Statue of Liberty on New York Sailings

[Club Disney Chandler]

Oh my gosh, that's your restaurant?? I know I've read posts from you that mention that you have a restaurant, but wow! That's awesome! I live in north Phoenix. I hope the "winner" realizes it's a well-known restaurant here in the valley and that's a pretty sweet reward!

Yeah, I started working there, when I turned 16, back in 1985 as a dishwasher and was able to move into ownership about 15 years ago.

 

[DisneyWonder'09]

Lol. Yes. Math is not my strong point after a long day. Btw I did correct it.

It actually proves your point better how skilled the cm's are and how many safety checks are needed!

 

[lorimay]

I think I've already decided to skip dinner on night 1 so We can see the sights of leaving NYC. I'm glad this topic came up. Seems like the right choice since leaving NYC (and returning I suppose) is kind of the highlight of the trip for me!!

The views pulling out were amazing, we went up to top deck and enjoyed it so much.
**BUT the views coming back into port on that last very early morning while it was still dark and the city was lit up was breathtaking.
It must have been 5:00am and I went up still in my PJ's with a blanket, Then I nearly died when I saw all the other early risers up there too, should have taken the time to throw on some clothes!!!
You are going to enjoy it so much, have fun!

We had a port side room, so while we were getting ready for dinner we had a great view of Long Island and the Hamptons going out, we stood on our balcony just taking it all in, it was so calm and relaxing.

 

[dclpluto]

Oh my gosh, that's your restaurant?? I know I've read posts from you that mention that you have a restaurant, but wow! That's awesome! I live in north Phoenix. I hope the "winner" realizes it's a well-known restaurant here in the valley and that's a pretty sweet reward!

I have never been to Arizona. Maybe I need to go to get my free dinner.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Are you in the Gilbert or Chandler district? Both my kids are in Chandler and wife teaches in Chandler and they're off those 2 weeks.

I own Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa.

Our oldest is in Tempe Union/Kyrene. Our youngest is at a private school in Gilbert. They are on different break schedules for Fall and Spring Breaks and it is very sad as our older is a Junior and I want to make family memories before she leaves for college. Hard for her to miss a week of school with Honors and AP classes.

I need to come and have some of your pizza!! I have lived in the Valley for 37 years and have never been! How is that even possible??? My duaghter attended a very fun bday party there a year or so ago but hubby accompanied her. I am happy for you! Such an honor to be part of an iconic establishment in the Valley.

Also, regarding your username, did you use to bisit the Club Disney on Ray? I've always wondered about it and think of it each time I see your posts.

Have sooo much fun on your cruise! I am very jealous.

 

[truck1]

Little bit of site seeing info as the ship leaves the harbor.

On the port side, just past the southern end of Manhattan, is Governors Island. It used to be a Coast Guard facility until the mid 90s when the CG closed the base and scattered the assests there. It used to have its own ferry boats that ran back and forth next to the SI ferry terminal. You really cant see it unless you look right at it, but port side between GI and the tip of Manhattan, you might catch a glimpse of the Brooklyn Nay Yard. A lot of WWII ships were built and maintained there. You might be able to see the Brooklyn Bridge and the yard is right next to the bridge.

After the ship clears the Verrazano, also on the port side, is Coney Island, where every 4th of July, they have the Nathans Hot Dog eating contest. In the waters off of Coney Island, is where they usually have either the Blue Angels Thunderbirds or another aerial demonstration team will fly a show. I think its usually around either Memorial day or Fleet Week.

Stbd side, when you see the Statue of Liberty, just behind it is Ellis Island.

 

[ACDSNY]

Enjoying the info and looking forward to our trip. We may skip the dining room the first night.

 

[Ofinn]

Sailing in and out of the European ports the best view was deck 9 forward. Froze my you know what off, but the view was great.

 

[traveln4fun]

What time does the ship sail out? Since it's usually about 4:30 I thought we would have plenty of time to pass the main sights before our second seating dinner. Will we still be passing the main sights at that time? For anyone in the NY area, is there a market near the port for us to buy some bottles of water before entering the port? We will be using Disney transportation.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Our oldest is in Tempe Union/Kyrene. Our youngest is at a private school in Gilbert. They are on different break schedules for Fall and Spring Breaks and it is very sad as our older is a Junior and I want to make family memories before she leaves for college. Hard for her to miss a week of school with Honors and AP classes.

I need to come and have some of your pizza!! I have lived in the Valley for 37 years and have never been! How is that even possible??? My duaghter attended a very fun bday party there a year or so ago but hubby accompanied her. I am happy for you! Such an honor to be part of an iconic establishment in the Valley.

Also, regarding your username, did you use to bisit the Club Disney on Ray? I've always wondered about it and think of it each time I see your posts.

Have sooo much fun on your cruise! I am very jealous.

I actually was the Operations Manager for Club Disney the year it was open. Before I bought into Organ Stop I took a year off to work for Club Disney and is was a great learning opportunity. I loved it. I had the chance to transfer to Disneyland to be the Attractions Manager for the Monorail after the Club closed but my wife was 5 months pregnant with our first child and it just didn't work out for us. The GM of the Club transferred over there and just retired in May, she was running both DL and DCA, perhaps I should have made it work out all those years ago and followed in her footsteps! Oh well, I could still go work there if we ever sell the restaurant.

 

[Dug720]

Little bit of site seeing info as the ship leaves the harbor.

On the port side, just past the southern end of Manhattan, is Governors Island. It used to be a Coast Guard facility until the mid 90s when the CG closed the base and scattered the assests there. It used to have its own ferry boats that ran back and forth next to the SI ferry terminal. You really cant see it unless you look right at it, but port side between GI and the tip of Manhattan, you might catch a glimpse of the Brooklyn Nay Yard. A lot of WWII ships were built and maintained there. You might be able to see the Brooklyn Bridge and the yard is right next to the bridge.

After the ship clears the Verrazano, also on the port side, is Coney Island, where every 4th of July, they have the Nathans Hot Dog eating contest. In the waters off of Coney Island, is where they usually have either the Blue Angels Thunderbirds or another aerial demonstration team will fly a show. I think its usually around either Memorial day or Fleet Week.

Stbd side, when you see the Statue of Liberty, just behind it is Ellis Island.

Governor's Island does still have ferry boats when it is open - usually during the summer.

 

[clten]

What time does the ship sail out? Since it's usually about 4:30 I thought we would have plenty of time to pass the main sights before our second seating dinner. Will we still be passing the main sights at that time? For anyone in the NY area, is there a market near the port for us to buy some bottles of water before entering the port? We will be using Disney transportation.

I think actual sail away is closer to 5pm (the Sail Away deck party is listed for us at 4:15 - 5pm; party is usually over by time you actually start moving). It is a long way down from the pier to the bridge. In 2012 we were sitting up on the top deck sailing down the river and the crowds definitely dispersed for first seating dinner before we got to the Verrazano. But if you have second seating and want to be on deck all the way down, you will not miss dinner but you might miss the show.

As far as what's in the immediate area, I can't really recall. I'm sure there's a CVS or Duane Reed within a few blocks or some other small grocery. (We live in NJ so drive to the port and haven't needed to run in the port area for last minute things.)

 

[CherylA]

What time does the ship sail out? Since it's usually about 4:30 I thought we would have plenty of time to pass the main sights before our second seating dinner. Will we still be passing the main sights at that time? For anyone in the NY area, is there a market near the port for us to buy some bottles of water before entering the port? We will be using Disney transportation.

When we went out of NY for our Canada cruises we were 2nd seating both times. We were able to stay on deck for seeing and taking pictures of the statue of Liberty (I thought the view was pretty good!) then its a little while before you cross under the Verrazano and then we went to the show and after that changed for dinner. We didn't miss anything. Being on the top open decks when going under the Verrazano was really cool! I am second seating again for the Oct 22 Bahamas cruise and I'm going to try to do the same however I think its going to be a lot colder, and getting darker (6:05 sunset) than when we went to Canada in August and September! I think if I were first seating I would plan on going to dinner in whatever I was wearing to the sail away party so then you can go right down to dinner after the sights. There's not really much to see after the Verazzano as far as I can recall. Also bring binoculars if you have them it makes it a little more interesting.

 

[truck1]

Governor's Island does still have ferry boats when it is open - usually during the summer.

I think it runs year round. Theres a small high school on the Island. And a small organic farm out there. I think theres about 50-100 people out there year round. FDNY has a station out there that is permanently manned.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The bridge is the Verrazano. It connects Brooklyn and Staten Island. The reason that the ship moves fast under bridges is for the "squat effect" What happens is this. All ships have an airdraft, which is basically the height of the ship from the water line to the tallest point on the ship. Usually one of the masts or the light on top of the tallest point. Most ships are within feet of the height of the tallest parts of the bridge, and in place like NY Harbor, where the Hudson has a tide, that air draft of the bridge will vary. So what a ship will do is run up to full power and aim for the center of the bridge which is usually the tallest part of the bridge. When a ship passes thru a channel, it creates a suction effect. The faster a ship moves in a channel, the more suction, and the deeper in the water that a ship sits. So a ship tied to a pier, may have an air draft of say 190 feet. Running the channel, with a full load of fuel, full ballast and full speed, the ship will sit 6-10 feet deeper in the water. So that same 190' air draft, now becomes close to 180. When the bridge is say 192' Max clearance at mean high tide, that extra 6 feet comes in real handy, on the off chance that someones measurements were off.

So what speed does the ship actually attain as it crossed under Verrazano? Oh, and btw, which ship are we talking about that is doing this itinerary?

 

[truck1]

So what speed does the ship actually attain as it crossed under Verrazano? Oh, and btw, which ship are we talking about that is doing this itinerary?

The Magic and shell run at her maximum speed if needed. All depends on current, tide levels, etc. If its low tide, and the bridge has say a 200' clearance, and the Magic has say a 180' air draft, they'll take it slower. if the difference is less then 10', then they'll move faster.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The Magic and shell run at her maximum speed if needed. All depends on current, tide levels, etc. If its low tide, and the bridge has say a 200' clearance, and the Magic has say a 180' air draft, they'll take it slower. if the difference is less then 10', then they'll move faster.

Wow, top speed through that channel? That's about 25mph, for a ship that size, that close to land, that's really moving.

 

[truck1]

Wow, top speed through that channel? That's about 25mph, for a ship that size, that close to land, that's really moving.

It all depends. Sometimes its full speed, others its a more sedate 10 knots or so. Ill have to go back and look at the Magic's Air Draft, vs the air draft of the bridge. If you ever get a chance, watch the documentary on the Freedom of the Seas. They talk about it on the show. Basically the Freedom was launched and had to go back to drydock because of a bad azipod. Closest dd that could take her was in Germany. They talk about passing under a bridge similar to the Verranzano and the squat effect.

 

[truck1]

Wow, top speed through that channel? That's about 25mph, for a ship that size, that close to land, that's really moving.

If what I found is correct, the Verrazano has 228 of air draft, at mean high tide. The Magic class, as built in 98, are about 180. So they have plenty of room to get under with out using the squat effect. So shell prob come thru the bridge at a sedate 7-10 knots.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

This thread has become so much more than what I hoped for! Thank you so much to @truck1 @Dug720 @CherylA and all the others who have contributed to this, I can hardly wait for this cruise next year! Thanks again, this is why