By George Hobica, Airfarewatchdog.com (MCT)

10:08 a.m. EDT, May 10, 2012
Q: My family and I plan to visit New York City sometime this year or next and after doing some sightseeing we'd like to take a cruise for a week or so, departing from and returning to New York before heading home. Is there a list of all the ships and cruise lines leaving from New York?

A: Whether you're just visiting or live in New York, cruise fans have more choices than ever. Ships now depart from Manhattan's West Side piers, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, and Port Liberty in Bayonne, N.J. Over 20 different ships and nearly a dozen cruise lines visit these ports and some, such as the new Disney Magic, are even based at them year-round. Most sailings are round-trip seven-night voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda (Carnival, Disney, NCL, Celebrity, RCL), but there are also fall foliage cruises to New England and Canada as well as trans-Atlantic crossings on Cunard and others. And for those who wish to dip their toes in the water (so to speak) there are even one- and two-night cruises to nowhere (you just go out to sea for a couple of days and return to New York).

Here's what's on offer this year through 2014. With so many options, there's sure to be one that will float your boat.

From West Side piers:

—Carnival (carnival.com)

Ships: Glory, Splendor, Miracle

Itineraries: 4-to 15-night Caribbean, Panama Canal, Bahamas, Canada/ New England, Bermuda

—Crystal (crystalcruises.com)

Ships: Symphony, Serenity

Itineraries: 10- to 28-night Canada/New England, Europe,

—Disney (disneycruise.disney.go.com/)

Ship: Magic

Itinerary: 2- to 8-night "nowhere," Bahamas

—Holland America (hal.com)

Ships: Eurodam, Veendam

Itineraries: 7- to13-night Bermuda, Canada/ New England, New England

—NCL (ncl.com)

Ships: Star, Gem, Breakaway, Pearl

Itineraries: 1- to 17-night "nowhere," Caribbean, Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Panama Canal