Post Captain

And, then, of course there are Captain Wells' eyebrows : ) : ) : )

And here they are! :) ~

Moreover, this clip is proof that "all the nice girls love a sailor" -- and no sailor more so than Captain Wells.:D

FYI...the Port Imperial garage costs $15 per day...and the parking lot $13. You're staying past the 2 am nightly cutoff for discounted rates.

There you go--a lesson for the OP: The words free and parking are almost never used in the same sentence in this area. And (second lesson)... parking prices only go up, not down. Without warning.:eek::D

(Personally, I don't park in any of these places--because, whenever I can help it, I don't drive in New York or New Jersey, but get around by public transportation. Of course, that means I have to travel light.:))

The words free parking and New York City are never used together in the same sentence!;)

With a car, the Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus/Meadowlands might be the OP's best bet.

And parking at the Port Imperial parking garage for $11 is a genuine bargain, compared to the cost of parking at the pier--or anywhere in Manhattan, for that matter.

PostCaptain - bravo & kudo for the excellent details on the PATH & LR Stations @ Hoboken.

 

For OP & others sailing in the future "stumbling on this post" - can you give a rough/recent estimate of the cab/taxi/car service fare between the Bayonne LR Station and Cape Liberty - or, should they call them directly for fare info?

By the car or shuttle pricing based on per person/luggage rules?

I don't recall the exact fare for the taxi, but I think it's in the neighborhood of $8 to $12 (per car, not per passenger), plus tip. When we last did it, there was no extra charge for luggage.

It's the shortest leg of the entire journey, distance-wise--about two miles--but the most expensive.

The entrance to the Cape Liberty port facility (formerly the Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne) is directly across the road (route 440) from the Light Rail station (34th St, Bayonne), so it's a straight shot from the station to the cruise terminal. The driver can't get lost, but there are likely to be backups. Also, unlike the case with many other cruise terminals, there is no pedestrian access.

I believe that when Royal Caribbean/Celebrity first sailed out of Bayonne, circa 2004, they ran a free shuttle bus between the Light Rail station and the cruise terminal. However, that service only lasted a year or two before it was withdrawn.

cruisintwinsmom ~

Excellent advice posted here by the previous contributors. I'll just add my two cents' worth.

I ride the PATH train and NJ Transit Light Rail system frequently, and my wife & I have done the trip to Bayonne, with luggage, on several occasions, without any problems. The cost of the PATH/ Light Rail/ Bayonne taxi combination is significantly less than the cost of a car service from Manhattan.

Just a few details about transferring from the PATH train to the Light Rail at Hoboken:

The Hoboken PATH station is underground. There are several different exits by stairways up to ground level, but with luggage, you might want to use the elevator. When you exit the PATH train, walk forward, go through the turnstiles, and immediately turn left; you'll see the elevator just past the ticket machines.

Exit the elevator at ground level and turn left. Walk into the Hoboken train terminal (right in front of you at this point), then continue along the main concourse to the far end of the station, just past track 18. (You should see signs for the NJ Transit Light Rail along the way.)

Ticket machines for the Light Rail are located near the entrance to the Light Rail platforms. The machines take cash as well as debit or credit cards. Before going onto the platform, validate your ticket by sticking it into the little orange machine at the platform entrance and then removing it.

Enjoy the ride!

Ok, Royal Caribbean is building or has built a new pier for all of us to use.

Is it built yet? Or are they in the process?

See below (re. bribes, kickbacks, & lawsuits).

 

And it sounds like Bayonne N.J. is also developing the whole area near the pier?

 

Some day they could have hotels, condos , businesses, shops, golf course, parks with walkways along the waterfront.

 

This is already the case along the New Jersey riverfront from Jersey City through Hoboken up to Weehawken:

 

http://hudsonriverwaterfront.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=23

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River_Waterfront_Walkway

 

But I'm not sure what progress is being made on the Bayonne section of the walkway. There are, however, two major golf courses abutting the waterfront. You can see this one from the upper decks of the ship at the dock:

 

http://www.bayonnegolfclub.com/

 

The Barclays, an annual tournament on the PGA calendar, has been held twice at this one:

 

http://libertynationalgc.com/

Did they already pick a contractor or is this all in talking stages only so far.

I'm not sure. It takes time for the bribes and kickbacks to be arranged and for the lawsuits to be settled.:D

 

It is hard to find any news about

Royal Caribbean pier . Just hope I am alive to see it all in the end. LOL

 

It depends on your life expectancy!:D I'm not holding my breath.:eek:

When the project was announced (nearly a year ago), they projected a completion date of October 2014:

http://www.marinelink.com/news/terminal-bayonne-cruise356935.aspx

If you believe that, I've got a nice old bridge to sell you.;)

In any case, RCCL has changed its mind about basing the Quantum at Bayonne (aka Cape Liberty):

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2014/04/bayonne_port_loses_big_ship.html

So will Norwegian Escape be sailing from Southampton or South Hampton? And if South Hampton, which one (New Hampshire or Virginia)? ;)

The county in Virginia is spelled Southampton.;) Just like the the town in New York State and the one in New Jersey and the one in Massachusetts... and the one in Bermuda... and the one in England.

But not the one in New Hampshire--or should that be Newhampshire?:D

Thank you.

 

Do you have any feel for whether I can make an 8:30 train? I have sailed from Harwich and know that the station is right there. Other cruisers on my roll call are talking about getting picked up at 7 or 7:30 am. The ship is coming from

the Brugge port.

Carol ~

I haven't sailed out of, or into, Harwich, so I don't have anything to go on re. disembarkation times other than my gut instinct.

Personally, if I were booking ahead, I'd feel more comfortable opting for a later train. Given a choice, DW & I would probably go for the 10:33.

(Apart from the considerations of ship arrival time/disembarkation time involved in deciding which train to take... I expect the hotel would be able to store your luggage if you arrive in London early & your room isn't ready, but you never know.)

I've never been up on the London Eye either. I have been to Harrods--but I was 12 years old at the time!:D

I also read where one could possibly use Penn Station ( I think near an Amtrak Office) if they have a train ticket.

 

We would not have an Amtrak ticket but we would have a ticket for the train to get to the Newark. I have read where people state that you should be able to leave your luggage at Penn Station using a ticket bound for the Newark Airport but has any one actually has done it before.

 

Thanks

As far as I know, the luggage storage facility at Penn Station is operated by Amtrak, and is for ticketed Amtrak passengers only. I doubt that they would permit you to store your luggage there if you only have a New Jersey Transit ticket.

I may be wrong--but I don't think so.

Carol ~

Yes, you can save a fair amount by purchasing your train ticket online. The standard "anytime" fare (i.e., the walk-up ticket price) from Harwich International to London Liverpool Street is £31.90 (= more than $50). Right now, for your particular date, the National Rail website is showing an advance purchase fare of £20.50 (roughly $35) for the 9:33 train, £13.00 (roughly $22) for the 10:33, and £11.00 (roughly $18) for the 11:33.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/HPQ/London/140514/0830/dep

(Note: According to that page, regular "off-peak" tickets are even more expensive than "anytime" tickets!)

The Oyster Card should work out as the easiest and cheapest option for London buses and the Underground.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares-jan-2014.pdf

At Liverpool St. station you can get down to the Underground platform via a combination of escalators and lifts. At St. Pancras/King's Cross (all one Underground station complex), there are a number of elevators (lifts) up to street level; any one will do.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/avoiding-stairs-tube-guide.pdf

By the way, be sure to pop into the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel and take a quick look around--they've really done wonders restoring the place.

I agree with everything Simon says about visiting Greenwich!

On the relatively rare occasions when P & O ships call at New York, they generally dock at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal (aka piers 88/90/92).

Here's a handy list showing all expected passenger ship arrivals and departures at the Port of New York and New Jersey for 2014:

http://worldshipny.com/port_sched_2014.shtml

At a quick glance, the only P & O ship I see on the list is the Arcadia, scheduled to berthed in Manhattan overnight on September 30-October 1.

Big Chick ~ I'm very curious to know how and where "Bryn Mawr" came up in a search for New England cruises.

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, is a very pleasant "Main Line" town outside of Philadelphia, best known as the location of a college of the same name. But a cruise port--or any kind of port--it certainly ain't!

(There are a couple of meandering creeks in the area, but the water wouldn't even come up to your knees--scarcely enough to float a canoe or row boat, let alone a cruise ship.)

you know that since Yankee Stadium was rebuilt the subway stops are right next to the Stadium and the Metro North is across the highway and a long walk....

Nope, didn't know that, since I'm not a fan of the Pinstripers But that's why some of us refer to the new Yankee Stadium as "The Place Next Door":p (a la Steve Somers:D).

LOL You know if you make it to grand central all you need to do is take the 4 train(no changes) right to the stadium it runs every 4 minutes!

Didn't know that either. But now the OP does!:)

 

I was going to add how many people ride the subway on average each day but that may scare you!

Sid, don't scare the guy any more than he is already!

This Metro North web page --

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/yankees/yankee_service.htm

-- says:

Travel like a pro to the Yankees' home games by taking our fast, frequent and convenient "Train to the Game" game-day service, which offers plenty of Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Line trains to and from our Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station.

"Travel like a pro"? Are they implying that that's the way Mr. Jeter gets to the stadium?:D

BTW, I notice that that web page refers to 2013 Yankees "Train to the Game" Game-Day Service.

2013???

I really appreciate all of the suggestions, but have to say it's confusing/overwhelming for a first timer. I'm wondering how expensive it would be to just use a car service or cab? I know it would be more, but sounds much easier ;-)

Taylor95 ~

Don't let them scare you. Riding the subway isn't rocket science. Thousands (indeed, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands) of New Yorkers & visitors do it every day, and I assure you, very few of them are rocket scientists!:D

However, another thought occurs to me. You could take a regular Metro North commuter train from Grand Central Terminal to Yankee Stadium (aka The Place Next Door)--no need to bother with the subways at all:

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/yankeestadium.htm

(However, you will still have to make your way from Penn Station to Grand Central, & vice versa.)

Not being a Yankees fan (just a humble spectator of the spectacle known as the Metropolitans of Prospect Park:o), I've never done this--but I assure you, most Yankees fans aren't rocket scientists either.:D

Taylor95 ~

Skrufy's directions will get you there & back. (Just one nit-picky correction: I've never heard the subway referred to as the "NYTA train." The agency that runs subways and buses in New York City is the MTA [Metropolitan Transit Authority]; the subway is always just called "the subway.")

Before you board the first subway train at Penn Station, purchase a $20 MetroCard from a vending machine or ticket window near the entrance to the subway. This will enable all four people in your party to ride the subway to and from the stadium, as the fare is $2.50 per person.

The following pages on the MTA website might be helpful:

http://new.mta.info/nyct

http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/ui_web/customplanner/TripPlanner.aspx

http://web.mta.info/metrocard/

Incidentally, there are several (generally at least 4 or 5) trains per hour between Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station. You can check timetables here:

http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainTo

Back from my travels down-under :)

 

For local flavour, consider aimlessly meandering the lanes north of Lockerley - Horesebridge, Houghton, Broughton, Nether Wallop, Middle Wallop, Over Wallop.

JB :)

Who knew that such a quiet rural area packed such a wallop? (Three wallops, in fact!) :D

Glad to hear you had a great time in Oz & on your cruise. Welcome back! :)

Post Captain, I gather from your "here we go again" that this question has been asked many times before. I'm sorry. I'm new to this board and didn't know. I want to thank you for all the websites and info you provided. It seems complicated but I'm sure, with the help you've given me, we'll know what to do. Thank you.

No problem. You're very welcome. And absolutely no need for you to apologize--I was just having a private chuckle, as there was a similar thread a while back that quickly devolved into a sort of Abbott and Costello comedy routine. (Think "Who's on first?" "I don't know...") :D

If you ask three different people whether you'd be better off using an Oyster Card or a Travel Card, you're likely to get six different answers! :D

As I recall, in that previous thread, I compared the intricacies of Transport for London's fare pricing policies to the secret rituals of the Freemasons, or something along those lines. ;)

But in actually, using either Oyster Cards or Travel Cards is very simple and convenient. If in doubt as to which type of card is more advantageous for your situation, ask a ticket agent at any London train station or Underground station, and they'll figure it out for you and sell you the card(s) that you need.

Just a short addendum to my previous post:

www.tfl.gov.uk is the official website of Transport for London (formerly known as London Transport). This page in particular may be useful as a menu via which you can explore all the various travel options in and around London:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx

Fares and various fare options are explained (sort of) here:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/fares-2014/29089.aspx

Here we go again! :eek::D

For a good general overview of the London Transport system, this page has useful links to a variety of topics:

http://londontoolkit.com/mnu/london_transport.htm

This page in particular gives the clearest guidance on the question of Oyster Cards and Travel Cards that I have seen anywhere:

http://londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard_oyster.htm

Also, be sure to read the sections about children's fares and concessions toward the bottom of the page.

Off the top of my head, my guess is that you might be better off with individual one-day travelcards than with Oyster cards--but I could be wrong. (I'm sure someone will be along shortly to explain why I'm wrong.)

There was a lengthy thread about the ins and outs of Travelcards and Oyster cards a few months ago, but I can't find it at the moment. (I know how the whole system works, and I can use it with ease when I'm in London--but I'm darned if I can explain it in a way that doesn't cause further confusion. ;))

The upshot is, the fare system and various options seem extremely complicated, especially if you're not familiar with them. But, once you're in London, and if you've studied the aforementioned web page for a few hours, it's all really not as complicated as it first seems.

Good luck, & happy travels!

I stayed in the Premier Inn Euston for four nights recently. The hotel met my needs for somewhere to sleep between 11pm and 9am perfectly. I did not eat in the hotel nor avail of any of its facilities. At check-in I requested a room not on the busy Euston Road and, having obtained this, had four excellent nights' sleep.

I haven't stayed there myself, but have walked past it frequently. Although one side fronts busy Euston Road, the hotel is just two minutes' walk (if that) from the delightful Woburn Walk, and around the corner (via Woburn Walk) from Russell Square:

http://www.ukattraction.com/london/woburn-walk.htm

http://www.ukattraction.com/london/russell-square.htm

And a 10-minutes' walk or so from the British Museum.

One major advantage of this location is the proximity of good bus and tube service that can quickly take you to other parts of London. A number of bus routes begin or end in front of Euston Station, just a few minutes' walk along Euston Road from the hotel; there are also convenient bus stops along/near Russell Square. Euston Underground Station and Euston Square Underground Station are both nearby.

The Premier Inns hotel chain has a very good reputation, and they have a number of hotels in London.

According to one of the FAQ pages on the Premiere Inns website:

"Most Premier Inns have family rooms that can accommodate a family consisting of up to two adults and two children (aged 15 and under), in a spacious, family sized room."

Of their London properties, the Premier Inn London County Hall is frequently recommended on these boards; I haven't stayed there myself, but the location is very good. The Premier Inn London Euston is also in a convenient location.

So......with further review, I think it might make sense to position or touring as follows:

 

Fri, May 2

10am pick up car in Southampton

tour the New Forest to include Lyndhurst, Lymington, and Beaulieu

...definitely would appreciate any driving recommendations here. We would enjoy a nice lunch somewhere, quaint villages, sightseeing.

John Bull can probably advise you on specific routes, pubs, and villages when he returns, but overall this sounds like a very nice day to me.

 

Sat, May 3

Salisbury

Stonehenge (against my wishes because you now have to have timed tickets and I believe Avebury is much more natural and pleasant

Avebury

.....anything else that makes sense for this day.

 

You're right about Avebury vs Stonehenge!;) But for some reason, most tourists feel they have to make a beeline for Stonehenge.:D

 

Your itinerary for this day will be somewhat constrained by the timing of your Stonehenge tickets. I would not rush through Salisbury; you could easily take a half day or so to see the cathedral, wander through the city, and have lunch there.

 

Your route from Salisbury/ Stonehenge to Avebury will take you through Marlborough. I've only passed through the town once, but it may be worth stopping there and looking around a bit on your way to Avebury.

 

If time permits after Avebury, I would strongly recommend that you visit Lacock, about 25 miles due west of Avebury:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock/

 

http://www.britainexpress.com/villages/lacock.htm

 

http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/lacock-abbey-village-and-fox-talbot-museum-p133313

Sun, May 4

Romsey Market

Winchester

and any other places in that area or direction

Again, sounds good. This can be a nice, leisurely day out. (John Bull is your man to offer any specific advice about the area--it's his neighbourhood.:))

Mon, May 5

must have car to Heathrow at 10am and will use train to central London

Monday morning traffic going towards Heathrow/ London can be quite heavy. The M3 looks like the most direct route from your neck of the woods to Heathrow, but someone with more personal knowledge than I can advise if this is indeed the best way to go, in terms of traffic and driving conditions. Once you've dropped off the car, getting into London by train or tube will be a breeze.

 

Overall, a very nice itinerary that lends itself to pleasant meandering and soaking in the local atmosphere rather than rushing about from A to B to C without time to savour everything. Saturday might be slightly ambitious, but not impossible. No doubt you'll discover many interesting places along the way that you didn't know you'd encounter--that's much of the joy of travelling in England.:)

I always thought a cruise was SPECIAL. NOT ANYMORE. SLUMMING around with the bottom of the barrel a lot of the time (especially if there is a CHEAPO price tag). Is there NOTHING special anymore??? Doesn't seem like to me (unless you get invited to the Oscar's or similar).

 

I only ever went on cruises for three reasons:1. to get away from faxes, phones, computers, my daily business life. 2. to see some out of the way place I probably would NOT pay airfare to get to-Manta, Ecuador comes to mind. 3 to get dressed to the nines which is not part of my normal daily life. I spend way too much time in Levi's and t shirts in warehouses, on docks and in and around semi trucks which is the business I own.

 

Sloppy people, sloppy attitudes totally RUINED cruising for us. Last cruise, just before my dear husband passed away-he made the comment "if you really want to get both of us dressed up, guess you either have to join some kind of charity where they have fancy balls and stuff or just throw all those fancy clothes you have away. I'm not going to be mistaken for a waiter again".

 

What a sad comment on today's lifestyle. Down, down, down-how much dumber down can we get our society???

Gina ~

I gave up posting on CC dress code threads some time ago, when my wife finally persuaded me that arguing with strangers in cyberspace got me nowhere and only wreaked havoc with my blood pressure, and that there were far better uses of my time. But I wanted to briefly raise my head above the parapet here to tell you that you're not alone in your sentiments on this issue.

It might hearten you a bit to watch this little video I shot during the winter crossing of Cunard's Queen Elizabeth this past January. Thankfully there are still some remaining vestiges of style and elegance at sea; you just have to know where to look for them:

PS. Very sorry to hear about the passing of your husband. I do remember him from the 2006 QE2 winter crossing.

We intend to stay one day in London before our ship departs from Dover. Are there areas of London that would be best to be near the train station or bus station that we would need to get to Dover?

IMO, choosing a hotel based on proximity to a particular train station often is letting the tail wag the dog. Just about any location in central London will have good public transport links (bus, underground) to the major train stations (in your case, Charing Cross or Victoria). Or, you can easily take a cab from your hotel to the station.

Needless to say, your choice of hotel/ location may well depend on your budget.

For what it's worth, my favorite area is Bloomsbury. You might also look at Holborn and/or Victoria.

tracesmom ~

It's never occurred to me to wear shorts in London--not because "it's not the done thing," but simply because the weather isn't normally conducive to it.

In early June, the lads probably would find their knees rather chilly; they're more likely be layering up with light-weight jumpers (sweaters) and jackets, along with a pair of slacks.

The only time I've ever felt uncomfortably hot and sticky in London was on one particular August day in Oxford Street. But then, Oxford Street always makes me break out in a sweat!:D