1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 #1 Share Posted March 12, 2008 We like to stay at Country Inn and Suites and I have located one on Joliff Road-Chesapeake. Is this a decent area? Is it too far from the pier? We will be driving in and don't necessarily have to stay near the pier. Thanks for any info... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 12, 2008 #2 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Hey there. I live in the area. Your hotel is about 20-30 minutes away depending on traffic and all of that. As far as area, it's ok. Its kind of out there as far as the area, you are not going to be close to stuff to do other than eating and shopping. A better area would be to book in the Greenbriar area of Chesapeake. Stay out of Norfolk if at all possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 Author #3 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Ok thanks. We are driving in from Georgia, is this area you mentioned on our way? Also what about the Virginia Beach area? Is it worth the extra drive time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KroozFoolz Posted March 12, 2008 #4 Share Posted March 12, 2008 That area should be fine, so if you like Country Inns and Suites, book it. There is a mall not too far away with the usual restaurants - The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Applebee's, etc - also a Super Walmart and Sam's and Food Lion, if you need to pick up any last minute essentials. You could also go by and see my mother for me. :D Maquest puts the distance at 13 miles, the time less than 20 minutes to the port, though traffic through the tunnel has been known to change that, so allow some time for delays there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 12, 2008 #5 Share Posted March 12, 2008 the entire Hampton Roads area (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth) is all near each other. You can drive anywhere in these areas in an hour or less unless the traffic is very bad. Virginia Beach, your best best would be to stay near the oceanfront. From there to the pier is probably no more than 30 mins, you just get on 264 and follow it the opposite direction. I would not stay in Hampton, Portsmouth, Newport News, Suffolk (the Country Inn you are referring to is almost in Suffolk), or Norfolk. So that leaves Va Beach and Chesapeake. Virgina Beach has a lot more to do, but Chesapeake is nicer and very convienent to everything. Staying in the Greenbriar section will have you minutes from a Highway on ramp that will take you to 264 and will be about 15 minutes from the pier. There is a mall in Greenbriar and tons of restaurants, stores, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 Author #6 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Ok thanks so much for your replies. That helps alot. I would much rather stay in a nicer area versus close to the port:) . I can't wait to go now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiyana4 Posted March 12, 2008 #7 Share Posted March 12, 2008 We like to stay at Country Inn and Suites and I have located one on Joliff Road-Chesapeake. Is this a decent area? Is it too far from the pier? We will be driving in and don't necessarily have to stay near the pier. Thanks for any info... I can actually see the Pier from my office building. If there are any specifics you would like to know, I'd be happy to help. Just out of curiousity, have you taken parking into consideration? The parking garages in downtown Norfolk run around $14 per day. Have you considered a Park-N-Fly hotel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 Author #8 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I can actually see the Pier from my office building. If there are any specifics you would like to know, I'd be happy to help. Just out of curiousity, have you taken parking into consideration? The parking garages in downtown Norfolk run around $14 per day. Have you considered a Park-N-Fly hotel? No because we are driving in instead of flying. I have a little one that's terrified of flying which is why we picked Norfolk. It's more driveable than New York. Thanks for the help....:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 12, 2008 #9 Share Posted March 12, 2008 No, I believe he means a hotel where you can leave your car parked there and they will shuttle you to the pier and then back when you return from your cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 12, 2008 #10 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I did a quick google search and came upon these. May be a good deal for you, as parking for 7 days for 14 is close to $100 as it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 12, 2008 #11 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Im an idiot Clarion James Madison 800-402-6682 Courtyard by Marriott 757-963-6003 Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel 800-228-9290 Radisson Hotel Downtown Norfolk 800-333-3333 Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel 800-325-3535 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyVF Posted March 12, 2008 #12 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Downtown Norfolk near the cruise terminal is absolutely beautiful and completely safe. There are tons of restaurants as well as shopping and museums. The Norfolk Cruise Terminal is part of the downtown waterfront and is connected to Nauticus (a museum). If you can do a park and fly there I would absolutely recommend it. Another nice area is Towne Center in Virginia Beach. There is a Westin and a Hilton Garden Inn. There is a lot of upscale shopping and restaurants in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 Author #13 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks for all the replies:) I had considered the hotels close to the port but some of the reviews weren't too good. We are planing to visit the museum and the battleship before we board the cruise ship. We visited the USS Alabama in Mobile and really enjoyed it and we hope this is just as good. thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted March 12, 2008 #14 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks for all the replies:) I had considered the hotels close to the port but some of the reviews weren't too good. We are planing to visit the museum and the battleship before we board the cruise ship. We visited the USS Alabama in Mobile and really enjoyed it and we hope this is just as good. thanks again I worked on Main Street Norfolk, across the street from the Marriott thru May of last year. The Marriott is a perfectly fine motel and location. There is was a Shula's Steak House in the building. Sheraton was in the middle of a large refurbishment when I left. I recall a Clarion Suites on Granby that's wonderful and a fairly new Holiday Inn Express close to Mac' Mall that we routinely contracted blocks of room and held conferences in. If they now offer a cruise park it sounds good. The entire Granby Street area is busy at night and is a mile of small resturaunts. I liked Stirling's Steak House. And two blocks away is MacArthur Mall with a food court + Max and Erma's ( a very good Chili's type place), California Kitchen, and Kinkade's SteakHouse. The battleship, unfortunately is not like visiting the Alabama...cuz it is/was still on the roles of US reserve ships, you could not go inside....only walk the decks. Don't know if that changed yet. If you have the time, across the street from the mall is the MacArthur Center...aka museum. Lot's of displays..... My only "don't go" is 'Waterside" .... it looks good from the outside but don't. Or just go into Jillian's (a resturaunt and arcade type place) but leave directly. This is a BIG young-adult hangout at night and in my opinion NOT family friendly....at night. I did take my kids there during the day on Saturday and regularly ate lunch there myself. But Fri Sat nite ... no way! You can safely walk the park/waterfront behind Waterside at night, on the river, but inside is PARTYTIME so I stay out..... Secret hint....there is a Portsmouth {} Norfolk ferry that makes three stops one of which is behind Waterside. I think it is a dollar cash (I had a card) ... cheap harbor tour!!!!!! Ride it all the away around to your starting point....about 30 minutes. Factiod - BAE Shipyards / Norfolk Ship Repair is where Disney has had their drydocks done for both ships. I watched them out my office window. ****************** The Jollif Motel you reference was still under construction when I moved. (I lived about a mile away) But the references to Greenbriar cite the advantage of Greenbriar Mall as proximate, and easy entrance to 464. The Jollif motel is at Chesapeake Square Mall, adjacent to a ramp for 664 and about a mile from the 664/264 interchange ... The primary difference is the resturaunts available near each mall. **************** Last two Norfolk hints: stay downtown and eat at either.... if you want to walk to, Hell's Kitchen, http://home.hamptonroads.com/dining/detail.cfm?id=1039 or if you don't mind getting back in the car you can have a Norfolk fav' and a cone off the machine that made the ORIGINAL ice cream cone http://www.doumars.com/ {I offer those cuz you have kids with...I'd go to Sterling's!!!!! Better than Shula's!!!!!!} Have fun and enjoy Norfolk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1cruznmama Posted March 12, 2008 Author #15 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Wow thanks Capt BJ!!! That was a great review of the area and things to see and do. I just love these boards. Everyone is so nice and helpful.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan1312 Posted March 17, 2008 #16 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I can actually see the Pier from my office building. If there are any specifics you would like to know, I'd be happy to help. Just out of curiousity, have you taken parking into consideration? The parking garages in downtown Norfolk run around $14 per day. Have you considered a Park-N-Fly hotel? Can you tell me some hotels in the area that offer park-N-fly? We've used this service in Philly and find it a pretty good deal, pay for the hotel for 1 night and leave your car there for the week with a shuttle to take you to and from the airport. Do they do the same for the cruise terminal down there? Thanks, Janet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nauticaz24 Posted March 17, 2008 #17 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Clarion James Madison 800-402-6682 Courtyard by Marriott 757-963-6003 Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel 800-228-9290 Radisson Hotel Downtown Norfolk 800-333-3333 Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel 800-325-3535 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyVF Posted March 17, 2008 #18 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I don't know about Park "n fly, but I would stay away from the Downtown Radisson. It is on the outskirts of the downtown area and not in a desirable area. The others mentioned are fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet524 Posted March 19, 2008 #19 Share Posted March 19, 2008 While we're "local" (Williamsburg), we decided to go to Norfolk the day before our cruise in May 2007 and take in the Chrysler Museum and have lunch at Todd Jurik restaurant (I think I spelled that wrong). We stayed at the Radisson and did the "park & sail" package. If I'm remembering correctly the cost was under $100. It included one night's lodging, dinner, breakfast the morning of the cruise, parking and shuttle service to and from the pier. The hotel was just fine, the area was fine - only a couple blocks to MacArthur mall and a few blocks to the Chrysler Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvtotrvl1 Posted March 19, 2008 #20 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I would also recommend staying in Norfolk..The Marriott is nice and perfect as far as location to everything. The Courtyard by Marriott would be another. So much to see and do in that area. My 2nd choice would be Va Beach..(but I'm a little partial, since that's where I live). You can take a walk down the boardwalk or beach, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops located right there. It will be about 30 min to the port but it is a straight ride right down 264....Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseSky Posted March 20, 2008 #21 Share Posted March 20, 2008 The cruise terminal has it's own parking lot on Monticello Ave and I think it's $10 a day for parking. It's fenced and we have aprked there on several cruises and had no problem. There are buses that take you to the ship from there. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flycess Posted April 8, 2008 #22 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Well, I just booked this cruise for my husband and myself and our (adult) daughter. We have a Jr. Suite for DH and myself and daughter has an inside. We have never sailed with RCCL before. Any suggestions for us "newbies"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyMouse Posted April 11, 2008 #23 Share Posted April 11, 2008 I would avoid the Radisson. The other downtown hotels are fine. I don't think there is a Holiday Inn close to downtown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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