Elizabeth or Staten Island?

[Megs867]

Leaving from Cape Liberty. Where should we stay Elizabeth or Staten Island?

[138east]

Meg - how many people are you? What time does your flight arrive at Newark? What hotels are you considering? I gather from other posts that you are several people.

 

One problem with all the Newark area hotels is that there is really nothing to do, particularly without a car. The hotels on Glimcher Realty Way are next to Jersey Gardens Mall and there is a Ruby Tuesday's and an IHOP. My family members were underwhelmed by the Mall, but it is there and it is something to do. It also has a food court and a movie complex. There is also an Ikea and a Toysrus fairly close by.

 

The Hampton Inn and Hilton Gardens on Staten Island are located in a wooded corporate park - a quiet oasis in the middle of NYC. However, they are isolated and there is nothing to do there.

 

Folks have been happy with all these choices - I've stayed for 2 nights at Country Inns and I did a drive by of the Staten Island hotels to see what they looked like. I've also stayed at the Sheraton, the Newark Courtyard, what is now the Ramada, and the Fairfield Inn.

 

I'd look at hotel amenities for your group and how they might affect the total cost of your stay. Country Inns and Hampton Inn offer free breakfast, whereas the Elizabeth Courtyard and Hilton Gardens do not. Hampton Inn and Hilton Gardens offer a free shuttle to the port whereas you will have to arrange for your own transportation from Country Inns or the Elizabeth Marriott to Bayonne. Country Inns also offers a sleep/cruise package where you would get transportation to the port and back again to the airport.

[Cruiserlady39]

Meg - We have a reservation at the Hampton Inn Staten Island for 5/28/11 for $149. That could be a senior rate - not sure. They offer a shuttle from Newark Airport to Hotel and next day to Cruise port. They also offer shuttle to Staten Island Ferry and will pick you up upon your return from Ferry. The Ferry stops in Manhatten where you can walk to Ground Zero and Wall Street. All of the shuttle service is no charge except for tips.

[CarolRick]

Meg - We have a reservation at the Hampton Inn Staten Island for 5/28/11 for $149. That could be a senior rate - not sure. They offer a shuttle from Newark Airport to Hotel and next day to Cruise port. They also offer shuttle to Staten Island Ferry and will pick you up upon your return from Ferry. The Ferry stops in Manhatten where you can walk to Ground Zero and Wall Street. All of the shuttle service is no charge except for tips.

 

I talked with a reservation clerk at the Hampton and was told that the Hilton Garden Inn, nearby the Hampton, runs the shuttle. She siad we would need to call over there to call for a shuttle to Cape Liberty.

Doesn't sound like a problem.

[not2old]

We stayed @ Country Inns in Elizabeth in April and were very pleased. The extremely nice clerk @ the desk called a pick up service for our transportation to the cruiseport. He charged us $45 + tolls for a total of $50. We did not use him for tranport back after cruise and wished we did! We used Sandy's Limo which was waiting for passengers @ the dock and it was horrible! The driver didn't know how to get to Elizabeth or Country Inns and rode us around for 2 hours, she never called anyone for directions and it wasn't until we pulled up next to a police car and I got out and asked him to get us back to our hotel that she said she didn't know where she was going! Thank Goodness he escorted us back to the hotel!! Live and Learn!

[Megs867]

Thanks everyone! I think we are going with Hampton Inn on Staten Island.

[Cruiserlady39]

I am sorry that I forgot to mention that the shuttle is from the Hilton Garden Inn. Both hotels have the same owner. You call the HGInn and tell them you are a Hampton guest and would like to make shuttle arrangements. You can only do it one month in advance of your arrival.

[gracebest]

We stayed @ Country Inns in Elizabeth in April and were very pleased. The extremely nice clerk @ the desk called a pick up service for our transportation to the cruiseport. He charged us $45 + tolls for a total of $50. We did not use him for tranport back after cruise and wished we did! We used Sandy's Limo which was waiting for passengers @ the dock and it was horrible! The driver didn't know how to get to Elizabeth or Country Inns and rode us around for 2 hours, she never called anyone for directions and it wasn't until we pulled up next to a police car and I got out and asked him to get us back to our hotel that she said she didn't know where she was going! Thank Goodness he escorted us back to the hotel!! Live and Learn!

 

Who did you use for transportation to the port?

[sjcruiser]

A great, cheap, reliable van/shuttle service from Newark area hotels is Bayonne Taxi and shuttle (201) 339-5000. They have pickups from several of the Newark Airport hotels, but not all. The trip per person is $15.00 each way!!! I know one of their pickup locations is the Sheraton on Frontage Road, which is next to the Ramada/Old Holiday Inn. Just dont stay at the Hojo's!!! We used them for our Thanksgiving cruise in 2009, and have friends that have used them since, and were pleased.

[Langley Cruisers]

We stayed @ Country Inns in Elizabeth in April and were very pleased. The extremely nice clerk @ the desk called a pick up service for our transportation to the cruiseport. He charged us $45 + tolls for a total of $50.

 

This was exactly our experience, too. We were charged a flat rate of $50.00, plus we tipped her $10.00. Neat and sweet, plus she took a short cut and got us in long before other cars. :D

 

The front desk arranged it; do not know who they called.