NYC CRUISES PLANNING/INFO ThREAD!

[BWV Dreamin]

I can tell you that these hotels are expensive!! Definitely not worth going thru Disney for hotel stays.

 

[SeaSpray]

I can tell you that these hotels are expensive!! Definitely not worth going thru Disney for hotel stays.

I've always booked my own pre-cruise hotels when we've sailed out of Florida. I already know the price ranges for the NYC hotels, but does DCL ever get a better deal on hotels if you book through them? What would be the benefit? If I stay at one of the DCL-approved hotels but book it myself, can we still use the DCL transfers the next morning (paying for them, of course)??

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I've always booked my own pre-cruise hotels when we've sailed out of Florida. I already know the price ranges for the NYC hotels, but does DCL ever get a better deal on hotels if you book through them? What would be the benefit? If I stay at one of the DCL-approved hotels but book it myself, can we still use the DCL transfers the next morning (paying for them, of course)??

This was asked about our Med cruise. Some people were allowed to book those hotels (much cheaper) on their own but still get Disney transfers. Others were told no, they couldn't book transfers unless they went thru Disney for the hotel. So I guess its a crap shoot. Personally, can't a cab get you to the port a whole lot cheaper than Disney transfers?

 

[SeaSpray]

This was asked about our Med cruise. Some people were allowed to book those hotels (much cheaper) on their own but still get Disney transfers. Others were told no, they couldn't book transfers unless they went thru Disney for the hotel. So I guess its a crap shoot. Personally, can't a cab get you to the port a whole lot cheaper than Disney transfers?

I guess that depends on how much the cab would be (4 adults) VS how much the transfers cost. Are DCL transfers the same cost no matter the port??

I'm waiting to hear back from my TA, so I can compare.

 

[anty30]

I can tell you that these hotels are expensive!! Definitely not worth going thru Disney for hotel stays.

My first thought when seeing the hotel choices was that those are expensive options! Definately on the high end.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I can tell you that these hotels are expensive!! Definitely not worth going thru Disney for hotel stays.

I'm glad I won't have to book a hotel and only have to drive a hour

 

[shoes99]

When I booked this cruise onboard the DREAM I added transfers just in case.
My invoices says $144.00 for two or $72.00 each. I don't need the transfers since I live in NJ, but need to do a little more research.

 

[mommy2tati]

I guess that depends on how much the cab would be (4 adults) VS how much the transfers cost. Are DCL transfers the same cost no matter the port??

I'm waiting to hear back from my TA, so I can compare.

The cab price is the same no matter how many people are in it. The charge varies by distance. If DCL transfers are $70 per person it doesn't make sense to use them from the hotels. The cab fare wouldn't be more than $20 total from any of those three that were listed in the PP. Even from the JFK airport the fare is approximately $60 including tolls to drive into Manhattan.

 

[SeaSpray]

I'm glad I won't have to book a hotel and only have to drive a hour

Hey, Julia, what are you doing on the night of May 24th, 2012?? That's the night before our cruise... want some company?? (hee hee just kidding!)

One of my brothers still lives in central NJ....we could always stay there...but we'd still need a ride into NYC from his house...

I kind of like the idea of staying in the city the night before....but woo! Gotta see how it all prices out.

The cab price is the same no matter how many people are in it. The charge varies by distance. If DCL transfers are $70 per person it doesn't make sense to use them from the hotels. The cab fare wouldn't be more than $20 total from any of those three that were listed in the PP. Even from the JFK airport the fare is approximately $60 including tolls to drive into Manhattan.

Ok that makes sense! Do the NYC taxis have room for 4 adults all of their cruise luggage though?? Are they vans these days?? I haven't been to NYC since I lived in NJ, over 15 years ago.

 

[SeaSpray]

When I booked this cruise onboard the DREAM I added transfers just in case.
My invoices says $144.00 for two or $72.00 each. I don't need the transfers since I live in NJ, but need to do a little more research.

That's the same price that I saw on the DCL site a little while ago. They were "airport" transfers, but I know they offer hotel transfers from other ports as well.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Hey, Julia, what are you doing on the night of May 24th, 2012?? That's the night before our cruise... want some company?? (hee hee just kidding!)

hahah i don't know yet, might have a concert in NYC to go too

 

[Minnie Monellen]

Ok that makes sense! Do the NYC taxis have room for 4 adults all of their cruise luggage though?? Are they vans these days?? I haven't been to NYC since I lived in NJ, over 15 years ago.

The SUV style cabs have room for four passengers and for 2 -3 large suitcases and 2-3 small bags. The cost for a taxi would probably not be more than $10-$15 (plus tip) from the Marriott Marquis. You can also call a car service for transport to the cruise terminal. There are many other hotels to choose from in both Manhattan and in NJ along the Hudson River.

 

[mommy2tati]

Ok that makes sense! Do the NYC taxis have room for 4 adults all of their cruise luggage though?? Are they vans these days?? I haven't been to NYC since I lived in NJ, over 15 years ago.

Most have room for 4 adults (it may be a little tight). The trunks are amazingly deep and fit 3 or 4 large suitcases. I would just spring for 2 cabs, it would still be cheaper than DCL transfers. There are minivan & suv cabs but they are few & far between.

 

[SeaSpray]

The SUV style cabs have room for four passengers and for 2 -3 large suitcases and 2-3 small bags. The cost for a taxi would probably not be more than $10-$15 (plus tip) from the Marriott Marquis. You can also call a car service for transport to the cruise terminal. There are many other hotels to choose from in both Manhattan and in NJ along the Hudson River.

Most have room for 4 adults (it may be a little tight). The trunks are amazingly deep and fit 3 or 4 large suitcases. I would just spring for 2 cabs, it would still be cheaper than DCL transfers. There are minivan & suv cabs but they are few & far between.

Thanks for this info!

Regarding the hotel prices, I just heard back from my TA at Dreams and the prices she quoted to me were much less than what I found on the hotels' own web sites. So I think we will book one of them.

 

[SeaSpray]

New question! LOL

If we do decide to use DCL transfers from the hotel the morning of the cruise, do they (the bus drivers or whoever, from DCL) take our bags from us at the hotel and then we don't have to deal with them until on the ship?? Or must we take them from the bus at the port, into the port ourselves??? Thanks!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Regarding the hotel prices, I just heard back from my TA at Dreams and the prices she quoted to me were much less than what I found on the hotels' own web sites. So I think we will book one of them.

Sort of an update on the hotel prices:

The price I was quoted was for 2 people only. The TA said she can't put all 4 of us in 1 room because we have 2 separate DCL reservations. I'm kind of disappointed about this.

Bummer! Booking the hotel directly through the Marriott will come out cheaper than paying for 2 rooms, which we will not do!

EDITED TO ADD:
I just went back to the Marriott's web site and clicked on only 2 people, to see if they'd quote a lower price, but no... the same room is the same cost, whether 2 or 4 people. So I'll have to see whether there's anything our TA can do to help us.

 

[sabrecmc]

I found something similar happened on our Med cruise in 2010 with the DCL hotel. When I booked through the hotel website, it did not charge me for my daughter, as they had a policy that children under 10 were no additional fee. But, when I tried to book through DCL, they said we had to have a suite b/c of the exta person. The suite was double the cost. So, I just booked through the website.

 

[SeaSpray]

I found something similar happened on our Med cruise in 2010 with the DCL hotel. When I booked through the hotel website, it did not charge me for my daughter, as they had a policy that children under 10 were no additional fee. But, when I tried to book through DCL, they said we had to have a suite b/c of the exta person. The suite was double the cost. So, I just booked through the website.

Oh that stinks!!! It sounds as if DCL is making up their own policies regarding the hotels.

 

[kiddisney]

hi - there are other options for pre-cruise stays - try nj & use limo service - i'm expecting that what save in hotel cost would more than cover your limo -

right in hoboken/weehawkin - directly across from the ship is a sheraton suites - in hoboken itself is a W - move out to secaucus are more & in east rutherford there is another sheraton - and if you don't have to leave a car - it's a nice option - just don't get the hotels on tonnelle ave in north bergen - lots of traffic & noise

 

[Minnie Monellen]

hi - there are other options for pre-cruise stays - try nj & use limo service - i'm expecting that what save in hotel cost would more than cover your limo - right in hoboken/weehawkin - directly across from the ship is a sheraton suites - in hoboken itself is a W - move out to secaucus are more & in east rutherford there is another sheraton - and if you don't have to leave a car - it's a nice option - just don't get the hotels on tonnelle ave in north bergen - lots of traffic & noise

I agree. Stay away from hotels on Tonnellen Ave in North Bergen! As I previously posted there are some very nice hotels that are convenient to the NYC cruise terminal. These NJ hotels are located on the Hudson River, all are close to mass transit:

Homewood Suites by Hilton®
10 The Promenade, Edgewater, New Jersey, United States 07020
Tel: 1-201-941-4700 Fax: 1-201-941-479
next to shopping, restaurants, and movie theaters

Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel
500 Harbor Boulevard · Weehawken, NJ 07086 USA ·Map · Contact Us · Phone: (201) 617-5600 · Fax: (201) 617-5627 · Special Offer Reservations:
(866) 716-8115 (next to Lincoln Harbor NY Waterway Terminal)

W Hoboken 225 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 United States
Phone: (201) 253-2400
(Expensive)

Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson
2 Exchange Place,
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA 07302
Tel: (201) 469 1234 Fax: (201) 432 4991