Edward Kim

In April 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a fantastic and game changing announcement. Starting in the 2012 season, Disney Cruise Lines will be offering 20 cruises onboard the Disney Magic to set sail from New York Harbor at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. The combination of one of the greatest cities on Earth with one of the most loved companies and cast of characters is set to bring forward a whole new level to the New York City tourist experience.

Over the last few decades, cruising has become a choice method of vacation for many Americans as well as foreign visitors in New York and around the country. New York is ranked among the top 10 cruise ports in the United States due to the shopping and dining options available to cruisers before and after their journey, which allows those interested in extended vacations the option to take advantage of the many attractions and sightseeing options available in New York as part of the cruise vacation experience.

The addition of Disney Magic and its estimated 56,000 passengers is set to increase tourist revenue to the City of New York by $11 million. In fact, cruising and the overall concentration on the tourist industry is one of the primary reasons that New York seems to be heading out of the recession faster than many other American cities.

In addition to the economic benefits of this partnership, New York City as a port-of-call for Disney Cruises will allow a whole new set of tourists – children – the opportunity to experience the Big Apple first hand. There are many sights in New York that are child-friendly and the diversity of cruise lengths and destinations opens the door for a new type of New York vacation experience whereby parents can rely on some old friends to provide entertainment for a few days before heading to more “sophisticated” fare on land.

Disney Magic will be offering 20 individual cruises from May-September 2012. These will include 8-night trips to the Bahamas, 5-night trips to New England and Canada, and 2-night “weekend getaway” packages. The diversity of offerings will allow visitors to consider a cruise as a part of their New York experience or add New York as part of the cruising experience.

The longest trip to the Bahamas is a special treat as cruisers will be able to visit Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas as well as Port Canaveral, FL. When in Florida, each cruise passenger will receive a one-day park hopper pass to Disney theme parks as well as transportation to and from the parks as part of that port-of-call. The trip to New England will include stops at Nova Scotia, St. John, Halifax and New Brunswick.

The Disney Magic took its maiden voyage in 1998 and is honored to have none other than Tinkerbell as the godmother of the ship. It can accommodate up to 2,700 passengers and boasts 10 expansive decks. It is 964 feet long by 106 feet wide with a cast and crew of 950 people aboard the ship. Disney cruise line offers activities and care for even the smallest of passengers in several age-specific and themed kids clubs.  Parents are then able to take advantage of adult-only activities at the different ports-of-call.

Ever since that sunny Tuesday almost 10 years ago, Lower Manhattan has been synonymous with fear and destruction rather than the beacon of life and commerce that it was in the 1990s. Other than mourners, few tourists have seen Lower Manhattan as much of a destination in the past decade, but the city is out to change that.

This is why in partnership with New York Mayor Michael Bloomburg, NYC & Company, which handles marketing and tourism for the city, has launched the Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan campaign. Running through September 6, 2011, the purpose of this campaign is to draw tourists to a revitalized Lower Manhattan to experience all that it has to offer in terms of hotels, restaurants and shopping.

Since the tragic events of 2001, the area that surrounds what was once the World Trade Center has been a booming area for building and growth. The population living in Lower Manhattan is more than twice what it was in the 1990s and tourist visits have been steadily climbing over the past few years. Several hotels have been built and the area has once again become a cultural center for native New Yorkers as well as visitors to the city.

The Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan campaign has partnered up with 11 local hotels to offer guests late checkout as well as a free Downtown Culture Pass that will give each holder 3 days of entry to 9 attractions in Lower Manhattan and surrounding areas. These attractions include: Fraunces Tavern Museum, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Museum of American Finance, National Museum of the American Indian, The New York City Police Museum, 9/11 Preview Site, Tribute WTC Visitor Center, The Skyscraper Museum and Wall Street Walks (a walking tour of Wall Street).

While in Lower Manhattan this summer, make sure to take advantage of many of the free events and concerts that are taking place near the waterfront. The Harbor also offers many boating trips and tours as well which, in conjunction with a New York City tourist pass, are affordable ways to get a real picture of the city.

On your next trip to New York, don’t get lost focusing only on Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Remember that Lower Manhattan holds a wealth of treasures for you to see and experience and ways to make your trip a memorable one.

New York Pass, the all-inclusive one-stop tourist pass for the most active of New York City tourists announced recently that there will be several upgrades to its offerings beginning in the summer of 2011. This begins with the addition of seven new attractions that are now included in the price of the NY Pass. These attractions are:

• Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour
• The Skyscraper Museum
• Museum of American Finance
• NYC Mob Tours
• Wall St. Walks: History of Wall St. Tour
• Museum of Jewish Heritage
• Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

New York Pass has long been the premiere choice for active tourists who wish to see as much of New York as possible in a 1, 2, 3, or 7 day period at a discounted rate. The addition of these seven new attractions goes a long way towards helping this pass compete with the more tour-heavy New York Explorer Pass, offered by Smart Destinations.

In addition to these attractions, NYP has unrolled additional discounts offered to pass holders as well. This includes a care kit included free with a $75 purchase at Sunglass Hut, a 50% discount on your first drink at the Brooklyn Winery (the tour is also included in the pass) and a $10 discount off of the Real Bronx Tours.

Finally, New York Pass was also excited to enhance its relationship with Uncle Sam’s Tour company. Previously, pass holders were allowed to participate in one of these walking tours. However, the Summer 2011 updated pass will include all of the following tours:

• Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour(Self Guided)
• Food on Foot Tours Harlem One-Stop Cultural Walking Tours
• Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour
• On Location Tours: Central Park TV and Movie Sites Tour
• Wall St. Walks: History of Wall St. Tour
• NYC Mob Tours(or take their bus tour)

Some of these tours require preregistration, however, so it is important to call ahead to make sure that you can get a slot.

New York Pass is available in 1, 2, 3 and 7 day formats at a cost ranging from $80-$200 for adults and $55-$160 for children ages 3-12. It can be pre-purchased online before your trip to New York and comes with a complimentary 176-page guidebook to help you plan your New York getaway.

New York City is known as one of the world’s top culinary destinations. Located a mere hour and a half south of the famed Culinary Institute of American (in Hyde Park, NY) the world’s best chefs flock to the city for its diverse atmosphere, high density population and overall allure.

However, most New York tourists fail to recognize that the best eats are not always found in 5-star dining rooms, but are actually more affordable to the travelling wallet. While it goes without saying that eating at a chain restaurant while visiting New York is downright blasphemy knowing what to eat and where to find it can be hard to negotiate if you are visiting the city for the first time.

The following are musts for any New York visitor who wants to really taste the city:

1. Bagels
   They say it’s “in the water” and whether or not that is true, New York bagels are like nothing you will find anywhere else. Go even a few hours outside of the city and the recipe gets funny. Oh, and those chain stores who claim to “import” the water are nothing like a real New York bagel. All you need is one bite and you will understand. 

There are literally dozens of places to find a New York bagel in the city, and all of them are great. However, if you want a real authentic experience, check out Kossar’s on the Lower East Side.

2. Pizza
   Another food synonymous with the New York experience, real New York pizza will make you classify chain store attempts at this American favorite as an altogether different food group. New York pizza is thin, greasy and best enjoyed with an ice cold beer or soda. 

Nothing beats Lombardi’s for ambiance. Located on Spring Street in SoHo, the whole experience of this pizza is magical. However, If you are willing to venture to the outer boroughs for a meal (and you should just for the change in scenery alone) go to Grimaldi’s. This institution in Brooklyn Heights serves coal oven fired fare that has people lining up outside.

3. Street Vendors
   If you have any fear of the quality of food that you can get out of a truck you need to leave it at the door. Dirty water dogs are real, but by and large not the norm in New York. The city’s street vendors and food trucks are roving institutions that will never cease to amaze you with both the variety and downright deliciousness of the food that they offer. 

You can opt for anything from traditional sandwiches and grill items to more esoteric and international offerings like falafel and tamales. It all depends on what street corner you choose. If you are in New York during the holidays you need to get roasted chestnuts and the kids will love the giant soft pretzels like those offered at ballparks. Only these are not $10 apiece.

4. Chinatown
   Love Chinese food? Chances are that the local place you get your sesame chicken from once a month cannot hold a candle to what you can find in New York’s Chinatown. You usually cannot even find sesame chicken for one thing. 

In one of New York’s more diverse neighborhoods, you can find noodle bowls for cheap and portable fare as well as many regional favorites that will make you appreciate the diversity of flavors from the Far East. Check out Ping’s Seafood on Mott Street for the one-of-a-kind experience of dim sum.

As you can see the diversity of food available in New York can literally have you eating all day, every day for your entire trip without getting bored. Especially if you are traveling to New York on a budget or with small children, it is easy to think that you are “missing” something when it comes to New York dining. But this is not true at all. Your experience will be different, but just as special.

Those who can afford it absolutely should go to those storied 5-star, celebrity chef restaurants, but do not fall back on chain favorites if you are not among them. There are literally hundreds of unique places to eat in New York that will deliver inexpensive and delicious food and unmatched experiences.

In April of 2011 the museum at Discovery Times Square welcomed a new exhibit Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which will remain in the city until September 5^th. Located at 226 West 44^th Street and open daily from 10am-8pm this is an exciting addition to an already exciting museum and city.

The exhibit will include over 200 props and costumes from the film. Each of these pieces will be displayed in areas that are inspired by the films as well, such as the Great Hall, the Gryffindor Common Room and Hagrid’s Hut.

There will also be an opportunity for a hands-on experience of the wizarding world. There is a Quidditch room where children can practice throwing the Quaffle ball. There is also an opportunity to pull a Mandrake in Herbology and meet Buckbeak the hippogriff and a giant Acromantula spider.

This is the last stop that this exhibition has scheduled in North America. It is a must-see for any die-hard Potter fan that has received fantastic review across the country. Though not unique to New York itself, any Potter-lover planning to visit the city this summer should take advantage of this wonderful addition to an already dynamic museum at Discovery Times Square.

New York Pass, one of the premier discount tourist offerings for New York visitors, is proud to announce that all pass holders will receive free entry into this exhibit – valued at $25.00 for adults and $19.50 for children – as Discovery Times Square is one of the sights included in its price.

New York Pass is an all-inclusive discount tourist pass that costs adults between $80-$200 and between $55-$160 for children 3-12. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, and 7 days and can be pre-purchased online before arriving in New York. The NYP allows holder free entry and fast track lines at over 55 of New York’s hottest attractions.