Disembarking in New York for the First Time

[Tantsee]

I was in such a hurry to rebook our cancelled cruise that I didn’t even realize that the one I chose is not a round trip.  It starts in Tampa and ends in NYC.  We’ve never sailed to or from NYC.  I read a few threads in the East Coast Departures forum and got the feeling there is more than one port in NYC.  If that is correct, which port does NCL use?  Is it always the same?  Which airport is the closest (or most desirable for other reasons).  I am absolutely sick that I made this mistake, but this is the only cruise that fits our schedule.  My husband is older and is terrified of going to NY (too big, too many people, fear of the unknown, etc.), and now I’m feeling a little intimidated myself.  I need some help to make this as smooth as possible for him, or he will insist that we cancel altogether.  Just to clarify, we won’t be doing any sightseeing (sadly).  That was my compromise.  We will only spend one night near the port or airport, and fly home the following morning.  I will be grateful for any tips or advice.  

[Leela]

NCL goes in to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, which is on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan. The closest airport is Newark International (EWR). If you're not going to do any sightseeing, there is little to no point to booking a hotel in New York City for the night: hotels in Manhattan are expensive, and the rooms at the more affordable places tend to be small. 

Your cruise will probably dock and let you off early in the morning. Can you book a mid-day or afternoon flight home from Newark on your arrival day? If NCL has post-cruise bus transfers to the airport, that will make your life really really easy.

[KeithJenner]

NCL use pier 88 in West Manhattan (next to the Intredit Air & Space Museum). It isn't far from the Times Square area (I walked it when I disembarked there).

 

Given your circumstances, I think your best option is a taxi. If so then there is little difference in the airports. LaGuardia is the closest as the crow flies, but I've never travelled to any of then by road so don't know the travel times/cost. I doubt there is all that much in it though. I'd pick the most convenient.

 

If you aren't sightseeing then a hotel at the airport makes sense as it will remove the need for travelling to your hotel and then getting out to the airport next day. You can just get a taxi to your hotel and then probably use the hotel shuttle to get to the airport next day. I've always found New York airport hotel shuttles very good.

[KeithJenner]

If you need something to pass the time before your hotel is available then it may be worth looking at the Intrepid museum. I don’t know whether there is anywhere easy to hold your bags but it could be an easy way to pass a few hours before you get a taxi away from the port.

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, Tantsee said:

I was in such a hurry to rebook our cancelled cruise that I didn’t even realize that the one I chose ... starts in Tampa and ends in NYC.   I will be grateful for any tips or advice.  

 

Not to worried too much, quick lookup - you booked the Dawn this April, arriving in NYC on a Thursday morning (probably fine to be among the last off, enjoy the ship on a fine, early Spring morning) and fly home the next morning ... not rushing, go easy.  

 

As noted, NCL will most definitely, 98.5% be using Pier 88/90 in Manhattan for embark/disembarkation - plenty of taxis to the airports, etc. Details & further discussion can/might be moved over to the East Coast forum as you've explored, that's fine.  Just a few comment & thoughts - to get you thinking first:

 

Flights booked or NCL Air, preferred airline(s) used - assumed it will be a connecting / regional commuter flight via an airline hub, choice of flight/time & costs might be limited.  EWR or Newark (and/or nearby "off-airport hotels" ground transfer costs will be higher for 2 persons; whereas LGA in Queens (and nearby off-airport hotels) will be lower & easier, quicker, especially after the peak/morning commuting time are over ~ around 10 a.m.  Both, assumed you want to skip any & all sightseeing options - NCL does offer a mostly quick drive-thru bus/motorcoach tour, not a bargain - last I checked, about $129 p/p with airport drop-off (for folks with flights after 3 or 4 p.m. - you will ride onboard and see popular NYC attractions for 2 to 3 hours en route ... not the best way to see our city, but comfortable & is rest-room equipped, I believe - just be sure to have a plan for snacks or a quick bite; or, eat a big, full breakfast in the morning.  And, what are your plans for lunch & dinner upon reaching the hotel - call for delivery as in-hotel dining these days mostly don't exist w the pandemic, etc.  

 

Confirm with the hotel directly (call) about early AM shuttle availability and hours, in case you have a 6 or 7 am early departure the next day, and need to be at the check-in/gate by 5 a.m.  Taxi ride to LGA is about $55 to $65 these days, bridge/tunnel toll, surcharges & tips, etc. vs. easily $100+ out to EWR (up to 3 riders & reasonable luggage)  Do you have any issues with luggage and/or getting around, walking a city block or two, etc.  

[RaftingJeremy]

I’m booked on this cruise as well!  I am probably gonna do one of the transfers offered by NCL. I’m quite sure there will be plenty of taxis or uber around but i’d rather just go on the bus.  I haven’t decided which airport I’m going to use to fly home yet so I haven’t made any firm decisions 

[julig22]

I recently took a cruise out of NYC - as a solo traveler, I wanted my return home to be as simple as possible - so flew home the same day.  I did use NCL air, so didn't have a choice in flights, but flew into Newark, left from JFK.  NCL transfer is available for either, $37.50.

I booked the post-cruise transfer but it was cancelled (most of the people on the cruise were local), so just took the shuttle.

Is there a particular reason you don't want to fly home the same day?  Looks like there are non-stop flights and with the time difference you would still get home at a reasonable time.

[AwesomO]

You'll be alright. If you don't want to be in the thick of it, you definitely don't have to! Taxis and users will get you from point A to point B, maybe with some traffic, but able to avoid the crowds of people.

 

Unless you are getting an airport transfer from NCL, I wouldn't fly out of Newark because car service between the Manhattan cruise terminal over to NJ will be very expensive. LGA is the smaller of the 2 airports which might make you feel a bit more comfortable. Often cheaper as well, though not always. There are hotels near each airport that will provide you with a free shuttle, though the neighborhoods around the airports look a little rough and there's nothing to do in their immediate area. If you're just staying in the hotel though with no sightseeing plans, that's not really an issue. It won't be so bad. And hey, the view as you fly out of NYC will be pretty nice!

Edited January 19, 2022 by AwesomO

[jlseymour3]

New York is one of the world's great cities, though I understand why you'd be nervous if you haven't spent much time in large cities - it can be intimidating.  I fell in love with the energy and pulse of the city when I visited the first time as a young man (okay, not the first, that would have been when I was born at NY Presbyterian, but I don't remember that).  I lived on Long Island for a while and went to school worked in the city for a few years.  It would be a shame to miss it completely.  An extremely safe option would be to take the NCL excursion with airport drop off, then you can at least see some of the sites.  Or as someone suggested, spend a little time at the Intrepid, though that might be a hassle with your luggage.  In any case, I would recommend Newark, as it has great flight connections about anywhere, and is least impacted by bad weather.  Avoid Kennedy if you can - it's the airport in the US that most reminds me of traveling in the Third World (Miami used to be close, but they've improved it a lot over the last decade).  La Guardia has had a lot of money poured into it over the last few decades, so would also work, and the drive there is a lot more scenic than the tunnel to Newark.   

 

If it was me, and if there was no pandemic, I would pack light - one rolling suitcase - and stroll from the pier over to Seventh Avenue, then down to Penn Station, stopping along the way for a hot pretzel, or if I skip breakfast maybe a bagel and a shmeer, find a bench and watch the people for awhile.  Then grab the shuttle to Newark for a late afternoon flight.

 

In any case, no need to stay the night at the airport.  And the money you save on the hotel can about pay for the NCL excursion/airport drop off. 

 

Relax and enjoy.

 

Good luck.

[Crazy planning mom]

I live in the suburbs outside NYC and commute into Manhattan 2-3 days a week for work.

You will be fine in NY and the ship docks in a good quiet area.  My advice would be to take cabs over the subway due to your husband age and concerns.  Definitely visit the Intrepid as someone else mentioned.  Ironically, I just flew back from Arizona yesterday because I have family there.  For flying home, you definitely want to fly out of JFK Kennedy airport or Newark.  As far as car service to/from the airport I recommend Dial 7 https://www.dial7.com/.  I have used them many times and just last nite.  They are reliable.  

[Joanne G.]

6 hours ago, Leela said:

 . . . . Your cruise will probably dock and let you off early in the morning. Can you book a mid-day or afternoon flight home from Newark on your arrival day? If NCL has post-cruise bus transfers to the airport, that will make your life really really easy.

This is what I would suggest you consider.  I have cruised into New York several times, usually taking advantage of the cruise line's shuttle to the airport.   If you have an option for an early to mid-afternoon flight, you could get home the same day and save the cost of a hotel stay.

 

If you do want to stay over one night, then I agree with those who suggest an NCL tour on disembarkation day that ends at the airport.    You will get to see some of the city.   In my recollection, NCL offers tours that end at both Newark and LaGuardia.  You will then need to get to your hotel by either a hotel shuttle or taxi.

 

As for which airport, I have used both, making my decision based on price and flight times.   Getting to LaGuardia means going across town - more to see but can be really slow due to traffic, especially on a work day.  Getting to Newark is usually faster, but not much to see on the way except the skyline if you look backwards.   I have never used JFK, so I can't help with that.

 

If you are truly not planning on any sightseeing, then staying near the airport makes sense.   But if you go directly to an airport hotel from the ship, you are likely to arrive before check-in time.  Then you are stuck with nothing to do until your room is ready.  On the other hand, a mid-town hotel is a short cab ride away from the pier, and you would at least be able to take a walk in whatever neighborhood you are in. The hotel will hold your luggage if your room isn't ready.    The hotel won't be cheap and the room probably won't be spacious, but you may find it more enjoyable for the balance of disembarkation day than staying near one of the airports.  Cruise Critic people will be more than willing to share information about NYC hotels in safe neighborhood (there are many) to help you make a choice if you want to do this.  

 

Good luck with your planning.   Please don't feel, in your words, absolutely sick about booking this particular cruise.  Get up early and enjoy the incomparable sight of sailing into New York under the Verrazano bridge, past the Statue of Liberty.   

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Joanne G.

[mjkacmom]

If you don’t want to tour, why are you staying over? I’d book an early afternoon flight from LGA (and I’m in NJ 20 minutes from EWR). All NYC airports are pretty bad.

[JamieLogical]

I would just suggest flying out the day of and booking a transfer through NCL. Not quite understanding the terror around traveling through NYC, but I think this would be the simplest solution for you.

[DaisyGoldberg]

Please don't be afraid, and certainly don't let the stress of the last day cast a shadow over the cruise itself.  I'd recommend flying home that day so as to decrease your stress level over logistics. That way you just have to think about getting off the ship and into a cab or the shuttle to the airport, knowing you'll be home for dinner.

 

What I CAN recommend after disembarking is to grab a porter. You will leave the ship and step into a massive room where all the luggage is waiting. Once you've found your luggage, grab a porter, and he will escort you to customs in a way that bypasses a long line (though the Dawn line will not equal the Breakaway line, time saved is time saved).  He'll wait for you on the other side. He will then ask where you're going and walk with you, transporting your bags directly to that spot. (It's a rather long walk to the street, as I recall). Tip well - this step will have saved you a half hour, at least and the porter will know precisely where the shuttle or cab stand is, so you needn't fear struggling to find it. Chances are he will also be accompanying others and you can all walk together out to the street.

 

 

 

 

[SliderNc]

9 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

I would just suggest flying out the day of and booking a transfer through NCL. Not quite understanding the terror around traveling through NYC, but I think this would be the simplest solution for you.

I'll second and third everyone who said this.  Let NCL handle it for you with the transfers.  If you want something a bit more upscale, you can get car service to either airport easily for a bit more money and less "people" around you for a bit. JFK/EWR would be your best bet for direct flights back to Phoenix (assuming this is where you are flying out of) as LGA won't have a ton of direct flights daily.  I did a mock booking using a travel search site and found a lot of good options going back day off and flying into Tampa the day before.

 

Growing up and cruising out of NYC most of my childhood was nice because we lived 30 minutes from the port.  I've done one cruise since I was an adult and booked my flights and transfers myself with ease (used car serivces to/from airport and flew in day before and day after).

 

NYC seems intimidating at times, but it's a really cool city to visit if you never have and want to see some really neat stuff.

[hallux]

9 hours ago, Tantsee said:

My husband is older and is terrified of going to NY (too big, too many people, fear of the unknown, etc.), and now I’m feeling a little intimidated myself.

I am, by no means, a "city boy", but I actually enjoy going to visit NY and feel like I haven't taken advantage of living only 3 hours away to visit more often than I have.  Stay out of certain places (your plans should be pretty safe if you're just going from the port  to the airport) and don't look too much like a tourist if you do decide to take in some sights and you'll be FINE.  Most of my visits have not involved driving, I usually come in on the train from a little bit up-state and take the subway from Grand Central to get where I need to go.  It SEEMS daunting because it's a "big city" but it's not bad.

[DaisyGoldberg]

Editing is screwed up for some reason, so I'll append my post separately

 

If you're taking the NCL shuttle, no porter needed, as I assume they will be handling the luggage and escorting you directly.

 

That does sound like the most stress free way to really enjoy the cruise without the last day looming over it. 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by DaisyGoldberg

[Cruiseandgamble]

I just disembarked from the Gem this morning (from the so-called “cruise from hell).  We did the unassisted walk-off and were off the ship at 8am.  Leaving the terminal, there’s a cab stand across 12th Avenue or you can go up to the second level of the terminal to catch a cab.  We crossed to the cab stand then crossed W. 48th St. and called an Uber to La Guardia.  It picked us up at 8:08am and we were at La Guardia by 8:45am.  Also changed my 2pm flight to the noon one 😀. Uber was $69 including tip and the crazy surcharges 🙁. But pretty easy process.

[Tantsee]

Thank you all so much for your advice.  Sadly, my husband just couldn’t handle the thought of this particular cruise, so I cancelled it rather than further upsetting him.  After NCL canceling our cruise that we should have been on this week, and now having to cancel the April one, I am really bummed.  Back to the drawing board!  Thanks again for all of your suggestions. 

[Tantsee]

13 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

Not quite understanding the terror around traveling through NYC,

He wasn’t like that when he was younger.  There is a pretty significant age difference between the two of us, and I have to respect the changes in his perception of reality as he ages.  We live in the Phoenix area and he avoids the downtown area like the plague just the same!  😏

[UKstages]

well, it's all over but the shouting now, as the OP has canceled the cruise.

 

but as a new yorker who lives about ten blocks from the cruise ship terminal, thank you all for your interesting and quite humorous commentary... some of it horribly misguided and some of it just plain wrong... (e.g. the cost of car service, mischaracterizations of the airports and their proximity to the west side of manhattan and baseless conjecture about the safety of the neighborhood).

 

there is good and accurate advice in post #18.

[Crazy planning mom]

6 hours ago, Tantsee said:

Thank you all so much for your advice.  Sadly, my husband just couldn’t handle the thought of this particular cruise, so I cancelled it rather than further upsetting him.  After NCL canceling our cruise that we should have been on this week, and now having to cancel the April one, I am really bummed.  Back to the drawing board!  Thanks again for all of your suggestions. 

Hope you find another cruise that works for you both.

[Sailing12Away]

13 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

Rude commentary

That's a NY'er for you.... (there was actually nothing rude in there btw)

 

Guess I'm in the minority with my airport preferences. I avoid Newark like the plague despite it always being at least $100 or more cheaper to fly out of there. And with all the construction around LGA I haven't flown from there in a while (maybe it's finally done?). JFK all the way for me - just don't stick me in terminal 4 on my return, that 2 mile walk from the gate is torture after a long flight. 

[BirdTravels]

20 hours ago, Tantsee said:

Thank you all so much for your advice.  Sadly, my husband just couldn’t handle the thought of this particular cruise, so I cancelled it rather than further upsetting him.  After NCL canceling our cruise that we should have been on this week, and now having to cancel the April one, I am really bummed.  Back to the drawing board!  Thanks again for all of your suggestions. 

Sorry to hear that. Taking a NCL transfer from the cruise terminal would have isolated you from everything New York. 

[BirdTravels]

On 1/19/2022 at 1:38 AM, KeithJenner said:

Given your circumstances, I think your best option is a taxi. 

The challenge is that you have drag all of your luggage through the terminal, out onto the street and across the street to the taxi stand. 

 

The alternate is to go up to the embarkation level and fight the crowds to the taxi stand up there. 

 

We sail out of NY every year or two and it is getting harder as we get more mobility challenged.