Need help for Bermuda cruise from Bayonne

[mevelandry]

Hi!

We have just booked a Bermuda cruise from Bayonne on Adventure of the Seas. GTY balcony cabins.

We have sailed on Adventure of the Seas before so we know the ship very well. However, we have never sailed from Bayonne so we would appreciate any tips...

Context: We have been to NYC over ten times so we want to make a change and just stay in NJ near the port for a chance. We would love to have some hotels recommendation for hotels near the cruise terminal.

Take note that we do not drive/don’t even have drivers licenses so parking or easy drive is not an incentive for us.

Edit: A Newark airport hotel would be fine as well.

We have never been to Bermuda. However, three times we were supposed to go to Bermuda and cruise ended up cancelled so I have made a lot of research already but any supplementary informations would be greatly appreciated. Here is what I got so far.

-We have heard that there is a free trolley driving people around Royal Naval Dockyard.
-We have heard that transfers to/from Horseshoe Bay are way less expensive if you buy them at the port and to go early if we want to avoid crowd.
-Snorkel Park Beach is not the best beach we’ll ever see but it’s nice enough, fun and very cheap (I heard it‘s better to wear watershoes over there)
-Frog and Onion is not to be missed.
-Mini-Golf is fun and has amazing sea views on top of being just a few dollars cab drive from the port.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hdrolfe]

When I was looking at a cruise from Bayonne I had asked for some advice, this is what I was told. I have not gone yet. I am booked on Carnival Magic to Bermuda next summer from New York, but it's from Manhatten rather than Bayonne.

Look at hotels in downtown Newark near Penn Station area but be aware that Newark is an urban area with problems.
In Jersey City look at the Hyatt, the Doubletree, and the Westin.

 

[mevelandry]

When I was looking at a cruise from Bayonne I had asked for some advice, this is what I was told. I have not gone yet. I am booked on Carnival Magic to Bermuda next summer from New York, but it's from Manhatten rather than Bayonne.

Look at hotels in downtown Newark near Penn Station area but be aware that Newark is an urban area with problems.
In Jersey City look at the Hyatt, the Doubletree, and the Westin.

I have just found a Doubletree near the Newark Airport that looks great. We might book that one.

 

[mevelandry]

When I was looking at a cruise from Bayonne I had asked for some advice, this is what I was told. I have not gone yet. I am booked on Carnival Magic to Bermuda next summer from New York, but it's from Manhatten rather than Bayonne.

Look at hotels in downtown Newark near Penn Station area but be aware that Newark is an urban area with problems.
In Jersey City look at the Hyatt, the Doubletree, and the Westin.

What do you mean « urban area with problems »?

Our plan is to go straight from the airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the port. We do not plan to visit.

 

[hdrolfe]

It was told to me, I believe they just mean to be aware of where you are staying, don't just go for the cheapest place. Choose an area by the airport or the PATH station.

 

[karmacats]

We have never been to Bermuda. However, three times we were supposed to go to Bermuda and cruise ended up cancelled so I have made a lot of research already but any supplementary informations would be greatly appreciated. Here is what I got so far.

-We have heard that there is a free trolley driving people around Royal Naval Dockyard.
-We have heard that transfers to/from Horseshoe Bay are way less expensive if you buy them at the port and to go early if we want to avoid crowd.
-Snorkel Park Beach is not the best beach we’ll ever see but it’s nice enough, fun and very cheap (I heard it‘s better to wear watershoes over there)
-Frog and Onion is not to be missed.
-Mini-Golf is fun and has amazing sea views on top of being just a few dollars cab drive from the port.

Thanks in advance!

There is a free trolley around the dockyard, but the area itself is small so can be walked quite easily unless there are mobility issues in your party.

Last time we were there (2019) you could get a transfer to horseshoe bay from the pier. They were very cheap - iirc, maybe $8 pp. That was for a van, so you had to wait for it to fill up, though if you go in the morning that shouldn't be a problem. You'll want cash if you want to rent chairs or umbrellas at the beach. I don't have all the details because i did a bunch of research on this and then it rained so we ended up not going, but we did see the transfer vans near where all the tours leave from.

Snorkel park can be accessed from the dockyard, and i think the mini golf is right there, too - i don't think you need transportation for the mini golf. When you get off the dock, just pass the frog and onion on your left and the big historic house on the hill to your right, and keep walking til you get to an opening in the wall around the dockyard. There are signs for snorkel park and the mini golf right there. Snorkel park is small, but fine if you just want to swim; it's way prettier than most US beaches. i would bring water shoes.

Have not yet eaten at frog and onion, so can't comment on that. Idk if it survived covid, but there was a pretty good bakery/pastry shop that did afternoon tea which was fun.

If you plan to stay around the dockyard, the mini golf and snorkel beach will keep you plenty occupied. If you're into history or views, the old historic mansion at the dockyard has grounds with amazing views of the area, ocean, and your ship, and the building itself is a pretty interesting little museum. There is also a little mall, and some cool artisan shops near the frog and onion. The glassblowing shop does demos, and the rum cake place will give free samples.

Bayonne itself is an easy terminal to navigate - it's basically one big room. The hotels near newark penn station are fine - if it's still there, the courtyard by marriott is one of the nicer courtyards we've stayed at. Airport hotels are fine, too - just typical airport hotels. A couple years ago, uber from the port to the airport was about $25 or $30. Expect lots of traffic getting into port if you go early - it's off a small two lane road that gets very backed up. Normally we try to get to port around 11 and eat lunch on the ship, but for bayonne sometimes we'll eat lunch before and then go to avoid an hour long backup.

Sorry so long, but i hope this helps! We're doing our 4th Bermuda cruise next year, but on grandeur out of Baltimore - we love it there (Bermuda, not Baltimore ).

 

[mevelandry]

It was told to me, I believe they just mean to be aware of where you are staying, don't just go for the cheapest place. Choose an area by the airport or the PATH station.

Is Doubletree Newark Airport in a good location? (Other than being quite close to a prison? LOL)

 

[hdrolfe]

Is Doubletree Newark Airport in a good location? (Other than being quite close to a prison? LOL)

It's one I was told would be a good choice.

 

[mevelandry]

It's one I was told would be a good choice.

Oh good. I thought it was adorable and my heart was pretty much set on it...

 

[hdrolfe]

Oh good. I thought it was adorable and my heart was pretty much set on it...

I think if you aren't planning on touring around, and I was planning to visit New York and "see stuff" before my cruise, then possibly stay a day after due to timing of flights, and that was one for the after cruise when we weren't planning to tour much.

 

[mevelandry]

There is a free trolley around the dockyard, but the area itself is small so can be walked quite easily unless there are mobility issues in your party.

Last time we were there (2019) you could get a transfer to horseshoe bay from the pier. They were very cheap - iirc, maybe $8 pp. That was for a van, so you had to wait for it to fill up, though if you go in the morning that shouldn't be a problem. You'll want cash if you want to rent chairs or umbrellas at the beach. I don't have all the details because i did a bunch of research on this and then it rained so we ended up not going, but we did see the transfer vans near where all the tours leave from.

Snorkel park can be accessed from the dockyard, and i think the mini golf is right there, too - i don't think you need transportation for the mini golf. When you get off the dock, just pass the frog and onion on your left and the big historic house on the hill to your right, and keep walking til you get to an opening in the wall around the dockyard. There are signs for snorkel park and the mini golf right there. Snorkel park is small, but fine if you just want to swim; it's way prettier than most US beaches. i would bring water shoes.

Have not yet eaten at frog and onion, so can't comment on that. Idk if it survived covid, but there was a pretty good bakery/pastry shop that did afternoon tea which was fun.

If you plan to stay around the dockyard, the mini golf and snorkel beach will keep you plenty occupied. If you're into history or views, the old historic mansion at the dockyard has grounds with amazing views of the area, ocean, and your ship, and the building itself is a pretty interesting little museum. There is also a little mall, and some cool artisan shops near the frog and onion. The glassblowing shop does demos, and the rum cake place will give free samples.

Bayonne itself is an easy terminal to navigate - it's basically one big room. The hotels near newark penn station are fine - if it's still there, the courtyard by marriott is one of the nicer courtyards we've stayed at. Airport hotels are fine, too - just typical airport hotels. A couple years ago, uber from the port to the airport was about $25 or $30. Expect lots of traffic getting into port if you go early - it's off a small two lane road that gets very backed up. Normally we try to get to port around 11 and eat lunch on the ship, but for bayonne sometimes we'll eat lunch before and then go to avoid an hour long backup.

Sorry so long, but i hope this helps! We're doing our 4th Bermuda cruise next year, but on grandeur out of Baltimore - we love it there (Bermuda, not Baltimore ).

One of us has mobility problems but may have had surgery to fix it before the trip. TBD.

Thank you so much.