Finabear

We usually just go to the Taxi area at the port and ask for a shared shuttle to the airport. They usually have a line of them ready to load. It is cheaper than a taxi.

Which side?

We have gone in early August and early September. August was pretty hot but the water was also nice and warm. This past September we had the pleasure of meeting up with Hermine on the way there. Anthem rocked and rolled for a few hours but the captain and staff were great and "we" never felt like we were in any danger. Others apparently did not watch the captain's recorded videos or listen to his announcements - hence the news media reporting the "horrors" of the trip - don't listen - we were fine - really. We did not go to the beach that trip so can't tell you about the water. Weather in Bermuda was fine. Bermuda is a great place: safe, great public transportation, lots to do - and I would go back any time.

We were on this sailing. We were kept well informed and never felt like we were in any danger.

We have sailed out of Bayonne three times now. I drive. Traffic gets worse every time. Now with the 14A construction it is really bad. Not so much on the weekend but during the week -we returned on Thursday - it took over an hour to get out of Bayonne. We left the ship about 9:30 thinking to miss the rush hour traffic. Wrong. Completely backed up. Narrows to one lane around the tolls. GPS was totally confused.

We will sail out of Bayonne again, but only for weekend arrivals and departures. I won't drive on 95/NJT. We take the Garden State to 78. Still challenging at times but do-able.

I was on that sailing. The captain had a video on loop, updated at least daily, from the moment we got to our cabin. He had an interactive map and showed the storm's predicted path, Anthem's usual path and our planned path. Everything he showed us made perfect sense. We went due East at top speed - left an hour early too - then turned right/South early Sunday am.

I was in the Solarium (front row seat) early and watched us enter the edge of the storm. By 11 am we were rocking and rolling but by 4 pm it was much better- just as he said it would.

The staff was all great. No complaints from me.

Just back from Anthem 9/3 sailing. Yes, that one that was on the news. We had about 5 hours of rough seas on Sunday. Staff was great. Captain kept us informed. Great cruise.

OK so here are some notes re: Bayonne:

1) You do not pre-pay for the garage anymore. You get a ticket which you need to keep with you so you can pay at the kiosk before you go to your car. I assume they changed it so that B2B ers don't get off cheap.

2) Bayonne traffic during the week is TERRIBLE. We were off the ship about 9:30 Thursday - hoping to avoid the rush hour traffic. It took over an hour just to get out of Bayonne.

3) GPS cannot be trusted in Bayonne. Driving in on Saturday it was very confused and tried to get us to go down the wrong way several times. Many one way streets there. Just follow Ave E and the signs going in. Leaving there are few choices and all of them lead to one lane out. Again follow the signs. GPS tried to get us to take 78E - not! We needed 78W. Fortunately we knew that.

In early Sept. 2015, we're sailing on the Celebrity Summit, which does RT cruise out of Port Liberty, NJ. It's a 14-nt cruise. Other lines offer shorter cruises: Royal Carib., HAL, NCL, Princess. One advantage of RT is cheaper airfare, compared to leaving from US and returning from Canada or vice verse.

I see you did this trip last year too, so obviously you liked it. Can you tell us about it? We just booked for 2017. Very excited.

From the Bayonne website:08/12/16: Construction Update

Can someone local translate?

We are going on the Anthem the Saturday of Labor Day weekend

Posted on August 12, 2016

The following work is scheduled over the next three weeks:

Toll Plaza

East side (entering 14A): renovation of existing Toll Utility Building continues.

Toll Lane 3 & 4 reconstruction continues.

During the weekend of 08/12 – 08/14/16, northbound Avenue E between 52nd Street and the Toll Plaza will be reduced to a single lane to accommodate Toll Lane construction. The traffic will be reduced from 8:00PM Friday to 8:00AM Saturday. This work will be supported by Bayonne Police.

During the weekend of 08/26 – 08/28/16, Toll Lanes 3 & 4 will reopen and Toll Lanes 5 & 6 will be closed to accommodate staged construction. Toll Lanes 5 & 6 are expected to be closed for 10 weeks. In support of the Toll Plaza work, northbound Avenue E will be temporarily reduced to a single lane between 52nd Street and the Toll Plaza to implement the change. This work will be supported by Bayonne Police.

Ramps between the Toll Plaza and the Hudson County Extension (HCE)

Widening construction continues on the ramps to and from the west bound HCE.

Local street level work at Garfield, Avenue C and JFK Boulevard bridges continues. This work will also be supported by Jersey City and Bayonne Police as needed.

Work continues on a VMS Sign Structure under the Turnpike Bridge over Route 440, near the Newark Bay. Access is being provided from Route 440.

A new work zone has been created along the east bound HCE ramp to the Toll Plaza.During the weekend of of 08/19 – 08/21/16, traffic on this ramp will be reduced to a single lane, 9:00PM Friday to 6:00PM Sunday.

Avenue E / Proposed Roundabout

New retaining wall and roadway construction on Avenue E near 53rd Street continues.

Begin construction of new bridge deck. This work will be supported by Bayonne Police as needed.

Connector Bridge (Bridge from the Toll Plaza to Port Jersey Boulevard)

A two-way traffic pattern has been implemented on the bridge ramp from Port Jersey Boulevard to the Toll Plaza.

Pedestrian usage of the bridge for access to and from Port Jersey Boulevard continues to be prohibited. Please CLICK HERE for shuttle bus pamphlet.

Route 440 and Pulaski Street Intersection / Jughandle

During the weekend of 08/26/16, northbound and southbound Route 440 will be reduced to a single travel lane in each direction and the southbound Pulaski Street Jughandle will be closed, 9:00PM Friday through 4:00AM Monday, for bridge girder erection. In addition, overnight, Friday night and Saturday night, 11:00PM to 8:00AM, Route 440 will be detoured through the area. Bayonne and Jersey City Police will provide assistance as needed.

The southbound Route 440 Jughandle at Pulaski Street has been reduced to a single lane and a median work zone has been established in Route 440.

New bridge pier construction will continue.

Ramp roadway construction will continue.

Ramp Area East of Route 440

New ramp construction continues.

Retaining wall construction continues.

Bridge abutment construction continues.

+1

 

I've seen it done on a Qantas A380 headed to LAX:

 

. cabin staff knelt down and looked up at irate noisy business class passenger and calmly asked him if he could keep the noise down as people were trying to sleep.

 

. pax continued to get louder and louder (DYKWIA)

 

. more and more senior cabin staff knelt at his feet and looked up at him (submissive position/actions)

 

. eventually chief purser gave an ultimatum and he settled down.

 

What he didn't see were the air marshals in each aisle next to my seat waiting to see whether he was going to stop. They were deliberately outside his line of sight. (Their presence initially gave me a bit of a fright!)

 

Once he had calmed down they 'melted away' back to somewhere in the plane.

On the subject of air marshals: in this case their identity was obvious by their actions but I have always looked (without success) to see if I could identify any in the airport or on the plane. Always hoped they would be flying with me! Any tricks to IDing them?

As noted above it can be done and is well worth the effort.

I second many of the suggestions here: I wear my jeans, walking shoes and carry/wear a black sweater that works for day or eve. I pack evening shoes and water shoes. Yes - you can go a week with 3 pair of shoes if they are comfortable! One swim suit - a tankini with swim shorts that count as my second pair of shorts. Add tees and slinky tops and a pair of navy pants and a pair of slinky black pants and that is it for clothes. I obviously wear most things -but not usually the tops - more than once. There are always little pockets of space in the suitcase for socks and underwear. I can usually fit a few "extras" too.

All my liquids are in tiny travel sizes. I also carry my "pharmacy" in a small shaving kit that has all the essential over the counter stuff including bandaids.

My purse is not large and I wear it cross shoulder. I carry a larger bag on the plane and put my purse in it so that counts as my personal item for under the seat. That bag is what I take to any beach excursions. For the plane it has a change of clothes, makeup, glasses etc. My iPad mini (books!) and phone are my only essential electronics and they don't take up any room.

Does anyone else think that this is outrageous? If you pick DD and don't prebook, you risk eating in WJ unless you want to eat at 9PM?

 

I would go to guest services about this; surely they can get you in earlier than 9pm at a free venue on each night. They can't be totally booked! Otherwise, I would remove the auto grats. They may help you more if you do that. Or you can use the auto grats to help pay for specialty dining!

I would love to pre-book for our Sept 3rd cruise but the only slots are after 8. Way too late. I will keep trying but....

Yes, still like that, but it's slightly harder to get into exact lanes coming off of the Turnpike. Coming east on 78 into Bayonne, you're more likely to be dumped onto Avenue E because (right to left) the toll plazas are E. 53rd, E 53rd, Ave. E, Ave, E, then 440, 440. The two right-most lanes are EZ pass only. Then the next Ave E lane is usually cash so out-of-towners are jockeying over.

 

If you wind up on Ave E, take Ave. E to East 40th, make a left, make a right at the stop sign onto Chosin Few, then make a left at the next stop sign onto Goldsborough (which merges with Port Terminal Blvd) and you'll go straight into the port.

 

Right now Google Maps is saying to take E instead of 440, probably because of the construction.

So if I understand you right, once through the toll there is no "wrong way" and all ways can get me to the port?

Recently I had our next cruised booked on the Adventurer out of SJ and had our TA move us to the Freedom. The deposit was transferred to the new booking, I kept our original booking #'s

I had no idea you could do that. Thank you.

Six months out is the max we have ever done I believe. We can't seem to plan very far out. We often book inside of final payment. Some great deals that way.

For those of you who book so far out: Is it easy to change your plans? Do you have to stay with the same cruise line when you change or do you lose your deposit?

We almost always use the same online cruise TA. Not sure if that matters.

I couldn't tell what it looks like now.

A roundabout? That is how they will deal with with increasing traffic to the Bayonne port off exit 14A? Seriously?

Pic:

http://0372ff8.netsolhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/A9R8733.jpg

Link:

http://www.njta14a.com/about

Just doing recon for Anthem cruise and found this. There is a simple roundabout near where I grew up that has been there forever and it still confuses everyone including the locals. Oy.

That said, the links may be helpful for others...

I have a "free spa treatment" on my upcoming Anthem cruise. Is the tip included in this? Anyone have any experience with what it covers?

I really don't want an upsell and will use the "No sales pitch or no tip" but not sure that applies here.

Another vote for the Tappen Zee to GSP to 78 East.

Went that way from NW CT and fairly easy.

Not the fastest, but easier on the nerves.

We will be on the Anthem Sept 3 - Labor day weekend. Plan to get over the Tappen Zee around noon Friday and stay in Nanuet NY then go down the GSP to the port Sat morning. We could do it the morning of, but don't trust the traffic situation on a holiday weekend.

Does that sound reasonable? Suggestions?

Thank you Darcy. I have saved that info in my special travel tips document. When is highway traffic heavy going to the port? I realize M-F rush-hours but what about other times? Any other tips? Coming in from Northwestern CT and am not fond of driving in Boston.

The answer to that is a firm "maybe"

Many here will tell you they did it or were at the airport early enough to have made it.

However, there is also a very good chance you would not.

Off the ship, the ports have a completely different feel. The New England seaports have a ton of history and are just plain cool to walk around. Add to that they are way safer than most caribbean ports. Enjoy the local food!

Even though I have lived in CT most of my life I totally enjoyed our NE cruise and we plan to do again very soon.

The aquarium is small but as I recall the zoo and a small museum are attached. Worth a visit. We did that and the caves the first day on our own. Right her the caves bus stop is a cute ice cream shop with free wifi. We took a nice break there.

We took the ferry then a bus and told the driver where we wanted to go. The drivers will tell you which stop etc.

Ask at the ferry terminal for the map. It is a colored fold out map of the island wit all the routes in color and times listed. Didn't know about it until the second day and we had to ask for it. Made it all SO much easier.

Charles4515, you mentioned to not shy away from doing Horseshoe Beach on Day 3... I will be on the Breakaway and wondered if we left the beach around 1pm, would that give us plenty of time to get to our ship by 2:30 pm? We'll most likely shop the Dockyard another day, but was hoping for another day at the beach before we set sail back to the States.

That would be calling it WAY too close in my opinion.

You might be OK if you took a taxi but too close for me even then.

Your best value is to purchase a 2 or 3 day transportation pass while in Bermuda. Do all excursions on your own. Don't buy through the ship. U can go to the caves, aquarium, zoo, Hamilton, st George's, etc all with the $35 pass. It's good for the buses and ferries.

 

 

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Exactly. Love Bermuda.

No charge to get into Harbor nights.

They just block off the street for vendors.

We were not impressed. You are not missing anything.

As someone who almost exclusively sails Oasis class, I didn't love how "inside" the ship felt. Nearly everything felt enclosed, including a lot of the pool area. Plus, if you're sailing anytime outside of the summer months, those Bayonne itineraries take a solid 1.5-2 days before you get to nice "cruise" weather. [=end QUOTE]

 

Time that many of us here in the Northeast would rather spend on a ship - even inside - rather than fly. I hate flying. It is such a pain - especially in the Winter when you have to plan extra "weather delay days" to make sure you get to your ship. As I understand it, Anthem was designed specifically for northern ports and it is so nice to have another new ship here! I hope to be on her this year.