Cruises out of NYC

[Sarahraegraham]

Hi! I am beginning to plan a family cruise for my parents, sister and I (all adults), and right now I’m eyeing a Merrytime cruise on the Magic out of NYC next November.

I’ve cruised out of PC once on the Dream, so I would think it would be a similar process, but was hoping you all could give me some advice and pointers specific to the Magic and NYC.

Are there best ways to get from our hotel to the port? DCL transfers? Taxi? Cost?

Any hotels you recommend or a general area even? We’re trying to keep costs way down, but with comfort and safety also being a priority.

Is there a better airport to fly into? We’re from the Akron/Pittsburgh area. I’m guessing PIT will have the best flight prices and options.

Anything else I should know?

 

[Dug720]

I believe DCL transfers are only from the Marriott Marquis. There are a few nice Hampton Inns in the general Times Square area (closest area with hotels) and a taxi from there should not be bad. There are many people who stay in New Jersey - I don't know the transportation costs from there though.

I live in NYC and my airport order of preference is: 1) JFK; 2) (but a distant 2) EWR; and a VERY distant "only if there is 100% no other choice at all" 3) LGA.

 

[ArielRae]

We did the Nov 3rd cruise out of NY. We stayed at the Hilton Garden inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ just over the bridge with their park, ride and cruise package. It worked out great. You stay the night (even leave your car for the length of the cruise if you drove) and they provide a town car limo to take you to and from the port. We loved it so much we booked the same cruise and hotel again for next year.

Link to their site for package information.
https://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com...-ridgefield-park-LGARPGI/offers/100110245.htm

We drove from southern New Jersey so can't help you with flying in.

 

[Dug720]

I'll amend my airport recs to say that if you're staying in Jersey, Newark makes a lot more sense. If you're staying in Manhattan, JFK is by far the better choice IMHO.

 

[mmouse37]

I am still basking in the glow of our recent NYC Merrytime cruise on the Magic.....just got back this past Saturday (Nov 10-17). We live about 25 minutes away so I had my husband drive my friends and I.

I agree with JFK being a good airport if staying in NYC. Taxis and Uber are your best bet. If you are staying near the Times Square area a taxi or uber is a good deal. No real need to take a DCL shuttle. Times Square is only a few blocks from the port.

Anywhere in NYC is going to be costly but if you start searching now you can see how prices are and plan accordingly.

Do a search...there are a few NYC specific threads on this board that list a bunch of good tips and some hotel names.

MJ

 

[DVC Doc]

Hi! I am beginning to plan a family cruise for my parents, sister and I (all adults), and right now I’m eyeing a Merrytime cruise on the Magic out of NYC next November.

I’ve cruised out of PC once on the Dream, so I would think it would be a similar process, but was hoping you all could give me some advice and pointers specific to the Magic and NYC.

Are there best ways to get from our hotel to the port? DCL transfers? Taxi? Cost?

Any hotels you recommend or a general area even? We’re trying to keep costs way down, but with comfort and safety also being a priority.

Is there a better airport to fly into? We’re from the Akron/Pittsburgh area. I’m guessing PIT will have the best flight prices and options.

Anything else I should know?

Flying out of CAK or PIT you’re most likely to end up flying into LGA. It’s the least desirable airport as others have stated but perfectly doable.

I would recommend using UberXL (or Lyft XL) for transportation since you’re likely to have a lot of luggage. In NYC, you’ll almost always get a black Suburban or the like, the same as if you had ordered the more expensive Black SUV. If you do end up arriving at LGA, they have a very convenient ride share app pickup location.

 

[dcassetta]

We cruised out of New York last year, and flew into Newark. Stayed at the Hilton right there by the Newark airport, very convenient with a shuttle. The next morning we took the air train into Manhattan and then grabbed a cab from the train station to the port. We did the reverse upon disembarkation. Very easy and convenient. We were not planning to stay in New York City either before or after the cruise, so if you are planning to spend any time in the city, I would probably recommend a hotel in Manhattan instead.

 

[NJMermaid]

We did the Nov 3rd cruise out of NY. We stayed at the Hilton Garden inn in Ridgefield, NJ just over the bridge with their park, ride and cruise package. It worked out great. You stay the night (even leave your car for the length of the cruise if you drove) and they provide a town car limo to take you to and from the port. We loved it so much we booked the same cruise and hotel again for next year.

Link to their site for package information.
https://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com...-ridgefield-park-LGARPGI/offers/100110245.htm

We drove from southern New Jersey so can't help you with flying in.

Ridgefield Park, not Ridgefield ,NJ

 

[ArielRae]

Ridgefield Park, not Ridgefield ,NJ

Sorry missed typing in Park. I edited the post.
Link to the actual hotel with the package was included in the post to so hopefully no one got confused. So many places with the same name.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

If you fly into Newark, there is also an Embassy Suites right by the airport that has free hot breakfast and decent rooms with comfortable beds. It's not winning any awards for the views but it's a fine option for one night. You can take an Uber to the port the next day, just try to avoid peak rush hour if it's a weekday.

 

[dclpluto]

About hotels. we live in south jersey my wife thought it would be a good idea to stay the night in nyc for a night. This was around 95 before we had internet. So we walked to a few hotels. Finally found one that was cheap thinking 130 dollars holiday in. Or days inn. The room couldn’t of been any smaller. The shower half my body was in the shower half my body was out of the shower it was that small. Made a cruise ship room looked huge. Check the size of the room before you book it.

 

[kandt]

We did the Nov 3rd cruise out of NY. We stayed at the Hilton Garden inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ just over the bridge with their park, ride and cruise package. It worked out great. You stay the night (even leave your car for the length of the cruise if you drove) and they provide a town car limo to take you to and from the port.

The Hilton Garden Inn just recently changed their package. They now have shuttles instead of the private car. We stayed there a week ago and they told us about it at check in. Since we had booked before the change, we were given a car, but anyone who books the package now will have to take the shuttle. The shuttle times for returning to the hotel are not as convenient as the car service for us and we would now have to pay for our children to take the shuttle. They had been included in the package when we used the car service. I doubt we will use them again.

 

[ArielRae]

The Hilton Garden Inn just recently changed their package. They now have shuttles instead of the private car. We stayed there a week ago and they told us about it at check in. Since we had booked before the change, we were given a car, but anyone who books the package now will have to take the shuttle. The shuttle times for returning to the hotel are not as convenient as the car service for us and we would now have to pay for our children to take the shuttle. They had been included in the package when we used the car service. I doubt we will use them again.

Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to look into this. We sailed Nov3rd this year and had the car for our transportation.

 

[kandt]

Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to look into this. We sailed Nov3rd this year and had the car for our transportation.

If you click on the link you shared, you can see the new information. The website must have been updated very recently because I had checked the description right before we stayed the night of the 16th and it still had the old information.

 

[rcchello]

Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) is actually closer to Times Square and the port than JFK and has very good bus and train service to NYC which take the same or less time than the equivalent from JFK.

I would choose based on price of flight and where I want to spend the night. If you are coming in a few days early you may want to splurge on a NYC hotel. I was just watching a YouTube video where someone was staying at Yotel hotel and by using expedia to get hotel + flights was able to get both for less than the cost of the flights. He was coming from Hamburg Germany so Expedia had more wiggle room in the pricing (youtube channel - "very unofficial travel guides").

 

[MnkyGirl]

We just cruised this itinerary! (Nov 10-17th) We flew into EWR and stayed at the Springhill Suites by the airport. The next day we took a Lyft to the port. They dropped us off right at the elevators to check in at the port. When we got back we decided to stay for a day in the city. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Manhattan Midtown West. It was literally a direct shot from the door that baggage claim/customs lets out of. VERY easy walk and a comfortable room with free breakfast and easy access to everything that we wanted to do. We saw Wicked and it was only about 10-15 minutes to walk. We took a Lyft back to EWR when we left. There were just two of us so it ended up being the cheapest option for transportation.