NYC CRUISES PLANNING/INFO ThREAD!

[Carol36]

Thanks!

 

[degrapevine]

Hey, all! Yep, we Floridians are heading to NY for a DCL cruise. Crazy, I know, but the kids are kind of over the Bahamas/Caribbean cruises and we thought it would be a fun change. So, we are DRIVING to NY from FL, as a family of 5 the airfare would be more than gas plus hotel stays and for some reason, we actually enjoy driving long trips. We also plan on visiting family in NY and CT before/after the cruise.

So, here's my dilemma. I have family in Elmont, NY, which is about a 45 min drive away. While I'm sure they would drive with us to the port (in our van, which they would have to drive back home and then pick us up after the cruise), I'm more apt to save them the hassle (since we'll be staying with them for a few nights before the trip) and just drive ourselves. Do we just bite the bullet and pay the $35 per night to park at the port (5 night cruise) or try for a nearby lot and then take a taxi? Would we actually save enough to outweigh the hassle of getting a vehicle to fit all of us and have to transfer all of our luggage?

Help!

 

[mommy2tati]

Hey, all! Yep, we Floridians are heading to NY for a DCL cruise. Crazy, I know, but the kids are kind of over the Bahamas/Caribbean cruises and we thought it would be a fun change. So, we are DRIVING to NY from FL, as a family of 5 the airfare would be more than gas plus hotel stays and for some reason, we actually enjoy driving long trips. We also plan on visiting family in NY and CT before/after the cruise.

So, here's my dilemma. I have family in Elmont, NY, which is about a 45 min drive away. While I'm sure they would drive with us to the port (in our van, which they would have to drive back home and then pick us up after the cruise), I'm more apt to save them the hassle (since we'll be staying with them for a few nights before the trip) and just drive ourselves. Do we just bite the bullet and pay the $35 per night to park at the port (5 night cruise) or try for a nearby lot and then take a taxi? Would we actually save enough to outweigh the hassle of getting a vehicle to fit all of us and have to transfer all of our luggage?

Help!

If you opt for a nearby garage you can always drop the family and luggage at the port THEN park the car. That way there will only be 1 person in the taxi and no hassle. They can wait for whoever is parking the car at the terminal.

 

[annmorr]

I've just located a car service for anyone who is looking for transportation from central NJ (Northern Ocean County) into Manhattan. We have a group of 10 people, and the cost of parking two cars at the terminal for the length of the cruise, plus gas and tolls, is about equivalent to hiring private transportation to and from NY. PM me for more details or info.

 

[jilljill]

I've just located a car service for anyone who is looking for transportation from central NJ (Northern Ocean County) into Manhattan. We have a group of 10 people, and the cost of parking two cars at the terminal for the length of the cruise, plus gas and tolls, is about equivalent to hiring private transportation to and from NY. PM me for more details or info.

Please post the website for the car service to make sure it passes the DISboard filters and is allowed to be posted on here. The filter rules are in place for anything posted on the main boards or in a PM.
thanks,

 

[annmorr]

Please post the website for the car service to make sure it passes the DISboard filters and is allowed to be posted on here. The filter rules are in place for anything posted on the main boards or in a PM.
thanks,

whoops, I don't have a website for this company, just local telephone numbers, so go ahead and remove my post.

 

[jilljill]

whoops, I don't have a website for this company, just local telephone numbers, so go ahead and remove my post.

That's no problem then. Your post will stay as is.

 

[degrapevine]

If you opt for a nearby garage you can always drop the family and luggage at the port THEN park the car. That way there will only be 1 person in the taxi and no hassle. They can wait for whoever is parking the car at the terminal.

Thanks - I started looking at rates for nearby garages and the cheapest I found was $139 for the length of time we would need to be parked. Compared to the $175 at the port (the port website now says $35 per night for cruise parking), plus my husband having to drop us off, go park, take a taxi over, and then having to get the car after cruise, I think we'll just park at the port. It seems like it will almost be a breakeven and the convenience will be worth the little extra $.

I'm not missing some great deals on parking, am I? Compared to Port Canaveral @ $90 for a 5 night cruise, $175 is quite an increase, but that's New York, right?

 

[cindy18]

Parking in Manhattan is VERY expensive. It's just a basic supply and demand thing. There just isn't enough space for real parking lots, and more people have cars who live here than you would expect. The area by the port has a lot of relatively new tall apartment buildings nearby, and all of those buildings have large parking garages for their tenants, so that might be an option, but I'm sure it would be very expensive. There are some outdoor lots that are cheaper, but they are small and frankly not as well protected (and often not used for overnight parking). I think for the convenience and comfort, the port price is probably a good deal, relatively speaking.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have a question for all of you NY locals/experts.

One weekend in June when the Magic is due to sail, I'd like to take my family to Liberty State Park, ferry to Ellis Island/SOL and watch the Magic sail by.
In researching ferry options & websites, I saw that for not much more, we could ferry back to Manhattan & walk to WTC Memorial, then ferry back to LSP.
Is this too much to do before the Magic sails? I am assuming it's a 5pm sail away? Am I trying to cram too much in? or should I make it 2 separate visits? Mapquest estimates a 1 hr 36 min drive to LSP.
I don't have a specific need to watch the Magic from the NJ side but LSP offers a great place to take unobstructed photos w/o trespassing. Not sure if there's a similar area to get up close on the NY side.

I would prefer the June 2 sailing over June 30 but there are no more tickets available for the WTC memorial on the 2nd.

Sad to say, I haven't been to SOL since the centennial celebration in 1986 and that was by boat & we anchored in the harbor. To this day, it was still the most amazing fireworks display I've ever seen.

 

[Minnie Monellen]

I have a question for all of you NY locals/experts.

One weekend in June when the Magic is due to sail, I'd like to take my family to Liberty State Park, ferry to Ellis Island/SOL and watch the Magic sail by.
In researching ferry options & websites, I saw that for not much more, we could ferry back to Manhattan & walk to WTC Memorial, then ferry back to LSP.
Is this too much to do before the Magic sails? I am assuming it's a 5pm sail away? Am I trying to cram too much in? or should I make it 2 separate visits? Mapquest estimates a 1 hr 36 min drive to LSP.
I don't have a specific need to watch the Magic from the NJ side but LSP offers a great place to take unobstructed photos w/o trespassing. Not sure if there's a similar area to get up close on the NY side.

I would prefer the June 2 sailing over June 30 but there are no more tickets available for the WTC memorial on the 2nd.

Sad to say, I haven't been to SOL since the centennial celebration in 1986 and that was by boat & we anchored in the harbor. To this day, it was still the most amazing fireworks display I've ever seen.

You can watch the ship go by on the waterfront adjacent to the World Financial Center/ NY Waterway Terminal in Battery Park, NYC. The terminal has a viewing deck on the water that you would be able to see the ship pass. From that area you could get photos of the ship passing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You would only be a few blocks away from the WTC memorial.

 

[kritter]

Anyone find any hotel deals for the night before your NYC cruise? Thanks,,!!

 

[llqool]

Does anyone know how the parking at the terminal works? I know you can't make reservations ahead of time. But do they typically fill up? If we have an 11:30 arrival time, can we get there super early in hopes of getting a place? Or will they let us in early?

 

[Trekker]

Anyone find any hotel deals for the night before your NYC cruise? Thanks,,!!

In February I booked the following for 9/9 - 9/12 - seemed like a good deal for those looking for a pre-cruise stay

http://www.milfordplaza.com/bestnychoteldeals?gclid=CJrBxOaMj64CFYIUKgodSTPyhg

Scroll down to

Save 15% on Your Upcoming Visit to New York City!
Plus Receive Continental Breakfast for 2 - FREE!

I booked us a double double for 3 nights 9/9 – 9/12 for a total of $740.42

 

[peachygreen]

Does anyone know how the parking at the terminal works? I know you can't make reservations ahead of time. But do they typically fill up? If we have an 11:30 arrival time, can we get there super early in hopes of getting a place? Or will they let us in early?

From the Cruise Terminal Website here
http://www.nycruise.com/parkNYC.html
It appears that parking opens at 9am. I have not cruised out of NYC before however so I have not tried it.

 

[jilljill]

Does anyone know how the parking at the terminal works? I know you can't make reservations ahead of time. But do they typically fill up? If we have an 11:30 arrival time, can we get there super early in hopes of getting a place? Or will they let us in early?

My brother has parked there twice in the last year, both times arriving around 11am, and never had a problem finding a parking space.

 

[Trekker]

A friend of mine was in NYC for the Fantasy christening and offered this option for parking - -

I have not experienced this myself, but trust this person totally!

Get off the turnpike at the last exit before the Lincoln tunnel and go to port Imperial. There is a ferry that takes you over across the river, about a ten minute ride and when you get there, there are cabs that will drive you right to the terminal. (about 4 blocks) Parking at Port Imperial is $10.00 day and the lot is secure. Just another option to throw out there.

 

[Minnie Monellen]

From the Cruise Terminal Website here
http://www.nycruise.com/parkNYC.html
It appears that parking opens at 9am. I have not cruised out of NYC before however so I have not tried it.

I sent an e-mail to the NYCruise terminal a number of months ago asking what time the terminal opens, the response was at 9:00 a.m.

 

[Minnie Monellen]

A friend of mine was in NYC for the Fantasy christening and offered this option for parking - -

I have not experienced this myself, but trust this person totally!

I travel via NYWaterway to NYC on a daily basis. This is a good option. However, you will need to transport your luggage with you through the NJ terminal, onto/off the ferry, then through the terminal in NYC and to the taxi stand. The difficulty of doing so would depend on how much luggage you have and how many children/mobility limited persons you are traveling with. Also, factor in the cost of a round-trip ticket for each person:

One way fare:

$9.00 Adult
FREE Child 5 and Under
Two children ride free for every paying adult.

$6.00 Child 6-11
$8.25 Senior 62+

Parking facilities are accessible 24 hours a day.

Owned & Operated by Central Parking
Weekday before 10am $8.00
Weekday after 10am $10.00
Weekends $10.00
Monthly with Ferry Pass $140.00
Monthly without Ferry Pass $175.00

 

[ksloane]

I thought it was time to bump this thread back to the front as I have spent the last 2 days trying to plan our NYC time after our cruise.

We have a "really want to do" list and then "if there's time list."

I have 2 hotels booked because for now we can't decide.

My questions are....
1. Hop On Hop Off Buses - opinions from the locals? I know you don't use them, but maybe you know more...I've read a lot of good reviews and then some that talk about waiting FOREVER for them so not worth it. I looked at Gray Line and CitySightseeing....Good idea? If so, do you know if one is "better" than the other....

2. NY Pass (newyorkpass.com) seems like a great deal as it pretty much includes everything on our list plus lots of things we added to that "if there's time" list.

3. Do you know of anywhere to get a map (free or reasonable fee) that would kind of label all the popular tourist spots? Now that we have our list, I'd like to group them by area for each day. I know I could look them all up on google maps, but I think I'd confuse myself and never remember where the first thing was by the time I got to the 5th thing...