138east

I found a great deal on Hotwire in the Seaport for $202 plus tax.  My best guess is that it is the Yotel because you are asked to select your “cabin”.  Rooms are small.  The Silver Line is free from the airport and this hotel is right at the Courthouse stop.  Silver Line to the Cruiseport is $2.90/pp or $2.40 with a Charlie card.  Uber to the Cruiseport should be under $10.  
 

There is also a special deal today for $191 for a 3.5* hotel in the Seaport District which could be Aloft.  This hotel would be a little further away from the Silver Line.  Suggested strategy would be to take the Silver Line to The World Trade street stop, walk across the street to the Seaport hotel, and take a cab from there the few blocks to Aloft.  Details can be provided.

Please note :  Uber from the airport requires you to schlep your luggage to the staging area in Central Parking, which could be a real PITA.

2 hours ago, pink05 said:

Anyone find a decent price hotel in NYC for Nov 3 and 4?  

Target price?  2 people?  Bed size requirements.  Desired area?

If you can manage your luggage, public transit could be an option.  LGA airport bus to Grand Central ($16/pp), cab to 32nd & 6th for Accessible elevator PATH entrance ($10-15), PATH  to Hoboken ($2.75/pp), light rail to Bayonne ($2.25/pp), and Uber into the port ($10).  Details can be provided for this accessible trip.

16 hours ago, markeb said:

No way on earth I’m sitting around waiting on a tour operator to load a bus in Manhattan, then sit on it to Battery Park. If the OP is mobile and off the ship to the #1 southbound, they can be on the ferry before a cruise excursion finishes loading. And they won’t be stuck in traffic!

 

Do check the MTA info. At least when we last did this, not all cars went to South Ferry, so you had to either be front or back (can’t recall) of the subway. 

Totally agree!  Distance is 5+ miles on city streets.  MTA website says you must be in the first 5 cars for South Ferry.

The Meraviglia is scheduled at the Manhattan Cruiseport for Wed April 15 from 7 am to 6 pm, so the Op.’s timeframe of 9-5 is reasonable.

For the subway I would recommend walking to 50th & Broadway between 7th & 8th Ave and just taking the #1 southbound local train to South Ferry.  (KISS acronym)

http://web.mta.info/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf

Odyssey deck 12 appears to have the oversized square rooms with the bathroom area outside the square (no intrusion into the cabin).  These are the sideways cabins on the deck plans.  The shower is rectangular and more roomy. No noise issues to worry about.

No experience using these hotel shuttles.  However, you should know that all these shuttles leave from the P4 Airtrain Station, which means you have to take your luggage by escalator or elevator from baggage claim up to the airtrain to ride one or more stops to the P4 Station and then use the elevator/escalator to get down to the pickup area.

Embassy Suites - free breakfast, $20/pp Cape Liberty shuttle

Country Inns - free breakfast, $17.50/pp Cape Liberty shuttle

Courtyard

Residence Inn - free breakfast

1 hour ago, Jane2357 said:

I'm following along as I will need ideas for 9/22/21.  I have never been to Boston so will fly in 2 days prior.  We will plan to grab a cab from the airport to the hotel.  I'd like to be in the heart of site seeing and will take a cab to port the morning of the cruise.  

 

Sounds like hotels are crazy expensive but when in Rome .... so I'll spring for location, I'd love to be out walking the city.  I don't need the Ritz but something fun and nice close to good restaurants.  2 people.  Is it possible for around $350 a night?

September is high season in Boston.  For similar days of the week (Mon-We’d) in Sept 2020 I’m seeing almost no downtown (let alone specifically on the harbor) hotels for $350 tax included.  Perhaps there is a convention in 2020.  You’re going to have to wait until next Sept to see what the opening prices would be for your date.

Just be aware that a lot of hotels in the Times Square area are now charging a “resort fee”.  The hotel is advertised at a more reasonable price, but when you get the actual quote, both a resort fee and the NY tax are added on.

A good time to check rates is 11-12 months out.  Both Marriott and Hilton have a ton of properties in Manhattan to choose from and their initial prices can be very good.  Other  hotel chains like Holiday Inn and Wyndham can also offer good deals.  There are a whole set of chain hotels in the West 30’s between 8th & 9th Ave that can be reasonable and very walkable to Times Square, but watch out for the resort fee in this area.

Exact date in 2021 would be helpful.  Also bed size requirements for you and your stepmom.  Looking at options for 2020 could identify possible candidates for 2021 in the $300 or less range.

What is your exact date?  Two people?  Realistic hotel budget?  Sightseeing objectives?

All these factors will affect your hotel options, particularly your hotel budget.

1 hour ago, princeton123211 said:

It's possible that it will be offered once you are onboard depending on a number of factors. 

 

Even if it's not, going into New York on your own won't make a ton of sense here-- in all likelihood you'll be off the ship around 8:30-9:30am. Midtown Manhattan will take about 45 minutes from Cape Liberty if you don't hit much traffic and then another 35-45 minutes to Newark Airport (again, if you don't hit much traffic) giving you about an hour and a half to do something in NYC if you want to be at EWR by 1pm and factor in some buffer time for traffic. 

 

You could maybe take a ferry to Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty for a few hours which is easy to do from Cape Liberty by catching a ferry at nearby Liberty State Park. You'll have luggage so not sure if they are able to store it-- have never attempted it with luggage before. 

You cannot take luggage on the SOL ferry.

Prohibited Items On The Ferries

DO NOT carry any of the items mentioned below into the security screening area. Items that are surrendered will not be returned. If you are unsure about an item, please do not bring it. DO NOT leave items unattended at any time.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

LARGE packages. Suitcases, carry-on luggage and other large parcels will not be permitted on the ferry systems or at Liberty and Ellis Islands.

6 hours ago, IRMO12HD said:

Thanks, @138east; I was wondering the same thing!  Also, if anyone has information about the ways and means of getting a large suitcase from the NJ Transit train coming into NY Penn Station (from Newark) up to street level, I'd really appreciate any tips on where to find (working) escalators and or elevators . . .

I know how to do that!  I just don’t know if the cab pickups are still on 8th Ave.  Actually I will be doing this at the end of January to sail from Cape Liberty - coming in on Amtrak and going out to 8th Ave to walk to my hotel.  When do you sail?

Be patient getting off the train.  The train tracks are several levels below the street level.  Every platform has escalator and elevator options to get to the main waiting room level. Ask the conductors for directions and let the crowds go by.  In the main waiting room area, follow the signs to 8th Ave.  The last time I was there, the up escalator was at the 8th & 31st Corner of the waiting room. Don’t know if the construction has affected the escalators.  

https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/NYPENN_Directory.pdf

18 hours ago, BubbieE said:

Just a note to let you know that Penn Station is under construction and taxi stands have been relocated.

So, suggest you look into this before you take this route.

Perhaps someone could post more details about exact area of construction and the relocation of the taxi stands?  “Penn Station” is enormous and occupies the entire area between 7th and 8 Ave and 31st and 33rd Street.  

Most of the cab suggestions to go to the Manhattan cruiseport involve exiting onto 8th Ave and grabbing a northbound cab.  I’ve watched the cabs pull up there to drop off and pick up, but it didn’t look like an official “taxi stand “ to me.  Is that particular area affected by the construction?

Typically RCL offers this excursion for $99 with a drop off at Newark Airport:

Embark on a dynamic tour of Manhattan’s notable landmarks, popular neighborhoods, natural landscapes and significant memorials before being escorted to the airport for your flight. Travel through bohemian Greenwich Village and artsy SoHo. Pass by Rockefeller Center, with its gold Prometheus Statue, the towering Empire State Building and effervescent Times Square. In Lower Manhattan, view the 9/11 Memorial, commemorating the 2001 World Trade Center attack. Drive past verdant Central Park before heading to the airport.

This for flights after 3:30.

Location is just fine if on Strong Place in Beacon Hill.  Can’t comment on Airbnb.  Close to Red Line MGH Station.  Walkable to Boston Common and downtown.  Public transit from Logan and to the Cruiseport is a viable option with one easy transfer at South Station (free from airport)

8 hours ago, waterbug123 said:

 

Wow.  Assuming most people would first need to take a cab, uber or subway from their hotel to the PATH station, this method would mean using 4 different means of transportation!  That might be cheaper overall, but it is not something I would find to be stress free.  To each his own, I guess, but stress free to me in this case would be a car service for door-to door transportation. Alternatively, a cab or uber for the same door-to-door service.

It all depends.  I also use public transit to go to Cape Liberty.  It’s accessible if you follow the directions.  I walk to the PATH station.  I prefer riding the outbound empty trains over sitting in NYC traffic to get into a tunnel and then driving the turnpike.  Each person has a different idea of what they consider stress free.

Let’s get more details on your plans.  Exact date you fly into JFK?  Exact date of cruise?  Reading between the lines on your post, I am interpreting the following:

1) Fly into JFK.  Question:  is flying into EWR an option?

2) Stay in Manhattan hotel - njhorseman has explained the taxi rates from JFK to Manhattan. Question:  which hotel?

3) Go to Cape Liberty - Nitemare referred to this as an as yet unanswered item

4) Fly home.  $120+ to get to JFK.  Probably under $40-50 using Uber/Lyft to EWR (and a much shorter trip)

Another question - is any kind of public transit an option for you with luggage?

4 hours ago, Topdog52 said:

Thank You. I can check for prices periodically as I am a member of Marriott and IHG. I was just looking for some recommendations for some nice hotels just in case I don't stay close to the terminal. As we all know  Hotels are pricey in Manhatten and some make their hotel look great on their website but when you get there it is a different story. I was just wondering about Hotels around ground Zero that were friendly, clean and had some other things to do around it.

Many of the hotels around ground zero are newer properties and are convenient to the 911 Memorial as well as the subways to most anywhere in midtown.  The hotels near the cruise terminal are 3-4 avenues (not streets) from Times Square and from any subway service.

what is your exact date?

More details are always important like exact date for hotel room, number of people, bed size requirements, and hotel budget. Method of arrival (plane, train car, bus) and sightseeing plans can also be a factor.

So far we understand 2 people, $250 hotel budget, and the 911 Memorial & Museum.  Exact date is important because there are often deals for downtown hotels on the weekend as the hotels in this area primarily accommodate business travelers Sun-Thur nights at higher prices.

8 hours ago, delaware32 said:

We elected to take a cab this time from Logan . Found that the taxi price was within $1 of Uber . Keep in mind this was solely from the airport . When we stayed elsewhere in the Seaport we have used the free Silver line and it was fine . I guess it also depends on the number of bags and if it's easy for you to handle them .

The game has changed at Logan Airport.  If you can’t manage your luggage, you will not be happy schlepping it from the luggage pickup area to the Uber/Lyft pickup area in Central Parking, so getting a cab or the Silver Line outside the luggage pickup area is a better choice.

if you take the Silver Line to World Trade, there is a cab stand on Silver Line Way at the Seaport hotel entrance.  If you take the SL to South Station, there is a cab pickup area right there on Atlantic Ave.

The Robert Treat hotel shuttle will pick you up at night from Newark Penn Station, but you can wait quite a while for it if it’s off doing an airport run.  The Robert Treat is only about 7 Blocks away, but after dark a short cab ride would be prudent and inexpensive.  Newark Penn is busy, but IMO you would not feel comfortable hanging out waiting for the shuttle and should pay for the inexpensive cab ride.  Cabs are usually plentiful by the station.

2 hours ago, delaware32 said:

We used Hotwire to book the end of Oct. 2019 . We stayed at the Yotel . The room was very small but extremely functional . Every inch of space was efficiently used . Very clean and staff was pleasant and helpful . Cost was @ $ 225 for a Thursday night stay . It;s a Seaport location .

This is a really good point. ANY 3* and up hotel in the Seaport District on Hotwire would be acceptable.  Unlike most of downtown Boston this area has been developed in the last 20 years, mostly new builds but one or two nicely refurbished older properties.  The accessible Silver Line World Trade or Courthouse stations are within walking distance of these hotels, and some folks have even reported walking to Black Falcon Terminal.  There is now a nice pool of restaurants to choose from and the area is very safe.  It’s a quick Silver Line Ride to South Station to connect via free transfer to the Red Line subway to get to the downtown and other tourist destinations.

Some gratuitous comments about Uber/Lyft from Logan Airport.  Coming from Logan Airport, the Silver Line stops on the arrivals level of all terminals and is actually FREE coming from the airport.  If you go beyond the Seaport stations to South Station you have a free transfer to the Red Line or the option to get a taxi or Uber/Lyft to a downtown hotel for a more economical price.  Recently they moved the Uber/Lyft drop off and pickup area into the Central Parking garage at Logan Airport.  I honestly don’t know exactly how this is working out (perhaps someone can comment), but I do know that it can be a serious hike from the terminals to get to Central Parking.  IMO it makes sense right at the terminal to get on the Silver Line to South Station  (or even just as far as World Trade) to connect with Uber/Lyft and to minimize your luggage handling.   The Silver Line bus has one step (best to get on the rearmost door) and luggage racks.

6 hours ago, leen50 said:

Thanks, sorry I wasn't clear. I know that port shuttle is extra. Hampton EWR pre-pay 2 Queens=$127 + tax. Not bad. Best Western Plus Newark West pre-pay $130. Think we will take the Hampton, unless I hear some negatives.

Re: food. We hang at the United Club for lunch. Then grab a big salad at airport "to go". That's enough for us until hotel breakfast & 11 days of cruise food.

You’ve done your research.  The Hampton Inn would be fine.  It’s an airport hotel.  It does not have food service.  There should be no surprises.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2717462-boston-departure-101820/?tab=comments#comment-58975312

Beth and Bailey are sailing Head of the Charles weekend.  More details are in the above thread on the East Coast board