If you are departing out of New York — and you're not from the area — you'll want to book a night or two on either end of your trip to explore the city. For cruisers sailing out of Brooklyn's Red Hook port, staying on that side of the river will help you avoid Manhattan's notorious traffic, and you'll still be just a subway ride away from the sights. For those who have already explored Manhattan, Brooklyn has its own exciting restaurant scene, as well as world-class museums and parks to check out.

Want to see what it would be like to live in one of the coolest parts of the country? This loft-style hotel with 93 guest rooms stands on the edge of a residential area that's full of gorgeous brownstones and great neighborhood restaurants. The rooms themselves are cool, too, with mid-century-inspired furniture and quirky touches, including hammocks and floor-to-ceiling murals painted by local artists. The hotel lobby is home to Misdemeanor, a small cocktail bar where the menu was developed by mixologist Milos Zica from Manhattan's famed Employees Only.

Address: 85 Smith St. 

Driving Time to Port: 15 minutes

Downtown Brooklyn has become chain-hotel central, with all the major brands setting up shop. It's a smart strategy, since the neighborhood is connected to the rest of the city by multiple subway lines. Aloft, part of the W Hotel family, has 182 rooms with a spare design, platform beds with blond-wood headboards, and stark white bathrooms stocked with Bliss products. On the roof there's a 3,500-square-foot beer garden, and the W XYZ Bar off the lobby has a pool table and live music.

Address: 216 Duffield St.

Driving Time to Port: 15 minutes

When it opened in 1998, this massive Marriott at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge was really the only option if you were staying in the borough. Now the 667-room hotel is in the final stages of a $43 million renovation that is designed to create a clean, modern look. The prime location puts you on top of multiple subway lines, and you can also walk right out the front door and across the iconic bridge into Manhattan.

Address: 333 Adams St.

Driving Time to Port: 15 minutes

Williamsburg is Brooklyn's hipster enclave, and also home to the borough’s most stylish hotels. The 70-room Wythe Hotel, which opened in 2012, is located in a sugar-barrel factory that dates back to 1901. Rooms mix original details — pine ceilings, casement windows — with chic custom wallpaper by Brooklyn's Flavor Paper. Some have views of Manhattan, while others face brick walls decorated with cheeky murals. In the lobby, the restaurant Reynard (opened by the folks behind neighborhood hot spots Diner and Marlow & Sons) serves high-end American fare. The Ides, a rooftop bar with unobstructed views of Manhattan, is a great place to catch the sunset.

Address: 80 Wythe Ave.

Driving Time to Port: 25 minutes

Like the Wythe, the 64-room McCarren Hotel (originally called King and Grove) opened in Williamsburg in 2012 as one of the neighborhood's first boutique hotels. Rooms have an apartment feel, with hardwood floors, mirrored headboards, and Eames-style rocking chairs covered with faux-fur throws. The Oleanders restaurant has a striking design, plus a meaty menu that includes lamb shank ragout and a bone marrow cheeseburger. The best feature? The pool surrounded by lounge chairs — a summer hot spot for guests and New Yorkers alike.

Address: 160 N. 12th St. 

Driving Time to Port: 20 minutes