check-in generally closes about an hour before departure
Getting to the terminal
From JFK it's roughly 30–45 minutes by taxi or rideshare; from LaGuardia (LGA), about 30–40; and from Newark (EWR), closer to 45–60 depending on traffic and the tunnels. A taxi or rideshare straight to the terminal is the simplest option, and we can pre-arrange a private transfer so a driver is waiting when you land.
Public transit reaches Red Hook but takes a few connections — the F train to Smith–9th Streets plus the B77 bus, or the 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall and the B61 bus. A nicer approach in good weather is the NYC Ferry (South Brooklyn route) to the Red Hook landing, which skirts the road traffic entirely. If you're rolling luggage, though, a car is easiest on the day.
Where Valiant Lady sails in 2026
The headline itinerary is Bermuda. Valiant Lady runs round-trip Bermuda voyages of around five to six nights from New York, with an overnight at the Royal Naval Dockyard — so you get a full, unhurried stretch on the island rather than a rushed port day. Pink-sand beaches, the Dockyard's shops and forts, and a late night back aboard: it's a lovely short escape from the city.
Alongside Bermuda, the New York season includes repositioning voyages — one-way sailings that move the ship between seasons. Expect options such as a longer New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico crossing through the Caribbean in the autumn, plus seasonal transatlantic and Canada/New England routes as Valiant Lady shifts her home waters. These one-ways are a favorite with Sailors who love sea days and don't mind a one-way flight home.
A limited season — book early. Virgin's New York departures are a short, seasonal engagement, and the line isn't currently scheduling homeport sailings from New York beyond 2026. If a Bermuda round-trip or a repositioning crossing is on your list, these dates are finite — the popular ones tend to sell through well ahead of time.
Make a trip of it
Fly in at least a day early — it's cheap insurance against a delayed flight, and it's New York. Stay in Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn for an easy trip to the terminal, spend a day on the city you love, then cross to Red Hook on sailing day. Arrive at your Terminal Arrival Time (not before — earlier won't get you aboard sooner), bring a physical credit card for check-in, and keep day-one essentials in your carry-on.
Sailing from New York? We'll line up your pre-cruise hotel, flights and transfer to Brooklyn — and help you lock in a Bermuda round-trip or a repositioning crossing while the season lasts. Ask The Cruise Boys®.