Which NY airport ---How to transfer to port?

[NC State Tigger]

I've booked a very last minute trip on Sept 7 cruise out of NY. Need to book flight out of either Dulles or Baltimore to one of the NY city airports---have never flown in or out of NY before.
Looking at Southwest--fares look good and free bags a plus.

DCL has transfers from JFK or Laguardia or Newark. Should I book Disney transfers? There are 2 of us traveling. Would there be a better way to get to the port?

Any advise would be appreciated. Need to book in the next day or two.

TIA

 

[tiggerwannabe]

NY can be crazy for the unfamiliar, yes, I would use DCL transfers.

 

[annjustann]

I've booked a very last minute trip on Sept 7 cruise out of NY. Need to book flight out of either Dulles or Baltimore to one of the NY city airports---have never flown in or out of NY before.
Looking at Southwest--fares look good and free bags a plus.

DCL has transfers from JFK or Laguardia or Newark. Should I book Disney transfers? There are 2 of us traveling. Would there be a better way to get to the port?

Any advise would be appreciated. Need to book in the next day or two.

TIA

LaGuardia is the closest airport to the dock. I'm a native NYer-born and raised in the city, and even I would do the DCL transfers. They take care of everything and you won't have to worry about luggage and cabs.

 

[annjustann]

LaGuardia is the closest airport to the dock. I'm a native NYer-born and raised in the city, and even I would do the DCL transfers. They take care of everything and you won't have to worry about luggage and cabs.

P.S. a cab from Laguardia to the dock would probably be about $50 plus tip. More from JFK. And I would never go to Newark! ( that's the NYer in me talking!)

 

[pxlbarrel]

Ok, I'm hijacking this thread (from Newark no less!)

We're staying at a Newark hotel the evening before, using a fly and park rate. I'm trying to figure out whether or not to book a car service (and if so, who is reliable) or to do the DCL transfers. There are 3 of us so it's a little pricer doing the transfers but could be less stressful and we trust DCL to get us to the ship.

So has anybody used the transfers from the airport and back that can enlighten me on how it works. I've never used the DCL transfers before... how do they pick you up in Newark and on the way back, what time do they get us off the ship? We're not flying but we have a 9 hour drive home and we'd like to get off the boat by 9 at the latest.

Can anybody tell me what happens at the airport? Do they meet you? Is there a meet up place?

And before somebody suggests this... I'm travelling with elderly parents who do not want to take a train or bus into the city. It'll be hard enough convincing them to take the 5 minute hotel shuttle to the airport and back.

 

[slg]

I've never been to NY before but we didn't book anything. It was so easy to get a cab. You just walk outside and there is a taxi stop and someone that helps you if you have a large group (we had 5) or have a wheelchair. It took seconds, is a set fee that you agree on before you get in the cab...$40 from La Guardia to Times Square area which is five minutes to port.

We also took a taxi from our hotel to the port and it was so easy. Don't bother prebooking or using DCL. Taxis in New York couldn't be easier. And this is from someone who has never flagged a taxi or arrived anywhere without a prebooked transport.

If you want to ask anymore detailed questions, ask away. Honestly, don't be afraid to use the cabs. They are the fastest, cheapest and most convenient way to do it, and there are lots of van taxis and 4x4 taxis with plenty of luggage space.

We had a great NY cruise. July 20--28 with 10 days in NY before. Need to update my signature.

 

[AshleyD1983]

Definitely fly into La Guardia. It is a more convenient location and a more time efficient airport in my opinion. Also definitely use the DCL transfer service. It just makes life so much easier. The less to worry about the better.

 

[Disneygal19]

Use DCL transfers but I would fly into JFK I hate laguardia I think it's a dirty horrible airport I never fly in or out of there anymore each time was a terrible experience

 

[slg]

The DCL transfers are $36 each and it would have cost us $180. I spent $40+ $8 tip= $48. It was unbelievably easy. And they drop you at the same location at the port that the bus does. As soon as you get out of the taxi, there are porters that take your luggage immediately onto the boat. No fuss, no muss.

 

[gometros]

P.S. a cab from Laguardia to the dock would probably be about $50 plus tip. More from JFK. And I would never go to Newark! ( that's the NYer in me talking!)

See now, I would never fly in LaGuardia. That airport scares the heck out of me. There's a reason the cheapest flights are in and out of LaGuardia. It was an airport built for 1930s air traffic and the runways are just long enough to handle today's airplanes. I think Newark gets a bad rap. It's easy to get in and out of and there are multiple transportation options to the city, including NJ Transit. While distance wise, LaGuardia may be closer, public transportation-wise, Newark is the closest.

 

[TPBChick]

I am also going on the Sept 7th cruise. I am flying from BWI to Newark and booked the Disney transfers. My cruise documents say that someone will meet me at baggage in Newark.

 

[MoxieandPixie]

I'm a NYer and did the 6/2 NY cruise. I think the DCL transfers are overpriced for this. If there is just two of you and not too much luggage, grab a cab at the airport. If you want to prearrange one, call Ollie's Taxi or SuperShuttle.

 

[DL1957]

I've booked a very last minute trip on Sept 7 cruise out of NY. Need to book flight out of either Dulles or Baltimore to one of the NY city airports---have never flown in or out of NY before.
Looking at Southwest--fares look good and free bags a plus.

DCL has transfers from JFK or Laguardia or Newark. Should I book Disney transfers? There are 2 of us traveling. Would there be a better way to get to the port?

Any advise would be appreciated. Need to book in the next day or two.

TIA

You may want to take the train. We are coming from Williamsburg for the same cruise and going out of Richmond on the train. You can take a cab from Penn Station to the port and save a lot of grief dealing with the airports. Come join our meet thread. DH and 3 BFFs and I are on this cruise!

 

[grantclaire]

We were on the July 8 cruise. Flew into Newark and took the DCL transfer to the port. As we were the only group, we were put on a private contracted van, was not the best looking vehicle, got to the port quick from Newark but for the price we could have taken a town car. There was 4 of us. There was a Disney rep at the airport to meet us as well.

 

[disneylove69]

I am on the Sept. 2nd cruise and Super Shuttle for two was like $30-$35 for first person and $10 for second. We are flying out of LaGuardia.

 

[lady9]

We were on the Aug. 5 sailing. We flew into LGA and was met by a very nice DCL rep who called the van for us. It was a horrible experience after that. The van was dirty, smelled like cigarette smoke, and had exactly 2 seat belts in 12 seats! We put the kids in the belts and hoped for the best for us. The driver drove very erratic, but we thought that was how it was in NY. Because we had an earlier than recommended flight out of LGA we used a car service to go from the port to LGA. We used Dial 7. We did have a reservation prior to the cruise. We asked to be picked up at 8:15. The driver called at 7:50 and said he was there. We left the ship and walked straight out to the street level. We called the drive, gave our description, and he was there in 5 minutes. The van was clean, smoke free, had seat belts, and we felt safe with the driver. A much better experience and half the price of Disney including the tip!

 

[slg]

Or just walk off the cruise and grab a taxi. They are right there and you can leave whenever you wish. Its actually super easy.

DCL is very outrageous. We booked a post cruise excursion with transfers because we had a late flight. Original price was $129 but because they only had 7 they charged $179. There were 5 of us and the tour was a bust. It was only a couple of hours long, we went to top of the rock and it was foggy and you could barely see your own hand. Too expensive. Wish we'd just taken a cab.

 

[pxlbarrel]

We were on the Aug. 5 sailing. We flew into LGA and was met by a very nice DCL rep who called the van for us. It was a horrible experience after that. The van was dirty, smelled like cigarette smoke, and had exactly 2 seat belts in 12 seats! We put the kids in the belts and hoped for the best for us. The driver drove very erratic, but we thought that was how it was in NY. Because we had an earlier than recommended flight out of LGA we used a car service to go from the port to LGA. We used Dial 7. We did have a reservation prior to the cruise. We asked to be picked up at 8:15. The driver called at 7:50 and said he was there. We left the ship and walked straight out to the street level. We called the drive, gave our description, and he was there in 5 minutes. The van was clean, smoke free, had seat belts, and we felt safe with the driver. A much better experience and half the price of Disney including the tip!

Ewwww.... ok, that convinced me. I'll try Dial 7 for to and from Newark.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

FORGET THE PLANE!

take the TRAIN.

I would ride up the night before into Manhattan and get a room for the night and then in the morning a cab from your hotel to the pier!

AKK

 

[kathi]

We just booked the September 7th cruise. We live near Philly (in NJ). We will either drive to the port or take the train to Penn Station.

Any thought on driving? (We are pretty used to driving in horrific traffic and in cities.) I would like to make it as painless as possible.