NYCruiseInfo Blog

When the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 was designed, the original plans needed to be altered to allow the ship to pass under the Verrazarro Narrows Bridge. The ship was initially designed to have a taller funnel but due to the bridge height restriction, a smaller, more squat funnel was chosen. Still very attractive, the Queen Mary 2 always demands attention either entering or departing the port. Onboard passengers flock to the upper decks of the ship to see the ship squeak under the bridge with just 13 feet of clearance at high tide. Check Out Our Sister Sites: Nick's Cruise Corner Blog to Learn About World Wide Cruising NYCruiseInfo.com to Learn About Cruises From New York and New Jersey. ,

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Too Large to Fit Under the Verrazaro Bridge? It appears that the port of New York will not see a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ship anytime soon. It appears that the ships are too tall to pass under the Verrazaro - Narrows bridge. The height of the 220,000+ ton ship is 236 feet tall and the clearance under the bridge is only 228 feet. The ship might be able to enter the port if the funnels are equipped with a hinge that will allow the funnels and mast to clear the bridge. This "hinge" is not unusual and can be found on other ships as seen in the photo below on the Norwegian Wind. Norwegian Wind - Hinged funnel (Courtesy Wikipedia) This also explains why Royal Caribbean was lobbying to build a cruise port in Staten Island on the Atlantic Ocean side of the bridge. That plan was under consideration, before they entered into an agreement with Bayonne for the Cape Liberty Cruise Port - located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Only time ...