September /October Events in NYC ??? (re: traffic)

[jaja]

We are looking at a fall (2013) cruise out of NYC..BUT--I do remember reading somewhere--about BIG traffic tie ups on one or two weekends in September or October. (or maybe I am wrong) ...Anyone know about any races,etc that occur in September/ October each year ?

[housepeepers]

We are looking at a fall (2013) cruise out of NYC..BUT--I do remember reading somewhere--about BIG traffic tie ups on one or two weekends in September or October. (or maybe I am wrong) ...Anyone know about any races,etc that occur in September/ October each year ?

 

Google NYC events September 2013 and see what comes up. I think Fashion Week is always in September and maybe the US Open.

[jaja]

Google NYC events September 2013 and see what comes up. I think Fashion Week is always in September and maybe the US Open.

 

Thanks..I was googling it...and was not getting to the info :o

Fashion Week and US Open..would not be a problem...I just remember a race of some kind that closed all the streets for a big part of the area..!

[AllBoys2002]

MS bike tour is always on a sunday in October and usually directly past the pier. Road closings and all.

 

Have been hung up in that two or three times.

[jaja]

MS bike tour is always on a sunday in October and usually directly past the pier. Road closings and all.

 

Have been hung up in that two or three times.

 

 

Thanks I knew I remembered something !!!will google now that I have some keywords....

[KEPE]

Tunnel to towers is also some time in the fall. End of Sept. I think usually.

[mking8288]

This year's 5k or 3.1 miles Tunnel to Towers Run in NYC is Sunday, Sept. 30th - starting time @ 9:30 AM near Ikea in Brooklyn by the waterfront (near where the QE's docked) to lower Manhattan, it should have minimal impact on Manhattan's west side Cruise Terminal.

 

The major event that taxi drivers & car service/limo drivers avoid and often take time off is the annual United Nations General Assembly Sessions, which typically is 10 days to 2 weeks, with diplomats & their families, staff and media converging on the Big Apple - law enforcement agencies & private security out in force, and, of course, the USSS to protect the POTUS when he address the UN, etc. - rolling road blocks & street closures, checkpoints & frozen zones - especially on the East Side of town (which impact on cross-town traffic to the West Side & even the Queens Midtown Tunnel) as those escorts & motorcades just keep rolling with their VIP's.

 

Traffic is especially bad on weekdays since it's business as usual for the rest of the city but for ships on the weekend, it's generally less of a problem - mass transit becomes the best option if you "luck" upon it for your cruise.

 

The U.S. Tennis Open is out in Flushing / Queens and generally do not significantly impact on traffic for the rest of the city, certainly not as far as the West Side (Cruise Terminal.) Subway trains will be a bit more crowded especially if it happened to combined with the NY Yankees or NY Mets both home, depending on the scheduled - the mass transit system moved 2 or 3 million riders day, so you are okay.

 

Good news - Taxi drivers & car service dispatchers are well informed and updated as they HATE to be sitting in traffic with unhappy passengers late for their destinations. The bad news for this period to out-of-visitors is that hotel or lodging will be asking for sky-high rates and parking garages imposing "special event" (surcharged) pricing. :(

[OceanDreaming2]

The MS Bike Tour is Sunday, October 21. http://bikenyn.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=18354&pg=entry

 

That's the day we embark on the Star. Does anyone have a plan how to get from the Helmsley Hotel to the pier? It's our first time in the Big Apple.

[alrose251]

MS bike tour is always on a sunday in October and usually directly past the pier. Road closings and all.

 

Have been hung up in that two or three times.

 

How much of an impact does this cause? How much additional time should we allow to get to the pier?

 

Thanks:)

[AllBoys2002]

I can tell you that the roads directly in front of the pier are shut down and there is major police presence in terms of directing the traffic to where it needs to go.

 

It is a major time consumer with all the road closings and crossover closings but they are most helpful in getting everyone where they have to go.

 

However, that being said, priority on the roads is definitly given to the bikers not the cars. The cars must wait while the bikers pass through until you are given the go ahead.

 

Sounds more intimidating than it really is. It really is just a big time consuming traffic PITA for a good cause. Leave a little earlier if driving and try to map out your route and the bike route and follow instructions given by those directing traffic and you should be fine.

 

This is a post from last years bike tour http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1484663

 

seeing as last year was our third time through the tour we came through NJ route 3 to the tunnels and traveled north to the pier. Way easier than trying to drive south with the bikes.

[chrisc71]

The MS Bike Tour is Sunday, October 21. http://bikenyn.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=18354&pg=entry

 

That's the day we embark on the Star. Does anyone have a plan how to get from the Helmsley Hotel to the pier? It's our first time in the Big Apple.

 

Cab is your best bet and easy to grab outside the hotel. Not far at all. With the Bike Tour I would allow some extra time.

[youngestof9]

I got caught up in it last year - if you're coming from the south or across the island, you're fine - leave some extra time, but you'll be good. If you're coming from the north, it's a PITA. Come down to the Lincoln and up or down the FDR and across. Avoid the West Side Highway and Riverside Drive at all costs.

[jaja]

Thanks for all the info!--

I notice all events are on Sundays..my sailings to choose from are on Saturdays..so all should be well....

[sonavogel]

One other thing you might want to research: How many ships will be docked, discharging pax and preparing to take on new ones and then sail away, on the day you will be boarding?

 

My husband and I booked a cruise on the Gem April 29. We set out in a cab from our apartment on West 75th and Riverside Drive (not that far from the pier where she was docked)...there were no events in the area that we knew of, and little traffic...and we were fine on the West Side Highway until we hit about three or four blocks from the pier (that much of the trip took us about five to seven minutes)--just before we reached the ramp that the cab was to drive up to drop us off at the pier itself.

 

The Gem was docked, as was the Star (next to her), and docked right alongside them were one of the Oceania ships and one of the Holland America ships.

 

From that point until the cab actually was able to drop us off, it took one hour.

 

So that aspect of the situation is worth considering as well, in my opinion. :)

[jaja]

One other thing you might want to research: How many ships will be docked, discharging pax and preparing to take on new ones and then sail away, on the day you will be boarding?

 

My husband and I booked a cruise on the Gem April 29. We set out in a cab from our apartment on West 75th and Riverside Drive (not that far from the pier where she was docked)...there were no events in the area that we knew of, and little traffic...and we were fine on the West Side Highway until we hit about three or four blocks from the pier (that much of the trip took us about five to seven minutes)--just before we reached the ramp that the cab was to drive up to drop us off at the pier itself.

 

The Gem was docked, as was the Star (next to her), and docked right alongside them were one of the Oceania ships and one of the Holland America ships.

 

From that point until the cab actually was able to drop us off, it took one hour.

 

So that aspect of the situation is worth considering as well, in my opinion. :)

 

 

Yes-- I agree--but sadly the fall 2013 port schedule is not posted yet!:mad:

[mking8288]

This is our home port and we loved sailing out of the West Side pier, plan C for us is to use/book a car service ahead of time (no panic over yellow taxi's meter running up a huge bill idling in gridlocked traffic approaching the terminal/dropoff) - leave a bit early to allow for extra travel time (porters will take & check your bags earlier as they are there for the disembarking pax ahead of you) - and, if things are worst than expected, have the car service drop you off on West 52nd. Street & 11th. Avenue, then - walk down the 52nd. Street block to cross 12th Avenue/West Side Hwy extension (wait for traffic light.) to reach the terminal, then take the huge elevator to level 2 to do the check-in.

 

It's not ideal & if you have lots of heavy luggage, it's not fun - we travel light with one 22" or 25" plus a backpack, so it's manageable - as we've been "trapped" on the block with traffic at a dead stop, took 30 minutes to reach the next intersection. Otherwise, the car service can drop you off at the Taxi Stand on the corner of 12th. Avenue & 52nd. Street, opposite the pier - just cross the busy 10+ lanes avenue with the walk signal, and you are at the pier (with exiting traffic.)

[dutchess43]

I am glad that I am sailing on a Wed & just have to put up with a regular work day dread the weekends with events. On those days you have to give yourself another hour to hour and half minimum.

[lauti]

Ugh! This is the day we leave on the Jewel. Glad I found this!

[lauti]

I can tell you that the roads directly in front of the pier are shut down and there is major police presence in terms of directing the traffic to where it needs to go.

 

It is a major time consumer with all the road closings and crossover closings but they are most helpful in getting everyone where they have to go.

 

However, that being said, priority on the roads is definitly given to the bikers not the cars. The cars must wait while the bikers pass through until you are given the go ahead.

 

Sounds more intimidating than it really is. It really is just a big time consuming traffic PITA for a good cause. Leave a little earlier if driving and try to map out your route and the bike route and follow instructions given by those directing traffic and you should be fine.

 

This is a post from last years bike tour http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1484663

 

seeing as last year was our third time through the tour we came through NJ route 3 to the tunnels and traveled north to the pier. Way easier than trying to drive south with the bikes.

 

So, what's the best way coming from Boston? Should we take 95 to the Jersey Turnpike and down to Route 3 and then through the Lincoln Tunnel and up to the pier?

 

Obviously the map is giving me directions for the closed routes so was just trying to figure out the best way to go around.

 

Does the Palisades Parkway connect to the Turnpike at the GWB? The map makes it hard to tell.

 

ETA: We usually prefer to take the Tappan Zee and could if the Palisades Pkwy route would work.