Ncl transfer buses

[DCLCrazy]

We are thinking of taking the transfer bus that NCL offers from the NYC manhattan port. Can anyone tell me or direct me to a site that tells me the earliest departure the bus takes to LaGuardia, please? We are considering a walkoff at 7:30 (or whenever they let the first people walkoff with suitcases) and the flight would be at 11:30am. Thanks

 

 

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[1025cruise]

As soon as the bus is full.

[cmh]

You are right. I have been on the bus and waited for 45 minutes for more people to arrive. Does anyone know if there are any transfer through NCL to JFK. I could not find it on their website.

[mking8288]

We are thinking of taking the transfer bus that NCL offers from the NYC manhattan port. ... considering a walkoff at 7:30 (or whenever they let the first people walkoff with suitcases) and the flight would be at 11:30am ,,,

Assumed, looking at your signature/cruise profile that this is for May 2019 - LGA airport's construction should be farther ahead than now, a multi-year project to be completed in 2021-22 (with the newly approved AirTrain ...) and you are disembarking on a Sunday, typically traffic is lightest & should take you as little as 45 minutes (or less) curbside to curbside.

 

However, booking flights before noon out of any NY area airports, EWR being 1 of the other 2, is always risky even if you are in a suite/Haven and/or doing self walk-off or getting escorted to the gangway combo ... reasons being that, ships have been known to be inconsistent in arrival time, and, can be delayed for arrival, with walkoff not on the pier heading downstairs to CBP until 8:30 or 9 am and later. That is, even if you are a "turbo" fast track & using porter services, jump into a taxi with almost no line or wait, or across 12th Avenue to meet a car service.

 

NCL currently charged $40 p/p one-way to LGA/JFK (EWR was recently added, same $ fare, if I'm not mistaken) - that's $80 for 2 travelers, you can leave on your own as soon as you are cleared & outside by the curbside ... you do NOT have to wait for the bus to be loaded with other passengers & their luggage. And, I'm quite sure they do not leave that early, probably not earlier than 9 to 9:30 if everything is on-time and in sync. with the river rides and docking, etc.

 

Car service is a flat rate & taxi to LGA is metered rate, both will have a toll charge of $8.50 (currently, like go up by 2019, again) plus base fare of about $40 + tipping, less than NCL's bus transfer prices for 2 or more travelers for the ride (if you are solo & have a later flight and don't mind waiting around a bit, then bus shuttle is okay - IMHO).

 

You will find plenty of discussions & recent threads about LGA and cruising out of NY ... including this one (click)

 

... Does anyone know if there are any transfer through NCL to JFK. I could not find it on their website.

Yes, NCL now offers airport transfer to LGA, JFK and within the past year, EWR for domestic flights at least 4 to 5 hours after schedule arrival - priced at $40 p/p one-way. You can book it onboard & cancel up to 24 or 48 hours before disembarkation. There are multi-stops within each airport's terminal for getting dropped off ...

[cmh]

Assumed, looking at your signature/cruise profile that this is for May 2019 - LGA airport's construction should be farther ahead than now, a multi-year project to be completed in 2021-22 (with the newly approved AirTrain ...) and you are disembarking on a Sunday, typically traffic is lightest & should take you as little as 45 minutes (or less) curbside to curbside.

 

However, booking flights before noon out of any NY area airports, EWR being 1 of the other 2, is always risky even if you are in a suite/Haven and/or doing self walk-off or getting escorted to the gangway combo ... reasons being that, ships have been known to be inconsistent in arrival time, and, can be delayed for arrival, with walkoff not on the pier heading downstairs to CBP until 8:30 or 9 am and later. That is, even if you are a "turbo" fast track & using porter services, jump into a taxi with almost no line or wait, or across 12th Avenue to meet a car service.

 

NCL currently charged $40 p/p one-way to LGA/JFK (EWR was recently added, same $ fare, if I'm not mistaken) - that's $80 for 2 travelers, you can leave on your own as soon as you are cleared & outside by the curbside ... you do NOT have to wait for the bus to be loaded with other passengers & their luggage. And, I'm quite sure they do not leave that early, probably not earlier than 9 to 9:30 if everything is on-time and in sync. with the river rides and docking, etc.

 

Car service is a flat rate & taxi to LGA is metered rate, both will have a toll charge of $8.50 (currently, like go up by 2019, again) plus base fare of about $40 + tipping, less than NCL's bus transfer prices for 2 or more travelers for the ride (if you are solo & have a later flight and don't mind waiting around a bit, then bus shuttle is okay - IMHO).

 

You will find plenty of discussions & recent threads about LGA and cruising out of NY ... including this one (click)

 

 

Yes, NCL now offers airport transfer to LGA, JFK and within the past year, EWR for domestic flights at least 4 to 5 hours after schedule arrival - priced at $40 p/p one-way. You can book it onboard & cancel up to 24 or 48 hours before disembarkation. There are multi-stops within each airport's terminal for getting dropped off ...

Thanks for the info. When I called NCL they said transfers only to LGA not JFK. I am on the Breakaway in October and will check once onboard the ship.

[DCLCrazy]

Assumed, looking at your signature/cruise profile that this is for May 2019 - LGA airport's construction should be farther ahead than now, a multi-year project to be completed in 2021-22 (with the newly approved AirTrain ...) and you are disembarking on a Sunday, typically traffic is lightest & should take you as little as 45 minutes (or less) curbside to curbside.

 

However, booking flights before noon out of any NY area airports, EWR being 1 of the other 2, is always risky even if you are in a suite/Haven and/or doing self walk-off or getting escorted to the gangway combo ... reasons being that, ships have been known to be inconsistent in arrival time, and, can be delayed for arrival, with walkoff not on the pier heading downstairs to CBP until 8:30 or 9 am and later. That is, even if you are a "turbo" fast track & using porter services, jump into a taxi with almost no line or wait, or across 12th Avenue to meet a car service.

 

NCL currently charged $40 p/p one-way to LGA/JFK (EWR was recently added, same $ fare, if I'm not mistaken) - that's $80 for 2 travelers, you can leave on your own as soon as you are cleared & outside by the curbside ... you do NOT have to wait for the bus to be loaded with other passengers & their luggage. And, I'm quite sure they do not leave that early, probably not earlier than 9 to 9:30 if everything is on-time and in sync. with the river rides and docking, etc.

 

Car service is a flat rate & taxi to LGA is metered rate, both will have a toll charge of $8.50 (currently, like go up by 2019, again) plus base fare of about $40 + tipping, less than NCL's bus transfer prices for 2 or more travelers for the ride (if you are solo & have a later flight and don't mind waiting around a bit, then bus shuttle is okay - IMHO).

 

You will find plenty of discussions & recent threads about LGA and cruising out of NY ... including this one (click)

 

 

Yes, NCL now offers airport transfer to LGA, JFK and within the past year, EWR for domestic flights at least 4 to 5 hours after schedule arrival - priced at $40 p/p one-way. You can book it onboard & cancel up to 24 or 48 hours before disembarkation. There are multi-stops within each airport's terminal for getting dropped off ...

 

 

 

Thanks for your info. The last time we took Ncl from NYC we walked off, but then stood in that taxi calling line across the street for probably 40 minutes in the freezing cold weather. I’m trying to avoid the taxi line so I was looking into the buses. We had the same 11:30 flight time the last time and got there with 2 hours to spare. I understand what you mean about late arrivals for the cruise ships though.

 

 

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[Trimone]

Go on the underground, it’s easy about 40 minutes to JFK

[mking8288]

Thanks for the info. When I called NCL they said transfers only to LGA not JFK. I am on the Breakaway in October and will check once onboard the ship.

These Freestyle Dailies are from the Gem this May, it showed prices for all 3 airports, LGA was $35 p/p and both JFK & EWR at $45. Of course, YMMV - in prior years, NCL's transfer program in NY did NOT include EWR, and we know call center's agents are known to read off their scripted replies & answers. EWR was added. NCL has a toll-free transfer / transportation desk, call them directly and ask, hopefully, they got the "correct" answers.

 

If cancel and/or not available, taxi or car service to LGA and JFK are actually better & faster. EWR via bus transfer is a toss up with car service ... just don't take a NY taxi to NJ airport as that will get expensive with surcharged rates & round-trip tolls, etc.

 

 

 

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Edited September 3, 2018 by mking8288

[mking8288]

... last time we took Ncl from NYC we walked off, but then stood in that taxi calling line across the street for probably 40 minutes in the freezing cold weather. I’m trying to avoid the taxi line ... had the same 11:30 flight time the last time and got there with 2 hours to spare. I understand what you mean about late arrivals for the cruise ships though.

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If you do express self-walkoff and sounded like ship was early/on-time, and, you are toward the "front" of the herds of hundreds of others with the same idea, rushing to go somewhere - the taxi line usually isn't bad. We've taken it to get home too, a little more than our car service when they aren't available ... lines do move, even if it's long and dispatcher on duty do helped a lot to out-of-towners.

 

Freezing cold weather isn't the fault of NCL so I hold them harmless and our next sailing is returning on a Sunday morning with NY City's famous Marathon ... it is what it is. The Escape has sailed home & docked at 3 or 4:15 AM (like yesterday) but typically closer to 6 AM, commonly around 7 AM & quickly cleared - but, it has also been late for variety of reasons, not docked until 8 or even 8:30 AM, delaying ship's clearance & hundreds (if not up to a thousand++ ) in long lines that looped all the around on deck 7 around the ship since 6:30 or 7 AM, eager to run up/down the gangway & head for the exit, with CBP holding the "fortress"

 

We are typically a 30 to 45 minutes weekend ride to get home from the pier (how lucky we feel, sometimes) and had been home as early as 9 to 9:15 but 10 AM is common, but as late as 11 AM - depending on the best (faster) routing - this is about 10+ minutes east of LGA) - 10 AM curbside at LGA would be fine but a bit close and 10:45 or 11 AM would be a problem, getting thru TSA's checkpoint inside the terminal.

 

I know airfares varied based on capacity, demand & time of day, etc. but do consider booking a later flight, just for peace of mind & without hustling and rushing to get off the ship - LGA now has some pretty good concessions in the food court, and has free WiFi, not too bad to hang out a little longer, have a decent meal first & relax ... instead of looking at the clock & worried about traffic in getting to the gate, in time before the final boarding calls as they WILL release confirmed but unclaimed seats - to standby passengers - way before closing & arming the doors & push back the jetbridge for on-time departure.

 

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[njhorseman]

If you look closely at the small print in Freestyle Daily page mking has posted you'll see that NCL will only book transfers for flights departing at 1 pm or later. This type of long lead time is standard practice for every cruise line I'm familiar with. They don't want to be responsible for unforeseen circumstances such as late docking, slow CBP clearance of the ship and its passengers or traffic jams causing you to miss your flight.

[Budget Queen]

Go on the underground, it’s easy about 40 minutes to JFK

 

 

Several missing details. It is the Subway. You can pick it up on 8th Ave. I walk to the 42 bus and get off at Port Authority. You ONLY want the downtown Far Roakaway A train. Takes you right to the JFK Airtrain. 2.75. For bus coin only or Metrocard.

[don't-use-real-name]

If you look closely at the small print in Freestyle Daily page mking has posted you'll see that NCL will only book transfers for flights departing at 1 pm or later. This type of long lead time is standard practice for every cruise line I'm familiar with. They don't want to be responsible for unforeseen circumstances such as late docking, slow CBP clearance of the ship and its passengers or traffic jams causing you to miss your flight.

 

Unless NCL is requesting the actual airline flight number and departure time - state that you are departing on

XYZ air at the minimum time that NCL requires.

 

As noted the responsibility is yours and NCL is blameless.

 

Best situation is when the entire motor coach (bus) goes directly to one airline instead of multiple stops at the

airport terminal - there maybe a delay while the bus waits to fill for all passengers going to XYZ air. This is

very important if departing out of JFK lessor so out of LGA and EWR. JFK the terminals are separated by

several hundred yards/meters of space while LGA and EWR are connected albeit in one long big building.

[njhorseman]

Unless NCL is requesting the actual airline flight number and departure time - state that you are departing on

XYZ air at the minimum time that NCL requires.

 

As noted the responsibility is yours and NCL is blameless.

 

Best situation is when the entire motor coach (bus) goes directly to one airline instead of multiple stops at the

airport terminal - there maybe a delay while the bus waits to fill for all passengers going to XYZ air. This is

very important if departing out of JFK lessor so out of LGA and EWR. JFK the terminals are separated by

several hundred yards/meters of space while LGA and EWR are connected albeit in one long big building.

 

The terminals at LGA and EWR are not one large building. Each terminal is a separate building. Here are the maps. You'll see the separate terminal buildings. The black line you see connecting the three EWR terminals is the AirTrain .

 

 

https://www.laguardiaairport.com/at-airport/airport-maps

 

https://newarkairport.com/at-airport/airport-maps

[don't-use-real-name]

The terminals at LGA and EWR are not one large building. Each terminal is a separate building. Here are the maps. You'll see the separate terminal buildings. The black line you see connecting the three EWR terminals is the AirTrain .

https://www.laguardiaairport.com/at-airport/airport-maps

https://newarkairport.com/at-airport/airport-maps

 

My bad/error description - thanks for correction LINKS illustration.

 

I still recall that JFK is laid out on a much larger scale with terminals further apart and if at the wrong airline

terminal more difficult to get to the right one.

[nicole1211]

Several missing details. It is the Subway. You can pick it up on 8th Ave. I walk to the 42 bus and get off at Port Authority. You ONLY want the downtown Far Roakaway A train. Takes you right to the JFK Airtrain. 2.75. For bus coin only or Metrocard.

 

You can do that, but the most direct route is to take the 8th Ave E Uptown/Queens-bound to Jamaica Center. It's express and only 10 stops. Airtrain is right there as well and that ride is $5 in addition to your $2.75 train fare. However, they do a lot of construction on the weekends on all lines. A few weeks back, my usual hour long ride to JFK took two hours because I had to wait 30 minutes for an E and 20 for Airtrain. I wouldn't leave things up to mass transit cutting it so close. Hope that helps!

[DCLCrazy]

You can do that, but the most direct route is to take the 8th Ave E Uptown/Queens-bound to Jamaica Center. It's express and only 10 stops. Airtrain is right there as well and that ride is $5 in addition to your $2.75 train fare. However, they do a lot of construction on the weekends on all lines. A few weeks back, my usual hour long ride to JFK took two hours because I had to wait 30 minutes for an E and 20 for Airtrain. I wouldn't leave things up to mass transit cutting it so close. Hope that helps!

 

 

 

Appreciate the suggestion, but dragging a 10 year old and 3 suitcases through the subway does not sound fun to me. [emoji23] I’ll stick with the taxi system and buses.

 

 

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[nicole1211]

Appreciate the suggestion, but dragging a 10 year old and 3 suitcases through the subway does not sound fun to me. [emoji23] I’ll stick with the taxi system and buses.

 

 

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Wholeheartedly agree that's the thing to do :')! Especially easier to LGA for you!

[Peachypooh]

We have done taxis and car service from Manhattan Cruise Terminal. If you are one of the first off, the taxi line is short and with the car service you can meet them (usually as short 1-2 block walk) and be on your way. I know that is not what you asked but it is probably faster and the last time I checked the cost was not that different if multiple people are taking the cab vs pp for transfer.

[tempus137]

We have done taxis and car service from Manhattan Cruise Terminal. If you are one of the first off, the taxi line is short and with the car service you can meet them (usually as short 1-2 block walk) and be on your way. I know that is not what you asked but it is probably faster and the last time I checked the cost was not that different if multiple people are taking the cab vs pp for transfer.

 

If the taxi line is long, cross over to where the line is and then turn right & walk a couple of blocks downtown. Hail a cab on the street.

[alreadypacked]

On 9/3/2018 at 1:19 PM, DCLCrazy said:

 

 

 

Thanks for your info. The last time we took Ncl from NYC we walked off, but then stood in that taxi calling line across the street for probably 40 minutes in the freezing cold weather. I’m trying to avoid the taxi line so I was looking into the buses. We had the same 11:30 flight time the last time and got there with 2 hours to spare. I understand what you mean about late arrivals for the cruise ships though.

 

 

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So the NCL transfer buses pull directly into the port?  No need to walk across 12th Ave (where taxis and Uber's wait) to board the NCL bus?

[mking8288]

27 minutes ago, alreadypacked said:

 

So the NCL transfer buses pull directly into the port?  No need to walk across 12th Ave (where taxis and Uber's wait) to board ... 

 

Yes, correct - see picture below - on the lower / street level under the elevated "dropoff roadway that is overhead or above - as part of the cruise terminal complex.  Visualize the pier as a typical airport terminal - there are designated bus/transportation bays for motorcoaches & buses to pull into ... there will be "reps" with signage, pointing which way to walk toward.  No need to cross the wide 12th Avenue when disembarking.

 

Edited April 10, 2019 by mking8288

[alreadypacked]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply with pictures! Very helpful!