marlenecook

11 o’clock is totally doable. You have so many options to get to South Station. There will probably be a cab available. If not, Ubers are available. there is a covered waiting area with some seating just before you get to the curb. That’s the most likely place for an Uber to meet you, but if that seems like too much of a zoo, you could always walk up the street a little bit and meet them near the parking lot at the end of the building, or around to the other side of the Boston design Center, which is the huge building across the street. You could also walk to the Hampton Inn which you can see from the cruise port and is about a five minute walk. And if all that fails, the silver line bus serves that area and goes directly into South Station. It pick up about a block away at the corner of Drydock Avenue and Design Center Place (across from a Dunkin’ Donuts of course!). In south Station, you would only have to go upstairs from where they drop you off to find the train terminal. Lots of options and you will be able to figure out the best one once you get there. Also remember that getting on a train takes very little time compared to flying. Theres one train hall and set of tracks. You just have to figure out which train you’re on and get on the train. If it’s already there it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. It’s not like New York City where navigating the station can take some effort.

Old Town Trolley Tours is the way to go. They have a stop at the cruise port https://www.trolleytours.com/boston/1-day-tour

Does anyone know if the drydock coincides with new crew contracts? I.e. will we have lots of new crew members on this sailing?

Silver Line should take about 10 minutes from the port to South Station. And it's about 15 minutes from South Station to Harvard. Plus whatever time you spend waiting.

If they are charging that, do yourself a favor and use Uber. It's probably $10 one way.

Sometimes the boats can stay out a little longer if they don't find whales initially. But I can't imagine them not getting back by 3 or 4. That happened to me once and it turned 4 hour trip into a 5 hour trip. They won't stay out forever though and with gas prices sky high, maybe they don't do that anymore and you have plenty of wiggle room.

Bostonian here. The Orange Line on the T has been closed for almost a month and that's the havoc you've been hearing about. Fortunately, it is due to reopen on Sept 19 so hopefully the chaos is long gone by the time you visit. There's also some closures on the Green Line but in the Somerville/Cambridge area, not the area near the MFA. The Silver Line buses from the cruise terminal end at South Station. The Aquarium is not on the Silver Line but has it's own stop on the Blue Line. It's also just a few blocks from the State stop on the Orange Line. Going from South Station to the Aquarium stop would entail transferring to the Red Line, then the Orange Line, then the Blue line - and going one stop each. You could also get off at State (Red, then Orange) and walk a few blocks or just walk from South Station for about 15 minutes. Its a nice walk along the harbor or the greenway. Harvard would be super easy from South Station. Just take the Red Line towards Alewife and get off at the Harvard stop. Bonus tip: the Custom House Tower observation deck. The Custom House is one of the most iconic buildings in Boston but it's now a Marriott Vacation Club Resort. Fortunately, they let the public go up to the observation deck once a day at 2:00, except on Fridays. Last time I went, it was less than $10 and they donate the proceeds to charity (Children's Hospital last I heard). The views of the harbor are amazing and it's only a block from Quincy Market. Since COVID, I think you have to call and reserve a spot -617-310–6300. Enjoy your day in Boston!