NYC CRUISES PLANNING/INFO ThREAD!

[ruadisneyfan2]

I live in Hamilton about 10 mins from the station and regulary take the train in from there on my own so it's safe. The only thing you need to think about for Hamilton is that to park overnight, you must be in the parking garage on site. If you're departing on a weekend, no issue finding a space. If you're departing on a weekday, you're fighting with the daily commuters for spots.

I went in to NYC on Friday, it wasn't too bad finding at spot even at 9:30 am. I've found Fridays aren't too bad trying to get a space since many ppl take long weekends, especially in the summer.

Any questions, let me know. We're probably getting dropped off at Hamilton for the cruise and not parking there since ours is an 8 night one.

Oh thanks for the parking tip. I hadn't even thought of that. Is there outdoor parking also? I'll know to look for the garage. We'll be sailing on a Friday so I thought if we leave here (Cherry Hill) by 8am we'll be ok.
I was a bit more worried about taking a taxi alone in NY and taking the train home on Sunday. I know the PATCO speedline that I take to work in Philly is a whole different crowd on the weekends comparing to the typical work commuter.
Is it possible to sit up front near the conductor?

Maybe I'll leave a little earlier in case we need to circle the garage for a parking spot.

 

[NJGirl]

The outdoor parking is for monthly parking pass holders only. Along with some overflow lots for daily parking only.

You should be good on a Friday in the summer. You'll be there by 9ish..it's literally right off of 295.

Weekends are busy with theater goers, baseball fans going to games, and tourists and people riding to and from Newark airport. It's not empty at all. Don't even worry about that. The conductors regularly walk the train cars collecting tickets at each stop. There's no where to really sit near the conductors as they keep moving.

Just note that getting back on in Penn Station to come home - there are multiple NJ transit lines leaving Penn! Make sure you get on NE Corridor to Trenton. They will list them on the electric sign board and they will not post the track the train is on until 10 mins before its supposed to leave.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The outdoor parking is for monthly parking pass holders only. Along with some overflow lots for daily parking only.

You should be good on a Friday in the summer. You'll be there by 9ish..it's literally right off of 295.

Weekends are busy with theater goers, baseball fans going to games, and tourists and people riding to and from Newark airport. It's not empty at all. Don't even worry about that. The conductors regularly walk the train cars collecting tickets at each stop. There's no where to really sit near the conductors as they keep moving.

Just note that getting back on in Penn Station to come home - there are multiple NJ transit lines leaving Penn! Make sure you get on NE Corridor to Trenton. They will list them on the electric sign board and they will not post the track the train is on until 10 mins before its supposed to leave.

Thanks! I thought it might be confusing going home so I did check the NJ Transit map to make sure we get on the right train. (Kind of like staying off site at WDW; all signs lead to WDW but none lead you back!)

At least by then we'll have all day to get home without the pressure of worrying about missing our cruise.

Thanks again for your advice! I'm so excited to see the Magic again after being on the Dream a few times now. The Magic was our 1st and will always be so special for us.

 

[templed]

NJ Transit Trains are like riding in a Cadillac compared to some of the other Mass Transit authorities out there.

Nothing to worry about... you'll actually enjoy the trip, I think.

 

[antkim]

Hi guys,

I know lots of you are trying to find a good hotel for you NYC cruises. I just wanted to give you the name of a great hotel very close to the port and a block from Times Square! We stay here every time we are in the city and love it! I attended the Fantasy Christening back in March and stayed here..it took less than 5 minutes in a cab and you can literally walk to the port as well.

The Belvedere Hotel
http://www.belvederehotelnyc.com/

It is located on west 48th street. We always get great AAA rates. I HIGHLY suggest booking an executive room if available. These rooms have all been renovated recently.

Hope this helps some of you!

Kim

 

[kstategrad]

Need advice:

We are flying into LGA on 9/1/12 and our cruise sails on 9/2/12. Is there any hotel that does a shuttle from LGA to it, and/or to the port?

Just wondering how we are going to get from LGA to whatever hotel we stay that night, and how we're going to get to the port on the morning of 9/2/12.

Never been to NYC before, and I'm finding it SO much harder than planning for WDW!

 

[mmouse37]

Need advice:

We are flying into LGA on 9/1/12 and our cruise sails on 9/2/12. Is there any hotel that does a shuttle from LGA to it, and/or to the port?

Just wondering how we are going to get from LGA to whatever hotel we stay that night, and how we're going to get to the port on the morning of 9/2/12.

Never been to NYC before, and I'm finding it SO much harder than planning for WDW!

There are many hotels near LGA and most if not all have shuttles to them.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-hotels.html

If you don't want to stay near the airport (not much around) then you can book a limo or take a cab from LGA to a hotel nearer the port.

MJ

 

[NTOFD]

bump

 

[mickeyluv]

There are many hotels near LGA and most if not all have shuttles to them.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-hotels.html

If you don't want to stay near the airport (not much around) then you can book a limo or take a cab from LGA to a hotel nearer the port.

MJ

MJ...could you help me out with which hotels near the port? I'm not exactly sure if we should really be concerned with staying near the port or not. We fly in to NY the day before our cruise sets sail and want to do a little sight seeing but I know we won't have a lot of time. I'm just not sure what the best plan would be...stay in the middle of things that's easy for sight seeing or stay near the port. This will be our 1st trip to NYC and we are very excited. I wish we had more time there but we're thankful to be able to go at all!

 

[firsttimemom]

MJ...could you help me out with which hotels near the port? I'm not exactly sure if we should really be concerned with staying near the port or not. We fly in to NY the day before our cruise sets sail and want to do a little sight seeing but I know we won't have a lot of time. I'm just not sure what the best plan would be...stay in the middle of things that's easy for sight seeing or stay near the port. This will be our 1st trip to NYC and we are very excited. I wish we had more time there but we're thankful to be able to go at all!

I would stay in the Times Square area for easy sightseeing. You even have time for a nice breakfast in the AM before heading to the port. We had a great breakfast at Bond 45 when we were up there for spring break and might do the same when we come up for our cruise. Then it's an easy cab ride to the port.

 

[Minnie Monellen]

We'll be doing a 2nt weekend cruise but it's only me and ds11, (12 at time of trip.)

Would you feel safe to take the NJ Transit train from Hamilton and then taxi to the port? This is the least stressful (traffic-wise) and most economical too.
My other alternative would be to park at Newark airport and take DCL transfers but that would be a lot more money. I'd hate to ask dh to take off work to drive us to the port or airport. (He could have cruised with us but opted not to.)

Another option for people traveling from South Jersey to NYC is to take the Greyhound bus from Mt. Laurel.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Another option for people traveling from South Jersey to NYC is to take the Greyhound bus from Mt. Laurel.

Does it go directly to Penn Station? Is there overnight parking at the bus stop in Mt. Laurel?

 

[Minnie Monellen]

Does it go directly to Penn Station? Is there overnight parking at the bus stop in Mt. Laurel?

I don't know if there's overnight parking. Here's the contact info:

Mt Laurel: Fellowship Rd & Rt. 73
Direct Phone number: 856-235- 3053

1-800-231-2222
ifsr@greyhound.com

The bus would go directly to the bus terminal at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 42nd & 8th Avenues. This is less than a mile to the Port and a little closer than Penn Station.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't know if there's overnight parking. Here's the contact info:

Mt Laurel: Fellowship Rd & Rt. 73
Direct Phone number: 856-235- 3053

1-800-231-2222
ifsr@greyhound.com

The bus would go directly to the bus terminal at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 42nd & 8th Avenues. This is less than a mile to the Port and a little closer than Penn Station.

Thanks I'll check it out. I'm leaning a little more toward the train b/c it's not part of regular traffic so I'd find it more relaxing.

 

[dclpluto]

I know it will cost more money but im thinking about parking my car at newark airport than take the dcl transfers. than i wont have to deal with the hectic driving in new york city. is anyone else thinking about doing this or am i the only one?than i could do an excursion the day the cruise gets over the ones dcl has that returns you to your airport.

 

[ksloane]

I know it will cost more money but im thinking about parking my car at newark airport than take the dcl transfers. than i wont have to deal with the hectic driving in new york city. is anyone else thinking about doing this or am i the only one?than i could do an excursion the day the cruise gets over the ones dcl has that returns you to your airport.

I am flying in so don't need to park, but I think that's a great idea. I am one that likes to turn over the driving to someone else any chance I get.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I know it will cost more money but im thinking about parking my car at newark airport than take the dcl transfers. than i wont have to deal with the hectic driving in new york city. is anyone else thinking about doing this or am i the only one?than i could do an excursion the day the cruise gets over the ones dcl has that returns you to your airport.

I did consider this when we initially booked the 8 nt Bahamas cruise for all 4 of us to limit the amount of baggage handling we'd have to do. Somehow that week turned into an Alaskan cruise and just ds11 & I are doing the 2 nt NYC cruise so we won't have much to carry.

Train from Hamilton:
$30.00 RT 1 adult
$13.50 RT 1 child
$21.00 3 days parking in Hamilton
$30.00RT taxi Penn Station to port
$94.50 Total

Driving to EWR & taking DCL transfers:
$144.00 DCL bus transfers x 2 passengers
$ 42.00 EWR long term parking
$186 Total

$91.50 more (50.8% more)

Also I'm very familiar PHL and wouldn't mind going there without dh at all but have only seen EWR from the turnpike. With my luck I'd take a wrong turn and end up in some part of Newark I don't want to be in. I

YMMV.

 

[NJGirl]

I did consider this when we initially booked the 8 nt Bahamas cruise for all 4 of us to limit the amount of baggage handling we'd have to do. Somehow that week turned into an Alaskan cruise and just ds11 & I are doing the 2 nt NYC cruise so we won't have much to carry.

Train from Hamilton:
$30.00 RT 1 adult
$13.50 RT 1 child
$21.00 3 days parking in Hamilton
$30.00RT taxi Penn Station to port
$94.50 Total

Driving to EWR & taking DCL transfers:
$144.00 DCL bus transfers x 2 passengers
$ 42.00 EWR long term parking
$186 Total

$91.50 more (50.8% more)

Also I'm very familiar PHL and wouldn't mind going there without dh at all but have only seen EWR from the turnpike. With my luck I'd take a wrong turn and end up in some part of Newark I don't want to be in. I

YMMV.

Most times NJT doesnt even make you pay for the child fare..esp if they are under 11.

 

[kritter]

What day does the Magic arrive in NYC??

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What day does the Magic arrive in NYC??

Not sure the exact day of arrival but the 1st sailing from NYC is Friday, 5/25