To get from Manhattan to the Bronx you need to take the subway and do not see anything .I love Staten Island but you are going over highways and bridges.The same for Queens.
When people post on here that they are visiting NYC for the first time and would like to see other areas besides Manhattan I suggest taking a Command commuter bus ,specifically the one going to Sheepshead Bay.
If they go in a non rush hour time they can see a lot of Brooklyn and at the last stop can tour Manhattan Beach,Brighton Beach and Sheepshead bay.
My granddaughter was in my house with her friend from Israel.
Besides playing for the university basketball team she is also a member of the Israeli National Team.My granddaughter took a picture of me with her friend.The young woman had never been in Long Island before and my granddaughter was giving her a tour.
We did a 14 day HAL trip,the first 7 was a land tour with an Escort.We toured by bus,train and on foot.The next 7 days was a cruise.We booked a balcony but when we boarded the ship much to our surprise we were in a suite.
It was our second favorite cruise vacation .
My granddaughter came home from college yesterday afternoon.She stopped off to see Toby and I on her way home from the airport.
In about two hours she is coming back with her friend from college who is on the Basketball team.Later today her friend is flying home to Israel .
In 1945 a cousin of mine married a woman native to Oahu.Her father gave the newly married couple land that he owned .My cousin sold it to a developer who planned to build a hotel and golf course.The sale went through with the proviso that my cousin and his wife could stay at the hotel and play the course without charge.
We too loved the Gem as you know .We met wonderful people on it .
One of my neighbors has cruised on the Gem about 30 times .She said recently that since the Gem will no longer sail out of NY she is going to try RCI.