Early arrival in NYC day of cruise...what to do?

[msvacation]

We will be driving to the pier for our cruise in a few days and should we arrive early (while our ship is still disembarking the previous cruisers) what can/should we do? Is there any place close by the pier to grab a snack/coffee without getting to far away. We will be three vehicles with nervous drivers who have never driven in NYC before. Any tips, comments, or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[smeyer418]

There are delis to get coffee on 9 and 10th and 11th avenue. Boarding normally starts around 12 and they have coffee and soada at the pier(in machines or sometimes the cruise line puts it out). You should ask on the threads for your cruise line as they will know better. There is a McDonalds with a small parking lot on 10th avenue and 34th street.

[okfarmerswife]

From your post I'm assuming you're cruise is leaving from the Manhattan terminal. (There's also a terminal in Brooklyn.) Take a look at this map:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC062597/Manhattan%2520Map3.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC062597/home.htm&h=520&w=344&sz=47&tbnid=m2_s5CoBoBX-nM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmanhattan%2Bmap%26um%3D1&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3

The Manhattan cruise terminal is Midtown West area around 50th street(left side of map). If you use hopstop.com you can type in two addresses and it will give you the walking time and distance. Also, I've read but not ever driven it, that getting to the pier is fairly easy and you actually avoid the worst NYC traffic. Unless you have atleast a couple of hours, I'd say you don't have time to do much. Maybe leave your cars at the Pier and catch a cab to Times Square area. I think it's a little over a mile away.

[Budget Queen]

From your post I'm assuming you're cruise is leaving from the Manhattan terminal. (There's also a terminal in Brooklyn.) Take a look at this map:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC062597/Manhattan%2520Map3.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC062597/home.htm&h=520&w=344&sz=47&tbnid=m2_s5CoBoBX-nM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmanhattan%2Bmap%26um%3D1&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3

The Manhattan cruise terminal is Midtown West area around 50th street(left side of map). If you use hopstop.com you can type in two addresses and it will give you the walking time and distance. Also, I've read but not ever driven it, that getting to the pier is fairly easy and you actually avoid the worst NYC traffic. Unless you have atleast a couple of hours, I'd say you don't have time to do much. Maybe leave your cars at the Pier and catch a cab to Times Square area. I think it's a little over a mile away.

 

Times Square is 1/2 mile away to 7th Ave. Avenue blocks = 10 blocks/mile

[okfarmerswife]

Budget Queen, I'm not a NYC expert but was going by the walking directions on hopstop which shows the suggested walking route at .97 miles from the cruise terminal address 711 12th Avenue to 42nd&Broadway with estimated walk time of 22 minutes. The cab fare is estimated at 1.25 miles @ $6.01 taking 10 minutes. Thanks for your clarification which will help the OP in making their decision.

[msvacation]

Thank you for the information. I was just concerned when we arrive and are too early to park at the pier what we could do. I am sure our drivers do not want to drive around NYC anymore than they have to. The McDonalds with the small parking lot sounds good. Does anyone know about what we will be paying in tolls coming in? Mapquest has us coming across 80 in PA thru NJ, then to 280 then 95 to the Lincoln Tunnel. Thanks again for any information. It is wonderful to be able to get answers to your questions.