Non-local with New Jersey Port Questions

Hi,

We are from Australia so need your local knowledge.

Planning to be in Washington DC before our cruise that leaves from New Jersey. Is it possible to catch a train from DC to (near) the Port? Can it be done on the day of the cruise or better to do the day before?

Then, how easy is it to get to JFK from New Jersey Port (evening flight). Does Royal Caribbean do a group transfer? Or do I book a private shuttle?

Thanks :)

On our Vision OTS debarkation NewJersey they offer NY drive thru with JFK airport transfer at $99. Unfortunately it is much too early for us as our flight leaves at 9pm.

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Hi,

We are from Australia so need your local knowledge.

Planning to be in Washington DC before our cruise that leaves from New Jersey. Is it possible to catch a train from DC to (near) the Port? Can it be done on the day of the cruise or better to do the day before?

Then, how easy is it to get to JFK from New Jersey Port (evening flight). Does Royal Caribbean do a group transfer? Or do I book a private shuttle?

Thanks :)

What are your exact dates? Number of people? Hotel budget? The high level strategy would be to take the train (Amtrak) up the late afternoon/evening the day before, stay in a Newark Airport hotel, and take a cab/car service/Uber to the port the morning of the cruise.

What time is your flight from JFK? JFK is not at all a convenient airport and your options are limited. A group transfer with tour would be the most convenient, but might leave you with lots of time to kill at JFK.

2 adults, 2 children on a Saturday in April 2018. We have a reasonably flexible budget. Our flight to Australia leaves at 6.00pm. Dont mind if we have to kill some time at JFK. Would rather be there too early than stress about being late.

2 adults, 2 children on a Saturday in April 2018. We have a reasonably flexible budget. Our flight to Australia leaves at 6.00pm. Dont mind if we have to kill some time at JFK. Would rather be there too early than stress about being late.

Need to know exact dates to look at Amtrak schedule and hotels. What ages are the children?

Your choices on debarkation are to take a car service like Dial7 or Carmellimo directly to JFK or to book the RCL excursion with drop off at JFK. With 4 people it's probably not cost effective to get to the local train to go to New York Penn Station to transfer to the Long Island Railroad to the Jamaica Station to the JFK Airtrain.

7th April cruise departs New Jersey. 14th April to JFK from cruise terminal. Children are 10 and 7

Thanks for your help i really appreciate it.

Amtrak Northeast regional fare is $162 for nonrefundable saver tickets. This is an excellent price for 4 people, but the tickets have to be bought well ahead of time because they sell out.

For a hotel at the airport look at Country Inns and Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ. You can buy transportation to the port for $17.50 or $20/pp one way. If these hotels don't suit, post back.

The Embassy Suites look like a great choice. Especially as it is right next to a shopping mall.

What do you think of the Hilton Penn Station? Is this the station we would get off the train??

The Embassy Suites look like a great choice. Especially as it is right next to a shopping mall.

 

What do you think of the Hilton Penn Station? Is this the station we would get off the train??

No. That is Newark Penn Station. If you stay at the Hilton Penn Station you are in the highly urban downtown Newark without a mall and nearby chain restaurants. You would have to arrange your own transportation to the port.

For Embassy Suites or Country Inns you get off at Newark airport station (no vehicle access) and take the Airtrain one stop to the P4 station to connect with the free hotel shuttle.

Amtrak Northeast regional fare is $162 for nonrefundable saver tickets. This is an excellent price for 4 people, but the tickets have to be bought well ahead of time because they sell out.

 

For a hotel at the airport look at Country Inns and Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ. You can buy transportation to the port for $17.50 or $20/pp one way. If these hotels don't suit, post back.

Just to emphasize one of Carol's points, for the afternoon of April 6, 3 of the 6 Northeast Regional trains are already sold out of the nonrefundable saver tickets. You can apply the fare to another train within a year if you cancel, but that appears to be a popular weekend, and you should consider booking the train sooner rather than later.

If you're a family of four and not used to Amtrak, I'd highly suggest requesting a porter (Red Cap) in Washington; they'll generally escort you to the train early and make your life much simpler. I'd probably give a $10 tip for four of you.

The Embassy Suites look like a great choice. Especially as it is right next to a shopping mall.

 

What do you think of the Hilton Penn Station? Is this the station we would get off the train??

The Hilton Penn Station is across from Newark Penn Station. There are trains that will get you there. Transportation is available(taxi or uber), but you have to arrange it yourself, which has been previously stated. Even though the Hilton Penn doesn't have a shopping mall nearby, there is an area behind the train station down Ferry St. that has a lot of Brazilian restaurants. It is a very popular area of Newark to go. It all depends on how adventurous your family is.

The Hilton Penn Station is across from Newark Penn Station. There are trains that will get you there. Transportation is available(taxi or uber), but you have to arrange it yourself, which has been previously stated. Even though the Hilton Penn doesn't have a shopping mall nearby, there is an area behind the train station down Ferry St. that has a lot of Brazilian restaurants. It is a very popular area of Newark to go. It all depends on how adventurous your family is.

So there is no confusion for the original poster, Newark Penn Station is the Amtrak stop you want to get off at. Hilton Penn Station is a Hilton hotel located near Penn Station.

Using google maps it is a 20 minute plus walk from the Hilton to Ferry Street. I agree that there are good restaurants in that location but I would not, nor would I recommend anyone to walk that distance in Newark especially at night.

Adventurous is an apt description for the city of Newark which has a high crime rate...just so you are aware.

So there is no confusion for the original poster, Newark Penn Station is the Amtrak stop you want to get off at. Hilton Penn Station is a Hilton hotel located near Penn Station.

 

Using google maps it is a 20 minute plus walk from the Hilton to Ferry Street. I agree that there are good restaurants in that location but I would not, nor would I recommend anyone to walk that distance in Newark especially at night.

 

Adventurous is an apt description for the city of Newark which has a high crime rate...just so you are aware.

Good post. The main reason to stay at the Hilton Penn Station is if you want to more easily use the NJ Transit train to go into Manhattan or if you want to take public transit/cab to Cape Liberty. In the OP's case they are tourists from Australia coming in from DC to sail on the Anthem. IMO staying at a hotel near Jersey Gardens Mall with easy food and hotel shuttle to Cape Liberty makes a lot more sense than dealing with downtown Newark.

As a NJ resident, I don't see the horror of staying at the Hilton. My family attends events at NJPAC (my daughter used to attend theater camp there many summers), and the Prudential Center (DH and dd16 just saw Paul McCartney there this week, and walked several blocks from a parking garage at midnight). There are fabulous restaurants in the area, so much better than chains (we rarely eat in chain restaurants because there are so many great restaurants here).

ETA, my 14 and 16 year olds take the train from Penn Station to NYC with their friends, my friend's son took the bus to Saint Benedicts high school for 4 years, when I was in college, I used to take the light rail to that area every day to work over one summer, dd16's friend volunteered this summer at the 9/11 memorial and took the train from Penn Station by herself. I know some folks aren't used to cities, but for those who are, it's not too scary.

So there is no confusion for the original poster, Newark Penn Station is the Amtrak stop you want to get off at. Hilton Penn Station is a Hilton hotel located near Penn Station.

 

Using google maps it is a 20 minute plus walk from the Hilton to Ferry Street. I agree that there are good restaurants in that location but I would not, nor would I recommend anyone to walk that distance in Newark especially at night.

 

Adventurous is an apt description for the city of Newark which has a high crime rate...just so you are aware.

I made the recommendation because I live in Northern NJ and actually frequent the area. Although Newark does have a high crime rate, this area(Ironbound) is the safest part of Newark. I would never make a recommendation if I felt that it would be unsafe for them. But at the end of the day it is just a recommendation and my only hope is to give the OP options.

So there is no confusion for the original poster, Newark Penn Station is the Amtrak stop you want to get off at. Hilton Penn Station is a Hilton hotel located near Penn Station.

 

Using google maps it is a 20 minute plus walk from the Hilton to Ferry Street. I agree that there are good restaurants in that location but I would not, nor would I recommend anyone to walk that distance in Newark especially at night.

 

Adventurous is an apt description for the city of Newark which has a high crime rate...just so you are aware.

I just google mapped the Hilton to Fornos of Spain on Ferry street, .3 miles, a 5 minute walk.

I made the recommendation because I live in Northern NJ and actually frequent the area. Although Newark does have a high crime rate, this area(Ironbound) is the safest part of Newark. I would never make a recommendation if I felt that it would be unsafe for them. But at the end of the day it is just a recommendation and my only hope is to give the OP options.

I too live in northern NJ and I am glad that we both agree Newark has a crime problem. I have been there a few times and never have been a victim, that does not mean there is not a issue with crime though.

I also agreed with you in regard to Newark having good restaurants. The op is from Australia and traveling with two children and without a rental car. My intention was only to make them aware of crime in Newark and as you say...it is their choice.