NYC terminal parking tips

[Turtles06]

49 minutes ago, MaggieNY said:

The cruise port has open parking up on top. If you arrive at the port later than other passengers, you could end up on top which would mean snow would be an issue. 

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal has only one level for parking — an open deck up top. Whether you arrive early or late, you will “end up on top.”

[MaggieNY]

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal has only one level for parking — an open deck up top. Whether you arrive early or late, you will “end up on top.”

I didn't realize that. I never looked too hard but I thought there was covered parking underneath the open deck on top. Parking at Circle Line wasn't too difficult. My husband pulled up to the port and I got  out with the luggage. I took care of getting it all checked in while he drove down to Circle Line to park the car, then he walked back about 6 blocks. It was worth it to save close to $200.

[mjkacmom]

28 minutes ago, MaggieNY said:

I didn't realize that. I never looked too hard but I thought there was covered parking underneath the open deck on top. Parking at Circle Line wasn't too difficult. My husband pulled up to the port and I got  out with the luggage. I took care of getting it all checked in while he drove down to Circle Line to park the car, then he walked back about 6 blocks. It was worth it to save close to $200.

How much does it cost to park at the circle line? Is it a secured lot? It’s $280 at the pier for the week.

[MaggieNY]

On 12/23/2022 at 2:11 PM, mjkacmom said:

How much does it cost to park at the circle line? Is it a secured lot? It’s $280 at the pier for the week.

I just ran it through SpotHero. The price has increased significantly since the last time we parked there. It's now $270 for the week - pretty close to the pier price. When we sailed in 2016, pier parking was $180/week and we paid $100. 

[mking8288]

Out of curiosity, did a lookup for an upcoming 12 nighters out of Pier 88 next month - Pier 83/Circle Line parking will be $400, same as rooftop & secured outdoor parking above Pier 88 at MCT (it's capped or max'd out at $400 for cruises of 10 days and longer).  Parking stalls/lanes above the cruise piers (88, 90 and the seldom used 92) are wide & "spacious" for nearly all oversized, overwidth vehicles including full-size vans, pickup trucks and extended length - little chance of getting dinged & accidentally dented by those parked next to you, or having to squeeze yourself to get out or get into the parking spot.  

 

For cruises of 5, 6, 7 or 8 days - Circle Line reserved parking might be okay, but that can still be a long & freezing walk in the middle of winter to go back & forth, on a day like today ... 

[Swimback2]

Has anyone parked at pier 88 or 90 recently?

 

[tmgrry]

Parked for a week 5/19-5/26. Reserved online. $325 for the week. Parking is on the top deck of the terminal, quick elevator ride to the bottom floor, drop bags with the porters on street level, hop into the security line. Couldn't have been easier.

[jackieodonnell]

I believe you drive up to the second floor to drop off your bags with the porters and at the end you can drive up to the third floor to park. Then you take the elevator back down to the second floor to go through security and check in.

 

I haven't parked there in a few years so if I am outdated in my advice please let me know. 

 

Security and check in was on the second floor when I sailed in September.

 

 

[mjkacmom]

53 minutes ago, jackieodonnell said:

I believe you drive up to the second floor to drop off your bags with the porters and at the end you can drive up to the third floor to park. Then you take the elevator back down to the second floor to go through security and check in.

 

I haven't parked there in a few years so if I am outdated in my advice please let me know. 

 

Security and check in was on the second floor when I sailed in September.

 

 

Nope, we’ve sailed out of nyc since our first cruise 18 years ago. You will drive up the ramp, dog sniffs, park, take your luggage on the elevator down, drop off with porters, go inside. If you drive up to the porters first, you will need to go around the block and then drive to the 2nd level (this will most likely take a half hour). If you are being dropped off and don’t need parking, you don’t go up the ramp.

[weisla]

Just parked at the MCT on Sunday 6/9. Reserved in advance (generally not necessary, but I’d just had knee surgery 3 weeks prior and was willing to pay the premium for easy access). We arrived around 1pm for a 6pm sail away. Up the ramp, then sniffed through security to the parking area There were still spots, probably 20+ available. Gave 3 bags to the curbside porters with a tip and breezed right into the terminal with no line. Then right onto the ship. The drive up 95 was fairly easy and navigation across the GWB a bit congested but not bad on a Sunday afternoon. 

[TheBeardedCruiser]

I've cruised out of Manhattan twice in the past couple years. The last time was a couple months ago.

 

Once they took our luggage on the deck where we parked. The next time, we had to take our luggage back down to street level via the elevator. Both were relatively easy!

[itsnotjustme]

On 12/10/2022 at 10:03 AM, mjkacmom said:

Actually the parking is at the top, pull in, let the dogs sniff your car, park, bring your luggage on the elevator, go down and drop your luggage.

What mjkacmom said.  I think they took our luggage at the top though.

[itsnotjustme]

On 6/12/2024 at 7:34 PM, weisla said:

The drive up 95 was fairly easy and navigation across the GWB a bit congested but not bad on a Sunday afternoon. 

If by "up" you mean north, why not take the Lincoln Tunnel?  It comes up a few blocks from the terminal.

 

[PelicanBill]

I've parked and cruised from Manhattan 4 times. The configuration was different once, with payment handled at pier 90 on the second level then driving over to 88. The other times it was up the ramps to level 3 for payment, then security.

 

Right after you pull out of security you turn right and left. Pull to the curb there to unload luggage and passengers, then go find an empty spot to park. If you are there early, like 10am-11am, people will still be leaving and you can just wait for a spot if needed. 

 

Meanwhile, the people who say their luggage was picked up probably were helped by a porter who was just helping someone leaving. That's helpful when it happens. But it means 2 tips!  If not, you get on the elevator and go to street level to leave your luggage with the dock porters. Tip them, and if a cart porter helped you, tip them too.  

 

Then you get back on the elevator to level 2, where check-in and boarding happens.  (When you return, the arrival hall is on floor 1. That is where the luggage will be. Back up to level 3 for cars.

[mjkacmom]

11 hours ago, itsnotjustme said:

If by "up" you mean north, why not take the Lincoln Tunnel?  It comes up a few blocks from the terminal.

 

It’s easy to Waze, it usually sends us through the tunnel, but once the GWB due to traffic. If you don’t like city driving, GWB is a bit easier with the west side highway.

[mking8288]

FWIW, this was the Joy docking at Pier 88 earlier this month ... look closely at the parking lot - lower right corner - setup with a roped off area, porters had carts setup there, taking luggage being dropped off; after passing the gated entrance & quick security screening by the trained dog (not shown on this photo.)  Then, one can proceed forward for an available parking slot as those disembarking the ship begin to vacate and leave.  I've been watching this for the last 3 NCL sailings and by 9:30 to 10 AM, porters with both empty & filled carts are stationed there ... hence, no longer necessary to personally haul them yourself into the giant elevators & then step outside toward the curb drop-off zones to hand the luggage to the shore porters.  Tipping for their services, convenience and simplicity only once - especially welcoming on a sunny, hot & humid day to sail from NYC.  

 

 

As for driving to Pier 88/90, the best way coming out of Lincoln Tunnel is to go north / uptown, make a left onto W. 42nd Street, be sure to move quickly into the right lane as you want to then turn north onto 10th Avenue (one-way, northbound ... please yield to pedestrian crossing with the light) - then, continue & keep left, 12 blocks & prepare to turn west at W. 55th Street, directly & across 12th Avenue to the entrance ramp - upper - for MCT, Pier 92-90-88 for parking/drop-off, etc.   This is a much better & faster moving than going north from W. 42nd Street to busy 12th Avenue, with the left turn signal at W. 55th Street.  

 

Weekend traffic coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel is usually fairly light, GPS real-time traffic guidance with turn-by-turn navigation voice assist should be enabled or turned on.