Pens fan

I second the recommendation for Hilton Garden Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ. Nice hotel, decent (included) breakfast, short drive to port via car service - very convenient. We booked their stay, park and cruise package in 2016 and have it booked again for next year. For our 10 nighter next year the entire package is less money that it would cost just to park at the pier. It probably isn't the best choice if you are wanting to spend time in NYC, but if you are just looking for a place to crash the night before your cruise and a safe place to park your car, it fits the bill nicely.

After five Disney cruises, we tried NCL last summer on the Sun. We loved it so much we purchased four cruise next deposits. We loved the whole freestyle concept and found it so much more enjoyable than being told when and where to eat and loved the casual atmosphere and dress code. We also thought the food was terrific, in both the MDR and the specialty restaurants. We aren't buffet people, so we only ate there once for breakfast and it was fine. It's a buffet, enough said. We found the food to be far, far superior to Disney.

I really don't understand the whole nickel and dime description so many like to throw out. Had it not been for purchasing the cruise next deposits and a couple of things from the gift shops, we wouldn't have had a balance to pay at the end of our cruise. I've certainly never had that happen on Disney, not even close! To be fair, we sailed in a suite, so got multiple perks, but even if we hadn't I wouldn't think twice about the extra charges, as they would have been similar to the things we paid for on Disney (soda would be the exception but considering how much cheaper NCL is, I wouldn't blink an eye at that). I would never purchase the drink package as I don't think it's worth it for the amount of alcohol we drink. I'd just pay for drinks like we have done in the past on Disney. But it sure was nice to get it as a free perk!

When I'm pricing out cruises, I don't just look at the cruise fare and go from there. You have to look at what exactly is included and what extras you will want to purchase and price it out in total. Different lines have different pricing structures. You just have to do the research, and then decide which line has the best deal for your budget.

We loved our cruise on the Sun and can't wait for our Gem cruise next Fall! We found the service to be outstanding throughout the ship.

We have taken two cruises in Alaska. One was a round trip out of Seattle on Disney (they now sail out of Vancouver) and the other was a one way from Vancouver to Seward on the NCL Sun. Both were wonderful, but for the itinerary alone, I believe the one way cruises are the best. We had lots of time in port, saw both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier, and best of all got to spend time after the cruise in Alaska. I don't know which ship will be running that route in 2019, but I'm sure they will have one as it's a popular itinerary.

All that being said, at the time we took the Disney cruise, our son was younger and it was a perfect vacation for us. Disney is hard to beat for families with children. They are crazy expensive though, and their prices have really risen in the last 2-3 years, to a point that I find it hard to justify, especially now that our son is 19.

As for your question about the seas sailing out of Seattle, yes they can be rough. I remember that first sea day in the open water the ship was really rocking. But it was only the one day and then everything was fine, and I imagine it varies with weather conditions anyway. The Bliss looks pretty amazing. I'd be tempted to try her out, especially with children.

I thought it was just OK last summer on the Sun. The salad bar was the best part for me, as most of the meats were overcooked for my taste. I did enjoy the chicken and the pineapple. They were my favorites. We asked for the fish cooked in banana leaves (they don't just walk around with them) and it was pretty good. Service was good and the meats just kept on coming, so if you like well done meat and lots of it, you will probably enjoy it.

My carnivore 19 year old son quite enjoyed himself.

Our next cruise will just be my husband and myself and I think we will skip Moderno.

After five cruises with Disney, we tried NCL for the first time this summer (on the Sun in Alaska). Our son is 19, so we were a party of 3 adults. We loved it, so much so that we bought 4 future cruise credits while on board. Comparing it to Disney, we found the following:

Service - equal in every way, NCL crew was just outstanding

Food - far, far better than Disney - not even close. We also loved the free style dining concept. No more being told when and where to dine for us!

Entertainment - Disney definitely wins this one, though we did enjoy the shows we saw on the Sun. It was also nice to take a break from Disney, Disney all the time if you know what I mean. The Sun is one of NCL's smaller and older ships, and the entertainment reflects that. I imagine one of the newer, mega ships would have some terrific entertainment - especially for adults

Overall impression of the ship itself - While the decor is obviously different, we enjoyed the look and feel of the Sun. Not as "elegant" maybe, but bright, cheerful and fun. Disney probably wins on cleanliness/maintenance, but had we not sailed on them prior to the Sun, I'd have thought NCL did a fine job keeping the ships clean and up to date.

Prior to this trip, both my husband and son were skeptical about jumping ship from Disney. Even they were won over in every way. My husband was actually the driving force in purchasing the future cruse credits!! Once our son aged out of Disney's youth programs, I was very excited to move on and try new cruise lines. I'm sure we will back on DCL at some point - we do love it, but it's fun to try new things as well.

It depends on how important Glacier Bay is to you. It was very important to us, having been to Alaska twice before and never seeing it, so we chose the Northbound cruise this past summer. Cruising Glacier Bay one day, followed by Hubbard Glacier the next was just spectacular.

The Southbound goes to Tracy Arm (or Endicott, depending on ice conditions) instead of GB. We have sailed through Tracy Arm twice, and while it's beautiful I don't think it compares to Glacier Bay. But that's just my opinion. Do some searching for photos / videos of both and see which appeals the most to you. I see that Southbound also goes to Icy Strait, but I've never been there before so really know nothing about it and what it offers.

We were on the Sun a month ago in 9276, also an aft penthouse but on the opposite side and one deck down. We also had the "enclosed balcony" notice on our booking. The only thing that I can imagine they are taking about is where the balcony wraps around to the side of the ship. That portion is enclosed, but it's just a tiny section of the balcony. The entire portion that faces aft is completely open and just wonderful. Amazing views! It was by far the best balcony we've had on any ship, any cruise line. Looking at the ship from the outside, the balconies on all of the aft decks look very similar, so I'm sure yours will be just like ours.

Enjoy!

We were on the Sun last month and loved the officer Q & A's. This was our first NCL cruise, after 5 on Disney (who I don't believe offers this) and we really enjoyed it. Things did take a turn at one point, though. There was a man who started rambling on about not being served his frozen margarita at the show the prior night as it was too close to the beginning of the show. He just kept going on and on (I believe he had finally gotten a margarita or two prior to the Q & A!!). It was embarrassing and uncomfortable for everyone. The hotel director handled it with grace, by asking the man to meet with him after the session was over.

I wasn't paying attention, but my son saw both the hotel director and the cruise director speak with the man afterwards. He said they had a nice, long conversation and the man finally left. But just after he left the room, both the HD and CD burst out laughing. Kudos to them for maintaining their composure for as long as they did!! :cool:

Yes we have looked at a car but the rental for one day, essentially a transfer to the port in Seward, is £422 which we feel is too much.

Wow, that's crazy for just a few hours.

Have you considered just renting a car? We were in Alaska this summer and rented a car in Seward, then spent a week in Homer and the Girdwood area before finally dropping the car off at the Anchorage airport. Hertz allows one way rentals from Seward to Anchorage, so I imagine they will allow them the other direction as well.

You cannot possibly get lost. Just head south! :-) It's a beautiful (and easy) drive and you can stop whenever you wish.

We were on the Sun July 17 - 24. Food is subjective but we though it was fabulous, both in the MDR and the specialty restaurants. This was our first NCL cruise after five Disney cruises and we thought the Sun's food was far superior to the Mouse's.

Our favorite was Cagney's, and we ate there two nights. We loved Teppenyaki and thought the cooks were a hoot - so much better than the Hibachi places we have at home. Moderno was pretty good, but on our next cruise we will probably skip it. My son, the carnivore of the family, enjoyed it, though I thought the best part was the salad bar and the grilled pineapple. We ate at both of the MDR's once and really enjoyed both meals. One night we decided to just get some sushi and were pleasantly surprised at the quality.

We were in a suite, so we ate a lot of our breakfasts and lunches in the suite restaurant. It was terrific and the service was outstanding. We only ate at the buffet once for breakfast and it was fine. It's a typical buffet.

Overall we were very, very pleased with the food on the Sun. I hope it's an indication of how we will like the food on the Gem as that is our next NCL adventure!

I am going to be on the Sun next week to Alaska in room number 9276. I have a few questions

When I booked the room it did not say anything about being a "disabled" room, but I was just looking at the floor plans and the room is labeled as one. I am hoping that I will not get to the pier and get told that I have been moved to a different room because my parents and I are not disabled. What are the chances of this happening?

Has anyone been in this room recently and can tell me what it looks like? I found some photos but I think that they are from before it was in dry dock. I will be sharing the room with my parents and I am hoping that it still has the walk through bathroom and the door between the bedroom and the living room as this was the main reason that we chose this room. (I am a night owl and my parents prefer to go to bed earlier)

I know that I am overthinking this and I need to just relax but I could really use some reassurance.

I was wondering how you liked the cabin and if it really had been remodeled to a Disabled one. We will be there in another week, so I'm curious what you found.

Thanks!

We will be in this cabin in a few weeks, so I'd love to hear recent experiences as well. It definitely wasn't listed as a disabled room when we booked it. Like the OP, we chose this room for the privacy aspect of having a separate bedroom as we will be traveling with our 19 year old son. I really hope they haven't changed the layout.

My husband and I were on the Magic out of NYC last fall and there were very few kids on board. It was one of the Canadian cruises, so I'm sure that factored in, but I imagine even the ones heading to the Bahamas aren't going to have as many kids on board as you'd see out of Port Canaveral. There were plenty of things for adults to do and we had a blast. We didn't feel out of place at all!! We had a few "sign, miss our son" moments, but then it was all of 2 months after he started his freshman year of college, so I was doing that at home as well at that point! :-)

Go for it!! We loved sailing out of NYC. You really cannot beat the views at sail away.

This was such a wonderful review. We have been contemplating a trip to Hawaii, but with all of the so-so reviews of POA had pretty much ruled that out. Now you have me thinking about it again.

By the way, the minimum age for sailing on Disney is only six months old, as they have a nursery on board (it does cost extra though up until age 3). Disney cruises are pricey, but are oh so wonderful. We're just the opposite of your family. Now that our "baby" is 19, we are trying out NCL for our next two cruises after many on Disney. We started traveling with our son when he was just an infant. He was hiking in Yellowstone at the age of three. His love of travel was instilled at a very young age, and I'm sure your child's will be as well. Best of luck to you on your new and most wonderful adventure!!

We sailed on the Magic out of NYC last October. We did pick a PAT during online check in, just as you would for cruises from other ports. I don't recall if anyone was actually checking them upon arrival. I do remember that our car service got us to the port about 45 minutes earlier than planned and we had no issues going right in and getting in line for security.

From what I understand, your PAT time does affect the boarding number you receive. I have read reports of families with late PAT's getting to the port really early, being allowed to check in but then having to wait awhile to board due to a later boarding number. Whether that is the same procedure for NYC, I don't know.

What I do know, is that sailing out of NYC is just wonderful. I really don't care much about cruise terminals, as to me they are pretty much all the same minus a few Disney touches in Port Canaveral. But sailing past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazano Bridge just cannot be beat. Enjoy!

I'm not on Facebook at all, but I can see the benefit from a planning stand point, exchanging excursion ideas, and such. But other than that, we mainly just like to hang out as a family. If we happen to meet some friendly folks on the cruise that's great, but if not that's ok too. Sometimes the whole meet and greet, group mixology thing just seems kind of forced to me. Maybe I'm weird?? (that's probably it!)

As for fish extenders, we have never done one and honestly don't see the point. Even when our son was little, we've never looked at vacations as a way for him to come home with a suitcase full of random stuff (especially from strangers). It's just not something that interests us at all. I also think that a lot of people go on their first Disney cruise thinking that "everyone" participates in FE's, when just the opposite is true. Yes, you will see the occasional FE hanging on a door, but it's really not that many. Our son never even noticed them until about our 3rd cruise and I pointed one out. His response, "why would anyone want to fool with that?". I don't mean this to sound as if they are a terrible idea. I get that lots of people enjoy this, but our family isn't one of them. That's ok. 😎

And for door decorating, I do enjoy looking at all of the different things people put on the doors. Some of them are really quite clever. I will caution though that they sometimes go missing. We only decorated our door one time. Every summer we rent a house in the Outer Banks, so we thought it would be fun (and different) to buy some OBX magnets and decorate our door with them. Well, several were stolen. It was annoying and we've never bothered with them again.

Do what ever makes you happy. Everyone's different and looking for different things from their vacation. There's no right or wrong way to take a Disney cruise.

Hi Pens fan, If you don't mind I have a question. Was a tip for the driver included? If not how much is a normal amount to tip?

No, the tip was not included. My husband tipped both drivers but I have no clue how much, and he's not home right now to ask. When I researched this trip, I remember seeing estimates of the cost for a cab/car service from that area to the pier being around $70-$80. That could be a starting point using 15-20% as a tip amount.

For those asking about the Hilton Garden Inn transportation:

We booked this package for our cruise last October, and yes it included transportation both to and from the Manhattan cruise terminal. They ask you at check in what time you want to be picked up the next morning and arrange for a car to take you to the cruise terminal. They will give you a voucher to pay for the car service back to the hotel, as well as the number of the car service so you can arrange the pick up upon disembarkation.

Thanks for the info. That is great news for our 10 day cruise. We will be booking that package again for sure.

This sounds awesome......is there a limit on how many days? Our cruise will be in 2018 for 14 days. I went to their web site but it does not say anything about how many days for the price quote. It sounds too good to be true....but if it is then we will be booking a room there.

I don't know. Our cruise was only for 5 nights, but you are correct that they don't state a limit. Maybe they charge more for longer cruises???? I do remember when I booked online we had to enter in the date we would be returning for our car and they also asked us that at check-in. It's possible that changes the price, but as our cruise was so short I can't say for sure. I too thought it was too good to be true, but everything worked out perfectly. Our next cruise out of NYC is for 10 nights, so I really hope there is no limit!!

and the name of the hotel would be helpful

 

thanks

sharkman

http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-jersey/hilton-garden-inn-ridgefield-park-LGARPGI/offers/100077011.htm

Hilton Garden Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ - You have to book the NYC Park, Ride and Cruise package. We thought it was a great deal. Price included parking for the duration of the cruise, breakfast and a car service to and from the Manhattan cruise terminal. Back in October we paid roughly $280 for the two of us. It's a nice hotel, with easy access to the interstate. We plan on sailing out of NYC in 2018 and will definitely stay there again. So easy.

One thing about your transportation concern:

"I heard about NJ hotel that has cruise special with shuttle service but I really don't want to have to wait for shuttle with two kids. Thanks in advance!!"

If you are talking about the Hilton Garden Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ you don't have to wait for a shuttle. It's not actually a shuttle, but a car service that they arrange for you. When you check in, they ask when you wish to be picked up and taken to the cruise terminal. Our driver was sitting in front of the hotel 15 minutes early. So easy!

At disembarkation, you call the service and arrange a spot to be picked up. We did have to go across the street, but it wasn't a big deal. The package cost us around $280 for the two of us, but saved $40 per night parking at the pier. I know you said you were looking for Marriott and that may be a deal breaker, but just wanted to clarify about the transportation method.

Related question:

Do the NCL key cards have anything on them to indicate age? We have sailed on Disney in the past and they had a code on them that identified which age group a passenger fell in (under 18, 18-20, or over 21). Does NCL have anything like that or will my 19 year old need to carry his license or passport with him while on the ship if he goes in any of the adult areas?

Thanks

Where did you find that offer, we are having difficulty finding it?

Here you go!

http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-jersey/hilton-garden-inn-ridgefield-park-LGARPGI/offers/100077011.htm

If that link doesn't work, go to the website for the Ridgefield Park Hilton Garden Inn. Click on Special Offers (left side) and scroll down until you see NYC Park Ride and Cruise.