Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise News

Hoboken Then and Now: Cruise Stories

Laurie Fojut

We recently came across some photos of the port of Hoboken, N.J., from about 1910, when it was the North American headquarters of Holland America Line.

The photo below shows the SS Potsdam, built in 1900, which sailed between Rotterdam and Hoboken for 15 years. (If you zoom in on the photo, you may be able to see the Cunard Line docks, just across the Hudson River in New York City.)
ss Potsdam

Hoboken Then

At the time these photos were taken, the southern portion of Hoboken’s waterfront was dominated by cruise ship piers. The northern portion was dominated by the delicious smell of roasting coffee, being home to a major production plant for Maxwell House Coffee, as well as Lipton Tea and dry dock facilities for Bethlehem Shipbuilding.

These photos are all the more valuable because they were taken not long before Hoboken’s time as a cruise ship port came to an end. During World War I, the city’s piers became a major port of embarkation for soldiers; more than three million passed through on their way to the front. After the war, Hoboken’s waterfront became more industrial, and the cruise ships did not return.

Holland_Americass1910

By the 1970s, Hoboken’s shipping docks has become obsolete, and most of the waterfront was simply abandoned – a big change from the days when excited passengers, dressed in their best, boarded cruise ships bound for Europe and beyond.

Hoboken Now

Today, you’ll find Hoboken’s waterfront has renewed itself again. The old warehouses and dry docks, along with musty taverns and boarding houses, have been razed. Some of the old buildings have been renovated for different uses, helping to preserve the city’s history and architectural heritage. For example, the Lipton Tea building is still there, enjoying a new life as a luxury condominium building.

In fact, the Hoboken waterfront is now a mainly residential area. Apartments and condominiums offer wonderful views of the Hudson River and the shimmering city of New York. At street level, you’ll find bistros, coffee houses, pubs, boutiques and galleries. You can stroll along the waterfront on a riverbank promenade, too.

The redevelopment of Hoboken’s waterfront has attracted commuters from New York, as well as artists, musicians, restauranteurs and others who appreciate the proximity to New York and the character of Hoboken itself.

A Pre-Cruise Gem

While Hoboken is no longer a cruise ship port, it’s a lovely place to spend some time before you board your ship at Cape Liberty cruise port in Bayonne – about eight miles to the south – or at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal or the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

Hoboken is a major commuter transportation hub, so it’s easy to reach by rail line or ferry from many other parts of the New York metro area. In fact, it’s worth the trip just to see the beautiful, Beaux-Arts style Hoboken Terminal, decorated with Tiffany stained glass and Greek Revival motifs.

We want to mention that Hoboken isn’t the only former port to fall into disuse: in fact, it’s in good company. London, England, was once an important international port, but its location on the River Thames puts it at a disadvantage in the modern, large-ship era of cruising and shipping.

Cruise ships ports are always evolving, and new ones are emerging, too.

We’ll help you make plans to see ports that interest you, whether old or new, on your next cruise!

More from my site

  • Holland America Line Announces Enhancements to Holland America Line’s ms WesterdamHolland America Line Announces Enhancements to Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam
  • The Mill at Ward Cove – A New Alaska Cruise PortThe Mill at Ward Cove – A New Alaska Cruise Port
  • New Cruise Ports Await Your CallNew Cruise Ports Await Your Call
  • How To Maximize Your Cruise To St. Petersburg, RussiaHow To Maximize Your Cruise To St. Petersburg, Russia

Cruise News, Cruise Ports

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter