Weekly Photo Challenge: Nighttime – I could write an extensive piece on the things I don’t like about cruising and cruise ships but it does have the occasional upside. We had been at sea for six days, crossing the Atlantic, when we set the early morning alarm to ensure we didn’t miss the entry into New York. Drawing back the cabin curtains we found ourselves easing up the Hudson to Pier 88. This dark September morning Manhattan shone like a jewel across the river; it was one of the most magical travel experiences I have ever encountered. It has to be the best way of arriving in the city.
When we left two days later nighttime was drawing in under thunderous skies – it is also a very impressive way of leaving New York.
(click on the image to enlarge)
northumbrian : light 
it reminds me a little of the Titanic who never arrived NY, but it must be impressing to see the big apple this way…
And what must the people from rural Europe have thought as they arrived on the immigrant ships. The view might have been different but the impact must have been the same. Thanks for stopping by again Easy.
Wow. Beautiful
Many thanks, much appreciated
Thanks for the memory, Robin. We did that trip on the QM2 in 2008, commemorating G’s trip as a 3-year old when his family were moving to Canada. They travelled on Cunard’s single class Medea into NYC. Know what you mean about cruising tho. G insists that crossing the Atlantic by ship is travel, not cruising.
I think G’s distinction between travel and cruising is right. I could very easily be persuaded to travel to NY again by ship but I doubt we will ever ‘cruise’ again, at least not until all the other options have disappeared.
Have you explored travel by commercial shipping – Strand Travel. It’s expensive=ish. Never done it, but met people who have. All these ships apparently have guest berths for up to 12 people, and v. high standard. You get to travel on a working ship, but food depends on dominant nationality of the crew, which some people find a problem. They fix you up with connecting travel arrangements. Can also do round the world trips which I would love to do…
Yes, I have thought about that – sounds a bit more exciting than P&O….then I watched Captain Phillips 🙂
Day or night New York Harbor is always awe inspiring! I hope you had a great trip. I’ve never been on a cruise but, hopefully, when retired will cruise to Alaska before it all melts.
I agree – I can’t think of a more magnificent gateway into a city. Enjoy Alaska, I think you have plenty of time before it melts 🙂
That image is truly outstanding. Looks like some creative post processing too. Fantastic!
Many thanks Tina – I must confess it looked fairly ordinary until I started experimenting 😉
Wonderful photo…..I love coming into any port by boat….it’s the way the world was explored long before aeroplanes, and it’s so much more romantic and atmospheric 🙂
Many thanks Seonaid – it is a very civilised form of transport, much more so than air travel. I like flying but hate being herded like cattle at airports.
Yes, feeling like a sheep or a cow is not really a great start to any trip!
I think it’s the more natural pace of ships….or even trains…..and you can move around freely while being transported, that helps too I think 🙂
That photo is fantastic, Robin. I didn’t know that you could still take a ship across the Atlantic to New York. That’s one cruise that I would consider doing,
Many thanks Julie – plenty of ships still do the transatlantic crossing. A very civilised form of transport, I recommend it. I just don’t like the cruise ship whistle-stop tours in and out of cities you barely see. NY was different though as we were there for 2.5 days – not ideal but better than a few hours.
A magical photo!
Many thanks, much appreciated. It owes nothing to Photoshop, well not much 🙂
It’s superb ~ simple as that!
That’s a fabulous photo, Robin! So the cruise was worth it in the end?
I felt a little the same sailing into Venice my first ever time, but I wasn’t on a cruise ship (I abhor the thought of them there)- just a little ferry. 🙂
Thanks Jo. Yes, it was fine really – we have done the Arctic, The Baltic, North America and Canada but the Christmas cruise to the Med in 2012 even killed off Pam’s enthusiasm. Fortunately the latter didn’t include Venice as those ships look appalling in the lagoon. We have always done Venice by plane and motor launch from the airport which is fantastic – always out of season in Don’t Look Now weather 🙂
Nice
Thanks, much appreciated.