NYC CRUISES PLANNING/INFO ThREAD!

[HermanTriplets+1]

We paid off our cruise and got an email from our TA that we could book spa treatments and such. Not believing that I went to try to do that and found the interary and it said that there will be a pirate deck party on day 4 in Halifax

Wonder if it will be on night 4 for all the NY-Canada cruises, or on Halifax night which is sometimes day/night 3, sometimes day/night 4. What do you think?

 

[templed]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Grand Hyatt New York at Grand Central has some pretty good rates going on right now. I plugged in 2A 2C for 2 nights starting 8/23/2012 & it gave me $279/night. That's not bad for such a central location. Grand Central Station is just a handful of blocks from Times Sq and a quick taxi ride to the port across town.

Oh and they're done or almost done completely renovating everything so it's all brand spanking new!

if you stay there.... Wave to me on the 4th floor of the Chrysler Building... I'm the chump working away his computer while you're getting ready to sail off...

 

[pklein09]

if you stay there.... Wave to me on the 4th floor of the Chrysler Building... I'm the chump working away his computer while you're getting ready to sail off...

DH works in the building adjacent to the Chrysler....don't know the name, but he's on the 13th floor!

 

[templed]

Oh... wow... which "Adjacent" N, S, E or W?

N = 43rd
S = 42nd
E = Lexington
W = 3rd Ave

 

[momtoejanda]

Ok, New York geography question. You would think with visiting 4 grandparents, 1 great grand parent and inlaws in New York I would know where anything is but.......

How far is the port from times square? is it walking distance with kids or should I grab a cab?

 

[templed]

asking a NY'er... most things are within walking distance....

I believe the port is at 48th and West St (for argument's sake 12th Ave). So... Center of Times Square is say... 47th and 7th Ave ... So... you've got to walk 5 blocks East, and 1 block South.

you can walk it.

(The blocks are longer than you think though....)

http://g.co/maps/3vr95

 

[pklein09]

Oh... wow... which "Adjacent" N, S, E or W?

N = 43rd
S = 42nd
E = Lexington
W = 3rd Ave

I had to look it up....he's on 3rd.

 

[mommy2tati]

asking a NY'er... most things are within walking distance....

I believe the port is at 48th and West St (for argument's sake 12th Ave). So... Center of Times Square is say... 47th and 7th Ave ... So... you've got to walk 5 blocks East, and 1 block South.

you can walk it.

(The blocks are longer than you think though....)

http://g.co/maps/3vr95

You can walk it but it isn't fun with luggage and children! Call me lazy but I'd hop in a cab

And I would have to agree that the blocks are much longer than you think.

 

[gometros]

The blocks between avenues are long, about one-tenth of a mile each. If I were with kids, I would hop a cab. In the winter, on a cold or rainy day, I would hop a cab.

 

[momtoejanda]

Thanks guys, I was thinking about leaving the luggage in the car and walking over before getting on the ship.

We are those people that come to New York multiple times a year but dont do the touristy things. Or at least all of the touristy things. Its sad when you live so close but dont take advantage of it!!

My kids have been bugging me about the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and the Empire State building. Everytime we are in the city there is a purpose behind it. We have been going to the Macy's parade every year...no time for other things...we have been to the bronx zoo, ad visiting family on the upper west side and mid town (i think). So I am trying to knock out some of these other items when we come in for the cruise.

I guess my kids are sick of seeing the statue of liberty from the Veranzano bridge (if it is a clear day)

 

[Minnie Monellen]

Thanks guys, I was thinking about leaving the luggage in the car and walking over before getting on the ship.

We are those people that come to New York multiple times a year but dont do the touristy things. Or at least all of the touristy things. Its sad when you live so close but dont take advantage of it!!

My kids have been bugging me about the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and the Empire State building. Everytime we are in the city there is a purpose behind it. We have been going to the Macy's parade every year...no time for other things...we have been to the bronx zoo, ad visiting family on the upper west side and mid town (i think). So I am trying to knock out some of these other items when we come in for the cruise.

I guess my kids are sick of seeing the statue of liberty from the Veranzano bridge (if it is a clear day)

Take a cab! Also, check the web sites of the places/attractions you want to visit to see if reservations/tickets are required.

Statue of Liberty, http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Empire State Building, http://www.esbnyc.com

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ok, New York geography question. You would think with visiting 4 grandparents, 1 great grand parent and inlaws in New York I would know where anything is but.......

How far is the port from times square? is it walking distance with kids or should I grab a cab?

Definitely a cab with kids and grandparents. It IS walkable, but long for non-NYC-walkers.

Enjoy your time being tourists! I live here and I love to play tourist!

 

[RedSox68]

How far is the terminal from Penn Train Station? Is that walkable?

NEVER MIND -- saw the answer on the previous page. Does not look walkable.

 

[ksloane]

So SW airfare will be released for our dates next Monday so I have to make a final decision on staying in NYC or New Jersey by next Monday morning...

So here's some facts....advice?

It will be myself and my dd11 only...We are the type that typically do not go back to the hotel during the day once we're out

We will be there for 4 nights...so saving money will be nice in staying in NJ. Would we save enough in hotels to offset cost of daily transportation?

I'm not renting a car.

I'm not "nervous" about moving around in the city but also don't want to be anywhere stupid for just 2 females to be...so will using transportation back/forth after dark be safe? Not just the transportation but the getting to/from transportation/hotels, etc...

What else do I need to consider?

 

[Minnie Monellen]

You're just going to have to do the math. Check the rates for the hotels listed at the beginning of this thread and compare the rates for the flights.

It would be much easier to stay in NYC and avoid the commute. That way you can stay out late and take a cab back to your hotel in the evening.

 

[RedSox68]

So SW airfare will be released for our dates next Monday so I have to make a final decision on staying in NYC or New Jersey by next Monday morning...

So here's some facts....advice?

It will be myself and my dd11 only...We are the type that typically do not go back to the hotel during the day once we're out

We will be there for 4 nights...so saving money will be nice in staying in NJ. Would we save enough in hotels to offset cost of daily transportation?

I'm not renting a car.

I'm not "nervous" about moving around in the city but also don't want to be anywhere stupid for just 2 females to be...so will using transportation back/forth after dark be safe? Not just the transportation but the getting to/from transportation/hotels, etc...

What else do I need to consider?

Depends on what you plan on doing while staying there. If you want to be near Broadway or Times Square, there are tons of hotels. We go every year for the weekend and hardly ever take cabs. Lots within walking distance of those area. Blocks are long, but there are tons of people 24/7 -- the streets never close We walked back from Lincoln Center at 64th one night after a play at 11 pm all the way to Times Square. It was a great walk, beautiful night, plenty of people around and we never felt unsafe.

 

[mommy2tati]

Sorry this post is so late but Starwood is running a Vet's Day sale! Here are some examples of pricing. All are for 2 nights with 2 adults in the room. I don't think the amount of children matters since it doesn't ask during the booking process.

5/21/12-6/2/12

Four Points by Sheraton Midtown - Times Square $234/night


W New York 541 Lexington Avenue

$267/night

Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel 370 Canal Street

$278/night

W New York - Downtown 123 Washington Street


$283/night

Element New York Times Square West 311 West 39th Street


$296/night

The Manhattan, Le Parker Meridian and others were also listed but I concentrated on those below $300 per night.

 

[Happy Goofy]

My husband and I booked the August 5th Canadian cruise. We will be driving from CT. We were thinking of also booking the July 28 cruise to Nassau with my daughter and her three children. She has a 9 ( will be 10) 6, who will be 7 and and a 5 year old. My husband and I have been on several DCL cruises but really know nothing about the kids programs. Any sugguestion? Do you sign up at the terminal as you do at Port Canaveral?

 

[jilljill]

My husband and I booked the August 5th Canadian cruise. We will be driving from CT. We were thinking of also booking the July 28 cruise to Nassau with my daughter and her three children. She has a 9 ( will be 10) 6, who will be 7 and and a 5 year old. My husband and I have been on several DCL cruises but really know nothing about the kids programs. Any sugguestion? Do you sign up at the terminal as you do at Port Canaveral?

There are many threads and trip reports discussing the kids programming. No one knows how they will handle kids programming registration at the NYC terminal. But you can also register the kids once on the ship - this is to receive their armbands.

 

[ImprovGal]

Sorry this post is so late but Starwood is running a Vet's Day sale! Here are some examples of pricing. All are for 2 nights with 2 adults in the room. I don't think the amount of children matters since it doesn't ask during the booking process.

5/21/12-6/2/12


Element New York Times Square West 311 West 39th Street


$296/night

Regarding the children, you may need to check the "Announcements" link on the individual property's website before booking. I know the Element does not offer any other bedding configuration other than a single King bed in the room -- no rollaways, no sofa beds. I would think that means the room capacity is 2.