 Wrtier/Director Rob Hedden originally wrote more of the movie to be  set in New York. He had written scenes at Madison Square Garden, the  Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. But Paramount told  him that budget would not allow him to spend that much time in New  York, so he was forced to rewrite the film and spend more time on  the cruise ship. Hedden says he agrees with fans who complain that  not enough time is spent in New York, given the title Jason Takes  Manhattan.