Pre-cruise New Jersey-Where to stay & eat

[cherbobtt]

We are taking a Celebrity Cruise from New Jersey and would like to know where are the good, clean places to stay near the cruise terminal. Are there any good restuarant nearby? Thanks for you help.

[138east]

What is your exact date? Can I assume you are flying into Newark? How many people/rooms? Do you want to sightsee in NY? What is your budget? What do you consider to be a "good restaurant"? The hotels at Newark Airport are airport hotels and cater to a transient crowd. If you don't have a car, there is no exciting dining. You can take a shuttle from the airport to your hotel, but you will have to arrange for a car service to take you to the port. Only one hotel that we recommend offers a shuttle to the port, which is not always the best deal since you cannot control your arrival time at the port.

[cherbobtt]

We should be arriving 7/31 at the Newark Airport. A "good" restaurant doesn't need to be elegant for us. We just want a place that is clean and has good food. We will not have a car, so a shuttle would be great. Thanks for responding

[138east]

Cher,

Country Inns in Elizabeth has a cruise package on 7/31 for $191 incl taxes which will provide a round trip shuttle to the port and breakfast. This hotel is next to Jersey Gardens Mall, a Ruby Tuesdays, and an IHOP. You can also order take out. The dining options at Newark Airport hotels are inconsistent. The area is basically urban industrial, so there are not a lot of options to eat at or close to any of the hotels.

 

For a more upscale hotel look at the Newark Marriott - $113 incl taxes through Kayak.com and Orbitz.com. From this hotel you would have to arrange a car service to the port ($50 + tip). Coming back you can take an airport shuttle for $15/pp.

 

The advantage to arranging your own transportation to the port is that you can control the time you arrive. We usually recommend 10:30-11 am. If you use a hotel shuttle, the timing will likely be later and not under your control.

[cherbobtt]

Great! and thanks for the info.

[138east]

Check out Meg's blog for more info on Marriott's (her favorite hotel chain) and car services. Ruby Tuesdays does not get good reviews. The Newark Marriott does have hotel dining choices.