Shutdown of Manhattan Cruise Pier Causes Carnival Sunrise Move to Brooklyn

(11:10 a.m. EDT) -- Maintenance work at Pier 92 in Manhattan has forced Carnival Cruise Line to move its New York-based ship, Carnival Sunrise, from Manhattan to Brooklyn for five sailings in September and October.

"As a result of repairs at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Carnival Sunrise will operate from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for cruises departing between Sept. 16 and Oct. 6..” a line spokesperson said in a statement. “The repair work is expected to be completed in time for Carnival's return to New York in 2020. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our guests."

A spokesperson for Ports America, which operates both the Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals, told Cruise Critic that pier 92 is typically only used during peak season to accommodate overflow, but has now been shut down and is not expected to be back in service for the remainder of this year. The maintenance work does not impact the other piers at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Carnival Sunrise will be able to dock at either Pier 88 or 90 for its next three sailings, but starting September 16 the ship will have to depart from Brooklyn's Red Hook terminal (though the sailing that departs on the 12th and returns on the 16th will debark in Manhattan, before repositioning to Brooklyln to pick passengers up). The rest of the ship's sailings in New York will also be out of Brooklyn; Sunrise repositions to Florida afterwards, with two October sailings out of Norfolk scheduled before it arrives in Fort Lauderdale.

Carnival Brand Ambassador and senior cruise director, John Heald, responded on his Facebook page to cruisers who are upset about the move, particularly because a cruise out of Brooklyn usually means the ship does not pass by the Statue of Liberty. "… I spoke with my good friend Captain Bruno on the Carnival Sunrise. His plan is (weather depending) to sail close to the Statue of Liberty giving guests a brilliant view of this iconic landmark…"