NCL Airport Transfer in NYC

[biojeep]

What is the NCL procedure for their transfer service to LGA or EWR upon disembarking? We used NCL transfer service in Seattle & it was easy & flawless. We all met at a centralized location at the pier then boarded the bus for transport to SEA. Is this how it works in NYC?

[mking8288]

Airport transfer by NCL in NYC used to be offered for LGA and JFK only, for domestic flights after 1 PM (Int'l flights for 2 PM or later) - assuming ship has a scheduled arrival/docking time of 8 AM. Select sailings and itinerary have a 10 AM arrival time - flight times would be shifted further into the afternoon.

 

Keep in mind NYC's recent ship arrival (non-mega and mega ships alike) has been consistently INCONSISTENT lately, and plagued by disorganized disembarkation & chaos on the pier. ***** Selecting and booking a later later flight time is advised to minimize the odds of delays coming off the ship & not making flight connections at the airport.

 

Guests booked with NCL Airport transfer can also use their bus program to fly out of EWR.

 

This is different than the Big Apple Drive-by Tour with luggage transfer and airport transfer, but limited - still - to LGA or JFK only (including a tour lasting up to 3.5 hours)

 

Passengers booking the Airport transfer/tour will receive special colored luggage tags, and they will be called - following Latitude passengers with Platinum/Plus & Ambassadors level status - to exit the ship and head downstairs to the luggage hall, to locate & claim their luggage, go thru CBP passport inspection, and be directed to the pickup & waiting area for the buses. This is generally directly in front of the terminal building, facing the bow of the ship - where the bus parking stalls. Details will be provided once you booked onboard the ship.

 

***** Last weekend, the Gem (and, the Escape, new to NYC) was late in getting local clearance to begin Express Disembark, despite docking at Pier 88 around 3:45 am - delayed to about 8:30 am, staring with the Express Walkoff first.

 

This is basically how it's designed & described in the Shore Excursion materials as part of the Freestyle Dailies, you can inquire once onboard.

[biojeep]

Thanks for the information

[CruisingSince1982]

Guests booked with NCL Airport transfer can also use their bus program to fly out of EWR.

 

Passengers booking the Airport transfer/tour will receive special colored luggage tags, and they will be called - following Latitude passengers with Platinum/Plus & Ambassadors level status - to exit the ship and head downstairs to the luggage hall, to locate & claim their luggage, go thru CBP passport inspection, and be directed to the pickup & waiting area for the buses. This is generally directly in front of the terminal building, facing the bow of the ship - where the bus parking stalls. Details will be provided once you booked onboard the ship.

 

 

What time do you normally disembark for this, and what time do they normally drop you off at EWR?

[mking8288]

Normally, about 9:00 to 9:15 am if Gem is on time, based on posted schedule or timeline of a 7:30 or earlier arrival and the ship cleared by local officials by 8 am (CBP doesn't start any sooner than 7:45 or 8 am, apparently)

 

For the Express Walkoff, they allowed about 90 minutes for the crowd to work their way out of the luggage hall & beyond CBP, sometimes it's smooth but other times, not so much ... like what we experienced recently.

Then, the Platinum & Airport Transfer color luggage tags are called - except that NCL really do NOT and has no proven method to check for anyone & everyone rushing to get off the ship - and, this is a known problem when the ship is delayed, for whatever reasons ... often, beyond the cruieseline's direct control.

 

The guide as distributed, should be in my recent "Semi Live" review but here it is, for your reference.

 

NCL also offers airport transfer post-cruise to LGA @ $35 p/p and for $45 p/p to JFK and (this is fairly new) to EWR also, for flights after 2 pm ***... some will get there much sooner & find it easy, as it is possible to be dropped off at one of 3 EWR's airline terminal by 10:45 to 11:15 am, but it could be later & much later than that, as we've seen NCL ships not docking at the pier until 8 am, 8:30 am and even 9 am.

 

*** That is, not to schedule a domestic flight for 5 hours after ship's arrival, add 1 extra hour for an international departure.

 

via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

Edited May 29, 2018 by mking8288

[CruisingSince1982]

Thank you MKing!

[Loopy873]

Hi

Saw a post in here about airport transfers from NCL to JFK. The post indicated a cost that was way cheaper than advertised via the port of call excursions on the NCL website.

Is it worth booking this on ship once we have boarded? Do the prices differ if you book onboard? The prices in us $ were lower than the £ prices so definitely cheaper.

Thanks.

[mking8288]

Hi

Saw a post in here about airport transfers from NCL to JFK. The post indicated a cost that was way cheaper than advertised via the port of call excursions on the NCL website. Is it worth booking this on ship once we have boarded? Do the prices differ if you book onboard? ... Thanks.

Hi, what is your cruise date, as you know, prices are subject to change. But, that was the listed/offered price onboard the ship - this early May (2018); AND, you can cancel it up to 48 (24 ??) hours before disembarkation.

 

Are your traveling solo or with a spouse/partner/friend or ?? Yellow NYC taxi to JFK is a flat rate of just over $60 USD including a tunnel toll, with 2 travelers - it worked out to be about the same with tipping added (15 to 20%)

 

Allow extra travel time on weekdays and if on an international flight, with a taxi - you leave without waiting for the rest of the bus/shuttle to come along - and, there are different terminal stops once at JFK.