Cape Liberty Cruise Port

[bygoner]

I have never been to this port so have a few questions about it. I will be driving down from New Hampshire. (About 300 miles one way). My questions: Should I drive to the ship and unload my baggage before parking? Do I have to park first and then take the bus (so I have read here somewhere)along with my luggage and spouse. Do ya tip the bus driver?. Do ya tip the folks handling the baggage at the ship?I have also read here it would be a good idea to buy a cover for my vehicle, because of paint in the air. Any and all information about the port would be greatly appreciated.

[superjerryw]

The parking lot is adjacent to the terminal building. If your bags have wheels you can just park your car and roll your luggage to the terminal. If you have too many bags to handle you can unload the bags before parking. As for the car cover, I don't think there have been any recent reports of cars getting paint on them. The problem has reportedly been corrected, but if you have a nice car it's your call. In any case, you will turn your bags over to the porters at the terminal before checking in. Most people tip them to make sure their bags make it on the ship. Once you check in you will take a shuttle bus from the terminal to the ship with only your carry-on bags. Tipping the driver is up to you.

[above sea level cruiser]

The parking lot is adjacent to the terminal building. If your bags have wheels you can just park your car and roll your luggage to the terminal. If you have too many bags to handle you can unload the bags before parking. As for the car cover, I don't think there have been any recent reports of cars getting paint on them. The problem has reportedly been corrected, but if you have a nice car it's your call. In any case, you will turn your bags over to the porters at the terminal before checking in. Most people tip them to make sure their bags make it on the ship. Once you check in you will take a shuttle bus from the terminal to the ship with only your carry-on bags. Tipping the driver is up to you.

 

Exactly correct. We have been to this port a few times. When you get near the parking area you have a choice: make a right turn into the parking area - if you are early enough, you won't be that far from the terminal, or go straight and park on a 45 degree angle in the load/unload zone. When you have finished unloading your luggage you will have to back out and drive away from the terminal, around the buildings then back again to the parking area. No big deal really one way or the other. As for the tipping thing - one time in Miami, we found a porter way out in the parking area and gave him a huge tip to make sure our luggage made it to the right ship and it worked! The only bag I lost was the one that had my formal night shorts and t-shirt in it.:D

[Lightsluvr]

I cancelled a cruise departing from Cape Liberty after the NJ Attorney General filed her grandstanding lawsuit against Royal Caribbean for the Bermuda cruise to Canada. What a political hack.

 

I won't spend a dime in NJ. I booked another cruise sailing from Baltimore.

 

JMHO.

 

LL

[PelicanBill]

In fact after almost a year with no paint spray problems, there was a problem again about 5 weeks ago, but a much smaller one. Many who are parking are planning to put car cover on. Many of us going again are using car services to avoid parking.

[Sue L]

I am doing the car cover, I would rather spend the $ on the cover than go through the hassle if there is a problem. 8 days WAHOOOOOOOO!!!!

[CUinSeptember]

I cancelled a cruise departing from Cape Liberty after the NJ Attorney General filed her grandstanding lawsuit against Royal Caribbean for the Bermuda cruise to Canada. What a political hack.

 

I won't spend a dime in NJ. I booked another cruise sailing from Baltimore.

 

JMHO.

 

LL

I'm a New Jerseyan who was on that cruise to Canada. I hope 'we' win that lawsuit. I guess it took that to 'encourage' RCCL to do the right thing this year and offer people an option. We were told 'get on the ship or lose all your money'. And before you ask that tired old question "would you rather sail into a hurricane?" The answer is NO. We understood the decision to not sail to Bermuda. However, that particular week was the most expensive week of the Bermuda high season. We would NOT have paid that for a cruise to Canada, even if the weather there had been good. It was chilly, foggy, and half the activities on the ship were canceled/pools closed. We were entitled to a partial refund at the very least, and the option to reschedule would have been a welcome customer relations bonus. In addition, RCCL actually made more money on that cruise than they would have if we had gone to Bermuda because they kept us at sea overnight when we would have been in port in Bermuda, so the casino and shops were open an extra night. There was nothing else to do but gamble and shop, and I'm quite sure they cleared a ton of money even if they had to pay the dealers to work an extra night.

This has all been argued before a hundred times here on this board and anybody who was on that cruise and had anything negative to say was bashed beyond belief. Most of them weren't looking for miracles from RCCL, just fair treatment. I paid way too much for a trip to Canada.

[sailor moon]

What is the closest airport to this cruise port?

[jlperry]

Newark Liberty Airport is the closest (EWR). And in NJ, we tip for everything. ;)

[Sue L]

What is the closest airport to this cruise port?

 

 

 

Newark airport is the closest!

[yogimax]

There is a light rail system which goes to the port

[bygoner]

Just want to acknowledge and thank all you folks who responded to my questions about the Cape Liberty port. Have never driven to a port before. All previous cruises flew to a particular city and then was picked up by cruise line staff, etc.

[Leeser416]

We just came back from Explorer of the Seas who left out of Bayonne. It was the smoothest experience we've had with respect to parking, dropping off bags, checking in, etc... We dropped our luggage off then parked the car and walked to the terminal. We checked in and then road the shuttle to the boat. The entire process was done in 30 minutes (if that long). The parking cost $15.00 per day which I thought was a little high which you pay on the way into the lot. When we returned to port we were able to pull our luggage to the car which was extremely dirty...but it was not paint.

[Sue L]

We just came back from Explorer of the Seas who left out of Bayonne. It was the smoothest experience we've had with respect to parking, dropping off bags, checking in, etc... We dropped our luggage off then parked the car and walked to the terminal. We checked in and then road the shuttle to the boat. The entire process was done in 30 minutes (if that long). The parking cost $15.00 per day which I thought was a little high which you pay on the way into the lot. When we returned to port we were able to pull our luggage to the car which was extremely dirty...but it was not paint.

 

What time did you get to the port?

[Leeser416]

What time did you get to the port?

 

12:30ish. We were able to go right to our room when we got onboard.

[Sue L]

12:30ish. We were able to go right to our room when we got onboard.

 

 

thanks

[elliemaej]

Due to not wanting to take DD out of school any longer than we have to, we do not plan to leave until noon. That will get us to Bayonne by 2:00. What is the parking lot/check in like at that hour?

[luv2sweat]

Elliemaej,

 

I have the same question. I'm usually so early when I travel, but this time we won't make it to the pier until 2:00 or 2:30 because of my son's school. What cruise are you taking? We're doing the November 3rd Explorer of the Seas repositioning.

 

Wendy

[elliemaej]

Wendy, we are doing the 10/6 9 nighter. Since Monday is a holiday, I will only have to take her out for 4 days. I've taken her out of school for a week every year since she started (she is in 8th grade now) but it is getting harder and harder as she gets older.

If anyone has experience getting to the port after 2:00, we would appreciate a response.

Thanks

Ellen

[Sue L]

Due to not wanting to take DD out of school any longer than we have to, we do not plan to leave until noon. That will get us to Bayonne by 2:00. What is the parking lot/check in like at that hour?

 

 

Just keep an ear on the traffic reports on the radio because 95 and 295 as well as the George Washington bridge can get screwed up real fast. Have alternate routes mapped out just in case.

[jerseygirlcruiser]

Hi everyone. A bunch of us are going on the 11/3 re-positioning cruise and are wonderining about sending gifts (alcohol) to be delivered. I know all about Shelly, have used her in the past, called her about Cape Liberty but she can't deliver there. Does anyone have any experience w/ a delivery service at this port? RCCL packages just do not appeal to me. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Trish

[CUinSeptember]

not sure about the surrounding area traffic, but as far as the actual port traffic:

we got there at 11:30AM and it took us an hour to go the mile entrance to the parking lot. But those who arrived after 12:30 just drove right on in and parked with no traffic back up at all. I think with a 2PM arrival you will breeze right in.

[Merion_Mom]

Due to not wanting to take DD out of school any longer than we have to, we do not plan to leave until noon. That will get us to Bayonne by 2:00. What is the parking lot/check in like at that hour?

elliemae, I applaud your decision to minimize the amount of school time that DD will miss.

 

That having been said, I would need ***** with your timetable!

 

One little accident or tie-up on SO many roads and bridges, and you will be waving bye-bye to the Explorer from the pier.

 

If she's missing four days of school anyway, just make it five. Leave WAY earlier than your original plan.

 

Obviously, you will make your own decision, but I have to warn you: I am not above wagging my finger and saying "I told you so". ;)

[dsparku]

There is no light rail directly or even close to Cape Liberty Cruise Port

[Linda/Ohio]

We cruised from Bayonne last year to Bermuda. In the past we always flew into Miami or FLL. That time we drove and it was the smoothest experience ever---there were 4 of us----we drove up around noonish and unloaded baggage. Husband went to park the car. We waited a few minutes for him to return and then got in line to board the ship. Getting off and into our car and on the road again was a breeze.

 

We are driving to Boston for this fall's cruise.