Help for parking in Manhattan on Super Bowl Sunday

[cruisinirish]

We received a wonderful Christmas gift from my daughter and her husband. A cruise on the Breakaway, on Super Bowl Sunday. They are not into sports so they had no idea this day may create problems.

We will be driving from south Jersey on Sunday morning. Any suggestions on parking, or a hotel we could get the nite before, leave our car at the hotel and take transportation to the port?:eek:

[138east]

At this point you may be stuck parking at the pier for $40/day.

 

Another option would be to drive to Port Imperial to park and take the ferry over to Manhattan and walk or cab to the pier. Parking is $13/ day.

 

The only place to do a park/sleep is at Newark airport which is very close to the game site in NJ.

 

You can look at stay123.com, Trinityreservations.com, and buyreservations.com to see if there is any park/sleep availability. The have already been discussions on this board about the price of hotels rooms that weekend.

 

Where exactly are you coming from in South Jersey? Is train to NY an option for you? I think your best economical choice right now is to Park at Port Imperial.

[greatam]

We received a wonderful Christmas gift from my daughter and her husband. A cruise on the Breakaway, on Super Bowl Sunday. They are not into sports so they had no idea this day may create problems.

We will be driving from south Jersey on Sunday morning. Any suggestions on parking, or a hotel we could get the nite before, leave our car at the hotel and take transportation to the port?:eek:

 

I personally would take the train or find some way OTHER than trying to drive your car. The reason-it will be a MAD HOUSE around those piers that day. They are using the Getaway as housing for the Superbowl. It is called the Bud Light hotel. There are also a couple of luxury yachts also parked at those piers for SuperBowl housing. Since the game doesn't start until 8:30 that night, those docks will be PACKED with people as there are displays, interactive stuff and all kinds of tours of the Intrepid, etc. etc. for the SuperBowl people.

 

Take the train, arrive kind of late (like after lunch) and a taxi to the pier. A lot of the people will be going over to the game by 2PM because there are all kinds of parties and stuff before the game.

 

Enjoy!!!

[WestfieldTraveler]

Everything is likely to be overpriced and take longer on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if they decide to put in extra security precautions on that day (i.e close down a tube in the tunnel, etc). Whatever you choose to do, give yourself a few extra hours and probably plan to be in your parking space by 11am.

 

I would say the Port Imperial option is probably your best bet, but I don't know much about what you would do with your luggage or get from that ferry terminal to the cruise ship. You can go to http://www.nywaterway.com/PortImperialWeehawkenTerminal.aspx

for more info. You are likely to get a cab eventually, so getting their early will reduce stress. As long as their parking will be available that day, it will probably be cheaper and faster than parking near a train station to take a train into Manhattan.

 

You are unlikely to find parking for less than $25 a day anywhere near the pier (see bestparking.com) in Manhattan, and that is before they hit you with "event rates" for that day. A hotel room nearby will probably run you several hundred dollars.

 

Enjoy your cruise - we're from NJ and I can't wait until we can do a cruise on the Breakaway!

[greatam]

Everything is likely to be overpriced and take longer on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if they decide to put in extra security precautions on that day (i.e close down a tube in the tunnel, etc). Whatever you choose to do, give yourself a few extra hours and probably plan to be in your parking space by 11am.

 

I would say the Port Imperial option is probably your best bet, but I don't know much about what you would do with your luggage or get from that ferry terminal to the cruise ship. You can go to http://www.nywaterway.com/PortImperialWeehawkenTerminal.aspx

for more info. You are likely to get a cab eventually, so getting their early will reduce stress. As long as their parking will be available that day, it will probably be cheaper and faster than parking near a train station to take a train into Manhattan.

 

You are unlikely to find parking for less than $25 a day anywhere near the pier (see bestparking.com) in Manhattan, and that is before they hit you with "event rates" for that day. A hotel room nearby will probably run you several hundred dollars.

 

Enjoy your cruise - we're from NJ and I can't wait until we can do a cruise on the Breakaway!

 

 

The security around the piers from Jan 29-Feb 3 will be extra tight. I own a trucking company. We have food and booze to deliver to those piers for various events. We just had to have all drivers cleared by NYPD just to get our trucks into the area to make deliveries. A very quick Google search will show you maps and tell you all that is happening in the area for those 4 days. This is just one little quip about what is going on directly at the piers where Breakaway will leave from:

 

"Going above and beyond, Bud Light is even including the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in their event space. To incorporate as many people as possible, Bud Light will construct a brand new Bud Light Hotel Amphitheater, which is set to be a heated concert venue across the street from the Intrepid that will host all the nightly concerts and parities of the weekend, and the Bud Light Hotel Lounge, which is a two-storey, 1,500 person venue adjacent to the Intrepid, that will serve as sophisticated accommodations for guests and VIPs.

 

Having secured an event space of more than 300,000 square feet, Bud Light is definitely raising the bar for all future tailgates!"

 

With concerts by Jay Z, Mary J Blige, Foo Fighters, Run DMC, supermodels putting on parties, celebrity chefs hosting events, DirectTV turning Pier 40 into a beach with an all star NFL football team and concerts at night and even the Brooklyn cruise terminal turned into an event area, it will be a total madhouse in NY.

 

Taxis will be at a premium, parking space anyplace close will be at a premium and with 4000 guests on the Getaway for FOUR days, this may be one time there will be no parking at the pier.

 

I just would not even be thinking about taking a car into Manhattan during those 4 days for Superbowl. I am having to pay my drivers extra money and we had a lottery to see who would have to work (I only had one volunteer) because they drive that city every day of the week and even they don't want to have to drive in Manhattan those four days.

 

Take the train or a bus, please. It will be difficult enough to find a taxi. I wouldn't even use a taxi-I would make advance arrangements for car service to get me from the train or bus station to the ship. Or even from the ferry terminal if you choose to park at Port Imperial (although I will bet that parking there will also be at a high premium, if even available). The wait time in traffic trying to get to the ship from train or bus station could cost you big money in "wait time" in a taxi. Either get there VERY, VERY early (like 8-9AM) or after lunch (close to 2PM). There will be an extra 4000 people at a minimum just from the extra guests at the Bud Light Hotel, not counting the two super yachts and one other boat which are supposed to house another 4-600 people. So figure an extra 5-6000 people in a very small area, not even counting those getting on the Breakaway. And don't forget all the TV trucks and crews that will be in the area getting pictures and live video of all the celebrities in the area.

Edited January 23, 2014 by greatam

[mking8288]

Thanks, Greatam, for sharing the latest update on SB security around the city. The air space above & around the NY area will be restricted & closely monitored as well, even corporate/private jets or general aviation will be screened. Ditto the same for the waterways - especially the Hudson River (thus) - NYSP's marine units will be guarding & patrolling, and you can be assured that NYPD on the NY side will be doing the same or parallel, plus other unspecified measures & unannounced, to protect the public and to assure that SB will be a success.

 

The key is to allow plenty of extra travel time, not just next Sunday but pretty much in the days ahead leading up to and long after the stadium emptied out that night (thru Tuesday) for folks leaving town. Traffic in & around 12th Avenue near the piers would most likely tbe gridlocked on Sunday, as security checkpoints & screening would most likely be ratched up, and car service might not get near the usual dropoff/pickup locations; think 11th Avenue, just in case - extended forecast for next weekend is cold, snow is always a possibility.

 

Lastly, if you have to drive into NYC for SB Sunday to park & sail for cruising, you should've alternate plans & contingencies in place by now, think of parking further out in the Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens, then take the subway or train in - traveling light (by air, land and sea) is always a blessing and easy with NCL's relaxed dress code - steps/stairs aren't going to be fun if those working escalators and/or elevators are out. Haven't seen NYPD checking backpacks & large packages/suitcases lately inside the subway systems lately - but, don't be surprised to see them popping out randomly soon as part of the overall security blanket for SB - over 180 agencies including numerous law enforcement are involved ... ;) :rolleyes:

[greatam]

The air space above & around the NY area will be restricted & closely monitored as well, even corporate/private jets or general aviation will be screened.

 

People with their private/corporate jets may be in for a big shock. Teterboro is FULL, FULL, FULL. We had a couple of deliveries that were supposed to go to Teterboro but those planes now have to land in Allentown or Stewart. Some very rich people will be very surprised that what should be a 20 minute ride from their private jet may be a couple hours if they didn't prepare well in advance.

[Got2Cruise]

Everything is likely to be overpriced and take longer on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if they decide to put in extra security precautions on that day (i.e close down a tube in the tunnel, etc). Whatever you choose to do, give yourself a few extra hours and probably plan to be in your parking space by 11am.

 

I would say the Port Imperial option is probably your best bet, but I don't know much about what you would do with your luggage or get from that ferry terminal to the cruise ship. You can go to http://www.nywaterway.com/PortImperialWeehawkenTerminal.aspx

for more info. You are likely to get a cab eventually, so getting their early will reduce stress. As long as their parking will be available that day, it will probably be cheaper and faster than parking near a train station to take a train into Manhattan.

 

You are unlikely to find parking for less than $25 a day anywhere near the pier (see bestparking.com) in Manhattan, and that is before they hit you with "event rates" for that day. A hotel room nearby will probably run you several hundred dollars.

 

Enjoy your cruise - we're from NJ and I can't wait until we can do a cruise on the Breakaway!

 

Since the Stadium is not that far from Port Imperial, I don't know if this is a good idea or not. There is going to be all kinds of crazy security. Take NJ Transit into Manhattan from South Jersey. That is the only way I would suggest.

 

I also thought that Broadway starting on 34th Street would be closed starting the 29th, but no, it will be closed starting Sunday, January 26th, I guess to set up the displays, etc. If I can get any pics on Sunday, I will post here, just for the fun of it.

[njhorseman]

They just opened a new parking garage at Port Imperial...I think it holds about 800 cars. This isn't one of the 10 or 12 staging areas for the bus shuttle service to Met Life Stadium, so I doubt anyone looking to go to the game is going to park there.

 

I think parking there and taking the ferry likely to be good option for getting to the cruise terminal on Super Bowl Sunday.

[nybumpkin]

One note about taking the train into Manhattan: They're setting up a beer garden/restaurant area right outside Penn Station at the corner of 7th Ave and 34th Street. Right in front of the 7th Avenue taxi line.:eek: I have to be in NYC next week from Tuesday to Friday on business (booked long before they announced NJ for the Super Bowl) and I'm not looking forward to it.

[NJ Mr. E]

If you're going to take the NEC (Transit train), I strongly suggest taking a time scheduled two departures prior to your "time cushion". Train patrols, sweeps and random bag checks are going to slow everything down. Secaucus Junction is one of the only ways into MetLife stadium, so needless to say, your train will be delayed.

 

Just having suit cases with you is going to cause inconvenience beyond belief on the train.

 

Enjoy the ship. Once you're on board, relax and don't let the travel there stress you out.

[zephyrgirl]

I would seriously consider coming the night before (although I imagine every hotel in the area is booked or crazy expensive). And avoid car travel if at all possible. Traffic is going to be terrible that entire week. I work in midtown and our building has advised us there is going to be a "frozen zone" from 34th-48th and from 6th-8th. It's like a massive week-long street fair taking over midtown Manhattan :rolleyes:

[greatam]

I would seriously consider coming the night before (although I imagine every hotel in the area is booked or crazy expensive). And avoid car travel if at all possible. Traffic is going to be terrible that entire week. I work in midtown and our building has advised us there is going to be a "frozen zone" from 34th-48th and from 6th-8th. It's like a massive week-long street fair taking over midtown Manhattan :rolleyes:

 

You are so right. It is a madhouse. One of my drivers left our yard in the South Bronx at 6:30 this morning. Two deliveries-one to a deli on 7th just off 42nd and one for one of the event planners for all the things that are going on on Broadway just north of 40th.

 

He just got back to the Bronx terminal. Said it took him 2 hours to clear security and be escorted onto Broadway and that didn't count get unloaded. So right at 8 hours to drive from the South Bronx to Manhattan, make two deliveries and get back to the South Bronx. My overtime bill is going to kill any profit we make this week because it can only get worse and worse.

 

I wouldn't drive in Manhattan this week unless it was a dire emergency. Only good thing I can see is a lot of money and fun for a lot of people PLUS the streets may be a lot less crowded because companies have told their employees to find alternate ways to work and emergency equipment may be able to roll faster to wherever they need to go. I have thought about that so many times when I was in NYC with traffic gridlocked for blocks and blocks. Darn, I hope I don't need serious emergency medical attention because the ambulance may not make it in time to save me.

[mking8288]

A shortened one was tweeted out by NYC but here's the detailed one issued by NYC OEM to all registered & interested:

Notify NYC (PHX-gwb@sendwordnow.com) 11:01 AM 1/25/2014

 

Notification issued 1/25/14 at 11:00 AM. In support of Super Bowl XLVIII (48),

New York City is hosting "Super Bowl Boulevard," a week-long closure of

Broadway between West 34th Street and West 47th Street in Manhattan, from

Sunday 1/26 to Sunday 2/2. All cross streets will remain open for the duration

of this event with the exception of West 41st Street between 6th Avenue and

7th Avenue, which will be closed daily from 9 AM to midnight. Expect detours

and an increased presence of emergency personnel in the area. Travelers to/from

Times Square should consider alternate routes and use of public transportation.

For more information/maps,

visit:

http://www.nycgo.com/articles/super-bowl-boulevard.

 

The sender provided the following contact information.

Sender's Name: Notify NYC

Sender's Email:

notifynyc@oem.nyc.gov

Sender's Contact Phone: 212-639-9675

Let's see what tomorrow, this Sunday, would look like in the area as a preview and effects on overall traffic in the midtown area - I cannot imagine it to be anything but nasty gridlock - sightseers could converge and there will be fools trying to drive thru the area.

 

Here is a link to NYC-DOT real time traffic camera, there are literally hundreds, really thousands of them (not all of them are online, as many are private & non-shared for "various" reasons. Traffic management will be monitoring these for SB but it is online for the command center - to see what is going on, day & night, just zoom in to the Times Square area & click on the camera - there are cams along 12th. Avenue by the Intrepid Air & Space Musuem and another one further up at 57th. Street, just north of the entrance to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and the camera on 11th Avenue (southbound direction) at 42nd. Street - all of them give a good indication of how badly gridlocked traffic are, at any given moment (if they remained online & active, could be disabled for security & maintenance reasons, etc. ;) )

 

http://nyctmc.org/ - link to DOT Traffic cams for all 5 boroughs

http://nyctmc.org/mobile/ - mobile link to Traffic cams for BB, select others for iOS & Android

http://flowmap.nyctmc.org/weborb4/ezpass_midtown/ezpass_midtown.html - color-coded overview of the midtown Manhattan traffic flow (a new tool)

 

SB and all the related events as well as the NY Tri-State area will be as safe as it can be, ships will sail as scheduled - marine police & Coast Guard patrols will be in the waterways, security will be tight and traffic will be crawling, especially in these sensitive venue areas, in the next 8 to 10 days - snow in the forecast would just be a side show - use mass transit if & when possible, and packing light is a plus, plus, plus - as folks could be getting dropped off on 12th Avenue or even 11th Avenue, or face hour-long delay trying to get into the pier due to checkpoints & screening.

[Got2Cruise]

They just opened a new parking garage at Port Imperial...I think it holds about 800 cars. This isn't one of the 10 or 12 staging areas for the bus shuttle service to Met Life Stadium, so I doubt anyone looking to go to the game is going to park there.

 

I think parking there and taking the ferry likely to be good option for getting to the cruise terminal on Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Since the Superbowl is a once in a lifetime event, it is difficult to make predictions as to what might happen. That said, NY Waterways is advertising folks in Jersey to take the ferry for Superbowl Blvd. in Manhattan. Also, because of the bitter cold weather the Hudson River is frozen and that has affected the schedule.

http://www.nywaterway.com/SuperBowl.aspx

[njhorseman]

Since the Superbowl is a once in a lifetime event, it is difficult to make predictions as to what might happen. That said, NY Waterways is advertising folks in Jersey to take the ferry for Superbowl Blvd. in Manhattan. Also, because of the bitter cold weather the Hudson River is frozen and that has affected the schedule.

http://www.nywaterway.com/SuperBowl.aspx

 

The Super Bowl Blvd. activities and attractions end at 10 pm on Feb. 1...the night before the game, so no one will be taking the ferry from Port Imperial for the purpose of seeing/participating in those activities on the day in question. All that will be going on is work crews tearing everything down, not tourists flocking to the events.

 

NY Waterway characterizes the delays due to ice as "minor" (their language not mine)...hardly sounds like anything to cause a traveler to change their plans. So maybe an 8 minute schedule trip will take 10 minutes? 12 minutes? Not a big deal.

Edited January 25, 2014 by njhorseman

[owen8271]

Hi all,

Question in regards to parking at the Manhattan Pier. My family is booked on the NCL Breakaway for the Jan 31(Friday) cruise to nowhere leaving from Manhattan.

My question: Does the pier set aside a set number of parking spaces(First come first serve) for each ship in port ?

or

Is there a chance that the pier parking will already be full with the Getaway, Splendor, and Gem already in port|out to sea ?

 

Needless to say I am in a bit nervous over the thought. Unfortunately the train is not an option..

 

We plan on arriving in the City around 10:30am.

 

Thanks for any feedback!

[njhorseman]

Hi all,

Question in regards to parking at the Manhattan Pier. My family is booked on the NCL Breakaway for the Jan 31(Friday) cruise to nowhere leaving from Manhattan.

My question: Does the pier set aside a set number of parking spaces(First come first serve) for each ship in port ?

or

Is there a chance that the pier parking will already be full with the Getaway, Splendor, and Gem already in port|out to sea ?

 

Needless to say I am in a bit nervous over the thought. Unfortunately the train is not an option..

 

We plan on arriving in the City around 10:30am.

 

Thanks for any feedback!

 

There aren't specific parking spots or numbers of spaces allotted for each ship, but other than instances when a lot is full, cruisers will be directed to the parking lot on the roof of the specific pier where your ship is berthed. For example NCL ships are normally berthed at Pier 88 so you'll be directed to park there. Carnival ships normally berth at Pier 90, so if you're on a Carnival cruise you'll normally park on the roof of Pier 90. If you're on NCL but the Pier 88 lot is full, they'll direct you to park at Pier 90 as long as spaces are available there. The piers are next to each other so they're not very far apart.

 

If you're arriving at 10:30 am you really shouldn't have a problem. Cars from the ship's cruise that just arrived that morning will have left the lot and that should mean plenty of open parking spaces for early arrivals like you.

Edited January 26, 2014 by njhorseman

[owen8271]

Thanks for the reply horseman, puts my mind at ease a bit. Worst case scenario I'll drop off the family at the boat and park the car in the Hudson:D

Edited January 26, 2014 by owen8271

[greatam]

Thanks for the reply horseman, puts my mind at ease a bit. Worst case scenario I'll drop off the family at the boat and park the car in the Hudson:D

 

Just be prepared for what is now a total madhouse in NYC. With all the construction crews in there, TV crews, delivery trucks and lots of extra security, it may take you quite a while to even get to the parking area. One of my local delivery trucks took two hours to clear security and get escorted down Broadway for a Super Bowl Blvd delivery yesterday.

 

We have deliveries scheduled almost every day of the week through next Sunday. There are now actual appointments made with NYPD for security checks before we can unload our food. First time that has ever happened. The ones that came in email this morning state 1:30PM for a 3PM unload on Tuesday and 6AM for a 9AM unload on Wednesday. These are the same piers and area where you are trying to park. So security is really, really tight. 1.5 to 3 hours to get through security. WOW. And car bombs are still a big threat worldwide, so they will be checking inbound cars.

 

I would try to get into the area by 8AM because it may take you that long to get through the security perimeter and to the parking garage. People leaving aren't going to be a problem-it is getting INTO the direct area around the piers. Someone posted to keep an eye on the traffic cams if they are working and that drops offs on 12th MAY be a real problem. With 5-6000 extra people in the area, all the event crews and TV cameras in addition, just put on your most patient hat.

Edited January 26, 2014 by greatam

[owen8271]

Gulp.. thanks for the eyes on site greatam. Looks like the wifey will need to get up a little early... and I am starting to fret again:(

[Got2Cruise]

There is Superbowl fever all over Manhattan. The entire 4th floor of macys sells SB merchandise. People from all over the world. I heard Germany and Brazil mentioned. The security is going to be crazy especially with the threats at the Olympics

[Got2Cruise]

[jmdrace]

drivin up from south jersey saturday feb 1....up 278 to astoria ny stayin the night , then sunday headin back down 278 across queensboro bridge across town to.. park right... then board the breakaway ...or come through the battery tunnel and up to the west side hi way (12th ave)..any new york input .....nope dont own a chopper..

[mking8288]

.....nope dont own a chopper..

 

Haha, even if you own one, unless you've been cleared & have an approved flight plan on file, it's going to be a no-fly zone & NYPD Aviation will come after you if they decide to not scramble fighter jets to escort you, LOL.

 

Okay, seriously, Sat's E-ZPass run up the T'pike or GSP, etc. should be fine - listen to AM Station 880 and/or 1010 news for latest traffic update, every 8 or 11 minutes as you approach NY area. Might be good idea to avoid going thru Manhattan into LIC/Astoria & consider going thru SI, cross the VZ Bridge (no toll coming across to Brooklyn) and up Rt. 278 / Gowanus to BQE for Astoria (Northern Blvd. ?) and head to your "pad" for the night. AccuWeather forecast for this Saturday, chance of snow or rain, seasonably cold - no blizzard or polar vortex.

 

Usually, the QB or 59th (renamed Ed Koch Bridge) is the shortest & easiet, but, as we all know w. the SB hype - might be backed up after crossing into the East Side & slow across 57th Street (55th Street is very, very, very slow due with parked cars on Sunday & the usual cross-town bottleneck) - and going south further south to other East River crossings aren't wise either, IMO.

 

My choice (if I am heading to the pier): from Astoria/LIC, north on 31st Street to Hoyt Ave, turn left & get on Rt 278 across the tolled RJK (formerly Triborough) Bridge into Manhattan, take the 125th Street exit, and go all the way across (traffic lights, but it's never slow going across town on weekends) to the West Side/Henry Hudson Highway, take the entrance ramp & you are on Rt. 9A South, the Henry Hudson Parkway, all the way to the end, keep right you approach the 57th Street & 12th Avenue, the Pier entrance is directly in front of you after the traffic lights - allow extra time for backup for cars exiting & of course, checkpoint & security before reaching the pier.

 

I think this will be the best & safest approach this Sunday, without being caught in cross-town & uptown gridlock around the pier area. Before leaving Sunday morning, check the live traffic update first.

 

Just in case - Plan B - park the "wheels" in Astoria for the week & take the N Train into town, then ....