• alaskian cruise image by David Dorner from Fotolia.com
  
  Travelers seeking cruises departing from the state of New York have several choices. Sea cruises from New York sail to island destinations, New England, Canada and other international locations. Several cruise lines sail from New York, but popular combinations of award-winning cruise lines and sailing destinations include Norwegian Cruise Line's island cruises, Holland America's cruises to Canada and New England and transatlantic cruises from the Cunard Line. These options give vacationers from New York the opportunity to relax in the sun, enjoy the colors of fall or take a transatlantic journey to other countries.
  
  

Norwegian Cruise Line: Island Destinations

• According to Norwegian Cruise Line's website, its ships have received 5-star ratings in Frommer's mainstream ship ratings for 2010, and Forbes Traveler Magazine gave Norwegian ships its "Best Overall Vibe" award in 2009. Norwegian Cruise Line offers cruises sailing from New York's Manhattan terminal to several island destinations. The Norwegian Gem sails to King's Wharf in Bermuda or to Orlando and Nassau. Travelers can take the Norwegian Jewel to San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maarten and Tortola or the Norwegian Dawn to Samana, Curacao, Aruba, Roatan, Belize City and Miami. Cruises last from six to 10 days, depending on the number of ports.
  
  Norwegian Cruise Line's "freestyle" cruising allows travelers to choose a flexible meal schedule and dress casually. Onboard entertainment includes live shows, casinos, a bowling alley, arcades and nightclubs.
  
  Norwegian Cruise Line
  7665 Corporate Center Drive
  Miami, FL 33126
  (866) 234-0292
  ncl.com
  
  

Holland America: Canada and New England

• "Travel Weekly" readers voted Holland America's M.S. Eurodam the Best New Ship in the magazine's 2008 Readers' Choice Awards, according to Holland America's website. Travelers aboard the M.S. Eurodam depart from New York's Manhattan terminal to Canada and New England. Ports of call include Newport, Gloucester and Bar Harbor in New England, as well as Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Saguenay and Quebec in Canada. Holland America's Canada and New England cruises last for 10 days and depart in September.
  
  To help passengers capture the fall colors and changing landscapes of the ports of call on this cruise, Holland America offers an onboard "Digital Workshop." The workshop shows travelers how to take better pictures and use them to make scrapbooks or movies. In addition to the typical amenities found on a big ship, Holland America ships also have a culinary arts center. Holland America also advertises a low crew-to-passenger ratio (about one crew member for every two passengers) and spacious, well-appointed accommodations.
  
  Holland America Line
  300 Elliott Avenue West
  Seattle, WA 98119
  (206) 281-3535
  hollandamerica.com
  
  

Cunard Line: Transatlantic Cruises

• According to Cunard Line's website, readers of "Travel Weekly" voted the Queen Mary 2 the "Best Luxury Cruise Ship" from 2003 through 2007. Departing from New York's Brooklyn terminal, the Cunard Line offers regularly scheduled transatlantic voyages. Depending on the cruise package, travelers may spend anywhere from seven to more than 20 days aboard the Queen Mary 2. Travelers can choose a simple eastbound cruise from New York to Southampton, England, or a cruise with many ports of call in between. A Grand Northern Discovery cruise lasts for 22 days and includes ports of call in Germany, Norway and Denmark. The ship features a casino, cigar bar, theater, spa, art gallery and numerous dining options.
  
  Cunard Queen Mary 2 Headquarters
  24303 Town Center Drive, Suite 200
  Valencia, CA 91355
  (661) 753-1000
  cunard.com