cruislovin

Look at Baileymouse's pictures of the toll plaza in post 20. There is a lane with a header of "Ave E" at the top with "Cash" underneath. Using that toll booth will position you to get on Ave E without having to scoot across lanes after paying the toll.

We use EZ Pass. Anyway to do that?

We followed the instructions from route 3, NJ turnpike, turnpike extension towards Holland Tunnel( ? The 78) to exits 14 A, B, C to the 14 A toll plaza, Ave E cash, and to port via Chosen Few Way. It was very easy , and well signed.

We leave on a Thursday so there will be much more traffic than on Sunday. What do you mean by Ave E cash?

I thought it might be easier due to all the discussion of construction at 14A. It is off of Route 3, Embassy Suites.

Are you using GPS? The best route is Route 3 to the NJ Turnpike South, to the 14-A-B-C exits (Turnpike's Newark Bay Extension/Route 78) to Exit 14A. Local roads are more likely to have closures but you shouldn't be affected.

Looking at Google Maps right now, I don't see route 3.

We will be driving to the port from Secaucus. What's the best route to take? We board on Thursday. One of the routes on Google Maps exits at 15E to route 440. Is that the best way to go?

So, we're going on a 9 night. Is the D+ discount still the same on longer cruises?

We visited St. Martins in mid-October 2015 while on a RCI cruise and were fortunate to have experienced the St. Martins sea caves and shore at both low and high tide. What a sight to see!

 

However, if your time will not allow you to see both low and high tides, do yourself the favor and come anyway. You can visit the Fundy Trail Parkway for a couple hours and see some amazing scenery of the ocean from high atop the bluffs. Hike down to Fuller Falls, then later walk across the suspension foot bridge. The Fundy Trail Parkway is gorgeous and well worth your time.

 

http://fundytrailparkway.com/

It says the park is closed to vehicular traffic as of Oct 10, 2016. Did you hike or bike it in mid-Oct 2015?

Yes, we have stayed in Secaucus on some prior trips and that was a good location for the hotel. If I recall correctly that was further to the port. How long do you estimate to get to the port on a Thursday morning from Secaucus?

What makes a "good" location for you? Is it a car safety issue? Is it restaurants? Is it a mall? Is it hotel services? Springhill Suites offers free breakfast, but offers no other food service. The nearby Courtyard has a restaurant. It's an isolated enclave of three hotels on the north side that is difficult for random people to access easily.

 

We're discussing Newark Airport. It's a highly industrialized urban area, not a vacation destination.

You mentioned that hotels along Routes 1 and 9 were least desirable...

Are there malls, restaurants, etc near other airport hotel areas like Frontage?

Thanks for all your help!

The hotels over there are slightly isolated but for staying the night they're fine. Most reviews are good and they shuttle people to the airport. It's next to the Fairfield Inn & Suites and then beyond that is the Courtyard.

 

Without traffic it's less than half an hour to Bayonne. Typical after rush hour morning? About a half hour. Tonight? 4 hours!

What time is "typical after rush hour"?

Wow, what caused it to be 4 hours?

We are looking primarily for airport shuttle and safe parking overnight.

Thanks for your help!

I'm looking at Springhill Suites but it is listed on Routes 1 & 9. Is that a good location?

Hotel rates depend on the exact date. I can't advise you if I don't know your exact date.

 

"Train" is NJ transit and it arrives at New York Penn Station in midtown. "PATH" is a subway train that goes to World Trade in lower Manhattan.

 

If you find a Manhattan hotel and you just need to park your car overnight, there are other places to park overnight that don't involve going to a hotel at the airport and taking a hotel shuttle, Airtrain and train from Newark Airport to NY Penn Station.

I understand. The last time we sailed from Bayonne we used airport parking and took the bus into Manhattan and stayed 3 nights there. This time we only have 1 night pre-cruise so we are thinking it might be best to stay in NJ. Cruise departure is Oct 20th, a Thursday. Last time we sailed on a Saturday.

Are the airport hotels a safe place to leave a car while cruising?

We have stayed here and they have a shuttle that makes to trips to Manhattan a day. The cost for this is $25.00 per person roundtrip. I believe this is what we paid. They will pick you up in the city at either 8PM or 11:30PM. The shuttle left the hotel at 11:30.

That might work for us. Where is the drop off in Manhattan? We're headed to midtown.

Sorry. I'm a bit confused. I need the exact dates you require a hotel room. How many people? (Did you post you are traveling with small children?). Where are you going to park your car for the duration of the cruise?

 

The properties on Frontage Road are considered Newark Airport. The parking has a security gate and is attended 7x24. Folks are coming and going from this area 7x24. It is self parking.

 

With the train you can take the hotel shuttle to the P4 Airtrain station, take the free Airtrain to the Newark Airport Station, and the train to Manhattan for $13/pp adults each way. If you have kids with you, it's more cost effective and time effective I to take a cab to Newark Penn Station where the train to NY is $5.50/pp adults each way.

There are 2 adults, no children. We will park at the port for the duration of the cruise. Why does the date of the hotel matter?

Where does the train to Manhattan for $13 / pp each way arrive? I thought this was the train to lower Manhattan. We want to go to midtown.

What is your hotel budget? What is your exact date? Where are you going in NYC? Your choices are Newark Airport, downtown Newark, and Jersey City.

We prefer to stay in the $250 - 300 range, which is why we are thinking it is best to stay in NJ. Additionally, we are concerned about the length of time that travel from Manhattan to NJ will take on a Thursday morning. The last time we sailed on Saturday.

Are the properties on Frontage Road considered Newark Airport or downtown Newark? Safety and parking are critical factors, and we prefer self-parking. We are travelling in October.

To summarize, we will drive to NJ and either park at the airport and take airport transit to midtown and stay in Manhattan, travelling back to NJ on the morning we sail. OR we will drive to NJ, park at a NJ hotel, take transit into Manhattan for the day and then travel back to the NJ hotel. We want to be in midtown and prefer not taking the subway in Manhattan. A train to lower Manhattan is not a good choice for us. We are willing to walk from Penn Station or Grand Central.

What would you recommend as the best options?

The last time we sailed out of Cape Liberty we parked at EWR and took the Newark Airport Express to / from Midtown. We got into the city in the early afternoon so rush hour had not yet peaked. How does this option compare to the train? We would want to take the train to Penn Station. Which train to that?

Additionally, this time we are looking to stay near EWR rather than in Manhattan as we have only one night pre-cruise to stay. How safe is the Newark area near the airport, particularly Frontage Road where many of the hotels seem to be located?

How long will it likely take to drive from Frontage Road to Liberty Cruise Port on a Thursday morning?

Park at Cape Liberty. It's worth it. The garage is new, the lot is secure, and you'll have peace of mind as well as immediate access to your vehicle once you disembark.

The last time we sailed from Cape Liberty there was a rather run down parking lot. Has this been replaced by a garage? Where can I find the daily parking rate or the total for a 9 night sailing?

What about the Courtyard by Marriott, New Jersey Newport? It's right next to the Newport PATH station (all journeys are $2.75) and across from the Newport shopping mall. The views across to Manhattan from this area, along the waterfront, are stunning.

 

We stayed in the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, which is next to the Exchange Place PATH station. We loved it.

 

Do a search for the PATH station map and then look for hotels near to the stations. As mentioned previously, fly into Newark.

 

 

Do either of these properties have park and cruise available?

I am on your cruise. Trinityreservations.com - $219 tax included for the Ramada Plaza, 21 days parking, and round trip transportation for 4 people to Cape Liberty. This is a great deal. Select Bayonne Cape Liberty Cruiseport.

This looks like a great deal, but it is only for 1 night pre-cruise. Is there a way to book 2 nights pre-cruise?

Also, do you know if there is transportation nearby to this hotel into Manhattan?

We will be stopping in Boston as a port of call on an upcoming cruise. We are interested in taking the Duck Tour. There are 3 locations to embark. Does anyone know if it is within walking distance, and how far to any of them?

1. Museum of Science

2. Prudential Center

3. New England Aquarium

We would like to walk the Freedom Trail as well. How would it be best to do these both in one day? We are in Boston on a Saturday from 7 AM until 7 PM.

Will traffic be lighter on a Saturday than on a weekday?

I am finding this thread very informative for our upcoming trip in October. What is the website to get the times of the tides each day?

Just wondering as a health care professional asked and I have no experience with this and do not know. So I said I'd ask the "experts" on CC. Now I remember why I rarely ask a question on these boards...

Does anyone know if RCI will quarantine you for contagious diseases such as a diagnosis of strep or something else that needs antibiotics? I'm always leary of going to the ship's doctor for fear of being quarantined!

Where was Allure OTS - Capt Ron Holmes (started rotation 4-24-16) prior to the Allure?

There are several rental car agencies very close to the port:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48314296&postcount=3

Thanks, Bob, now I can do my research! We usually travel with a group so all of this "stuff" is handled for us. We just have to show up and enjoy the ride!

This time we are going on a family cruise and I have to do all the booking!