NYC Teach 498

This is what we do when we cruise out of NYC. MetroNorth down to GCT, then get a cab. It's like $12 to get across town to the pier, and MN is easy, doesn't break the bank, and is on time more than the subways. ;)

 

 

 

Have a great cruise!

Thanks for the advice. Already back from my cruise. As previously posted, I ended up using Dial 7. Very reliable and I didn't have to lug my huge suitcase thru Grand Central, etc. :)

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Why is that?

 

 

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Currently waiting to disembark on Breakaway...coffee, danish, cereal, milk...all still complimentary and part of the continental breakfast. You will not be charged the $7.95 room service fee. How do I know? I ordered it yesterday. :)

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Would it not be cheaper and more reliable to go with a Car service in your area ?

I used Dial 7...last night of my cruise on the Breakaway. [emoji22]

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The "Carmel" in the post you quoted refers to the name of a car service, Carmel Limo, not the name of a town.

Oops! Lol!!! Thank you!! 🤣

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$69 to MCT, from Westchester Co. is a fair & reasonable price (especially if it's upper & east) as it is quite a bit of mileage from Dial 7 - also get a quote from Carmel ... which we use mostly, usually a notch or two lower. Pre-book them in advance to assure vehicle & driver is assigned and dispatched, call them 1 or 2 hours prior to scheduled pickup just to reconfirm the dispatcher (as it's computerized at the base).

 

Henry Hudson parkway has (always) a toll over Riverdale - EZ Pass rate is $2.64 as it's otherwise Toll by Mail (completely cash-less) at $6.00 per crossing, either way.

 

BA sails on a Sunday, and traffic in the morning even on the Cross Bronx/I-95 South route (before 9:30 or 10 AM ... unless weather or major accident, etc.) - or, come down Major D. (I-87 South & take the exit for the GWB for the Lower Level (only) to go south on the Henry Hudson, thus avoiding/saving on the toll.

 

There is another short cut for us "locals" - coming from Cross County to I-87 South, take the Fordham Road exit & cross over to Inwood, Upper Manhattan for Dyckman Street to Riverside Drive, and pickup the on-ramp (past the bridge toll) & merge on the Henry Hudson Pkwy & straight to MCT. A good, experienced car driver from Carmel or Dial 7 should know about & driven that route - Waze or Google Navigation, maybe not ... just a few local traffic lights going thru Inwood (this is actually an alternate to the beginning/end of the Harlem River Drive @Dyckman St.)

 

Driver of the car service typically will use the shortest route, however, but you can always ask & suggest a different one - if they know & agree ... without getting lost just to save a few bucks. Happy cruising !

Thanks so much for your reply. [emoji4] I'm actually in Lower Westchester- 700-1000 feet from the Bronx - Carmel is almost an hour north of me. I'm going to tell the driver to take the Henry Hudson and go straight down the West Side Highway. On a Sunday morning there is rarely traffic on that route as I regularly take the same route to the GWB. It's definitely worth the peace of mind. [emoji4]

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Colin Kerr - NCL

The most AMAZING cruise director (and now one of my very best friends)!!! I first met him on my very first cruise on the Norwegian Dawn in 2005. Last week I was at my doctor's office getting a seasick patch prescription and the nurse asked me what cruise line I was taking. When I told him NCL he remarked that he remembered Colin and loved him too!!! Small world. [emoji4]

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Maybe it varies by location, but we were in LV last month and we could NOT pre-book Uber. We've never had more than a 14 minute wait for an Uber. You can check it out now and get a cost estimate and compare that to a car service. I know you said you didn't want to, but Metonorth/cab is the easiest and probably the most economical.

Thanks so much for the great suggestions. [emoji4]MetroNorth, unfortunately, is a huge hassle for me. I'd have to take a cab there, drag my luggage through Grand Central, get another cab, etc. Uber is too unreliable from Westchester (3 people I've spoken to have had last minute cancellations and been left scrambling). I think I'm just going to go with Dial 7 and pay the $69 + tip. Better safe than sorry. Again, I thank you so much for taking the time to respond. [emoji4]

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Uber or a pre arranged limo or ask a willing participant to drive you but pay them of course

 

It's such an easy drive down the Henry Hudson to the west side and back

 

If you get a friend/relative to drive you don't forget to add in time/energy/tolls when paying them. $75 or $50 would be my offer depending on exactly where you are coming from in lower Westchester.

 

Both white plains as well as yonkers qualify to be lower Westchester but wp takes a lot longer on the saw mill than most of yonkers does

 

However these days uber is my first consideration

 

 

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Thanks so much for your response. The drive is super-easy but I don't want to pay to leave my car and I'm getting picked up when we return. I've driven there so many times....lol. I'm an Uber newbie...how reliable are they if you reserve ahead of time? (I'm also a nervous Nellie...hahaha!)

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Which cruise terminal? Manhattan, Red Hook (Brooklyn), or Cape Liberty? I think you need to be asking this on the East Coast Departures board here, under North American Homeports. EM

Thank you! Sorry, the Manhattan cruise terminal. I will repost. [emoji4]

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Anyone ever reserved an Uber in Lower Westchester and taken it to the cruise terminal? I'm an Uber newbie and am nervous that one won't be available on a Sunday morning. [emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]

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I'm traveling on the Breakaway on Aug 13 and need to get to Pier 88 in Manhattan. I don't want to take the MetroNorth/Grand Central/taxi option. Any ideas/car services/etc.? Thank you in advance. [emoji4]

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I would ask the NYC area experts on the East Coast Departures forum:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=415

Thank you! [emoji4]

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Hello. I'm leaving on Aug 13 from NYC and was wondering (other than Metro North to Grand Central, then a cab to the pier) if anyone had any suggestions/car service recommendations/etc.?

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Thanks, I had noticed that too. I originally figured the online allocations had been booked. But now it looks like that may not be the case.

 

BTW: I found your recent review most helpful. Thanks for taking the time to post all the dailies, menus, show schedules, those great pictures, etc. They really help with planning. Of course, I blame you for making me upgrade (again) to a Haven Spa Suite. :D

Thank you so much for the info! I am on the same sailing...looking forward to an amazing week!

I pulled out my little chair and used that for flat storage. I also used packing cubes on the shelves to arrange clothing. I always travel with an over the door hanger so that I can hang my toiletries bag. I actually keep it in an outside pocket of the bag. Another tip, I asked my steward for a robe and she brought me one of the terry cloth robes. Keep the toilet door open when going to the bathroom if you're claustrophobic.

Do you know if they do this on the Breakaway? (the robes, I mean). Was there any charge? (besides a tip, of course) [emoji4]

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37 days until Breakaway to Bermuda!!!

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Surge protectors that are not specifically rated for "marine use" are a fire hazard and in 2013 the USCG issued a Safety Alert concerning them:

 

https://goo.gl/GPTYSc

Ok. Thanks. It would have been nice for NCL to make that clear. I was on Breakaway in August of 2015 and no one said anything. I would never have purchased and/or used this if I knew that ahead of time. It will be replaced immediately.

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Just a quick comment (just my two cents - lol) about Rock of Ages. I was on the Breakaway in August of 2015 with my 82 year old mother, 40-something brother and sis-in-law, and my 5 and 7 year old nephews. We all saw the show together and loved it! My nephews kept asking if they could see it again! Now, something's may have changed since then, but there was no nudity and yes, some bad language. My nephews were made aware of this ahead of time and know better than to EVER repeat profanity. Having said all of that, it is always a matter of personal taste, but you should judge for yourself - don't rely too heavily on someone else's opinion. Again, just my two cents. [emoji4][emoji173]

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Some good tips but number 8 is only half right. Extension cord yes, no surge protectors allowed. They draw too much power for the ship electrical system and have been prohibited for a long time. Enjoy your next cruise and be safe.

I was on the Breakaway and didn't have a problem using my surge protector. No one confiscated it or told me I couldn't use it. I've brought one on every cruise without an issue. Perhaps the type you brought/used was different. I use a Belkin that has two USB ports as well.

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Looking forward to your review. We will be on the BA next month.

 

Specifically interested in anyone's experience with the Escape Room.

Escape Room? Is this new on Breakaway? I'm intrigued!! :)

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Hi! Going on my 5th NCL cruise (2nd on Breakaway) this summer. Here are a few tips I can think of:

1. I always bring 3M hooks (they don't damage the walls and come in so many varieties).

2. I bring a few collapsible bins (fabric ones that fold flat and don't take up too much room in the suitcase) to use on the closet shelves, etc. to keep my socks, etc. organized. The smaller ones are great for the bathroom too!

3. I'm a scrap booker. I also try to bring a large manilla envelope for each day so I remember what I did. I put the dailies, tickets, etc. from each day and write the date and any memorable moments on the outside. It's amazing what you forget with all of the fun you're having.

4. Definitely go to the cruise director's activities on the first night and introduce yourself! On my first cruise we did this and 12 years later I am still in contact with Colin (our first CD) and he is actually one of my best friends! His parents even stayed with me when they came to the US!

5. I always pack a few extra hangers - just an FYI.

6. I always pack too much! Lol!

7. An over-the-door shoe holder is an amazing organizing tool - especially when traveling with a family. It can hold toiletries, toys, chargers, etc. (this is where your 3M hooks help).

8. I ALWAYS bring an extension cord and a surge protector strip. There are never enough outlets in the cabins.

9. Ladies, one word - wristlets! Great for your card, phone, and all of those receipts you get throughout the day. Lol!

10. Have fun and enjoy every minute! It always goes by too fast!

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Wow...I'm going on my first solo cruise and I'm thinking I should have skipped reading this thread! Lol!!!

My first mini-freak-out was on my first cruise in 2005 (the Dawn). My friend and I were in the 24 fast food area and we were watching some music videos on the TV they had there. Right before we got up to leave, "My Heart Will Go On" came on with all of the scenes from Titanic. I thought it was definitely a sign and we were never going to make it home!

My second experience was on the same ship, later that same year (yes, we did make it home - lol). In the middle of the night an announcement came over the loud speaker. It was something like "all crew report - code alpha". Again, not knowing what the heck was going on, I assumed that we were sinking or hit the equivalent of an iceberg (in the Caribbean)! Hahaha!!! Sadly, it turns out, it was someone having a medical emergency. We spoke to the CD the next day and he said the person was okay.

Wow! Has this show changed since 2015? There was absolutely NO NUDITY when I saw this performance. Perhaps teaching in the Bronx has jaded me a bit, but we took my nephews (ages 5 and 7 at the time) to this show and they loved it! My brother and his wife explained to them that there would be some "adult" things going on and that they were never to repeat any of the inappropriate words they heard - but they really didn't focus on that. Both boys LOVED the music! We also sat a bit near the exit because we told them that if they felt uncomfortable at any time, we would leave and do something else. They stayed through the show - and sang the songs for days and weeks after!

I understand that this is not for everyone, and my nephews are a bit mature for their ages, but unless something has drastically changed, I (and yes, this is only one person's opinion) didn't think it was THAT inappropriate. But, to each their own! :)

PS - The only thing I can think of is that maybe they "toned it down" a bit because it was during the summer and there were a lot of children on board???

10 more days until Breakaway!!!

3M hooks were great too! They don't damage the walls and there are so many different hooks these days you can hang anything from a jacket to your lanyards, etc.