The 1956 built THE TOPAZ, originally Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, photographed at Pier 92 in August, 2003. This 31,482 grt liner also sailed under the names of QUEEN ANNA MARIA for the Greek Line and CARNIVALE. She was Carnival Cruise Lines second ship. THE TOPAZ is 640 feet long and 85 feet in width, passenger capacity 1050.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS on her first call at the port docked at Berth 1, Pier 88, November 2001. She and her sisterships are currently among the world's largest passenger vessels at 137,276 grt, exceeded in size by Cunard's QUEEN MARY 2. With a length overall of 1020 feet and an width of 127 feet AOTS can carry 3114 passengers. ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS was the first passenger ship to enter the port of New York after the events of September 11, 2001 closed the port.

Photographed on her last call at the port, in October 1994, Cunard Line's M.S. SAGAFJORD is docked at Pier 92 North River. Built in France in 1965 she is 24,747 grt, 581 feet long and 83 feet wide. Her passenger capacity was 505. When built she was the flagship of Norwegian America Line and was acquired by Cunard in 1983 along with her fleet mate VISTAFJORD.

Cunard Line's CARONIA docked at Berth No. 1, Pier 88 North River on August 11, 2001 at the time of her first call at the port under that name. She was built in Britain in 1973 as VISTAFJORD for the Norwegian America Line. Of 24,292 grt, 628 feet long and 82 feet wide, she has a passenger capacity of 677. Cunard Line renamed the ship in December 1999. She has been sold to Saga Tours and is chartered back to Cunard Line through October 2004.

Chandris Celebrity Cruises ZENITH is a regular sight at the Passenger Ship terminal. She and her sister-ship HORIZON sailed each weekend from New York City to Bermuda during recent summer months. Built in 1992 she is of 46,811 grt, 682 feet in length and 95 feet in width.

Chandris Celebrity Cruises HORIZON was also a regular at the Passenger Ship terminal along with her sister-ship ZENITH. They operated between New York City and Bermuda during the cruise season. Built in 1990 she is of 46,811 grt, 682 feet in length and 95 feet in width, and a passenger capacity of 1354.

The small cruise ship HANSEATIC docked in New York on a rare visit. She is operated by Hapag-Lloyd and is of 8,378 gross tons and is 395 feet in length with a passenger capacity of only 188. This Bahama registered vessel was built in 1991 as SOCIETY ADVENTURER.

Carnival Cruise Lines CARNIVAL VICTORY was built in 2000 and is one of the largest cruise ships calling at New York. She measures 101,672 grt, is 893 feet long and 116 feet wide. Her passenger capacity is 2640.

Another Carnival Cruise Lines ship using the port of New York is CARNIVAL LEGEND. Built in 2002 she has a length of 960 feet and a width of 106 feet. Passenger capacity totals 2112 and her gross tonnage is 84,000.

No doubt the most famous ship calling at New York is Cunard Line's QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. She first came to the port in May 1969 and until April 2004 operated regular Trans-Atlantic crossings between Southampton and New York City as well as annual World Cruise from the port. She is of 70,327 grt, 963 feet in length and is 105 feet wide, with a passenger capacity of 1815. QE2 is currently based in Southampton, England.

The 1995 German built, British flag, P&O cruise ship ORIANA is an occasional visitor to the port. She is shown here at the time of her first visit to the port on September 17, 2000. ORIANA measures 69,153 grt, is 853 feet long and 106 feet wide. Her passenger capacity is 1975. ORIANA sails for the most part from Southampton, England on cruise to various locals as well as an annual World Cruise.

The Holland-America Line flagship M.S. ROTTERDAM was built in 1997. She is of 59,652 gross tons and 767 feet in length. This cruise ship, registered in The Netherlands, can crry 1668 passengers.

The Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship NORWEGIAN SEA was built in 1988 as the SEAWARD. Her statistics are: 42,276 grt, 695 feet long and 92 feet wide, with a passenger capacity of 1672. During 2003 she has been sailing regularly between New York and Bermuda.

In 2003 NORWEGIAN DAWN of Norwegian Cruise Line became the first passenger ship in over twenty years to operate on a year round cruise service from the port of New York. She was built in 2002 and is of 91,740 grt, 964 feet in length and is 105 feet wide. NORWEGIAN DAWN with her individual "hull art" sails between New York City, Florida and The Bahamas on a weekly schedule each Sunday.

(Fourteen color photographs by John McFarlane)