Where to stay before your Queen Mary 2 cruise from Brooklyn
For a QM2 sailing from Brooklyn, I would stay in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan. It keeps the cruise morning simple: no bridge-and-tunnel gamble, easier rideshare timing, and hotel rates that are usually calmer than Manhattan.
Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown
My practical pick: clean room, breakfast included, helpful staff, and an Uber to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal that cost about $21.
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott New York Brooklyn
A no-frills Marriott option with clean rooms, rooftop views, and a short car ride to the terminal.
NU Hotel Brooklyn
Independent, compact, and more characterful than the chain hotels, with a short ride to Red Hook.
Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown
My personal choice before QM2. It did the important things well: clean room, breakfast, staff, and an easy car ride to the terminal.
Pros
- Stayed myself before Queen Mary 2
- Complimentary breakfast
- Uber to the terminal was about $21
Cons
- Functional rather than special
- Still needs a car to the terminal
Ace Hotel Brooklyn
The design-led choice: higher ceilings, raw finishes, art, and a stronger sense of place than the safer chain hotels.
Pros
- More character than a standard business hotel
- Good fit if the pre-cruise night is part of the trip
- Short car ride to Red Hook
Cons
- Not part of a major loyalty programme
- Likely more expensive than Hampton Inn
EVEN Hotel Brooklyn
A wellness-focused IHG option with modern rooms and fitness-minded amenities.
Pros
- IHG One Rewards
- In-room fitness angle
- Straightforward Brooklyn base
Cons
- Wellness concept may not matter for one night
- Still a car ride to the terminal
Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel
The predictable Marriott-family option, useful if you want points, larger rooms, and fewer surprises.
Pros
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Dependable four-star option
- Above-average room sizes
Cons
- Less distinctive than Ace or NU Hotel
- Not walkable to the terminal with luggage
NU Hotel Brooklyn
A small independent option for people who want Brooklyn character rather than a chain lobby.
Pros
- Boutique feel
- Spacious-room reputation
- One of the shorter rides to the terminal
Cons
- No chain points
- Less predictable than a major brand
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott New York Brooklyn
The no-frills choice: clean rooms, Marriott points, and a rooftop view if you want value before the ship.
Pros
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Rooftop views
- Small fitness centre
Cons
- No-frills stay
- Best for price and points, not atmosphere
The comparison table
Distances are real-world walking or driving, not as-the-crow-flies.
Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown
Downtown Brooklyn- Stars
- 3-star
- To terminal
- About 15 min by car
My personal choice before QM2. It did the important things well: clean room, breakfast, staff, and an easy car ride to the terminal.
Ace Hotel Brooklyn
Boerum Hill- Stars
- 4-star
- To terminal
- About 12 min by car
The design-led choice: higher ceilings, raw finishes, art, and a stronger sense of place than the safer chain hotels.
EVEN Hotel Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn- Stars
- 4-star
- To terminal
- About 15 min by car
A wellness-focused IHG option with modern rooms and fitness-minded amenities.
Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel
Downtown Brooklyn- Stars
- 4-star
- To terminal
- About 14 min by car
The predictable Marriott-family option, useful if you want points, larger rooms, and fewer surprises.
NU Hotel Brooklyn
Boerum Hill- Stars
- 4-star
- To terminal
- About 10 min by car
A small independent option for people who want Brooklyn character rather than a chain lobby.
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott New York Brooklyn
Brooklyn- Stars
- 3-star
- To terminal
- About 12 min by car
The no-frills choice: clean rooms, Marriott points, and a rooftop view if you want value before the ship.
The method, briefly
- Built from my own Brooklyn pre-cruise stay and the hotel options in the original guide.
- Weighted for cruise-morning simplicity: short car ride, breakfast, loyalty usefulness, and avoiding Manhattan traffic.
- I would still check current reviews before booking, especially for one-night pre-cruise stays.
- Booking links, where present, may be affiliates; they do not affect the ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay in Brooklyn or Manhattan before Queen Mary 2?
I would stay in Brooklyn. Manhattan can be fun for a longer New York stay, but for cruise morning Brooklyn removes a lot of bridge, tunnel, and traffic anxiety.
Can I walk to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal from these hotels?
No, not sensibly with cruise luggage. Plan on a taxi or rideshare to Red Hook.
How much did your ride to the terminal cost?
My Uber from downtown Brooklyn to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal was about $21.
Which hotel would I book first?
For a simple one-night pre-cruise stay, I would start with Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown. If I wanted more character, I would compare Ace Hotel Brooklyn and NU Hotel Brooklyn.
