Tell me about your NYC Bahamas cruise

[Carrie in AZ]

Would love that!!! Just look for the starry eyed grandmother with her husband and 2 year old granddaughter LOL!!! Can't wait to see our DGD see the characters and shows....last year when she was on the Fantasy we were with her parents and tons of other people and she liked it but this year I think she will LOVE it. This time hubby and I are taking her by ourselves!!!

MJ

Soooo fun!!! Treasured memories for sure! Our oldest DD was almost 2yo the first time we took her to DW...DH was holding her during the parade on our first night there. When she saw Mickey on his float coming toward us, she pointed and shouted out "Mickey!!" and we both started bawling! It was pure magic and perfect. Hoping you have lots of magical moments with your DGD.

I agree with our friend, Club Disney Chandler, come and see us during the winter. I think he knows of a fun place we can all meet up for pizza dinner!

 

[mmouse37]

You obviously have some fans here in AZ, maybe you need to take a trip here some winter so we can all meet you!

Too bad I didn't know you all when my son went to ASU!!!!! We were out there a few times back then! I would love to come back out that way...who knows...maybe when NY is covered in 2 ft of snow!!

MJ

 

[MaleficentRN]

Can anyone advise on CBP rules etc for documention for customs, out of port canaveral we have always just showed birth certificate for kids , I can't imagine it would be different out of NYC? I know the risks just want to understand options

If yours is a closed loop sailing, it would be the same.

 

[moosecrouse]

Not a Castaway Cay fan??

Just the opposite. Love it. My favorite cruise was a Double Dip on the Dream a couple of years ago?

 

[bbel]

Yes, in the terminal you are directed through a que then out the door of the terminal, then you walk outside the terminal a bit and then up a zig zag uphill gangway. There are people directing you.

Some pics of sailing down the Hudson (not in order)....sailing out of NY is just beautiful!

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MJ

Argh! You're killing me! I can see myself in the good old yellow in one of your pictures! This was one of my last cruises! I miss it so much!

 

[Dug720]

Just the opposite. Love it. My favorite cruise was a Double Dip on the Dream a couple of years ago?

Sorry. I was confused because you'd said only bad day was Castaway when you can dock. You meant can't?

 

[mmouse37]

Argh! You're killing me! I can see myself in the good old yellow in one of your pictures! This was one of my last cruises! I miss it so much!

So funny....you must know my friends Sam and Zach!!! Sam was out there and I was waving to him.

MJ

 

[Jennifer777]

DCL liquor rules are DCL liquor rules no matter where they are sailing from. Same rules will apply.
Check in was a much to be desired. When we arrived there was a customs form they were handing out that was not on the DCL website for you to fill out. So there were hundreds of people trying to balance on trash cans, wall, each other trying to fill out this form. Check in was almost TSA like. One person at a podium looking at your ID and then you go through the metal detector and xray your bags.
There was no signage for the Platinum/Concierge check in but I knew enough to ask. My parent however did not and they were directed to the regular line even thought they said they were sailing concierge. They stood in line for going on half an hour before I arrived and called my mother to see were they were. Not that huge of a deal except my father had had heart surgery four month prior and should not have been standing in a line like that! So they went to join us at the counter, but it was insisted they go to a different agent to check in even after I told them we are all in the same cabin. So then our agent had to keep running to the agent checking my parents in for whatever reason to do our check in. She then wanted the customs form we filled out earlier, only the TSA like podium person took it from us and they made us fill out another! I was hugely annoyed at this point. Check in had now taken three times as long as it had for me at PC. Also the terminal is much bigger I wish I had a wheel chair for my father as he was looking exhausted. Once we were on board, it was all good from there.
Can't help you with drive vs. stay over. Driving in on a weekend morning was easy peasy. If it was a weekday it might have felt different.

Since you sailed concierge I'm curious if you can tell me, was there a separate area in the terminal for concierge guests? I will be traveling out of NYC in 2018 with my mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and she gets overwhelmed in crowds and chaos pretty easily. I'm a little nervous reading about your experience. Any tips for us to limit the amount of time she's standing in line or in the middle of a crowd at the NYC port? We'll have passports since it's not a closed loop cruise and we won't be brining any alcohol on board. She won't have a carry on other than her purse.

 

[cscream13]

Since you sailed concierge I'm curious if you can tell me, was there a separate area in the terminal for concierge guests? I will be traveling out of NYC in 2018 with my mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and she gets overwhelmed in crowds and chaos pretty easily. I'm a little nervous reading about your experience. Any tips for us to limit the amount of time she's standing in line or in the middle of a crowd at the NYC port? We'll have passports since it's not a closed loop cruise and we won't be brining any alcohol on board. She won't have a carry on other than her purse.

If you show up later in the day, the port should be much less crowded. Most people seem to try to arrive early and get on the ship as soon as possible. I would think if you arrive at the port closer to 1 pm or so, it would be much less crowded as the early crowd will have cleared out and be boarded by then.

I don't know if it will help, but you might also want to contact DCL to see if they can offer any special accomodations.

 

[Jennifer777]

If you show up later in the day, the port should be much less crowded. Most people seem to try to arrive early and get on the ship as soon as possible. I would think if you arrive at the port closer to 1 pm or so, it would be much less crowded as the early crowd will have cleared out and be boarded by then.

I don't know if it will help, but you might also want to contact DCL to see if they can offer any special accomodations.

Thank you. I have thought about arriving later but all the hotels we're looking at seem to have checkout at 11am so if we're unable to secure a late checkout it might be a bit too difficult to hang around in the hotel lobby with all our luggage for 1.5 - 2 hours before heading to the port. If push comes to shove though this will be our plan. I am still hoping they will have some clear dedicated concierge lines for check in and a more private area away from the crowds for concierge guests to wait prior to boarding. After all, it would be nice to get on the ship and walk around before the upper deck gets too busy. I will call the special services line a month or two before we sail. Until then I really won't know what her needs will be as they are changing with each passing month. Thank you for your advice!

 

[msmama]

Since you sailed concierge I'm curious if you can tell me, was there a separate area in the terminal for concierge guests? I will be traveling out of NYC in 2018 with my mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and she gets overwhelmed in crowds and chaos pretty easily. I'm a little nervous reading about your experience. Any tips for us to limit the amount of time she's standing in line or in the middle of a crowd at the NYC port? We'll have passports since it's not a closed loop cruise and we won't be brining any alcohol on board. She won't have a carry on other than her purse.

I didn't go in it, but last Oct there was a separate room. It wasn't completely closed off (it had a double sized door if not laeger) and I have no idea how crowded it was, but there was one. The terminal for VERY crowded but our boarding was delayed if I remember correctly.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Thank you. I have thought about arriving later but all the hotels we're looking at seem to have checkout at 11am so if we're unable to secure a late checkout it might be a bit too difficult to hang around in the hotel lobby with all our luggage for 1.5 - 2 hours before heading to the port. If push comes to shove though this will be our plan. I am still hoping they will have some clear dedicated concierge lines for check in and a more private area away from the crowds for concierge guests to wait prior to boarding. After all, it would be nice to get on the ship and walk around before the upper deck gets too busy. I will call the special services line a month or two before we sail. Until then I really won't know what her needs will be as they are changing with each passing month. Thank you for your advice!

My kids and I arrived about 11 am and we basically walked to a counter and then boarded right after a unusually lengthy check in, so we never went to a concierge waiting area. My parents arrived before us and were misdirected (I did tell them there was a concierge line and they asked about it and were still sent to the general line and then told me there was none even when I insisted there was. Ug!) I think if you leave your hotel at 11 am you should be fine.
You know for sure there will be a dedicated concierge check in. The staff should be more comfortable with check in since there has not been a four year long stretch since DCL sailed from that port so hopefully not a lot of standing at the counter. Just be aware the terminal is much larger than Port Canaveral and there will be more walking. Also, the concierge lounge is a little smaller and was crowded when we arrived. It wasn't quite noon yet but my father was not looking well at all so I discreetly asked if our cabins were ready. I was told yes, so we just went there and I did they whole concierge meet and greet a couple of hours later. You may want to consider doing that with your mother.

 

[Jennifer777]

My kids and I arrived about 11 am and we basically walked to a counter and then boarded right after a unusually lengthy check in, so we never went to a concierge waiting area. My parents arrived before us and were misdirected (I did tell them there was a concierge line and they asked about it and were still sent to the general line and then told me there was none even when I insisted there was. Ug!) I think if you leave your hotel at 11 am you should be fine.
You know for sure there will be a dedicated concierge check in. The staff should be more comfortable with check in since there has not been a four year long stretch since DCL sailed from that port so hopefully not a lot of standing at the counter. Just be aware the terminal is much larger than Port Canaveral and there will be more walking. Also, the concierge lounge is a little smaller and was crowded when we arrived. It wasn't quite noon yet but my father was not looking well at all so I discreetly asked if our cabins were ready. I was told yes, so we just went there and I did they whole concierge meet and greet a couple of hours later. You may want to consider doing that with your mother.

This was very helpful. Thank you for the information and advice! We'll be sure to attend the concierge meet and greet reception and we'll skip the sail away party and watch the Statue of Liberty from our balcony as we sail out of NYC instead. Hoping our room is ready earlier than normal too. I'm glad everything worked out ok with your Dad after the rocky start.

 

[party-of-five]

Would love that!!! Just look for the starry eyed grandmother with her husband and 2 year old granddaughter LOL!!! Can't wait to see our DGD see the characters and shows....last year when she was on the Fantasy we were with her parents and tons of other people and she liked it but this year I think she will LOVE it. This time hubby and I are taking her by ourselves!!!

MJ

Just want to say... you are the best grandmother EVER! Hope you enjoy every minute of your cruise!

 

[mmouse37]

Just want to say... you are the best grandmother EVER! Hope you enjoy every minute of your cruise!

Why thank you....that is so sweet of you to say.

MJ

 

[elvispursley]

I would also suggest getting up super early on the morning you pull back into NY. Gorgeous views of NYC and the Statue of Liberty as you pass! Grab some coffee/tea/hot chocolate! Well worth the early wake up!

While DH and I are not on this particular cruise (we are on the WBTA this Sept) we plan to do exactly this!! Although DH was disappointed that we'll have to get up super early to see the Lady Liberty as we arrive, I told him it would totally be worth it!! But having never sailed into NY before, which side of the ship will she be on: port or starboard? We'd like to not have to get dressed and just stay in our PJs and take pictures from our verandah. But if she's on the opposite side, we'll be happy to get dressed and walk up to the top deck!

 

[bbel]

While DH and I are not on this particular cruise (we are on the WBTA this Sept) we plan to do exactly this!! Although DH was disappointed that we'll have to get up super early to see the Lady Liberty as we arrive, I told him it would totally be worth it!! But having never sailed into NY before, which side of the ship will she be on: port or starboard? We'd like to not have to get dressed and just stay in our PJs and take pictures from our verandah. But if she's on the opposite side, we'll be happy to get dressed and walk up to the top deck!

Pretty sure she's on the Port-side coming into NY, although I just had a complete mental block on Port and Starboard.

This was taken coming in at around 4am at the end of the TA. Its so worth it!

 

[elvispursley]

Oh great!! Thank you so much!! We typically book on starboard (for the whole CC views) but are on the port side for this cruise! This is definitely one of the sights we are most looking forward to!

Would love to book the NYC to Bahamas cruise in the near-future, it sounds like a lot of fun!!

 

[Mrs. M]

While DH and I are not on this particular cruise (we are on the WBTA this Sept) we plan to do exactly this!! Although DH was disappointed that we'll have to get up super early to see the Lady Liberty as we arrive, I told him it would totally be worth it!! But having never sailed into NY before, which side of the ship will she be on: port or starboard? We'd like to not have to get dressed and just stay in our PJs and take pictures from our verandah. But if she's on the opposite side, we'll be happy to get dressed and walk up to the top deck!

I can't remember which side is port and which side is starboard either....all I know is that as the Magic was sailing into NY...Lady Liberty was on the left. And...there were plenty of people up on deck in their PJ's...myself included! Grabbed some hot chocolate and was good to go!

 

[olafLover]

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