NOT YOUR TYPICAL CRUISE PORT

The city of Newport, Rhode Island was founded in 1639 and is located on the southern tip of Aquidneck Island, roughly 30 minutes south of Providence, 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York City. Situated at the mouth of the Narragansett Bay,  You can reach Newport during the week through a high speed ferry service which operates from Providence.  It is known as a New England summer resort and is famous for its gilded age historic mansions and its rich sailing history.  

Newport is also the location of the first U.S. Open tournaments in both tennis and golf, as well as every challenge to the America's Cup between 1930 and 1983. It is also the home of Salve Regina University with an enrollment of 2,700 and undergraduate tuition costs of $42,220 for the 2020/2021 academic year. 

Newport is also home to Naval Station Newport, which houses the United States Naval War College, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and an important Navy training center.  It was known for being the location of the "Summer White Houses"  during the administrations of presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and JohnF. Kennedy.  The population was 25,163 at the 2020 census.   

 

Every year, from the beginning of September to the middle of November, this relatively tiny city receives the majority of its revenue from tourists arriving on cruise ships. However, the harbor is open to cruise ships throughout the entire year. Passengers on larger ships, such as the Norwegian Sun, anchor at Newport Harbor and are taken to Perotti Park via tender. 

 

So just how many ships call in Newport yearly?  Looking back over the past several years, the port of Newport was visited by more than one hundred cruise ships in the year 2020, ninety-one ships in 2019, ninety-five ships in 2018, eighty ships in 2017, sixty-one ships in 2016, and sixty-two ships in 2015.  These numbers are tiny compared to that of the largest cruise port in the world - the Port of Miami boasting 8 terminals which currently handle 5.6 million passengers with over 1,200 ships docking yearly.  

 

My arrival aboard the Norwegian Sun was November 4, 2022.  Fortunately we were the only ship in port that day and 1 of only 5 ships for the entire month of November.   

Newport RI port schedule for November, 2022

Today, many mansions continue to be in private use. Hammersmith Farm is the mansion where John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy held their wedding reception.  It was open to tourists but has since been purchased and reconverted into a private residence.

 

Hammersmith Farm        Photo: Public Domain

Many of the other gilded age mansions are open to tourists, and others were converted into academic buildings for Salve Regina College in the 1930s, when the owners could no longer afford their tax bills.

 

Newport is sometimes referred to as the "Sailing Capital of the World". The city was chosen as the new home of the National Sailing Hall of Fame which moved from Annapolis, Maryland in 2019. Several sailing clubs are based in the city, including the New York Yacht Club and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.

 

According to Newport's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,  the principal employer in the city is the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, employing 4,200 followed by Lifespan Newport Hospital with 794. 

 

The city of Newport is equipped with local bus and shuttle transportation.  This area map was provided by the Newport Transit Center.

 

Newport RI local transportation map

The Norwegian Sun docked in Newport on November 4, 2022 with a last tender call for 5:00pm.  I pre-arranged tickets with Carlos from the Newport Travel Trolley Tour.  Scheduled tour departure time of 1:00pm from platform #2 at the Newport Transit Center, located at 23 America’s Cup Ave.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn from my Rome2Rio app that the Transit Center was less than a 5 minute walk.

Newport Transit Center

 

NewportTravel Trolley Tours offers two (2) different tours.

 

Tour Option #1 

Newport Mansions Tour

• 90 minute narrated tour and over 150 points of interest   

• Adult $26.75, Senior $23.50 and Youth (5 and over) $18

• Daily Departures are at 10, 11:30am and 1pm

 

Tour Option #2  

Newport Gilded Age Mansions With Breakers 

• 3 hours in duration

• Adults: $46.25,Youth (5 and older) $23

• Daily Departures 10am, 11:30am, and 1pm

This narrated trolley tour provides all the information and fun of Tour Option #1 PLUS you are dropped off and provided with tickets for an additional 90 minute tour inside The Breakers Mansion (Vanderbilt House). 

The Breakers                   Photo: Public Domain

As I handed "Rob", the driver and tour guide, my ticket for the Trolley Tour, I knew it was going to be a fantastic tour.  The trolley itself is white in color, was freshly washed.  Inside was equally as impressive, being both clean and comfortable with padded seating.  I found Rob to be a safe and attentive driver as well as being funny, upbeat and extremely knowledgeable of his area.  

Newport Travel Trolley Tour Driver Rob and Sharon Sparlin

 

With over 150 sites highlighted during this tour, including gilded age mansions such as "Marble House" "The Elms", "Rosecliff", "Chateau-sur-mer", "Kingscote", "Isaac Bell House", "Hunter House" and "Chepstow", I would need to write a book to cover everything.  Instead, I will concentrate this article on the most famous of my stops:  "The Breakers" - The Vanderbilt Home.

The Breakers                  Photo: Public Domain

 I find it difficult to put into words the grandeur and beauty that embodies "The Breakers".  Instead, I will let my photos do the talking and hope they will encourage you to put NewportTravel Trolley Tours and "The Breakers" on your bucket list.  You won't regret it. 

 

Our trolley tour ended back at the Newport Transit Center precisely as scheduled at 4pm.  It was from this drop-off point that I headed to the White Horse Tavern, about a 5 minute walk.

White Horse Tavern            Photo: Public Domain

Built prior to 1673, this tavern holds the distinction of being one of the oldest operating restaurant in the United States and the 10th oldest in the world.  With its clapboard walls, gambrel roof and plain pediment doors this is a place I wanted to experience first hand.           

After downing a local beer I made my way back to Perrotti Park and boarded the tender back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

Famously known as the "Big Apple", New York City is one of the most ethnically diverse, religiously varied and commercially driven urban cities in the world.  Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, it is comprised of five boroughts - Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. 

New York City Boroughs

My arrival into New York City was on November 3, 2022, day 4 of a 21 day TransAtlantic cruise aboard the Norwegian Sun.  Sunrise was 7:28am and sunset was 5:49pm.  Arrival was 8am and the all aboard call was 3:30pm.  The ship's Freestyle Daily forecast showed sunny and 61 degrees.

 

There are several piers in New York so be sure you know which pier you are docking at.  My arrival was the New York City "Manhattan" Passenger Ship Terminal, pier 88, located at 711 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10019.   

Manhattan Map

I especially enjoy docking at this terminal as it affords a fantastic view of the Statue of Liberty, port side, as you sail up the Hudson River to the terminal. 

Pier 88 is located 15 miles from Newark International Airport, 15 miles from LaGuardia Airport and 20 miles from JFK International Airport. 

Tug helping dock at Pier 88

I was cruising in with a friend who had never had the opportunity to visit New York so my goal for the day was to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  Of course I had many more things on my list but unfortunately we only had 7 hours in port.

 

The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry operates from Battery Park, located at the southern tip of Manhattan.  My Rome2Rio app indicated it was 1.3 miles and would take 24 minutes to walk from 35 Hudson River Greenway (Pier 88) to the 50th Street Station.  

Pier 88 location

Walk from Pier 88 to 50th Street Station

Pictures taken on my walk from Pier 88 to the 50th street station. 

Street Vendor Cart

48th and Broadway

911 Memorial Plaque

Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 Station

Belvedere Hotel

Hells Kitchen Park

Escalator down to Line 1 Platform

Line 1 - 50th Street Platform

From the 50th Street Station you will want to take Line 1 (Broadway-7 Avenue local)  The entrance and exit is located at W 50th Street and Broadway. Line1 runs from 242nd all the way to South Ferry

Ticket machines are readily available but a simple tap of your credit card on the entrance turnstile will automatically open the gate and charge your card a total of $2.60 for the one-way trip from 50th Street to South Ferry - the end of the line.  Trains operate every 6-8 minutes.  Exit via South Street and Whitehall Street. When you emerge from the subway you will be looking at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.  

 

Now it's just a matter of walking to the Clinton Castle National Monument to exchange your voucher for a ticket.  I pre-purchased our vouchers through Viator.   

Signage at Battery Park

SeaGlass Carousel in Battery Park

Clinton Castle / voucher exchange point

 

Marci exchanging our vouchers for tickets

 

 

Note:  Be sure to purchase vouchers that include Statue City Cruises, operated by the National Parks Service, as these are the only trips that allow you to get off at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.   

 

Once you have tickets in hand you will proceed through security and walk to the boat loading area.

Walking to boarding area

 

Boarding area

Boat schedule from Battery Park

The boats leave every 20-30 minutes from each of the 3 boarding locations - Boarding Area at Clinton Castle, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  This way you can get off and spend as much time as you want at each site.   

Boat schedule from Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island

We were limited on time during our visit as we had to be back on board the Norwegian Sun by 3:30pm.  

 

 STATUE OF LIBERTY 

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island and was dedicated October 28, 1886.  The copper statue, a gift from the people of France, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.  Its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel. The statue is a figure of Libertas, a Roman goddess of Liberty. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, symbolizing Liberty Enlightening the World.  In her left hand she carries a tablet inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals), the date of the U.S. Declaration ofIndependence. A broken shackle and chain lie at her feet as she walks forward, commemorating the national abolition of slavery.   

 

The seven rays of the crown represent a sunburst spreading enlightenment and reason throughout the world.  

After its dedication, the statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, seen as a symbol of welcome to all immigrants arriving by sea.

 

Here are some of my favorite photos from my visit. 

First good view of the Statue

Manhattan skyline

Entrance to the museum

Inside the museum

Inside the museum

 

A selfie before leaving for Ellis Island

ELLIS ISLAND

Ellis Island is a federally owned island in New York Harbor, situated within the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, that was the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey were processed there under federal law.  Today, it is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is accessible to the public only by ferry.

Manhattan skyline view from Ellis Island

Entrance

Entrance

Inside - originally the Baggage Room

Inside - originally Registry Room

Inside

Seating inside the theater