NYC late flight- what to do?

[undecided1]

I just booked a Bermuda cruise from NYC in January. Our flight doesn’t leave until 3:30. I just found out that NCL doesn’t offer an excursion that ends at the airport in NYC. Anyone have any suggestions on what we can do other than spend the day in the airport? 
 

TIA

[d9704011]

I recommend you find yourself a good book and go to the airport to read it.

[RD64]

That is not necessarily a late flight - gives you lots of tie to get to the airport without stressing.

[IAcruising]

Been there, done that. Ours was 6:30 pm.

 

Change your flight, or drink heavily for 6-hours. I chose the latter.

 

[fredflint]

Just go ahead and get a lounge pass or a credit card that offers lounge access and relax, not really enough time to do much with a 1-2 time to get to the airport and get to your gate.   

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, undecided1 said:

I just booked a Bermuda cruise from NYC in January. Our flight doesn’t leave until 3:30. I just found out that NCL doesn’t offer an excursion that ends at the airport in NYC. Anyone have any suggestions on what we can do other than spend the day in the airport? 
 

TIA

NCL sells post cruise shore ex on most NY cruises. Here’s the one on our cruise next week. 
 

[undecided1]

9 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

NCL sells post cruise shore ex on most NY cruises. Here’s the one on our cruise next week. 
 

That’s awesome. I hope it is offered on my cruise. Thank you!

[IAcruising]

42 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

NCL sells post cruise shore ex on most NY cruises. Here’s the one on our cruise next week. 

 

Lol. $200. I can get 15 overpriced drinks at the airport for that!  😆

 

[hallux]

Those tours often have a "not for flights after..." some time.  If it's available on your trip be sure that your flight is after that time.

[mking8288]

OP, if there's 2 of you, that's $400 ($350 with FAS's $50 Shorex "credit" applied) - instead of doing that, you can reserve your own private car service (Carmel) to pick you up at the airport - drive around the city by the hour, with the final stop at JFK, say about 3 to 4 hours for a nominal hourly rate of $50 to $60 (higher rate for a minivan, more comfortable & sit higher up) - have a nice lunch somewhere while the driver wait & store the luggage in the back of the vehicle.  Add up tolls & surcharges, and a generous 20% tip for the driver, and you will still come out ahead ... probably also paid for that lunch, within "budget".  If you are solo traveling, $150 isn't too excessive - since nowadays, yellow taxi's flat rate (special - regulated) from anywhere in Manhattan to JFK, tolls & surcharges together is about $80 plus tips, with rates being similar using Carmel or Dial 7 car service.  

 

NCL's drive-by shared bus tour is usually for flights in the afternoon - and, travel time from MCT direct to JFK is about 1 hour to 90 minutes on average, less on quieter weekend mornings as long as traffic is light and there are no closures, road/highway construction en route, accidents or weather-related like today (where a trip was easily 2 to 3 hours during the morning downpour)  NCL's bus/motor coach tour has jus 1 or 2 quick photo stop once under way, be prepared to have a big breakfast and/or late lunch upon arrival at the airport, as I understood.  

[OrcaGirl]

OP didn't mention which airport they're flying out of, or if this is their first time to NYC (which might change what people recommend seeing).

 

We're doing a Bermuda cruise next month, and our departing flight is out of Newark at 6pm. Our plan is to disembark after a leisurely breakfast on board, leave our luggage at a nearby Bounce location (reasonable fees), and then weather permitting we'll walk the High Line and grab a late lunch. We'll then grab our luggage and take the train from Penn Station to Newark and chill in the lounge until it's time to fly.

 

The NCL excursion tour drops off at both JFK and LaGuardia: "This tour will drop guests at both, La Guardia Airport (LGA) and JFK Airport (JFK). Only guests with domestic flights departing after 2:30 pm and guests with international flights departing after 3:30 pm should book this tour." The excursion didn't appear in our CruisePlanner when we first booked, but showed up a few weeks ago.

 

You'll likely find more options/ideas for how to spend a couple of hours in New York over on the East Coast Departures board: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/317-east-coast-departures/

 

[kitkat343]

Please note that the Intrepid is right next to Manhattan's port, so that would be an easy excursion to DIY for a little time (check with them to see if they can hold your luggage or have any ideas - you can't be the first people to visit there after a cruise).  Gotham Market is also really close, so you might just want to go to a good food hall.    The museum of natural history is also on the west side of Manhattan, so if traffic is light (obviously a big if) that's a 10 minute cab (they used to have a cloakroom but you'd need to check to see if they can store luggage).  If you are doing car service, you'd pass the Empire State Building on the way from the intrepid to JFK, so maybe see if your driver could wait for you while you stop there.  Or see if there's anything else you want to do close to the route from the port to JFK and make one stop.  The Queens Chinatown in Flushing is very authentic (although I've never combined it with the airport and don't know if its exactly on the way from Manhattan).  

[undecided1]

We are flying out of La Guardia at 3:30 and have never been to New York so are hoping to see a few sites. 
 

Thank you everyone for the suggestions, they are greatly appreciated.

[Russiamomm]

Consider yourself lucky.  The one time we used NCL Air to NYC they put us on 10PM flights - despite there being flights every hour on the hour.  😳

 

go to the airport and try to get on standby for an earlier flight.  If it’s an option, your bags will go on the earlier flight.  If you make it - great!  If you don’t, buy a day pass for a lounge.  Your bags will be waiting for you at your destination.  We were able to get on an 11AM flight on standby.

[mking8288]

LGA is closer, typically, shall I say as a native New Yorker, 30 to 45 minutes travel time, curbside to curbside at the airport terminal's departure level (with all the stars & elements aligned and no unexpected surprises, traffic-wise, i.e, bear in mind, it's mid-winter here, just like Michigan) - that you should be there no later than 2 PM, unless you have TSA Pre-Check.  Airport itself is very nice after a multi-year expansive upgrade, integrated with lots of shops, cafe & stores, services both landside & airside.  

 

Your biggest challenge is what to do with luggage after an early disembarkation, if you can & wish to do the express self walk-off ... you can be clear CBP since facial recognition is used these days, very simple, quick & easy lately; and, outside on 12th Avenue by 8:30, no later than 9 AM.  We didn't & send our bags out, took advantage of Platinum/Sapphire "privilege" of being among the earliest to leave the ship, at the same time that "Brown" luggage tags were called (that's for NCL Airport transfers & post-cruise tours) around 8:30 - and were outside, ready for car service pick-up by 9 AM.  

 

East Coast destination forum / New York - has discussions & ideas - but, you need to narrow down choices & must do, and come up with a short list of what & where you wish to be - weekend mornings, things tend to warm up slowly.  Aside from luggage storage, maybe head over to Times Square & (pre) identify a hotel where you can also store luggage (and return later, if only staying in that neighborhood - not worth the hassle of going around in a taxi or Uber) before hitting the pavement to see landmarks & places, or perhaps downtown ... factor in lunch options.  Places like musuems do not allow larger bags or luggage to come along, for obvious/security reasons - thus, you are limited as to where & how to.  

 

Otherwise, ride around by hiring your own car service by the hour ... or, head over to LGA, standby for an earlier flight, if available and/or buy a Lounge Pass for the day (check ahead to make sure if's an option)  -  otherwise, airport itself is fine to hang out, enjoy a meal & catch the flight without rushing.  

[undecided1]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

LGA is closer, typically, shall I say as a native New Yorker, 30 to 45 minutes travel time, curbside to curbside at the airport terminal's departure level (with all the stars & elements aligned and no unexpected surprises, traffic-wise, i.e, bear in mind, it's mid-winter here, just like Michigan) - that you should be there no later than 2 PM, unless you have TSA Pre-Check.  Airport itself is very nice after a multi-year expansive upgrade, integrated with lots of shops, cafe & stores, services both landside & airside.  

 

Your biggest challenge is what to do with luggage after an early disembarkation, if you can & wish to do the express self walk-off ... you can be clear CBP since facial recognition is used these days, very simple, quick & easy lately; and, outside on 12th Avenue by 8:30, no later than 9 AM.  We didn't & send our bags out, took advantage of Platinum/Sapphire "privilege" of being among the earliest to leave the ship, at the same time that "Brown" luggage tags were called (that's for NCL Airport transfers & post-cruise tours) around 8:30 - and were outside, ready for car service pick-up by 9 AM.  

 

East Coast destination forum / New York - has discussions & ideas - but, you need to narrow down choices & must do, and come up with a short list of what & where you wish to be - weekend mornings, things tend to warm up slowly.  Aside from luggage storage, maybe head over to Times Square & (pre) identify a hotel where you can also store luggage (and return later, if only staying in that neighborhood - not worth the hassle of going around in a taxi or Uber) before hitting the pavement to see landmarks & places, or perhaps downtown ... factor in lunch options.  Places like musuems do not allow larger bags or luggage to come along, for obvious/security reasons - thus, you are limited as to where & how to.  

 

Otherwise, ride around by hiring your own car service by the hour ... or, head over to LGA, standby for an earlier flight, if available and/or buy a Lounge Pass for the day (check ahead to make sure if's an option)  -  otherwise, airport itself is fine to hang out, enjoy a meal & catch the flight without rushing.  

Thank you so much for the detailed instructions/suggestions.