bayonnejoe

While the perks you now pay for are, in essence, a wash for a 7-10 day cruise, the longer the cruise gets, the less value there is, because of the standard $300 onboard credit. DW and I have a 5 night on the Eclipse and the package is a great deal because we paid an extra $450 for the Go Best option. So for our $450 we get a value of about $548 ($300 OBC, $130 gratuities, $118 upgrade to premium beverage package, plus unlimited internet.) We also have the Go Better for a 4 nighter later in the year. Even a better deal. There is something else people should be very aware of! And I apologize if this has been addressed, either in this thread or the previous, but anyone who routinely purchases cruise insurance, should be aware that the Go Better or Go Best is now part of your cruise fare and could raise the cost of your insurance. I think at some point, Celebrity will realize the error of their ways, and will pro-rate the OBC for cruise days like they used to

Who would have ever thought? A dress code thread for doors!

Will be arriving Newark airport on Sunday around 10:00 am. Will taxis be readily available or should we book a car service? If so, any recommendations for car service?

 

Distance from airport to pier? Approximate taxi cost?

 

Thanks.

It is about 20 minutes without traffic. Taxi should be fine. They are right outside the terminals. It is about $50-60.

Just loved your quote at the bottom of your comments. Glad we are not the only ones who tend to wear out before we rust out!

And as Jimmy Buffett once said, "I'd rather die while I'm living, than live while I'm dead."

I have cruised on Disney in the past and this will be my first time on Celebrity. Do people decorate their doors on Celebrity like they do on Disney?

Absolutely. And much more in the past five years or so. Celebrity has become far more mainstream, and far more of a relaxed atmosphere as time has gone on. And if there happens to be some kind of group, either formally or casually organized, many will have something on their door.

It has been doing the sail by since Captain Leo has been back. I think it is going to be an every week thing.

That's a great idea. Perhaps Bayonne Joe will read this and offer some suggestions. For all the driving I've done between Mass and NJ, I've been lucky to never have had a bad problem. AAA did what they promised to do - change the tire, so that issue was solved. I just didn't know where to go to get a tire repaired quickly. I had the grand tour through northwest Bayonne into Jersey City. Not visually the most comfortable place to roam the streets. But folks were nice and it all worked out in the end.

Hello, Carol. Sorry for your trouble. I wish I could have directed you elsewhere. One poster has mentioned the Firestone. They are the closest to the port, perhaps a five minute or so ride to Broadway and 17th Street. For anyone interested, make the left out of the port onto 440 and then a quick right onto 34th Street. Over the bridge and up two lights is Broadway. Make a left and then down to 17th. And except for gas stations, they are pretty much the only game in town on a Sunday. DW (Maisey) and I are still amazed they haven't done anything about the some of the roads at the port, especially that one stretch of about a 1/4 of a mile where it is just one lane back and forth. They probably aren't going to do much with the lots themselves, at least for a while with the new garage being built.

We are sailing on the Summit re-positioning cruise from SJU to NJ next year. We arrive on a Sunday morning at 7AM - is a 10:25AM departure out of EWR too early? Not sure if a ship coming into a new home port creates additional delays (beside the normal port clearances) - Would appreciate any input - especially from anyone that just did this cruise - thank you !

Don't do it. You are definitely taking a gamble. We have taken the repo every year since 2011. Sometimes things go very smoothly, and sometimes not. This year we didn't even dock until about 7:30. Between harbor traffic and then some confusion at the port, disembarkation started late. I don't think anyone even got off before 8:30. The lines at customs were long and slow. See you onboard.

Why is Celebrity named Celebrity? Because I'm onboard, of course.:p

Actually, your explanation may not be far from the truth. The story I heard many years ago from someone was that each guest was treated like a Celebrity.

Can anyone tell me how bad the construction is going to Port Liberty ?

 

Wife and leaving June, 18th

 

Thanks,

Bill

As of now, there are no delays other than the normal everyday traffic. And one other thing, it is Cape Liberty, not Port Liberty. Port Liberte is a condo complex in Jersey City. Do not plug Port Liberty in to your GPS. It could send you there.

This is really annoying. We retire early and wake to scuba dive very early. We are in 1140 and was counting on quiet evenings.

Do you know that 1140 is the middle aft verandah right above the sunset bar? It is a great cabin with a huge balcony, but the bar has music into the evening, and although it is not what I would call rowdy, it can still be a bit noisy.

I do not want to be the one raining on anybody's parade, but I would issue one caveat about these cabins. We had 1130 for the 8 day repo to Bayonne in April. We have done this itinerary for five years running now. We have had great seas on the last day from Bermuda to Bayonne and a couple of rough ones. This year on Saturday (the day before arrival), from about 10 A.M. until about 8 P.M. was some of the roughest waters I have ever experienced on a ship. I would have to say that these cabins may not be for people prone to motion issues on itineraries that might run into rough seas. Having said that, up until that time, we loved the cabin, the balcony, and its location, (you could jump off the balcony and land on a barstool at the Sunset Bar). We would book this cabin again in a heartbeat. Any southern Caribbean cruise should be fine, and as the summer goes on, it should be fine from Bayonne to Bermuda and back, barring bad weather.

Are Carols excellent driving instructions still the same? I know they are doing lots of construction in the area so just wondering. Has anyone driven there within the last several weeks? How was it getting off the TPKE with the construction? What time would you recommend leaving? We are on the Summit this Sunday.

I drive it everyday. I wrote about the construction a couple of months ago when it started. There have been no serious problems up to now save for the normal weekday backups that those of us living here have endured forever. I remarked then that exit 14A is still by far the best option off the turnpike, and I would report back in the future if my opinion changes. for a weekend sailing you will most likely see no delay at all.

Thanks for the directions. I'll take the Goethals Bridge when going to Cape Liberty.

This is unnecessary if the Bayonne Bridge is open. You only need to take the Goethals if the Bayonne Bridge is closed. It will add about a half hour to your trip. Check for a bridge closing schedule a couple of days before.

Don' take for granted that you will be in this lot. With two ships in, they are parking people pretty far away in a different lot past where the old terminal is. I do not think they will let you walk it since you are walking where there is active traffic and no sidewalk. The shuttle would be a good idea from this lot.

Any idea when this would become available for 2017?

It is always the first itinerary when the new sailings become available. Celebrity released them very early this time (November and December), so I guess the same time frame this year for the 2017 sailings.

Quite a few of us have taken this repo five years running now, and this is the first year Tortola was not the last stop before heading north to Bermuda. They just had an extra sea day sailing north, and basically floated to Bermuda at 14 knots, taking us out of the Caribbean warmth sooner than need be, many believed. I can understand this year was not included because of construction at the pier. However, it is not on next year's itinerary either. We have seen some of the Summit itineraries earlier in April of 2016, and Tortola is one of the stops. Does anyone else on either this year or next year's repo feel the same way? Maybe if we all voice our opinion, Celebrity might actually listen, and keep us in the Caribbean a day longer.

Richardsea,

I hate it when there's rebuttal looking for a fight.

West side of WHAT city? Cape Liberty? It doesn't have a west side? Or did you mean NYC? If you meant NYC -- Richard your kidding--- nothing to do there-- shopping or show or even restaurant wise.

Have no idea what your talking about-- cruise terminal akin to 4 star hotel-- what does that even mean?

Yes it has everything to do with cheapening out. Pay the fee to park by OL San Juan were people can enjoy themselves in Ol Town. There is absolutely nothing to do at the pier by the little airport--- NOTHING. Ship doesn't sail till 9pm so your stuck on board.

You know not what you speak of. Sea boy....... "convenient piers--- what the heck are they convenient to of for???? What are they saving the GOOD PIERS FOR?

Anyway for anyone serious about cruising - I think some of the ports need to be looked at and or reevaluated in the very least. Freeport for example: shouldn't have to take a taxi 10 miles to get out of the container port to town-- you (You being Bahamas) want the ship here then supply FREE shuttle to town. OTHER wise were going someplace else with our ship and tourist $.

I will only comment on one point. The pier at Old San Juan is for port stops only. There are no facilities for embarkation. The Pan American Pier is where is where the cruise lines begin and end their sailings.

Our ship is scheduled to arrive back in Bayonne at 7:00 A.M.

What's the earliest time I should schedule my return flight? I'm seeing some 10:00 A.M flights and 11:42 A.M. flights back to Chicago.

How long does it normally take to disembark, grab a shared shuttle and get to the hotel?

I'd like to get my flights booked tonight.

First, and most important, don't even think about a 10:00 A.M. flight. And I am a bit confused. Why are you asking about getting to a hotel? If you meant the airport, it is about 20 minutes away from the port with no traffic. There is no way to tell how long it would take for a shared shuttle to leave. They leave when filled.

I usually have my daughter pick me up from the Cape Liberty cruise port to bring me to her home in Bayonne, where I leave my car. She'll be working when I return from my next cruise. Is there a long wait for a local taxi? I'm afraid they are looking for the more expensive fares to the airports or Manhattan and I'll be stuck waiting forever for a taxi.

I live here in Bayonne, and I can tell you that this is absolutely true. When I have had to rely on local taxis, I have had to wait as much as 45 minutes to an hour. There really is not much you can do about it except to try to make other arrangements. It's just how business is done. You cannot call for a cab. The local companies send cabs to the port, and they are dispatched. Usually you will have to wait for one of the vans to fill up with local drop offs. Good luck.

What I really want to know is what happened to the indoor parking garage that was going to be built. I have not heard any news about this and know it was not done by the time Quantum started sailing out of there.

 

Anne Maria

Still a long way off. They have not started any construction on it yet that we can see. Looks as if they have leveled an area next to the new terminal where it might go.

Would anyone here catch a 9:30a.m. flight out if your ship gets in at 7:00 a.m.? My husband and I do it a lot out of FTL but I believe the ship gets in at 6:00 a.m. Hubby and I plan on carrying our bags off the ship and just heading to the airport as fast as possible.

Not a chance! Don't do it. Even getting in on a Saturday, which I believe you do, you would need the best conditions to even have a chance.

When I first starting sailing Celebrity in 1995, they had half that much. About ten per steward and assistant as I remember it. Times change. So does the quest for profit.

Thanks, I was concerned because of the construction at 14A also. :eek:

 

I'll just plan on leaving early enough.

Read my post #163 at the Cape Liberty 411 thread about 14A.

Joe, is the construction on the Bayonne Bridge manageable for you to cross on the way to the cruise terminal?

I don't use the bridge very much at all, since I do not go to Staten Island very often. It is subject to closure on weekends, sometimes just Saturday, and sometimes all weekend. They usually have a schedule posted somewhere. As far as traffic when the bridge is open, there is hardly ever a backup. Unless you are coming from Long Island or Staten Island itself, I still recommend to anyone who asks to take the turnpike straight into Bayonne at 14A. It is still by far the easier way to go.