NCL Airport Transfer from Breakaway

[AGneissDay]

We're going to be sailing on the Breakaway in May and have a noon flight out of LGA. We're debating between using the NCL airport transfer service and just walking off the ship with our luggage and taking a taxi/booking a car service. We are concerned about time since we have an earlier flight and were not sure which method would be faster/easier. We are thinking the NCL transfer might be helpful in avoiding the long debarkation lines I've read about.

 

Has anyone used NCL's airport transfer from the Breakaway? If so, how much was the cost per person? What time did you arrive at the airport (LGA)? Would you recommend this method or is it faster to arrange our own transportation? Thanks for your help!

[ella99]

A heads up if you aren't already aware...due to the ongoing construction at LGA the traffic situation will not be pleasant. Quite honestly, it can be a nightmare. I cannot speak for NCL's airport transfer service, but I would assume you will need to be one of the first ones off the ship. Whichever transportation you decide, will need to be off early especially for a 12 noon flight.

[AGneissDay]

A heads up if you aren't already aware...due to the ongoing construction at LGA the traffic situation will not be pleasant. Quite honestly, it can be a nightmare. I cannot speak for NCL's airport transfer service, but I would assume you will need to be one of the first ones off the ship. Whichever transportation you decide, will need to be off early especially for a 12 noon flight.

 

Thanks! I have heard that things are backed up at LGA which is why we're trying to find the fastest way there. We didn't have a lot of options when booking flights, and that was the latest option that made sense. We want to make sure we're on it though!

[njhorseman]

The fastest way there will not be the NCL bus, and since your cruise has a scheduled arrival time in NY of 8 am, NCL will not even allow you to book their transfers for a noon flight. With an 8am scheduled arrival they require a flight departing no earlier than 1 pm. See this chart on their website:

 

https://www.ncl.com/getting-to-the-pier/transfers-and-car-services

 

What you should do is reserve a car in advance with one of the major car services in NY City. Many cruisers use one of these:

 

Carmel www.carmellimo.com

 

Dial7 www.dial7.com

[mking8288]

12 noon is close out of LGA. NCL airport transfer is $40 p/p. Car service w toll & tips will run you maximum of $55 to 60, Uber maybe less. Do the self walkoff early for better control of time.

 

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[AGneissDay]

Thanks for the help! If we book a car service and debark with self-assist, what time do you think is reasonable to arrange for pickup? 8:30? 9?

[mking8288]

Both Dial7 and Carmel (our preferred car service from MCT) has a fleet of several hundred vehicles in the metro NYC area plus their own garage/staging area near airports. We typically don't book them in advance.

 

It's a 10 minutes walk once you leave the border control/customs (secured) area where cellular & smartphones aren't allowed to be used - I step off to the side & either call them (or, lately - launch their free mobile app & just book/request a pickup in about 15 minutes). Typically, their closest vehicle is within 10 minutes, that give us time to walk outside (with or without porter's help) and cross 12th Avenue, and check to see where the driver is coming from & details of the vehicle ... sometimes, the driver will call to confirm a more exact pickup location, as there could be half a dozen of Dial7 and Carmel coming by to meet the riders.

 

We generally use/drivers prefer mid-block on W. 48th Street, off 12th Avenue as that's heading toward NY Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Terminal and Queens Midtown Tunnel for LGA/JFK airports. Plus, easy enough if going south for Lincolon Tunnel or north toward Henry Hudson Pkwy for NJ, upstate NY or points northeast like CT/NH/MA, etc. ... via 11th. Avenue away from the pier/terminal traffic.

 

Don't forget to look for & use the digital discount code, as it usually save us another $3 on the fare. For the BA, there could be as many as a thousand pax using the "express" self walk-off via 2 gangways, lining up as early as 6:45 or 7 AM as ship is typically early into port (she arrived this past Sunday around 4 AM due to a medical emergency onboard ... walkout wasn't till 7:30, however). You will pickup a solid & good cellular signal once the ship is near the VZ Bridge, off the shores of Staten Island - with another hour before docking and about 90 minutes or more, at the earliest to be outside for pickup. Plenty of time to call or book your car then while you get ready, enjoy breakfast, etc.

 

There are weekend road, bridge & tunnel constructions lately on all the crossings for Queens - LGA & JFK - do allow plenty of travel time, besides the airport constructions (delays aren't as bad lately) and TSA, keep in mind these are elements beyond NCL's control.

[njhorseman]

Mking...you're a regular customer of the car services...you're familiar with how they operate and using their apps, so you're comfortable with not booking in advance. For someone who doesn't have your level of familiarity, I think it's a good idea to book in advance.

[Moby0215]

Just use Uber or Lyft. Very quick and cheaper than a cab.

 

 

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[AGneissDay]

Both Dial7 and Carmel (our preferred car service from MCT) has a fleet of several hundred vehicles in the metro NYC area plus their own garage/staging area near airports. We typically don't book them in advance.

 

It's a 10 minutes walk once you leave the border control/customs (secured) area where cellular & smartphones aren't allowed to be used - I step off to the side & either call them (or, lately - launch their free mobile app & just book/request a pickup in about 15 minutes). Typically, their closest vehicle is within 10 minutes, that give us time to walk outside (with or without porter's help) and cross 12th Avenue, and check to see where the driver is coming from & details of the vehicle ... sometimes, the driver will call to confirm a more exact pickup location, as there could be half a dozen of Dial7 and Carmel coming by to meet the riders.

 

We generally use/drivers prefer mid-block on W. 48th Street, off 12th Avenue as that's heading toward NY Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Terminal and Queens Midtown Tunnel for LGA/JFK airports. Plus, easy enough if going south for Lincolon Tunnel or north toward Henry Hudson Pkwy for NJ, upstate NY or points northeast like CT/NH/MA, etc. ... via 11th. Avenue away from the pier/terminal traffic.

 

Don't forget to look for & use the digital discount code, as it usually save us another $3 on the fare. For the BA, there could be as many as a thousand pax using the "express" self walk-off via 2 gangways, lining up as early as 6:45 or 7 AM as ship is typically early into port (she arrived this past Sunday around 4 AM due to a medical emergency onboard ... walkout wasn't till 7:30, however). You will pickup a solid & good cellular signal once the ship is near the VZ Bridge, off the shores of Staten Island - with another hour before docking and about 90 minutes or more, at the earliest to be outside for pickup. Plenty of time to call or book your car then while you get ready, enjoy breakfast, etc.

 

There are weekend road, bridge & tunnel constructions lately on all the crossings for Queens - LGA & JFK - do allow plenty of travel time, besides the airport constructions (delays aren't as bad lately) and TSA, keep in mind these are elements beyond NCL's control.

 

That's very helpful! Thank you for the detailed information!

[mking8288]

That's very helpful! ... the detailed information!

You are welcomed, but I do take into consideration NJH's comment/point just above. There hasn't been any whale sighting yet this Spring - yes, they're spotted further up the Hudson River recently - as they would slow down ALL maritime traffic as a matter of precaution & possibly botch early docking/arrival timing.

 

Carmel & Dial7 drivers (like Uber/Lyft) do use real-time integrated traffic info in their driving, they don't like sitting in gridlocks either plus they have their base dispatcher & fellow drivers to share updates & news. Getting dropped off at LGA isn't a big deal lately vs. last summer but pickup for all FHV (For Hired Vehicles) has been frustrating lately as authorities are trying new ways to move travelers along - pax flying Delta seemed to do better as they aren't in Terminal B a/k/a "central or main terminal".

 

If you wanted to be more definitely, see if you can book a pickup online and/or call them to reserve, but see if they can note your reservation for a re-confirmation call with a more precise pickup time on the morning of disembarkation ... say within 1 hour or 90 minutes prior to approximate pickup time, so that they will have other drivers "roaming" just in case & pre-schedule cars/drivers to be in the area.

 

If traffic is "routine" on Sunday morning, fair weather & even with some road closure - unexpected delays might be 10 to 20 minutes and not cost a fortune by taking a yellow taxi, as it is a metered fare & the final total varying based on the exact route taken.

 

Uber & Lyft promised to be better & cheaper, but they also have congestion pricing and while the fare can be predicted or estimated on the App, the final total isn't know until the end of the ride. There's been reports of unauthorized "dispatchers" holding clipboards and flashing apps with Uber logo loitering around airports & lately, cruise terminals - posing and intercepting would-be Uber/Lyft riders ... to follow them around the corner. Beware & only use the APP to pay for those trips, as cash is allowed but ...

 

While you wait and/or as you are getting ready on the morning of disembarkation, launch Navigation (Google) or Waze on your mobile app, and you can get a good idea of traffic issues & congestion problems en route to LGA ... took us almost extra 40 minutes to get from Queens (QMT) into midtown Manhattan 2 weekends ago, as one tube was closed all weekend for construction and one lane each direction on the south tube.

 

Enjoy your cruise !