Get there early, around 11:30am or noon should be sufficient. Plan for traffic! We literally had to wait on an hour long line of cars just to pull up to the curb at the terminal, which again is why it pays to get there early! At least we could have been waiting it the Terminal to get on the ship but instead we were stuck in traffic. Other than that get your cameras ready because NYC has the best scenery to watch as you depart, it takes over about an hour from the time your ship pulls out to the time you finally pass the Statue of Liberty and go under the Verrazzono bridge but it is well worth it!