What to expect when disembarking Insignia 8/11 at Manhattan Cruise Terminal

[cruzemaven]

The NCL's The Escape will be disembarking thousands of passengers the same morning as The Insignia's disembarkation. What can we expect at the terminal in terms of getting through customs and then locating where are car service will find us. Are we supposed to cross 12 th avenue with all of our luggage and meet our driver near the taxi pick up? Would appreciate any recommendations that would help make this process as hassle free as possible..

thanks for any advice.

[StanandJim]

You'll really have to wait until the "day of" to find out.

 

We have come through the Manhattan Cruise Terminal where private car services (including Uber) were allowed to drive up to the terminal doors, and also where we had to cross twelfth avenue to meet them.

 

Part of the Security "Plan" appears to be keeping folks off balance.  

 

[warburg]

Greetings, cruzemaven, from South Beach. StanandJim are right. Even before the security mania, getting in and out of the port is chaotic. No matter what you encounter, it won't last forever. I think it's just incompetence with a heavy overlay of union rules.

Mary

[azam71209]

Interesting. We had no trouble last year in August, possibly because we waited and enjoyed a nice breakfast in the Grand Dining Room while everybody rushed to get off the ship. Then at 9am, we got off the ship and got a taxi right in front. No need to cross the street, that I can recall. Had to wait a few minutes but other than that, no trouble at all.

 

In general, we try to stay on the ship as long as possible in any port where there is no compelling reason to rush. Plan on a later flight, have a leisurely breakfast, and end your trip without fighting the crowd.

 

Mary

[pingpong1]

9 hours ago, azam71209 said:

In general, we try to stay on the ship as long as possible in any port where there is no compelling reason to rush. Plan on a later flight, have a leisurely breakfast, and end your trip without fighting the crowd.

 

Mary

Hi Mary - 3-stars! "Bravo".  Some advance planning can certainly prevent a whole lot of frazzled nerves, shouting matches, and "mad dashes" off the ship, as well as knocking 5 other people over in the process, just to grab the "first available cab".  After all, travelling and cruising is supposed to be a "relaxing vacation", right?  I've never understood why people cause so much misery for themselves (and others around them) by cutting times so short, and hoping/wishing/praying that all transfers, connections, luggage, etc. will somehow "work out perfectly" without turning the trip into a major melodrama! But that also seems to be the "normal pattern of life" that people choose for themselves today - whether on vacation or not.  Best Regards.

[BenMurphy]

We disembarked Regatta some years ago at a leisurely pace, caught a taxi quite easily to a luggage storage company in the garment district and had a lovely leisurely day in N.Y before our evening flight back to the U.K.

My biggest excitement was where Reggatta was berthed right next door to Enterprise Space shuttle where it was onboard Intrepid Museum.

have a great trip

Josie

[Hawaiidan]

On 6/24/2019 at 10:00 PM, cruzemaven said:

The NCL's The Escape will be disembarking thousands of passengers the same morning as The Insignia's disembarkation. What can we expect at the terminal in terms of getting through customs and then locating where are car service will find us. Are we supposed to cross 12 th avenue with all of our luggage and meet our driver near the taxi pick up? Would appreciate any recommendations that would help make this process as hassle free as possible..

thanks for any advice.

Did this a few years back.... after a 40 day cruise.   we were tired.     It was a easy walk to the pier, quick walk through  immigration and customs,  Hire a porter for our 2 bags and  he whisked us out and into a cab so fast it was scary.... in less that 30 min off the ship We were in a cab heading to EWR !!!        Wow....     Id use a porter they  are the guys  it appears to facilitate  a rapid transit.    You get what you pay for,  Tipped $20.  and was  glad.

[welshfamily]

We had similar concerns and were told similar things, we just said No please collect us from the terminal.

Last August we disembarked at 9am, rang our prearranged driver after we had collected our luggage, walked though a completely empty terminal and out on to a slip road which seemed to be for private pick ups and taxis ( well signposted) and two minutes later we were on our way to our hotel. There were plenty of porters but as all our luggage is the pull along type with 4 wheels we needed no help.We made the arrangements beforehand because several very large ships were in port but Oceania seemed to dock well away from the large ships. Our driver told us  there were several streets close by where cars wait.

We were in our hotel room just off Broadway by just after 9.30  am.

As we Brits say Easy Peasy 

Hope that helps

 

[cruzemaven]

Thank you for all your replies. Since we don't have a plane to catch, we will stay on the ship as long as possible.  Hopefully,  they'll allow our car service to pull up to the terminal after we text him...that would make it much easier for us. Normally, we would take a taxi but with The Escape disembarking at the same time, the line for a getting a cab could be huge.

[pingpong1]

11 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

Did this a few years back.... after a 40 day cruise.   we were tired.     It was a easy walk to the pier, quick walk through  immigration and customs,  Hire a porter for our 2 bags and  he whisked us out and into a cab so fast it was scary.... in less that 30 min off the ship We were in a cab heading to EWR !!!        Wow....     Id use a porter they  are the guys  it appears to facilitate  a rapid transit.    You get what you pay for,  Tipped $20.  and was  glad.

Hi Dan (and others) - Would you or anyone happen to know/recall what a cab costs from the Manhattan terminal to EWR airport?  or a booked limo?  Regards to all.

[edgee]

We came off Insignia two years ago and car service picked us up at the terminal...no problem. Last Fall we came off of HAL Zuiderdam and porter who helped us with our luggage followed the unruly crowds which had to cross 12th Avenue to meet our car service. So, yes, it all depends.

[Sopwith]

We disembarked the Marina there in April, the only ship in port.  We waited until near the end because our hotel wasn’t far away.  The taxi stand across the street had a block-long queue, with cabs arriving about one per minute, so very slow.  The wait looked to be at least 40-45 minutes.  I joined the queue and then called an Uber. It arrived in about 10 minutes and we boarded it just around the corner.

 

Based on that experience I would suggest you assess the situation when you disembark.  If it’s the same zoo, or worse with two ships in, I would cross the street, walk up the block a bit away from the chaos and get your car there.

[Hawaiidan]

12 hours ago, pingpong1 said:

Hi Dan (and others) - Would you or anyone happen to know/recall what a cab costs from the Manhattan terminal to EWR airport?  or a booked limo?  Regards to all.

I want to say$75. with tip   had to pay tolls in that....  but do not remember

[babysteps]

Was more like $100 in January 2019 (if my memory is off it might have been $120).  This was a large SUV Uber (not through Uber, just available at the time and faster than waiting for a cab). We were going to a parking area near EWR, not actually on airport.  Included tolls.