Breakaway Boarding and Departure

Heading out on Breakaway on the 13th with family and friends. First NCL, first Manhattan cruise. As I'm driving down from Massachusetts, I want to time it well.

What time do they generally start boarding?

If I'm not totally obsessed with being on board as early as possible, what time would you suggest arriving to have the smoothest boarding process?

What time are the staterooms generally opened?

Thanks in advance!

Boarding usually starts around 11-11:30 am. You will sail through check-in and embarkation if you arrive around 12:30 after the early birds have all gotten onboard. :-)

Early birds start 9:30 getting there

Heading out on Breakaway on the 13th with family and friends. First NCL, first Manhattan cruise. As I'm driving down from Massachusetts, I want to time it well.

 

What time do they generally start boarding?

 

If I'm not totally obsessed with being on board as early as possible, what time would you suggest arriving to have the smoothest boarding process?

 

What time are the staterooms generally opened?

 

Thanks in advance!

If you are parking at the Pier, you want to guarantee you get your spot. I always get there around 10 am and never had problems parking, embarkation could start around 11:30 am and staterooms would be open around 1 pm.

Boarding is done by groups, Pax with disabilities, Haven, Platinum and Casino Guests and then after in the order you checked in.

I'd suggest you get there early, park your car, get in line to check in, and then go and enjoy the city for a while, Pier is just few blocks away from Broadway and Times Square, and then be back on the Ship around 1:30 pm and you will go just straight onboard because you have a low group number that had been called already, so you can just go ahead with no waiting at all.

Happy sailings.

I don't know if you can leave the terminal after you check in. You have to go through security and then check in. You would probably have to go thru security twice. We have taken several trips out of NYC. We usually arrive around 10:30. Through Security and check in pretty quickly. Usually on the ship around 11:30. We walk around a bit and at noon go to the dining room, have a nice lunch and by the time we finish we can usually get in to our room.

If you are parking at the Pier, you want to guarantee you get your spot. I always get there around 10 am and never had problems parking

Well that's a little unsettling! I hadn't even CONSIDERED not getting a spot. Can anyone report on this? Does the lot fill up? People actually get turned away?

We have parked there several times and there were always plenty of spaces. I have never seen a post where someone was turned away.

 

Boarding is done by groups, Pax with disabilities, Haven, Platinum and Casino Guests and then after in the order you checked in.

.

Are you sure that disabilities get priority boarding? I called NCL and they told me wheelchair assist gets boarded when their number is called. My mom needs wheelchair assist and we are not sure when to arrive at pier.

Thanks

Both the Breakaway & Gem used MCT's Pier 88 with rooftop parking for vehicles directly above, there hasn't been any reports of anyone unable to get a spot to park lately (if ever) - next door is Pier 90 and that rooftop parking lot is never more than 25% full; and, available to use as spillover parking. There's more parking on top of Pier 92 - just relax & go with the flow.

As you make your way toward security to start check-in, just alert one of the greeters that you wish to use wheelchair assist. Most recently sailed the Gem, there're NCL crew members with transport wheelchairs ready to roll and serve as escort.

Once you get thru security & finish check-in, you should be directed to a waiting area for guests with "special needs" for early boarding ... which typically followed Haven, VIP (wedding parties, "special" day guests, etc.) - then, those in wheelchairs will board. Platinum/Plus will be called next, casino guests now seemed to followed or after Platinum guests.

Staging area seemed to be in AFT (far end) of the cruise terminal and access ramp for boarding with the AFT ramps/gangways to board the ship.

I don't know if you can leave the terminal after you check in. You have to go through security and then check in. You would probably have to go thru security twice. We have taken several trips out of NYC. We usually arrive around 10:30. Through Security and check in pretty quickly. Usually on the ship around 11:30. We walk around a bit and at noon go to the dining room, have a nice lunch and by the time we finish we can usually get in to our room.

 

Yes you can, even at the airports you can, just have to go back thru security, which at the Port is a 2 minutes line, no big deal. Just remember to bring your Passport and eDocs because you will need to show them again.

 

 

Both the Breakaway & Gem used MCT's Pier 88 with rooftop parking for vehicles directly above, there hasn't been any reports of anyone unable to get a spot to park lately (if ever) - next door is Pier 90 and that rooftop parking lot is never more than 25% full; and, available to use as spillover parking. There's more parking on top of Pier 92 - just relax & go with the flow.

That is true, but you also need to consider the port schedule, https://www.nycruise.com/schedule/

 

Carnival Sunshine will be leaving 8/10 and returning 8/20, The Gem will be leaving 8/12 and returning 8/19 and the OP is on the Breakaway leaving 8/13 and returning 8/20.

 

Summer is usually a busy schedule for the Manhattan Port, plus they are usually other ships visiting that do not need parking but they use the Berths. Last year we left July 1, and other visiting ship was in port overnight using 88 so the BA had to port on the other Berth, 90, the one that the Gem had ported the day before, so that parking was full, we were directed to park on Pier 88 and walk all the way to 90. the silver lining was that when we returned sunday, be ported at 88 were our car was.

yes is true, you might not get turn around for parking but you never know how many cars will be parking there, so for me is better to get there early and be safe.

Summer is usually a busy schedule for the Manhattan Port, plus they are usually other ships visiting that do not need parking but they use the Berths. Last year we left July 1, and other visiting ship was in port overnight using 88 so the BA had to port on the other Berth, 90, the one that the Gem had ported the day before, so that parking was full, we were directed to park on Pier 88 and walk all the way to 90. the silver lining was that when we returned sunday, be ported at 88 were our car was.

yes is true, you might not get turn around for parking but you never know how many cars will be parking there, so for me is better to get there early and be safe.

teseo, these are of course perfectly valid points. But I personally am not concerned about having to walk a bit. So the real question is simply are there ANY reports of someone NOT being able to park AT ALL? I have no interest with our schedule to "get there early". If there is a genuine track record of people being turned away after a certain time, I'll change my plans accordingly. I get you're desire to play it safe. And I will do that IF there is a real possibility of striking out. Have you or anyone ever heard of people being turned away from parking altogether at MCT?

There has been no reports on the East Coast forum that someone was unable to park and turned away, AFAIK, for recent years. Pier 90 is at 40% capacity ? and Pier 92 parking is seldom used and 5 to 10 % filled at most.

These 2 pix taken when we sailed on the Splendor in 2013 using Pier 90, Breakaway was docked at Pier 88

on AT&T 4G, T-Mo/Project Fi or WiFi via Blu R1HD w Tapatalk, VPN secured.

Well that's a little unsettling! I hadn't even CONSIDERED not getting a spot. Can anyone report on this? Does the lot fill up? People actually get turned away?

Lot doesn't fill up

That said...driving from MA I wouldn't worry about being an early bird I would worry about the unexpected and this is no joke

The Hutchinson river pky was stopped both ways today for hours which of course caused the cross Westchester and 684 to have some spillover. And let's not even discuss the problems on 95 or the cross Bronx and the good old west side highway has issues as well

Get there by 10am seriously don't try to cut this close but I'm thinking that you probably are perhaps 150 miles or less away? This is NOT a 3 hour ride although you could get lucky but I wouldn't count on it

Either way if I were driving in from MA on the morning of the cruise I'd be on the road by 6am latest.

Heck I live 20 miles north of NYC and it takes an hour. We leave home by 9:30 always

Also we always have plan B at the ready which is metro north to NYC and taxi to port or in the winter a hotel in NYC the night before but that is only if there is a storm

All you need is a fender bender on the west side highway and you are negotiating the streets of way upper Manhattan and that gives even seasoned NYC drivers the hives.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

teseo, these are of course perfectly valid points. But I personally am not concerned about having to walk a bit. So the real question is simply are there ANY reports of someone NOT being able to park AT ALL? I have no interest with our schedule to "get there early". If there is a genuine track record of people being turned away after a certain time, I'll change my plans accordingly. I get you're desire to play it safe. And I will do that IF there is a real possibility of striking out. Have you or anyone ever heard of people being turned away from parking altogether at MCT?

I'm just wondering what time you are planning to get there? What is early to you? Noon? 10am?

The later you get into NYC the riskier the traffic is.

You post that it's your 1st cruise out of NYC so let me give you some very sage advice....don't be stubborn...just get there by 10am and hope for the best with traffic and yes you may sail right on down the highways...or you might not

Btw all aboard is 2 hours before sail away

So that's what? 3pm?

Again hope for the best with traffic but plan for the worst. Trust me

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for the input. Just to be clear, this IS my first cruise from New York. However, I am hardly a stranger to the city or the drive from Massachusetts, as I've done that countless times a year since I was a teen. And as far as not getting there early, I'm not trying to drag my feet, and I wouldn't be surprised if we end up there at 10 or shortly thereafter. I was just surprised to hear some comments about getting there early to make sure there was parking. Clearly this is an overabundance of caution and doesn't need to factor into the equation. Thanks again!

Parking will be fine. We were there during fleet week, I think we were directed to pier 90 to park (but docked at 88 when we got back). It was a very short walk. We arrived before 10, and it took close to 1 1/2 hours to get through security and check in.

My dd's best friend has a beach house on Cape Cod, and she goes up there a lot. It always takes at least an hour longer to get home than expected.

ok so as long as we get there by 10 ish, we will get a spot? i know it isn't guaranteed but it is very likely? its about the same cost for us to drive or park from Hudson Valley. I am more concerned about what time to tell the car for disembarkation. its confusing for a first timer!

You will get a spot. Everybody gets a spot. 10 or noon or 2pm. You will get a spot

They fill the first lot....they fill the second lot...they use the driveways...

The lot is then securely locked up until you return

It's very safe

Very easy

Very convenient

That said...I still get there by 10...I check in...I wait about an hour....and then I start my vacay !!!!

Fwiw....the main reason to get there on the early side is so you have the entire embarkation day to enjoy the ship...the restaurant...the buffet....the pool.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You will get a spot. Everybody gets a spot. 10 or noon or 2pm. You will get a spot

 

They fill the first lot....they fill the second lot...they use the driveways...

 

The lot is then securely locked up until you return

 

It's very safe

Very easy

Very convenient

 

That said...I still get there by 10...I check in...I wait about an hour....and then I start my vacay !!!!

 

Fwiw....the main reason to get there on the early side is so you have the entire embarkation day to enjoy the ship...the restaurant...the buffet....the pool.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was having a momentary panic. Am okay now. ;p