NYC CRUISES PLANNING/INFO ThREAD!

[Bethshaya]

If you are looking for deals on plays, and aren't fussy about seating, you can try the Ticketmaster in the middle of Times Square.

People queue up in the morning to get great deals on shows that haven't sold out. They sometimes can sell the seats for 50-75% off the regular price.

If you are a big group, you will likely get seats apart, but if you are a couple, it is likely to get seats together.

You just can't order the tickets ahead. You have to go that morning and wait in line and see what shows they have available, but the deals are great.

Also, many people forget this, but if you work for a MAJOR employer, most of the time they have discount programs available to you and you can get tickets through them at a discount.

 

[Bareacuda]

Did you get any sort of a discount booking your hotel through DCL?

No... no discount that I could see. Just the usual, transfers to and from the air port and sea port. For us.. that's great, DH has Parkinsons and it would be a bigger PIB for me and added stress for him. Im here for a cruise

Annie

 

[cass'mom]

Did you get any sort of a discount booking your hotel through DCL?

When I researched them, prices were WAY higher for those hotels on DCL than what I found on my own... maybe the date of the cruise makes a difference and length of stay?

 

[KristiMc]

When I researched them, prices were WAY higher for those hotels on DCL than what I found on my own... maybe the date of the cruise makes a difference and length of stay?

I had got a quote from my DU TA and I thought they were really high - but it is a Friday night I am looking for in NYC.

What did you find?

 

[SeaSpray]

No... no discount that I could see. Just the usual, transfers to and from the air port and sea port. For us.. that's great, DH has Parkinsons and it would be a bigger PIB for me and added stress for him. Im here for a cruise

Annie

When I researched them, prices were WAY higher for those hotels on DCL than what I found on my own... maybe the date of the cruise makes a difference and length of stay?

I had got a quote from my DU TA and I thought they were really high - but it is a Friday night I am looking for in NYC.

What did you find?

I think the date of the cruise may play in to whether the DCL price is a better deal or not. I'll give you my example:

We're cruising on the May 25th NYC-Bahamas cruise. It's the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. We'd need the night before, our reservation is for Thursday, May 24th, 2012.

Marriott Marquis Web Site:
$549.00 + taxes & fees (approx $600 total)

DCL:
$433.00 TOTAL (includes taxes & fees)

 

[KristiMc]

I think the date of the cruise may play in to whether the DCL price is a better deal or not. I'll give you my example:

We're cruising on the May 25th NYC-Bahamas cruise. It's the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. We'd need the night before, our reservation is for Thursday, May 24th, 2012.

Marriott Marquis Web Site:
$549.00 + taxes & fees (approx $600 total)

DCL:
$433.00 TOTAL (includes taxes & fees)

That's what I am thinking. I'm sure a Thursday night is much cheaper than a Friday night. We are on the next cruise June 2nd.

SeaSpray - I saw from some room reports that you have stayed in room 6042 twice and loved it. That is the room we have for this cruise. I think I am going to love the location.

 

[SeaSpray]

That's what I am thinking. I'm sure a Thursday night is much cheaper than a Friday night. We are on the next cruise June 2nd.

SeaSpray - I saw from some room reports that you have stayed in room 6042 twice and loved it. That is the room we have for this cruise. I think I am going to love the location.

What price for the Marriott were you quoted through DCL for your cruise?? I kind of wish we would've booked the June 2nd cruise, but now that we have a couple of cabins booked and the prices have gone up, we're not going to change it.

I think that you will really like the location, it's very centrally located. Have you seen pictures of the cabin on my web site? Here are some direct links for you (I know that I love to see pictures that people took themselves, especially if it's of a cabin or room that we've booked):

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/ourstateroom.htm

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/DCL August 08.htm

 

[peachygreen]

Where are you finding DCL's hotel packages? Do you have to call DCL directly? Is it on the website? I can't figure out what the pricing is or where the hotels are offered.

 

[KristiMc]

What price for the Marriott were you quoted through DCL for your cruise?? I kind of wish we would've booked the June 2nd cruise, but now that we have a couple of cabins booked and the prices have gone up, we're not going to change it.

I think that you will really like the location, it's very centrally located. Have you seen pictures of the cabin on my web site? Here are some direct links for you (I know that I love to see pictures that people took themselves, especially if it's of a cabin or room that we've booked):

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/ourstateroom.htm

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/DCL August 08.htm

I looked back at my quote from DU and it was also $433 for the Marriott - so I guess it is not different for a Friday. It is still more then I want to pay - I would love to stay there though.

Thanks for sharing your pictures. I am hoping that we find out more details about this cruise before we set sail - if not you guys on the first sailing are going to have to post some info

 

[disdel]

If you are looking for deals on plays, and aren't fussy about seating, you can try the Ticketmaster in the middle of Times Square.

People queue up in the morning to get great deals on shows that haven't sold out. They sometimes can sell the seats for 50-75% off the regular price.

If you are a big group, you will likely get seats apart, but if you are a couple, it is likely to get seats together.

You just can't order the tickets ahead. You have to go that morning and wait in line and see what shows they have available, but the deals are great.

Also, many people forget this, but if you work for a MAJOR employer, most of the time they have discount programs available to you and you can get tickets through them at a discount.

I believe Bethshaya is referring to the TKTS booth in Times Squre, which is not affiliated with Ticketmaster. It is administered by the Theater Development Fund http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56
As mentioned in another post, there is also a location at the South Street Seaport, as well as a new one in downtown Brooklyn.

The TDF site also pre-sells tickets to members - see www.tdf.org for the eligibility - teachers, military, retirees over 62, full time HS and college students, and some others.

Other sources of discounted Broadway and off-Broadway tix would be http://www.playbill.com/ and http://www.broadwaybox.com/

And in addition to major employers, schools in the NYC area receive discount coupons for staff, as well. You may want to check with your own children's schools office to see if they have access to those coupons.

Hope that helps -

 

[Bareacuda]

I use DCL as my "One stop shop" for everything for a cruise.

DCL offered 3 different hotels with a pre/post cruise add on.
DH liked the looks of the Westin at Time Square.
2 nights before the cruise is $520.oo for 2 adults, with transfers from the AP to hotel and Hotel to Port, then Port to AP.
They can also add more days after the cruise too if that fits your travel time.

We will be sailing on 2 Sept. 2012.

Annie

 

[RedSox68]

Some restaurant suggestions -- places we eat every time we go to NYC for the weekend:

Ellen's Stardust Diner -- Great Fun! The wait staff breaks out in song while serving (and they are very good): http://ellensstardustdiner.com/

Chevy's Tex Mex -- New York City location on 41st Street near Madame Trousseau's: http://www.chevys.com/default.aspx

Brooklyn Diner -- 2 locations (57th and one on Times Square)...excellent food: http://www.brooklyndiner.com/menu.htm

 

[jilljill]

While in the Times Square area we eat at Junior's or John's Pizza.

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/ West 45th St. between Broadway and 8th Ave - next to the Lion King Theater

http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/index2.htm 260 W. 44th Street - it's the next block over from Junior's

 

[mmouse37]

For great family style Italian...you have to go to Carmine's but reservations are recommended. they have a times square location and an uptown location.

http://www.carminesnyc.com/

The Rigatoni Country Style is my fav dish!!! And make sure you have the TITANIC for Dessert...but make sure you have plenty of people to share it as it is huge!!

They also have a location at the Atlantis Marketplace if you can't get a reservation in NYC!!!

MJ

 

[Minnie Monellen]

Some restaurant suggestions -- places we eat every time we go to NYC for the weekend:

Ellen's Stardust Diner -- Great Fun! The wait staff breaks out in song while serving (and they are very good): http://ellensstardustdiner.com/

For great family style Italian...you have to go to Carmine's but reservations are recommended. they have a times square location and an uptown location.

MJ

I have been to both these restaurants and highly recommend them as a "don't miss" while visiting NYC!

I also came across good reviews for a restaurant/tea shop, Alice's Tea Cup, with three locations in NYC (http://www.alicesteacup.com), though I haven't had the chance to eat there yet.

 

[SeaSpray]

Where are you finding DCL's hotel packages? Do you have to call DCL directly? Is it on the website? I can't figure out what the pricing is or where the hotels are offered.

I think I posted this info somewhere on this thread, a while back. But it's probably buried by now. You are right that it is not on the DCL web site yet. Those of us with this info got it directly from our travel agents.

Here is the basic info:

The pricing is for one pre-night, prices do include tax:

New York Marriott Marquis $433
Westin Times Square $409
Loews Regency $457

Ground transfers are $36 each way, for each leg. You can choose from airport to hotel, hotel to port and port to airport.

Edited to add more info:

The ground transfers are per person, per leg.

Also, you can only put as many people that is in your cabin into one of the hotel rooms, even though the room sleeps more. For example: We have 2 cabins booked, 2 adults in each cabin. DCL will NOT let us book 1 room for the 4 of us because we are on seperate reservations/cabins, EVEN THOUGH ROOM SLEEPS 4 AND THE HOTEL WEB SITE PRICE FOR 4 PEOPLE IS THE SAME AS FOR 2 PEOPLE IN THE SAME EXACT TYPE OF ROOM.

This really bugged me at first, but...it is what it is. So... since $433 X 2 = $866, I ended up booking the room myself on the Marriott web site, for $600. For 1 night in NYC we do not need 2 separate rooms. I would've loved to have been able to book 1 room at the rate of $433, for all of us. Oh well. I did add on the DCL transfers though.

 

[mommy2tati]

I think I posted this info somewhere on this thread, a while back. But it's probably buried by now. You are right that it is not on the DCL web site yet. Those of us with this info got it directly from our travel agents.

Here is the basic info:

The pricing is for one pre-night, prices do include tax:

New York Marriott Marquis $433
Westin Times Square $409
Loews Regency $457

Ground transfers are $36 each way, for each leg. You can choose from airport to hotel, hotel to port and port to airport.

Edited to add more info:

The ground transfers are per person, per leg.

Also, you can only put as many people that is in your cabin into one of the hotel rooms, even though the room sleeps more. For example: We have 2 cabins booked, 2 adults in each cabin. DCL will NOT let us book 1 room for the 4 of us because we are on seperate reservations/cabins, EVEN THOUGH ROOM SLEEPS 4 AND THE HOTEL WEB SITE PRICE FOR 4 PEOPLE IS THE SAME AS FOR 2 PEOPLE IN THE SAME EXACT TYPE OF ROOM.

This really bugged me at first, but...it is what it is. So... since $433 X 2 = $866, I ended up booking the room myself on the Marriott web site, for $600. For 1 night in NYC we do not need 2 separate rooms. I would've loved to have been able to book 1 room at the rate of $433, for all of us. Oh well. I did add on the DCL transfers though.

I have a question about the transfers. So it's $36 per person per leg so for 4 people it would be $432? Is my math right?

IF it is are you using DCL transfers for convenience? Because you can take a taxi for each leg and it would be maybe $140 tops or $280 for 2 cabs if you so choose.

 

[SeaSpray]

I have a question about the transfers. So it's $36 per person per leg so for 4 people it would be $432? Is my math right?

IF it is are you using DCL transfers for convenience? Because you can take a taxi for each leg and it would be maybe $140 tops or $280 for 2 cabs if you so choose.

We're using the DCL transfers to get from the hotel to the port on the morning of the cruise. Going from MA to NYC, and then NYC to MA, we're taking a cab to/from Penn Station and traveling on Amtrak.

And by the time the cruise rolls around, we may decide to just take a cab from the hotel to the port. But the transfers are booked for now.

 

[mmouse37]

While in the Times Square area we eat at Junior's or John's Pizza.

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/ West 45th St. between Broadway and 8th Ave - next to the Lion King Theater

http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/index2.htm 260 W. 44th Street - it's the next block over from Junior's

Love....johns pizzeria! It used to be an old church and we had gone at Christmas time is was just so gorgeous!!

MJ

 

[mommy2tati]

We're using the DCL transfers to get from the hotel to the port on the morning of the cruise. Going from MA to NYC, and then NYC to MA, we're taking a cab to/from Penn Station and traveling on Amtrak.

And by the time the cruise rolls around, we may decide to just take a cab from the hotel to the port. But the transfers are booked for now.

Ohhhh ok.