NCL Joy out of Manhattan

[FluffyCat123]

Hi,

First time poster, thanks in advance for your help! Sailing out of Manhattan on the NCL Joy very soon and I am having trouble getting clarity on something. I am told that we need to check in by 5PM, but all aboard is at 9PM with sail away at 11. I am trying to confirm if I can leave the ship after check in and go visit friends in the city. I am getting the following conflicting answers:

• NCL online chat - once you get on the boat, you can't get off until you reach Bermuda
• NCL call center - it's up to the discretion of the personnel at the port if you can get off, depends on if it's a "safe" location
• Travel agent - their initital correspondence said you could get off, but they removed that language and are now quoting very unclear language from NCL

 

Unfortunately, I don't have much leverage to push the issue further with the travel agent. This is a large corporate charter, I am a mere guest of thousands and they don't seem interested in tracking down an answer for me. Would love to hear from anyone who has sailed NCL out of NYC to Bermuda recently and if they were able to get off the boat after checking in.

 

[UKstages]

in manhattan, you're able to drop your luggage with a porter, go explore the city, meet your friends, and come back and check in later say, at 4:30 or 5 PM. in fact, you can do that in most ports. i do not believe you can check in and then leave the terminal. check-in is post security. and i'm pretty sure you can not leave... you probably could, with papal dispensation, but they are not set up for that and you'd probably have to go through security again. i do know that i did a B2B once, with both legs embarking in NYC and they said i could get off and come back on, but that's a little bit of a different thing than what you are asking.

 

i think the best advice is to ask people on site, but that kind of messes with any preplanning of your rendezvous with friends. as for why you'd have to check in four hours before all aboard and six hours before departure... and why "all aboard" is not two hours before departure... that's just crazypants.

 

(unless it has something to do with your charter or an event your charter is planning or with available staff in the terminal.)

[FluffyCat123]

Super interesting about the porter and thanks for sharing. I was told by all 3 sources that I explicitly could not drop my luggage. That's not a big deal because there are tons of left luggage services like Bounce in NYC if I have trouble.

 

Yes, the all aboard situation is very confusing. The agenda says there aren't any events until the sail away party late at night, so I don't understand the hostage situation beginning at 5PM. LOL By the way, I recently did a cruise from Montreal to Boston on Holland America and they let us roam the city after boarding. Much smaller city and a different cruise line, which is why I'm not making assumptions in my planning.

 

I hate not knowing the details, but your strategy is a level headed one that I will likely have to adhere to. I'm waiting to see if I can get into an earlier class at Peloton so I can move my plans up. We shall see! At best, I see my friends, at worst I go to Bermuda. Life isn't so bad. 🙂

[UKstages]

1 minute ago, FluffyCat123 said:

I was told by all 3 sources that I explicitly could not drop my luggage.

 

well, there is no luggage "drop" in the sense of storage at the terminal.

 

all you'd be doing is giving your luggage to a porter to be taken onboard the ship. you yourself would be leaving, then coming back to check in hours later, having already given over your luggage. whether you "drop" you luggage at 10 am or at 4:30 pm, just before you check in doesn't make any difference.

 

bear in mind that few, perhaps none, of the people you spoke to have actually been to the manhattan cruise ship terminal. and when you say you want to "drop" your luggage, that means different things to different people.

[mking8288]

@FluffyCat123  FWIW, we've been using MCT for over 25 years now (oh, mine) and porters are typically there by 7 to 7:30 am, usually not any later than 8 am - and, I have yet to hear or read about porters refusing to accept or check luggage b/c "security and/or check-in" aren't open until 9:30, 10:00 or later, etc. etc.  Just make sure it's properly tagged, valuables & important belongings, passports & meds, etc. are kept with you - safely & securely at all times - and your "carry-on" or personal bag / daypack as you go about visiting friends in the NY.  

 

If this is on a weekend, traffic is usually not bad (unless it's Marathon Sunday, etc. etc.) but allow extra time to return to Pier 88 to go thru security & complete check-in ... in other words, don't cut it too close to 5 pm if that's the latest time to check-in even if sailaway is 9 pm.  There is always a remote possibility that for weather/tides, river currents, offshore conditions & other reasons, the ship/captain choose to and/or given the go ahead to leave earlier than scheduled (or, further delay departure time) 

 

You do not have to go inside at all, porters are outside at the curb - upstairs on level 2 - to take your luggage, and you can leave and make the most out of the earlier part of the day in the city.  

 

 

BTW, welcome to CruiseCritic 

[The Traveling Man]

6 hours ago, FluffyCat123 said:

Hi,

First time poster, thanks in advance for your help! Sailing out of Manhattan on the NCL Joy very soon and I am having trouble getting clarity on something. I am told that we need to check in by 5PM, but all aboard is at 9PM with sail away at 11. I am trying to confirm if I can leave the ship after check in and go visit friends in the city. I am getting the following conflicting answers:

• NCL online chat - once you get on the boat, you can't get off until you reach Bermuda
• NCL call center - it's up to the discretion of the personnel at the port if you can get off, depends on if it's a "safe" location
• Travel agent - their initital correspondence said you could get off, but they removed that language and are now quoting very unclear language from NCL

 

Unfortunately, I don't have much leverage to push the issue further with the travel agent. This is a large corporate charter, I am a mere guest of thousands and they don't seem interested in tracking down an answer for me. Would love to hear from anyone who has sailed NCL out of NYC to Bermuda recently and if they were able to get off the boat after checking in.

 

As others have said, you can leave your luggage with the curbside porters just as soon as they begin accepting bags.  You do not need to hold onto your bags until the time scheduled for you to pass through security and check in.  Although the ship may not be scheduled to leave port until late in the evening, the agents who actually perform the check-in may be scheduled to wrap up their day by 5:00 PM or so.  You should have a few hours between the time you drop your bags and the last time you can check in.

[goldmom]

And again, as mentioned above, make sure to keep your valuables with you.  Passport, money, medicines, etc.  You will need to carry these things with you when you walk around the city.

Enjoy!

[FluffyCat123]

Thank you everyone for all the great information, advice and pictures! This is a really nice forum. 🙂 Great news - I got someone higher up in my organization (it's a large corporate charter in case you didn't have time to read this whole thread) to confirm that I am free to roam the city after 5PM as long as I check in by 5PM and am back before the sail away cutoff. I'm set to have an amazing day - classes at Peloton, checking in at the ship, getting settled and then going back off the ship for dinner with friends. Then, then best part - a cruise to Bermuda!

[phillygwm]

On 6/19/2023 at 2:54 PM, FluffyCat123 said:

Hi,

First time poster, thanks in advance for your help! Sailing out of Manhattan on the NCL Joy very soon and I am having trouble getting clarity on something. I am told that we need to check in by 5PM, but all aboard is at 9PM with sail away at 11. I am trying to confirm if I can leave the ship after check in and go visit friends in the city.

I don't think any of us have lived through this specific scenario.  I've sailed out of MCT several times but all aboard was generally around 3:00 and sailaway was around 5:00. Not to say ships haven't left late but that wasn't by design.

 

If you need to be onboard by 5:00 for an 11:00 departure, the only thing I can think of is that the MCT staff aren't contracted to be there after a certain time, thus the hard deadline.  If that's the case, it begs the question whether there will be security at the terminal after that time and therefore whether the ship will be accessible.

[goldmom]

I hope the OP will post on their experience with this.  I think I'd be very concerned.  If there is a 5pm all aboard for an 11pm sail away I'd be very worried that the terminal building may be locked up after 5pm.

I suppose it's possible someone is there for late arriving guests, but I wouldn't count on that.

 

Interested to hear how this works out.  I'd really hate to see my ship sitting there and not be able to get to it.

 

Good luck!

[duffinmaster]

Love the informed and helpful replies to this topic!

 

Q: Earliest boarding time for NCL Joy 9/25/23 NE & Canada cruise? I've got a Haven suite with priority embarkation. Itinerary just says "3pm Departure NYC".

 

My past cruises allowed choice of boarding time slot during check-in that starts 21 days before this sailing. Cheers!

[UKstages]

earliest check-in time is around 9 or 9:30 am.

 

earliest boarding tends to be around 11 AM for haven, 11:15 or 11:30 for priority groups, general boarding by numbered group around 11:30 or 11:45.

[mjkacmom]

2 hours ago, goldmom said:

I hope the OP will post on their experience with this.  I think I'd be very concerned.  If there is a 5pm all aboard for an 11pm sail away I'd be very worried that the terminal building may be locked up after 5pm.

I suppose it's possible someone is there for late arriving guests, but I wouldn't count on that.

 

Interested to hear how this works out.  I'd really hate to see my ship sitting there and not be able to get to it.

 

Good luck!

I agree, there might be port staffing issues.

[mking8288]

Fall in New York is a busy time for NE/Canada cruises ... NCL probably using the extra time (and, paid for the port fees/charges) to load provisions and allow NCL Air passengers to make their airborne connections and ground transfers to board the ships, later than usual.  We're on the Epic TA earlier this year with a scheduled 7:30 pm departure time and the terminal wasn't locked down entirely after 5 or 6 p.m.  - still busy with cargo pallets AND luggage being loaded or transfer to the ship, and port security & others were around, as we had a starboard side direct view from above, watching the frenzy below on the pier.  Ropes and lines were finally released around 8:10 p.m. and we're underway shortly thereafter, with thrusters on & going sideway on pushing back or away from Pier 88.  

 

Probably a good idea to get a hold of the port agent's contact info in NY, mobile/cell #'s and email, etc. just in case. That's published in the Freestyle Dailies, ask someone on the sailing or roll call to find that info and share it - things & emergencies do happen.  Happy cruising and travel.  

[FluffyCat123]

3 hours ago, goldmom said:

I hope the OP will post on their experience with this.  I think I'd be very concerned.  If there is a 5pm all aboard for an 11pm sail away I'd be very worried that the terminal building may be locked up after 5pm.

I suppose it's possible someone is there for late arriving guests, but I wouldn't count on that.

 

Interested to hear how this works out.  I'd really hate to see my ship sitting there and not be able to get to it.

 

Good luck!

I will definitely report back. It's stated in my conference app that I must report to the boat for check in by 5PM but may enjoy the city until all aboard which is 10PM, with an 11PM sail away. It matches what my higher ups got from the event planner the other day. I will most certainly verify all of this when I check in and drop my luggage off because I won't let that boat leave without me!

[GORDONCHICK]

3 hours ago, FluffyCat123 said:

I will definitely report back. It's stated in my conference app that I must report to the boat for check in by 5PM but may enjoy the city until all aboard which is 10PM, with an 11PM sail away. It matches what my higher ups got from the event planner the other day. I will most certainly verify all of this when I check in and drop my luggage off because I won't let that boat leave without me!

FYI - it's a ship, not a boat.  A boat can fit on a ship, but a ship cannot fit on a boat.

[FluffyCat123]

Reporting back for those who were curious. As a refresher for anyone reading this topic the first time, I am on a large corporate charter if the Joy. As such, timings seem a little different than the norm. 
 

On Sunday, all aboard ended up being 10:30pm for an 11pm sail away. Sailing out of Manhattan at night was magical! Prior to sail away, I was able to check in by 5, drop my luggage, get settled in my room, disembark, and explore the city. 

We arrived in Bermuda around 6PM on Tuesday. Today is Thursday and we will depart at 6PM, arriving back at MCT early Saturday. 
 

Overall it’s been a great trip! Some of my colleagues are in the haven and gave me a little tour last night. It’s so nice! I’m in 12702, a cabin facing the front of the ship with a large window. We had no say over cabin assignments. Hoping for calmer waters on the way home because I felt the ship moving a lot on the way out here!!!

 

Not having sailed, NCL before, I don’t know what they’re doing differently for the charter. The sail away party Sunday was jam packed. I expect this afternoon’s to be equally packed. Our crew packs the casino at night and there are literally no seats at any table. The observation lounge gets closed off from 8p to 1a every night for a private event where booze is magically free and paid for by our company. Fortunately, I made the cut for that VIP list. 🙂 

 

Thanks to everyone who replied to my original post!

 

 

[luvtoride]

On 6/24/2023 at 8:23 AM, FluffyCat123 said:

Thank you everyone for all the great information, advice and pictures! This is a really nice forum. 🙂 Great news - I got someone higher up in my organization (it's a large corporate charter in case you didn't have time to read this whole thread) to confirm that I am free to roam the city after 5PM as long as I check in by 5PM and am back before the sail away cutoff. I'm set to have an amazing day - classes at Peloton, checking in at the ship, getting settled and then going back off the ship for dinner with friends. Then, then best part - a cruise to Bermuda!

@FluffyCat, how was your Peloton class at PSNY? Which instructor did you have? I’ve done several in studio and it’s a great experience, right?

 

Does NCL have Peloton bikes in their gyms?  We are going on the Escape in November and I’d love to “not miss” my rides.

I’m at almost 1,100 rides now.  Hope to see you on the LB.  I’m #Luvtoride40 

 

best,

Brian

 

[FluffyCat123]

5 hours ago, luvtoride said:

@FluffyCat, how was your Peloton class at PSNY? Which instructor did you have? I’ve done several in studio and it’s a great experience, right?

 

Does NCL have Peloton bikes in their gyms?  We are going on the Escape in November and I’d love to “not miss” my rides.

I’m at almost 1,100 rides now.  Hope to see you on the LB.  I’m #Luvtoride40 

 

best,

Brian

 

@luvtoride40 I had a great time at PSNY! It's not far from the cruise terminal, which was a plus. I did yoga with Ross and a 30 minute ride with Camila in Spanish even though I don't speak Spanish. 🙂 I'm really into power zones and wish I could've taken a PZ class but honestly I was happy to take any class at all.

 

The NCL Joy did non have any Pelotons. The gym was pretty small and sad, I mostly used the treadmill and ran outside on the track. It's hard to be away from the bike, I get it! I'm #maryannkatlady on the LB, see you there sometime!