When embarking on the QM2 from Brooklyn, we always fly in to NYC the day before, and stay in a hotel in the Wall Street area (Hotel Indigo on Water St, in our case). Then, after breakfast in the morning, we walk the 2 blooks to the peir 11 ferry terninal and take the ferry accross the East River to Red Hook. Cost is about $2,75, and drops you literally 100 yards from the baggage drop. Its just so easy and convenient - traffic, no taxis . We drop our bags early and then walk back out the gate to a little bar thats literally a block down the street. A light lunch and a pint of beer later, we walk back at our appointed boarding time. Very civilized way to start the voyage!!
