Tell me about your NYC Bahamas cruise

[mmouse37]

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.

There definitely was a room off the main concourse of the terminal that they had for concierge guests. Mind you it was not a huge room from what I could see and though I did not go in (didn't travel concierge) it looked like just some chairs set up. But, it was a separate area.

I would also suggest arriving later or even just waiting closer to the front (street end) of the terminal. There were plenty of empty sets of chairs that we had to pass before we got down to the end of the terminal where DCL was set up. You would of course have to check in down there but then you could walk back and get seats out of the throng of people.

The terminal is very long. You enter at one end and have to walk down the whole terminal to the other end to check in.

You can see from the aerial photo (at link below) how long the terminal is.

Here is a link that shows some photos of the terminal.

https://www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

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!

Easier way to remember...while facing forward (toward front of the ship)

Port = left (each word has 4 letters)
Starboard = right

Leaving NYC down the Hudson SOL is on your Starboard side. Coming back into NYC up the Hudson SOL will be on your Port side.

Empire State Building and Freedom Tower are on your Port side leaving NYC and will be on your Starboard side coming back into NYC.

MJ

 

[elvispursley]

That's exactly how I remember port and starboard!

Ok, I may be sold to head up on deck for hot chocolate in my pj's to see the Statue of Liberty! I'll just have to pack "appropriate" pj's

Do they make an announcement the night before for what time they will be entering the harbor so you have an idea what time to aim to stumble out of bed by?

 

[Mrs. M]

That's exactly how I remember port and starboard!

Ok, I may be sold to head up on deck for hot chocolate in my pj's to see the Statue of Liberty! I'll just have to pack "appropriate" pj's

Do they make an announcement the night before for what time they will be entering the harbor so you have an idea what time to aim to stumble out of bed by?

Luckily we planned it so we slept in what we were wearing home since all of our luggage had to be outside our doors the night before. We all just wore sweats and tshirts...so I was good to go!

They do make announcements the night before as to what time they are expecting to be in the area. I just set the alarm on my phone and stumbled out of bed and grabbed my camera and stumbled up on deck!

 

[elvispursley]

Oh perfect!! I may just sleep in my DCL track suit...comfy for sleep and laying home in!! Would be nice if DCL gets some new inventory--wasn't that impressed with the leisure-wear last year...but I digress

 

[olafLover]

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[Cackyschmackers]

I'm so excited --we did it; We booked this NYC Bahamas WDW cruise for November 2018! Way so out of our price range but seems like a great opportunity; we are so excited to drive to the Port Terminal in Manhattan (actually, we are taking a train) and sail to CC and go to WDW for the day!! The only very sad thing is that we couldn't afford the verandah room... there are four at sea days (but since it's in November maybe two will be chilly) so we will have to find places outside on deck to hang at! So excited!!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I'm so excited --we did it; We booked this NYC Bahamas WDW cruise for November 2018! Way so out of our price range but seems like a great opportunity; we are so excited to drive to the Port Terminal in Manhattan (actually, we are taking a train) and sail to CC and go to WDW for the day!! The only very sad thing is that we couldn't afford the verandah room... there are four at sea days (but since it's in November maybe two will be chilly) so we will have to find places outside on deck to hang at! So excited!!

Congrats! Taking the train into NYC will be great (except for all the luggage, LOL). Very exciting!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Congrats! Taking the train into NYC will be great (except for all the luggage, LOL). Very exciting!

THANK YOU!! We've been honing our "light packing" skills lately, so we'll see if we can pull it off!! So happy to be back on board our favorite ship, the Magic, as well!!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Was just thinking about extra expenses we would incur on this cruise, since we'll be spending at day at WDW. We always spend so much $$$ on food there. I was thinking maybe we could pack food of some sort (I heard DCL used to offer packaged lunches from room service but not sure if that is allowed off the ship or offered any more). Then I just realized we could use our Disney Reward Dollars we earn from our Disney Visa; whew! I kind of stop using that card after we cruise since I don't want to earn too many dollars we won't need but glad I realized we can use a few more.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Was just thinking about extra expenses we would incur on this cruise, since we'll be spending at day at WDW. We always spend so much $$$ on food there. I was thinking maybe we could pack food of some sort (I heard DCL used to offer packaged lunches from room service but not sure if that is allowed off the ship or offered any more). Then I just realized we could use our Disney Reward Dollars we earn from our Disney Visa; whew! I kind of stop using that card after we cruise since I don't want to earn too many dollars we won't need but glad I realized we can use a few more.

This is probably the least costly DCL cruise in terms of extra expense. Unless you want to do excursions at CC all you'll have to pay is for food at WDW. This is excluding any shopping of course, but that's discretionary. And I've checked the rates all year round, and you don't get a 7 nighter much cheaper on DCL than this one.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Does anyone know how the dining rotation works on this one? I was thinking since most people will be at WDW during dinner, this would be a perfect one for a 6 rotation and that way it works out perfect for the 3 dining rooms. On the WDW day they could just do the buffet and a designated dining room like they do for breakfast or lunch.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

This is probably the least costly DCL cruise in terms of extra expense. Unless you want to do excursions at CC all you'll have to pay is for food at WDW. This is excluding any shopping of course, but that's discretionary. And I've checked the rates all year round, and you don't get a 7 nighter much cheaper on DCL than this one.

I'm not sure where you're checking but this is a VERY expensive cruise by far when comparing 7nts out of the other domestic ports (not sure about west coast) vs out of NYC. I.could fly to MCO and get on the fantasy 7 nt or dream 3/4 night and the extra airfare still doesnt make my entire costs higher than this cruise.

Anyhow, I'm adding up our standard expenses, which are gratuities, photos, rentals at CC, adult drinks/dining and now adding in WDW dining. I just want to estimate well without going over bc I don't want to have too many rewards dollars left over.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I'm not sure where you're checking but this is a VERY expensive cruise by far when comparing 7nts out of the other domestic ports (not sure about west coast) vs out of NYC. I.could fly to MCO and get on the fantasy 7 nt or dream 3/4 night and the extra airfare still doesnt make my entire costs higher than this cruise.

Anyhow, I'm adding up our standard expenses, which are gratuities, photos, rentals at CC, adult drinks/dining and now adding in WDW dining. I just want to estimate well without going over bc I don't want to have too many rewards dollars left over.

Well in fairness I did not search all the 2018 rates, but I did go through week by week in 2017, so maybe things changed. This one does seem to have become a popular cruise.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Well in fairness I did not search all the 2018 rates, but I did go through week by week in 2017, so maybe things changed. This one does seem to have become a popular cruise.

The 2018 rates are higher than the 2017, that's true. Also the opening day rates were quite high, maybe because it's near Thanksgiving. I think it's also Jersey Week. It's the most we've ever paid and we're not even having a verandah.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The 2018 rates are higher than the 2017, that's true. Also the opening day rates were quite high, maybe because it's near Thanksgiving. I think it's also Jersey Week. It's the most we've ever paid and we're not even having a verandah.

That could be, as I recall the Oct rates were lower, so maybe that's it. The ones around the holidays were definitely more.