gearmanlisa

We are on the July 21st sailing of Harmony of the Seas and I have been frustrated that the shows and times have not been posted in the cruise planner yet. I usually wait to book specialty dinners, etc. until I have this information. I have never had it be so close to sailing before and not have that information available. Is this unusual?

What are the easiest/cheapest options to get from the:

1. Newark Airport to the Courtyard Jersey City

2. Courtyard Jersey City to Port Liberty

3.Port Liberty to the Club Quarters Hotel in lower Manhattan

4.Club Quarters Hotel to LGA

Thanks for the help in advance!

Does anyone know when the formal nights will be on the 9 night cruise to Bermuda and Caribbean cruise on Anthem of the Seas? I called and they said they have no idea.

What's the big picture plan in relation to the budget? Both Candlewood and the Doubletree are well located in terms of being able to take the light rail to the port, but you do pay for a cab from Newark to the hotel. If they're going into midtown Manhattan for a late night, they would come back to the Newport station and be 6-7 blocks from Candlewood and 3-4 blocks from the Doubletree. If either hotel fits the budget (you got a great deal on the post cruise hotel), then go for it.

You have been so helpful...thanks again! So the light rail which i see on the mao near the Newport Mall will take them to the port the next morning? Also, is the 3-4 blocks from the Newport Station to the Double Tree safe at night for them to walk?

How late would they stay out the first night? Would they be in midtown NYC? The train from NY Penn Station is $5.25 and the last train is 1:22 am. It takes 22-24 minutes with one stop.

 

Candlewood Suites is not that close to either the Newport or Exchange Place PATH stations and those areas could be fairly deserted late night. Newark Penn Station is major transportation center that is well patrolled and cabs should be readily available. That's why I recommended the Robert Treat because it does have an airport shuttle ($65 car service savings) and a quick ride into either midtown or downtown.

Ok thanks, I will look into that more with him. How about the Doubletree location?

Club Quarters Wall St is showing at $134 plus tax prepaid for the desired two nights on United.com. That's a fantastic deal for Manhattan.

 

The OP has picked very lucky dates and should not let these offers slip away.

Thank you 138east, i did book the Club Quarters Wall street for them. Still working on the one night pre-cruise. I did look at the Robert Treat and it is tempting with the free shuttle from the airport. My concern is that I'm sure they will want to go into the city that night, and it seems more complicated to get there and back from that hotel as compared to sat the candlewood suites which is still somewhat affordable at this time.

I'm always one open for a "staycation" and saw the Club Quarters Wall Street for $143 per night. Lots of places to walk for dinner especially young folks. Battery Park has some nice open air restaurants and then there is Stone Street, which is an entire block closed off with open air restaurants and indoor seating. Not expensive eats either. And the best part of staying in the Wall Street area during the weekend is that it is not packed and you're able to get a table no problem.

Thank you to both you and 138east, i did book the Club Quarters Wall street for them. Still working on the one night pre-cruise. I did look at the Robert Treat and it is tempting with the free shuttle from the airport. My concern is that I'm sure they will want to go into the city that night, and it seems more complicated to get there and back from that hotel as compared to sat the candlewood suites which is still somewhat affordable at this time.

Hi Lisa,

 

Could you provide more details? Realistic hotel budget for the three hotel nights? It's a honeymoon, so is the couple looking for anything special? Do they have any "must do's" in NYC. Where are they flying in from and what time do they arrive?

 

I love the Courtyard in Jersey City and have stayed there. However, it's pricey for the dates you gave because 2 of the 3 nights are affected by business travel rates. I'm actually seeing better post cruise hotel rates for Manhattan hotels.

 

Then there's the question of transportation costs to get from one place to another. Three car service trips could cost them $200 to $250+. If they can manage their luggage, these costs can be reduced substantially by using public transit options such as NJ Transit trains and light rail, PATH, and/or airport bus combined with short inexpensive local cab rides. All three trips could be done for under $100.

They would actually have 4 car service trips... airport to hotel hotel to port. Port to hotel, and hotel to airport. Is an Uber or cab more than $50 per trip? Is that the best price after public transportation? They probably won't want to do the public transport and drag their stuff around. I did notice that the Courtyard was crazy expensive for the pre-cruise night. Any other suggestion? I haven't booked the flights yet as I'm trying to see if all the extra NYC stuff is in their budget. The flight coming in on the Wed. before looks like it would be a 10:30ish am arrival.

They are looking to do a lot of the touristy things. My older son lived in NYC for a few years near Union Square so the groom son visited a lot but never did the touristy stuff. They are thinking the Staue of Liberty and Ellis Island as well as Freedom Tower which I know are all ina similar area. They would like to see a Broadway play, maybe Empire State, wander Central Park and go to Serendipity. He would like to go to some of the old stomping grounds at night that he visited with his brother.

Their budget for hotels is definitely under $300 a night. They had hoped for closer to the $200's , but I'm not sure that will happen.

Thank you for your reply. How late does the train run back to the hotel from NYC? I Chicago we have a last train around 12:30 am and that is hard for any late night activities.

A cab to the Doubletree is probably in the $20 range. You don't have to decide now what to do. When you get to baggage claim you can pop outside to the cab stand to ask the price and you can see how far it is to the elevator up to the airtrain and check the availability of luggage carts. Then you can decide what suits.

Hello 138east:

I am planning my son's honeymoon for this June, and you seem very knowledgeable. They will be going out of Cape Liberty on the Anthem for a 9-night cruise. They depart on June 8th, and I plan to fly them into EWR the day before and need a hotel. You mention the Courtyard in Jersey City or others nearby. What is the best transportation option for to the hotel from airprt and to the port from hotel? Also, the would like to do a post cruise 2-night stay to see some of NYC and wondering where the best option to stay for that might be as well.

Thanks so much,

Lisa

Hello 138east:

I am planning my son's honeymoon for this June, and you seem very knowledgeable. They will be going out of Cape Liberty on the Anthem for a 9-night cruise. They depart on June 8th, and I plan to fly them into EWR the day before and need a hotel. You mention the Courtyard in Jersey City or others nearby. What is the best transportation option for to the hotel from airprt and to the port from hotel? Also, the would like to do a post cruise 2-night stay to see some of NYC and wondering where the best option to stay for that might be as well.

Thanks so much,

Lisa

thanks, I've done this before but don't remember such a big gap between the opening of dinner reservations and show times posting. I have a big group and I'm worried that the dinner ideal times will fill up.

Allure sailing of March 5, 2017

Sorry, on the Allure on March 5, 2017 sailing

I'm waiting for the show times as well to know when to book the specialty dinners. Are the show times always the same from cruise to cruise? Worried that there will not be any dinner times left by the time the show times appear.

Our ship will be departing Athens at 8pm. Is it unreasonable to try and do a private tour on that day before boarding, or is it cutting things too close?