A long-decommissioned submarine faced an unusual adversary early Sunday — the wake from a huge cruise ship that was trying to dock at a nearby Hudson River pier.

The wake rocked the submarine, the Growler, which has been one of the exhibits at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, at West 46th Street, since 1989.

According to a spokeswoman for the museum, a gangway leading to the Growler was damaged when the cruise ship, the Norwegian Star, fired up its thrusters. The spokeswoman did not provide further details, and the Growler was open to visitors on Sunday.

The retired aircraft carrier Intrepid, the centerpiece of the museum, was not affected....