Key Aspects:
- Carnival Venezia guests booked on a September 14, 2026 sailing from New York are being warned to follow their terminal arrival appointments due to high guest volume.
- Guests arriving before their assigned time may not be permitted inside the cruise terminal.
- The terminal will be shared with another cruise line’s ship, which Carnival did not identify, although Oceania Vista is also scheduled to embark from New York that day.
Guests preparing to embark on an upcoming Carnival Venezia sailing from New York are being asked not to arrive at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal ahead of their assigned time. Higher-than-normal traffic is expected due to a ship from another cruise line also utilizing the terminal.
The 4,090-passenger vessel will depart from New York City on September 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. on a 6-night Bermuda sailing visiting King’s Wharf. Carnival sent a notice to guests on September 9, 2026, asking them to adhere to their scheduled arrival time and warning that early arrivals may be denied entry.
“To properly manage our embarkation operations, we kindly ask for your full cooperation with adherence to your pre-selected Terminal Arrival Appointment,” the notice said. “Guests who arrive earlier than their assigned time may not be permitted to enter the cruise terminal.”
In spite of the increased traffic at the terminal, there has been no announced alteration to the itinerary or departure time of Carnival Venezia’s sailing. Guests are still required to be on board by the time indicated on their boarding pass.
The cruise line also urged guests to pay close attention to signage in light of the shared terminal. Guests checking luggage were advised to look for the Carnival Cruise Line luggage drop-off signs at the terminal.
Carnival also stressed the importance of personally carrying items that may require special handling. Examples the cruise line provided include boarding and travel documents, valuables, and medications.
Carnival Venezia debuted from New York in 2023, and sails seasonally from the port. However, this season marks Venezia’s final scheduled New York season before being redeployed to PortMiami, while Carnival Firenze takes over in New York.
Two Cruise Ships Embarking From Manhattan
Carnival Cruise Line did not identify the other cruise ship that would be sharing the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. However, Oceania Cruises’ 1,200-guest Oceania Vista is also scheduled to begin a cruise from New York on September 14 at 5:00 p.m.
Oceania Vista will sail an 11-night itinerary from New York to Montreal. This voyage will call in Halifax, Sydney in Nova Scotia, Charlottetown, Gaspé, Baie-Comeau, Saguenay, and Quebec City before disembarking in Montreal on September 25, 2026.
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal primarily operates two piers: Pier 88 and Pier 90. However, Pier 90 has been out of service since January 2026 due to aging infrastructure, leaving only Pier 88 to handle cruise traffic out of Manhattan with only two available berths.
The closure of Pier 90 came just two months after Cruise Hive covered plans for a major renovation of the terminal in November 2025. The proposed overhaul would introduce shore power at all berths while increasing capacity, allowing up to three ships to dock simultaneously.
Until that renovation is approved and completed, however, Pier 88 will be left handling all cruise traffic at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. This presents a challenge on high-traffic days, such as September 14, when two ships are scheduled to depart.
