Things to Know about Sailing from New York/New Jersey Ports

[dbrown84]

@Indiansbaseball, If you're not opposed to hostels, there are some well reviewed hostels in the city.  I know hostels aren't for everyone, but they can be had for under $100 a night per bed.  Just throwing out another option

[1aCruise4wks]

Two contributing factors... # 1 Old Age!  # 2 Inexperienced Uber User.  As soon as we exited the port, schlepping 3 pieces of luggage each, we called for an Uber (not realizing that we needed to be on the other side of the street).  As soon as I booked the Uber, the driver called.  So, I'm on my cell phone talking to the Driver realizing that he was across the street.  My wife is mobility challenging having had two knee replacements over the past few years.  She is schlepping her 3 pieces of luggage.  While on the phone with the driver, we are trying to cross the street - heavy pedestrian traffic & heavy vehicle traffic dragging luggage on wheels over an uneven paved surface (picture luggage falling over in the middle of the street).  The whole time the driver is on the phone complaining he is double-parked and can't stay there long - HURRY UP!  We finally figure out where the Uber driver is and get across the street.  Everything then calms down.  If I just would have waited to call the Uber until we were across the street, everything would have been fine but someone told me to call my Uber as soon as I got out of the terminal - big mistake!

 

Dennis

 

[dbrown84]

Just now, 1aCruise4wks said:

Two contributing factors... # 1 Old Age!  # 2 Inexperienced Uber User.  As soon as we exited the port, schlepping 3 pieces of luggage each, we called for an Uber (not realizing that we needed to be on the other side of the street).  As soon as I booked the Uber, the driver called.  So, I'm on my cell phone talking to the Driver realizing that he was across the street.  My wife is mobility challenging having had two knee replacements over the past few years.  She is schlepping her 3 pieces of luggage.  While on the phone with the driver, we are trying to cross the street - heavy pedestrian traffic & heavy vehicle traffic dragging luggage on wheels over an uneven paved surface (picture luggage falling over in the middle of the street).  The whole time the driver is on the phone complaining he is double-parked and can't stay there long - HURRY UP!  We finally figure out where the Uber driver is and get across the street.  Everything then calms down.  If I just would have waited to call the Uber until we were across the street, everything would have been fine but someone told me to call my Uber as soon as I got out of the terminal - big mistake!

 

Dennis

 

ahh, got it.  Yeah, now knowing this it will make a big difference for you.sucks that the driver treated you that way.  I walked to the train station.  and you're right, once you get past the throng of drivers looking to offer you a ride, things are normal

[lumpkin8]

People might also want to consider the West Side YMCA, located on 63rd Street off of Central Park West.  Many of the rooms have a shared bath, but you can pay more for a private bath.  It is a great location for sightseeing and near many subways and busses.  It is also clean and safe.

 

[greeneyedgirl58]

On 1/28/2024 at 8:00 PM, 1aCruise4wks said:

Two contributing factors... # 1 Old Age!  # 2 Inexperienced Uber User.  As soon as we exited the port, schlepping 3 pieces of luggage each, we called for an Uber (not realizing that we needed to be on the other side of the street).  As soon as I booked the Uber, the driver called.  So, I'm on my cell phone talking to the Driver realizing that he was across the street.  My wife is mobility challenging having had two knee replacements over the past few years.  She is schlepping her 3 pieces of luggage.  While on the phone with the driver, we are trying to cross the street - heavy pedestrian traffic & heavy vehicle traffic dragging luggage on wheels over an uneven paved surface (picture luggage falling over in the middle of the street).  The whole time the driver is on the phone complaining he is double-parked and can't stay there long - HURRY UP!  We finally figure out where the Uber driver is and get across the street.  Everything then calms down.  If I just would have waited to call the Uber until we were across the street, everything would have been fine but someone told me to call my Uber as soon as I got out of the terminal - big mistake!

 

Dennis

 

Are pre-booked ride services such as Perfect Transportation  allowed to pick you up right at cruise terminal? or are they also across the street? (Lots of luggage + mobility impaired also!)

[njhorseman]

23 minutes ago, greeneyedgirl58 said:

Are pre-booked ride services such as Perfect Transportation  allowed to pick you up right at cruise terminal? or are they also across the street? (Lots of luggage + mobility impaired also!)

It's up to the police who are directing traffic that day. If the port is very busy, say a couple of large ships disembarking, they sometimes will not allow pick ups at the cruise terminal and require you to cross 12th Ave. You should be able to get a porter to take your luggage across the street...with a generous tip of course.

[debenson0723]

Please refresh my memory. We will be walking to the port, staying at a hotel on 49th Street the night before. What is the street at 12th Avenue that we cross to get inside the port for check in? Is it easy to get upstairs (ramp, elevator, etc.)? I know when we disembark we cross 52nd to get a car service but when embarking do we need to go up to 54th?  Thanks for your help.

[njhorseman]

6 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

Please refresh my memory. We will be walking to the port, staying at a hotel on 49th Street the night before. What is the street at 12th Avenue that we cross to get inside the port for check in? Is it easy to get upstairs (ramp, elevator, etc.)? I know when we disembark we cross 52nd to get a car service but when embarking do we need to go up to 54th?  Thanks for your help.

It depends on whether your ship is docked at Pier 88 or Pier 90.

If Pier 88, cross 12th Ave at 48th St. 

If Pier 90, cross at 50th St.

Yes, there are elevators to take you upstairs. 

[Nitemare]

You can also cross anywhere south or north of the terminal and walk up or down to the ship.  We love the piers to the south of the Cruise Terminal to see the Tour boats as well as the USS Intrepid, which is docked just below the cruise ships.

[Lois R]

On 5/14/2024 at 8:07 AM, greeneyedgirl58 said:

Are pre-booked ride services such as Perfect Transportation  allowed to pick you up right at cruise terminal? or are they also across the street? (Lots of luggage + mobility impaired also!)

I had pre-booked a car service back in November and I did not need to "cross the street"....that would have been from Pier 88. The driver was allowed to to pick me up outside of the terminal...same side of the street as the ship.

[navybankerteacher]

6 hours ago, Lois R said:

I had pre-booked a car service back in November and I did not need to "cross the street"....that would have been from Pier 88. The driver was allowed to to pick me up outside of the terminal...same side of the street as the ship.

Sort of a variable - if there were two or more large ships dumping passengers at the same time the police would probably not permit that sort of pick up.  Once we came in on a small ship - carrying about 650 passengers - with no other ship in port —- easy pick up.

[njhorseman]

35 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Sort of a variable - if there were two or more large ships dumping passengers at the same time the police would probably not permit that sort of pick up.  Once we came in on a small ship - carrying about 650 passengers - with no other ship in port —- easy pick up.

Absolutely right.

While most of the time our limo service has been able to pick us up at the terminal there have been a couple of occasions where they were not permitted to due to the large number of passengers disembarking and embarking that morning. 

[victory2020]

On 2/21/2024 at 5:00 AM, lumpkin8 said:

People might also want to consider the West Side YMCA, located on 63rd Street off of Central Park West.  Many of the rooms have a shared bath, but you can pay more for a private bath.  It is a great location for sightseeing and near many subways and busses.  It is also clean and safe.

 

Is that walkable to the port? I am on my own with 1 carryon. Safe area for solo woman?

[lumpkin8]

West Side Y is walkable to the port if you are able-bodied.  It is about a 1 mile walk on fully paved streets with sidewalks.  Unfortunately, bad things can happen on NYC streets even in the good areas, so there is no guarantee anywhere.  As you walk further west in the fifties and forties (street numbers) the blocks are not less safe but there are less people on them.  This might make them seem/feel/be less safe.

That being said, I live in the west sixties, and walk to and from the pier a few times a year, for many years, and I am currently 68 years old.  I have never had any issues on this walk.

 

As for the West Side Y itself, totally lovely for a single woman to stay there.

 

[victory2020]

15 minutes ago, lumpkin8 said:

West Side Y is walkable to the port if you are able-bodied.  It is about a 1 mile walk on fully paved streets with sidewalks.  Unfortunately, bad things can happen on NYC streets even in the good areas, so there is no guarantee anywhere.  As you walk further west in the fifties and forties (street numbers) the blocks are not less safe but there are less people on them.  This might make them seem/feel/be less safe.

That being said, I live in the west sixties, and walk to and from the pier a few times a year, for many years, and I am currently 68 years old.  I have never had any issues on this walk.

 

As for the West Side Y itself, totally lovely for a single woman to stay there.

 

Thank you, I live in LA so I get it. I'm 65 & fit & don't mind walking. About how much is a cab if I feel unsafe?  Stupid question - do you sail past the Statue of Liberty when going out of Manhattan cruise terminal?

[njhorseman]

1 hour ago, victory2020 said:

About how much is a cab

Including the various surcharges probably about $10 to $12 plus tip. Getting stuck in traffic can run up the fare.

 

1 hour ago, victory2020 said:

do you sail past the Statue of Liberty when going out of Manhattan cruise terminal?

Yes, the SOL will be on the starboard side...but the sail away views are terrific from every perspective so be sure to check out all directions before you get to the SOL.

[victory2020]

1 minute ago, njhorseman said:

Including the various surcharges probably about $10 to $12 plus tip. Getting stuck in traffic can run up the fare.

 

Yes, the SOL will be on the starboard side...but the sail away views are terrific from every perspective so be sure to check out all directions before you get to the SOL.

I just imagine myself as Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl going by, haha. How is the temperature in late Sept/early Oct? 

[njhorseman]

25 minutes ago, victory2020 said:

I just imagine myself as Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl going by, haha. How is the temperature in late Sept/early Oct? 

On average highs should be about 70, but they can vary about 10 degrees in either direction.

[victory2020]

5 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

On average highs should be about 70, but they can vary about 10 degrees in either direction.

Thanks. Being a California girl I am dreading the temps in Canada!

[Nitemare]

17 hours ago, victory2020 said:

Thanks. Being a California girl I am dreading the temps in Canada!

If you walk in LA you'll have no problem walking in NYC.  Especially on a cruise day, those streets are full of folks lugging their luggage.