Manhattan Cruise Terminal Parking Opening Time

We sailed out of Manhattan Cruise Terminal 2 years ago, and at that time the parking lot opened at 7am. We were the first car in line and were even there before the parking attendants started their shift! We waited a few minutes and then had our car sniffed by the security dogs and paid for parking shortly after. We were parked and sitting in the Cruise Terminal just before 8am. We ended up arriving early as we drove overnight from southern Ontario.

This year we are staying overnight in New Jersey, 20 minutes from the pier.

My question is, within the past few months/weeks what has everyone's experience been in regards to Manhattan Cruise Terminal parking opening times and being allowed in to park. Just want to get an idea of what time to leave our hotel to ensure we get parking at the pier.

Cruise parking opens at 8am.

Rooftop parking lot at the pier is typically open by 7:30 to 8 AM for disembarking pax (i.e. Breakaway & Gem, mostly & usually, is docked around 7 AM and self walk-off pax are sometimes out in the parking lot by 7:45 while we are still chilling in the MDR doing sit-down breakfast ...) for those in a hurry. Security & the parking lot will open it up when they are ready to process.

However, on several occasions within the past month, both the Gem (twice) and the BA (at least once) had delayed arrival & disembarkation timing. Thus, when we sailed last month, security did NOT open until 10 AM and even if you are a Haven, suite or VIP guests - checking in early out of the question. There is that indoor area, pre-security at th entry & by the escalators where everyone was held. Car service dropped us off at 10 AM and we stood in line for probably close to 30 minutes until those ahead of us made their way thru security screening ... we cleared that by 10:45 and took another 15+ minutes for our priority check-in. Pax were still coming off the gangways at 11 AM while they tried to reach zero count. Boarding for Haven, suites, VIP and Platinum started around 12 noon - about an hour later than usual.

Our delayed check-in and boarding was said to be a more organized one, most folks inside the secured area found a place to sit & wait. Other sailings were mostly about delays & chaos for disembarkation, getting into the terminal and getting thru CBP, etc.

My advice, since you are staying in the area hotel - likely less than 45 minutes or 1 hour to the pier, is to not rush & get there that early - check the ship's AIS tracking for its location around 6:30 to 7 AM, to see whether she's docked yet or still cruising thru the Lower Bay of NY, VZ Bridge or just past SOL to go north on the Hudson, that's another 30 to 60 minutes before docking & 30+ more minutes before ship is cleared & the first wave of pax are usually allowed to come off ... assuming there's no USCG and CBP or PHS safety/port inspection, etc. as that will further delay embarkation.

There is plentiful, plenty of roof-top parking and as long as you get there around 9 to 9:30 AM, you should be fine - assuming ships is docked - and you will be thru security & check-in by 10 to 10:30 - depending on your boarding status, the earliest group isn't going to on any soon than 11 AM ... keep in mind that 4,500 pax has to come off first.

Enjoy your cruise !

 

My advice, since you are staying in the area hotel - likely less than 45 minutes or 1 hour to the pier, is to not rush & get there that early - check the ship's AIS tracking for its location around 6:30 to 7 AM, to see whether she's docked yet or still cruising thru the Lower Bay of NY, VZ Bridge or just past SOL to go north on the Hudson, that's another 30 to 60 minutes before docking & 30+ more minutes before ship is cleared & the first wave of pax are usually allowed to come off ... assuming there's no USCG and CBP or PHS safety/port inspection, etc. as that will further delay embarkation.

 

There is plentiful, plenty of roof-top parking and as long as you get there around 9 to 9:30 AM, you should be fine - assuming ships is docked - and you will be thru security & check-in by 10 to 10:30 - depending on your boarding status, the earliest group isn't going to on any soon than 11 AM ... keep in mind that 4,500 pax has to come off first.

 

Enjoy your cruise !

Thanks for the tip. Will definitely track the ships position early Sunday morning, I wasn't aware of such a tracking device!

We are not concerned about boarding, it's the parking that concerns us as we are travelling with 2 cars

We are not concerned about boarding, it's the parking that concerns us as we are travelling with 2 cars

Please keep in mind that if you get to the lot *too* early, disembarking pax won't have vacated their parking spaces. We have typically arrived around 9:30 AM or slightly later, and have had no problem finding a parking space. (That's been for the NCL Jewel and the Gem. Never sailed on the BA, nor had more than one ship in port. Still, hard to imagine that 9:30 wouldn't be sufficiently early.)

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks for the tip. Will definitely track the ships position early Sunday morning, I wasn't aware of such a tracking device! We are not concerned about boarding, it's the parking that concerns us as we are travelling with 2 cars

It's rare for the pier/terminal to run out of parking space, BA has been using Pier 88 as it's been upgraded with 2 gangways for mega-ship use. In the unlikely event of space getting filled up, they will open up Pier 90's roof top parking, right next door for use.

We just sailed the Gem & came back earlier this month, both the BA and Gem parking were at Pier 88, there're some vehicles at Pier 90 - with hundreds of parking space unused. Right after lunch onboard, I strolled on the outdoors & still saw empty parking space on top of Pier 88 - these pictures speak for themselves.

As for ship tracking, you can use BA's live webcam link to check. You can also use an APP like Marine Traffic or ShipMate, both available on iOS and Android platforms - download & play with it.

There's never a problem getting parking if you arrive in the morning. The only times the lots have gotten full are during those rare occasions in the summer and fall when 4 or 5 ships are departing from the cruise terminal.

Thank you so much for all your tips and comments!

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