Bayonne Premier Parking

[Johnd6rose]

Has anyone used the new parking facility at Bayonne Cape Liberty?

 

http://premierparkingusa.com/cruise-...g/port-liberty

[njhorseman]

So far no one has anything positive to say.One person mentioned the location of the lot had moved from the one originally advertised, and it wasn't a real parking lot, it was space rented on the grounds of some other business. Based on the picture I wouldn't park my car there.

[montekat]

Thanks for posting, this looks like a great deal. We sail in Oct. so will be watching for reviews. It might make it faster to park and get in the terminal. I remember sitting waiting in line to park the last time we went.

[njhorseman]

Thanks for posting, this looks like a great deal. We sail in Oct. so will be watching for reviews. It might make it faster to park and get in the terminal. I remember sitting waiting in line to park the last time we went.

 

If I were you, I would pay attention to what I posted earlier.

[138east]

Looks like a great deal, but nobody knows much about it. Is the parking lot secured surrounded by a fence? Does it have 24 hr security? I seem to remember reading posts that when the Cape Liberty parking was first opened there were theft and vandalism issues and it took them a while to get that squared away. Also the parking is nearby, but you have to take a shuttle from the next peninsula up to the Cape Liberty peninsula, so I don't know if it would be faster at all.

[njhorseman]

Please read this before parking there:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=32326729&postcount=10

[pedro99]

This sounds good but it's not. Departure was fine. Arrived when planned and they loaded 2 couples in their ONLY van. No Problem!

 

Return was a disaster.. About 8 couples waited from an hour to 2 hours before even seeing the promised van. When the van arrived, there were 16 people to fit into a 9 passenger van, (with luggage).

 

Several of us left our luggage at the teminal. Went alone in the van to the parking area to retrieve our cars, and then drove back to the terminal to pick up traveling companions and luggage.

 

They have one van. I have no idea of how they think that business model can possibly work. We were one of the last groups to leave the terminal and were caught in the chaos of the arriving passengers before we got out of there.

[tusun2]

Just back from cruise to Bermuda from Bayonne. Premier had plenty of vans quick delivery to port and was there for p/u as we left the ship. Coupons available and price was right. Parking was very convenient. NO problems at all.

So far no one has anything positive to say.One person mentioned the location of the lot had moved from the one originally advertised, and it wasn't a real parking lot, it was space rented on the grounds of some other business. Based on the picture I wouldn't park my car there.

[megr1125]

Just back from cruise to Bermuda from Bayonne. Premier had plenty of vans quick delivery to port and was there for p/u as we left the ship. Coupons available and price was right. Parking was very convenient. NO problems at all.

 

glad you had a good experience, but i will still not suggest them as an alternative due to seemingly questionable licensing and insurance requirements.....

[greatam]

glad you had a good experience, but i will still not suggest them as an alternative due to seemingly questionable licensing and insurance requirements.....

 

This from one of my local drivers:

 

The operators of Premier Parking have asked all the guys working in the warehouse where the cars are parked if they would like to make some extra money driving the shuttle vans. Evidently there are signs posted when you walk in the dock entrance.

 

Those who have taken advantage of the opportunity have been sent to different rental car agencies to pick up vans for the parking shuttle service.

 

So again, UNTIL SOMEONE CAN PROVE IT WITH an ACORD FORM (commercial insurance form), I see it this way: Vans are rented from rental car agencies that have at most minimal liability insurance and the insurance is ONLY GOOD for NON COMMERCIAL applications. AND most states REQUIRE a minimum commercial license with PASSENGER endorsement anytime someone is driving a vehicle that can hold 10 including a driver OR towing a trailer with other people's property in that trailer attached to a van capable of transporting a minimum of 10 people including driver.

 

My driver relays that there are 2 people out of about 40 working in the warehouse that meet any kind of commercial qualifications and they are both the forklift drivers. One guy told my driver he did it a month ago and his license is suspended for unpaid parking tickets.

 

I will be back in the area the last of October-first of November. I am going to book this shuttle/parking if there is a ship leaving that weekend. Then I am going to ask for the COMMERCIAL PASSENGER insurance certificate which is needed to run an operation like that. I will bet it cannot be provided. At that point in time, I will make the phone call to NJ DOT and NJ State Police who control commercial vehicles. No COMMERCIAL insurance with passenger endorsement running a commercial enterprise-IMMEDIATE out of service for a minimum of 8 hours.

 

If my company has to pay 1000's of dollars per year to the State of NJ for permits, insurance, fuel/road tax, etc. etc., why should someone else be able to go to a rental car place, rent a van for $150 for the day (including the offered insurance) and drive passengers for hire without complying with the same rules???

 

This operation is no more legal than a gypsy cab operation where you use the family car to make a few extra dollars. Same EXACT premise.

Edited September 10, 2012 by greatam

[megr1125]

Thanks greatam....was hoping you would stop by.....

 

Sent from my Samsung Charge via Tapatalk

[greatam]

Thanks greatam....was hoping you would stop by.....

 

Sent from my Samsung Charge via Tapatalk

 

I just hope everyone realizes that if I call NJ DOT and the NJ State Police commercial enforcement division that any vans they can find will be SHUT DOWN if there is no commercial passenger insurance. Which means people will have to find alternate ways to get to their cruise even if they have already paid. And I can't do it on any other day because the vans only run on cruise days.

 

I hate to do it to people leaving or arriving on their cruises. But I truly believe this is no more than a gypsy cab operation run part time by someone with NO proper insurance and NO proper DOT number or docket number (MC number).

 

I resent the fact that our company has to pay a LOT of money to NJ and NY for permits, road and fuel taxes, insurance and other assorted fees and these guys are most likely not paying anything. The playing field is NOT level. And if someone gets hurt with this quasi legal operation, it could be disastrous for everyone concerned.

 

That big wreck with the tour bus about year ago on I-95 has left over 3.8 million in unpaid medical and property damage bills. There was NO commercial FOR HIRE passenger insurance. 5 Million coverage is MANDATORY MINIMUM. The only insurance on the bus was for the standard 1 million. That is only good on passenger conveyances IF the passengers are NOT FOR HIRE (meaning they are employees of a company who leases/owns the bus or are somehow NOT engaged in a commercial enterprise. Premier Parking IS a commercial enterprise and 5 million passenger coverage for the vans is MANDATORY).

[megr1125]

I just hope everyone realizes that if I call NJ DOT and the NJ State Police commercial enforcement division that any vans they can find will be SHUT DOWN if there is no commercial passenger insurance. Which means people will have to find alternate ways to get to their cruise even if they have already paid. And I can't do it on any other day because the vans only run on cruise days.

 

I hate to do it to people leaving or arriving on their cruises. But I truly believe this is no more than a gypsy cab operation run part time by someone with NO proper insurance and NO proper DOT number or docket number (MC number).

 

I resent the fact that our company has to pay a LOT of money to NJ and NY for permits, road and fuel taxes, insurance and other assorted fees and these guys are most likely not paying anything. The playing field is NOT level. And if someone gets hurt with this quasi legal operation, it could be disastrous for everyone concerned.

 

That big wreck with the tour bus about year ago on I-95 has left over 3.8 million in unpaid medical and property damage bills. There was NO commercial FOR HIRE passenger insurance. 5 Million coverage is MANDATORY MINIMUM. The only insurance on the bus was for the standard 1 million. That is only good on passenger conveyances IF the passengers are NOT FOR HIRE (meaning they are employees of a company who leases/owns the bus or are somehow NOT engaged in a commercial enterprise. Premier Parking IS a commercial enterprise and 5 million passenger coverage for the vans is MANDATORY).

 

As always, excellent information, and i appreciate it....

 

i think that often, people forget or just don't think about what could happen if they are trying to save money (or, maybe avoid paint overspray...which the drydock pays for, but i digress..)

 

To each their own...i will either park at a hotel and take a car service, or park at the pier......

[MisterBill99]

I just hope everyone realizes that if I call NJ DOT and the NJ State Police commercial enforcement division that any vans they can find will be SHUT DOWN if there is no commercial passenger insurance. Which means people will have to find alternate ways to get to their cruise even if they have already paid. And I can't do it on any other day because the vans only run on cruise days.

So, what did you determine in your investigation?

 

BTW does anyone know if they shovel the cars out if it snows? Is it self parking or valet? And are there any promo codes for it? They prompt for one when you make a reservation.

Edited January 2, 2013 by MisterBill99

[greatam]

So, what did you determine in your investigation?

 

Didn't get down there. We flew into NY right after Hurricane Sandy (Nov 1). There was NO gasoline, so we cut our business trip VERY short. We flew back out on Saturday morning just due to lack of gas to go any place.

 

BTW does anyone know if they shovel the cars out if it snows? Is it self parking or valet? And are there any promo codes for it? They prompt for one when you make a reservation.

 

One of my trucks was down there loading two weeks ago when one of the RCI ships was leaving. This was during the week when the port area is working all day. Evidently, the parking people were trying to use the lot they normally use because they took reservations.

 

To my driver, it looked like port security was telling people in cars they COULD NOT drive over to the warehouse where they park the cars because of all the truck/normal port traffic. This is normal course of business-port security absolutely DOES NOT want people going on a cruise to be driving around in the port area other than to the cruise parking lot. It's just too dangerous with all the trucks in and out all day during the week.

 

The parking people were trying to get a van to the people who had paid to park. They were going to put the people in the van and take the car keys until they could get the cars parked. He said he saw a couple of VERY NASTY arguments between people who had paid for Premier Parking and port security and one car escorted OUT of the port.

 

So just another indication that this is a scam-o fly by night operation. Anyone who has spent ANY time at all in that area KNOWS you can't be driving around inside the port area during normal working hours UNLESS you have business there. Port security actually calls the warehouse where you say you are going to to make sure you have business there. Parking your car for a cruise in an active parking lot is NOT a reason to be there.

 

So the average person would attempt to drive to where Premier told them to go (which is an ACTIVE warehouse parking lot during the week), port security would not allow it and you have baffled, confused people (thinking they are dealing with a legit company who wouldn't steer them wrong). Then you have to park in the normal cruise parking lot and try to get a refund.

Edited January 2, 2013 by greatam

[MisterBill99]

So the average person would attempt to drive to where Premier told them to go (which is an ACTIVE warehouse parking lot during the week), port security would not allow it and you have baffled, confused people (thinking they are dealing with a legit company who wouldn't steer them wrong). Then you have to park in the normal cruise parking lot and try to get a refund.

And yet, there have been no reports here of people being denied access to their parking lot, just some stories about people who had problems with the shuttle, and more stories from people who did not have problems. Premier Parking seems to a fairly sizable organization, their website shows locations at several ports and airports. I'm not sure if they own this place, or are just a locally owned place under this umbrella. Also, is the parking in a lot or a warehouse? You keep saying warehouse, but I think they have a lot. In any event, my cruise departs and returns on a Sunday so I won't have to worry about normal business traffic in the port.

 

You seem to be some sort of competitor to this company so I question your impartiality here. I would certainly be interested in knowing if they are licensed but I can't imagine they'd still be in business if they were not.

[greatam]

And yet, there have been no reports here of people being denied access to their parking lot, just some stories about people who had problems with the shuttle, and more stories from people who did not have problems. Premier Parking seems to a fairly sizable organization, their website shows locations at several ports and airports. I'm not sure if they own this place, or are just a locally owned place under this umbrella. Also, is the parking in a lot or a warehouse? You keep saying warehouse, but I think they have a lot. In any event, my cruise departs and returns on a Sunday so I won't have to worry about normal business traffic in the port.

 

You seem to be some sort of competitor to this company so I question your impartiality here. I would certainly be interested in knowing if they are licensed but I can't imagine they'd still be in business if they were not.

 

The WEBSITE is NOT the company that parks your car. They are a RESERVATION agent. ANYONE can start a website.

 

What this company does-finds empty warehouse or parking lot space OR contracts with a LOCAL person who finds local parking and the LOCAL PERSON provides the shuttles and employees to park the cars.

 

ONLY problem with this-to transport passengers in ANY CAPACITY FOR HIRE REQUIRES $5,000,000 in liability insurance and a DOT/FMCSA number. You prove to me that this company has that kind of insurance and licensing and I will back off. BUT I have yet to find it.

 

I am not a competitor in any way, shape or form. I own a trucking company that does business in the port of Bayonne day in and day out. My drivers see what goes on. They have also seen the signs in the warehouses offering "part time" jobs for those who want to make extra money driving the shuttle vans on the weekends. It really does take a commercial license to drive a van as a commercial enterprise. The license in your pocket does not cut it unless it is truly a commercial license. So by hiring ANYONE with a driver's license and NOT having professional drivers drive the shuttle vans, the company is scamming the rules.

 

I just resent the fact that people are getting scammed by what they believe to be a reputable, LICENSED company and if there is ever an accident in the parking lot, in the shuttle or a vehicle get vandalized or wrecked, there is NO insurance to cover what has happened. There have been MULTIPLE bus/transport accidents on the East Coast in the last two years. MOST of the operators had NO passenger insurance. There are millions of dollars of unpaid medical bills and property damage.

 

Do what you want. Just because no one has been injured yet or their vehicle wrecked does not mean the company is operating legally.

[138east]

Gina and MisterBill99 - have you checked out SNAP parking at Newark Airport? They are new and normally would shuttle people just to the airport, but right now they are offering discount parking plus a free shuttle to the cruise port. Several people on my Feb cruises are using them. It is a covered parking garage so no worries about the snow.

[MisterBill99]

Gina and MisterBill99 - have you checked out SNAP parking at Newark Airport? They are new and normally would shuttle people just to the airport, but right now they are offering discount parking plus a free shuttle to the cruise port. Several people on my Feb cruises are using them. It is a covered parking garage so no worries about the snow.

I have not -- thanks for the tip! We are leaving Sunday and covered parking in January sounds excellent! I have to drive right past EWR on my way to Bayonne anyway, so it's not even out of my way (and maybe a few cents cheaper on tolls).

 

Rate seems to be $8.99 plus taxes and a $4 booking fee for Bayonne (it says $12.99 for the cruise port but another thread here says the shuttle is free at the $8.99 rate).

Edited January 4, 2013 by MisterBill99

[njhorseman]

I have not -- thanks for the tip! We are leaving Sunday and covered parking in January sounds excellent! I have to drive right past EWR on my way to Bayonne anyway, so it's not even out of my way (and maybe a few cents cheaper on tolls).

 

Rate seems to be $8.99 plus taxes and a $4 booking fee for Bayonne (it says $12.99 for the cruise port but another thread here says the shuttle is free at the $8.99 rate).

 

FYI...and I also posted this on another thread you were on...SNAP is not at the airport, it is in the city of Newark a couple of miles from the airport, and further from the cruise port than the airport itself. Their quoted rates do not include the 15% Newark parking tax.

[MisterBill99]

FYI...and I also posted this on another thread you were on...SNAP is not at the airport, it is in the city of Newark a couple of miles from the airport, and further from the cruise port than the airport itself. Their quoted rates do not include the 15% Newark parking tax.

Doesn't really bother me since my GPS will find it and I'm not paying a taxi to take me to the pier. And I know about the 15% (and there also seems to be a $4 service fee) but the price they quoted online when making the reservation is still a great deal, given that it's indoor parking. I don't want to come home and find snow on my car.

[138east]

GPS is not always the best in the airport area although it maybe fine to get you to Freylingheisen Avenue. I'd print out a map of the area and the written directions to the parking just to cover yourself.

[MisterBill99]

GPS is not always the best in the airport area although it maybe fine to get you to Freylingheisen Avenue. I'd print out a map of the area and the written directions to the parking just to cover yourself.

Their instructions actually saw not to follow the GPS since it will take you on local roads and take longer. I printed them out along with the confirmation. Thanks for all the info.

Edited January 5, 2013 by MisterBill99

[maygirlinde]

Has anyone used the new parking facility at Bayonne Cape Liberty?

 

http://premierparkingusa.com/cruise-...g/port-liberty

 

Horrible, Horrible, Horrible!! Don't do it. Just cruised on Explorer of the Seas. I so wish we had parked at the pier. First, when we found the place I was afraid to leave the car. It was in the middle of a trucking operation. Lots of moving around of trailers. Huge potholes in the lot. Then we stood in a line of people with all of the luggage that we all take on cruises (for 9 days) and waited, and waited.....probably about an hour and then one of two vans shows up. They crammed as much people and luggage in as possible. We didn't make the first one then the second one showed up. As he complained about the Bayonne set up to us we see him argue with the Bayonne attendant, he called them "sanitation worker rejects". Nice first experience for us in Bayonne. We get dropped off and the cruise was great. Then we get back nine days later, right on schedule. We did not opt for the express off which requires us to haul our luggage, all of it. When you read the fine print on the claim ticket it requests that you get off of the ship before 9am. Well, that is the express. Had we known that, we would have never ever parked in this lot. Well, had we known a lot of things we wouldn't have parked here. Anyway, we disembarked, trouble free and were in the terminal by 11:00. We stood and waited for a van until 2:15. No lie. One woman's husband walked to the lot to get his car. Of course the van driver blamed the captain of the ship for being late (which he wasn't), blamed the traffic (which there was plenty, but if there were more vans...), blamed Royal Caribbean for trying to keep us on the ship to make more money (which is ridiculous since there is nothing there to "make money" since the cruise is over)..... you get the idea. The guy was a total jerk. 2:15 if we had parked at the pier, we would have been pulling into our driveway in Dover Delaware. I will never ever ever use Premier again and do not recommend it to ANYONE. :mad::mad::mad::mad: Pay the additional $72 and get home at a reasonable hour and have nothing but the great cruise in your memory instead of the last 3 hours of your trip to be pure aggrivation.

[138east]

I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience. I have bookmarked this post so I can refer others to you experience when the topic of Premier Parking comes up again ( and it will for sure).

 

I love the Explorer and I'm so glad you had a great cruise.