jiminyC_fan

Great advice.  Thanks everyone.  We are platinum so we aren't cruise newbies but have never been to New York and as far as I am concerned it is it's own little country, LOL.  Huge and daunting.

DCL has a 2 day pre stay at the Marriott Marquis with transfers for 1066.00.  Airfare is outrageous so was trying to save $$ somewhere.

I am assuming that if I have DCL transfers that they will work similarly in Puerto Rico like in Port Canaveral.   Great to know about the airlines not allowing you to check luggage prior to 4 hours out.  That happened to us years ago in Orlando with Frontier Airlines.  What a pain.

59 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

Save on hotels, splurge on restaurants! 🙂

Sure makes sense to me! 

14 minutes ago, George C said:

When you get closer to your nyc trip we can recommend some great restaurants. Good luck.

Thank you.  I would appreciate the help!

1 hour ago, ed01106 said:

 

Why?????   PR is part of the USA, flying from San Juan to Denver is a domestic flight, no different than flying from San Antonio to Denver.  

That's what I was thinking.  It is part of the US so I guessed it's one and done. 

Thank you Cedricandsophie for your input.

Thank you everyone.  You have given me options to check into.  I appreciate all your input.

Thanks 138East.  I now feel a bit more informed thanks to everyone here.

Wow, you're amazing.  THANK YOU!

Thanks everyone.  We are two adults and really don't care if the room has one or two beds.  The dates would be Nov 8 and 9.  I have zero clue what to see and do.  I am a Marriott member but didn't know to combine the two, United and Marriott.  Will check that out.  Tried the senior discount and got the quote of 450.00 per night.  VERY interesting as to why Disney probably chooses the Marquis.  I will look for more options for midtown. We aren't the Motel 6 kind of people but not the high end hotel kind either.  Would consider more average like Embassy suites.  I am just not familiar at all with New York.

Thanks again!

Hi everyone,

I am "usually" very good at figuring things out but New York  has me totally baffled.   We have never been to New York.  We are cruising on Disney and flying out of Denver to New York.  Our cruise departs from Manhattan Terminal.  What airport is the best to fly into?  I noticed two choices when checking with United and it seemed La Guardia and EWR.   Disney uses the Marriott Marquis for their pre stays and I just checked and one night is 450.00.  I could pay 1066.00 for two nights through Disney and also get transfers from airport to hotel to port.  It just seems so steep.  Is there a better option for hotels maybe around the Manhattan terminal or do you think the Disney option would be the way to go?  I did read on this forum about Carmel limo service so that can be an option if we don't stay at the Marriott Marquis.   We are not all that familiar with Uber, Lyft and taxi's.

Sorry for all my questions.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you very much.  I didn't even realize that existed.

Hi everyone,   I need some hand holding.  I've never paid any attention to the New York sailings and now I am surprising my daughter and joining them on a Merrytime cruise.  I just feel lost and don't know which way to turn.  What airport does everyone fly into in New York City?  What hotels are recommended when cruising?   I know Disney uses Marriott Marquis and I checked the price and it is 450.00 per night.  Any hotels that have shuttle service from the airport to the hotel and then to the port?  We will then fly out of Puerto Rico and I am guessing we clear customs at the port and no need to at an airport, correct? 

I truly appreciate any help and suggestions. 

It took mine forever but I did get it.  My husband renewed at the same time and he got his within a few short weeks.  I needed an interview.  He did not.  You just never know.

It happens every single time but I have good news!  The staff is just as awesome on every ship.  We made lifelong friends with a staff member on our very first Viking river cruise.  That was 6 or so years ago.  She moved to Oceans so we booked a cruise specifically to be with her but she was transferred at the very last minute so we didn't get to see her.  We boarded the ship and quickly made new staff member friends.    They are all great!

As far as the TV,  we were on the Star and did not hear TV from either side.  My guess is that you are wrong.  One of your neighbors must be playing it too loud.

I refuse to live in a bubble, constant fears, and always scrutinizing.  Lived all these years without fears.  Pretty sure I will be fine for a few more.

I enjoyed reading it.  Thank you for sharing!

Ragnar, I can't add to the list because I truly find it a bit over the top.  My first thought on this whole post was how do people go through life worrying about every little germ that might be lurking.  Then I read your post about buffets and just shook my head.  What can I say?   We ate many, many, meals at the World Cafe.  Never got sick.  Never over indulged because I have self control.  If I don't want sushi and chocolate cake on the same plate, I would simply get two plates or better yet finish my meal and then go for dessert.  World Cafe does have made to order items.   The staff was always attentive.   I would never feel like a fellow passenger is being rude by getting up midstream of a conversation at a buffet. 

We just stopped by our bank and ordered a small dollar amount of each currency.  What wasn't used, they bought back from us.  That way we didn't waste precious port time looking for an ATM.

Michelle,  I'm not sure if you did but, perhaps, you should read the entire thread.   So much has been explained by a couple of true experts.  Luckily, we had them to explain a lot during and after the event.   I am in the camp of waiting to point fingers at the Captain until the result of the true investigation is revealed.  I think any one of us would want the same if we were in his shoes. 

You might want to read this article.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/6952532/Why-do-my-feet-and-ankles-swell-when-Im-on-a-ships-cruise.html

You do realize that the noro will be all over the ship and not just in the World Cafe, right?    No cruise ship line is free from Noro.   I don't find it "appalling" enough, as mentioned above,  not to sail with them.  They switched things up and addressed it fast.  Now, don't complain that they are not turning the tables over fast enough for the next diners.

Hilarious

1 hour ago, nho9504 said:

 

First of all, I feel for you and all the passengers that have gone thru that horrifying experience - hanging on their dear lives.

 

The point is, this should NOT have happened,  because the ship should be able to handle that weather conditions - even the Norwegian officials said that.  Even the avid retired seafarers said that.  Then why would the situation turned into an almost life and death situation?  Dont you feel there are a lot of questions need answers?   Dont you feel the ship's management / company's management have some decision making process went wrong?  I were you I would question this, instead of one-sided praising the captain for doing a great job.  The great job that has never got done is, NOT to lead your passengers thru such horrifying journey!

 

The lounge should be closed and off limit to the passengers with those glass walls.  I understand you and other passengers had the false sense of being safe, because you would think the ship should be able to handle such,  being a ship only 2 years old,  and your captain decided to sail into the rough water that has been forecasted.   However even the water did not break the glass walls,  the flying furniture should be obvious to anyone that this was truly dangerous - it is so obvious that one can easily be hit and suffer a broken bone or have open wound...  I seriously dont understand why passengers ignored the crew's plead to retreat to a safer location...

 

About the sea conditions - on a few northern crossings  when weather forecasts show there would be rough patches in front of the original planned course, our captains often change course to stay away from the forecasted conditions often taking a more southern routes that made us missed ports or delayed next port's arrival.  Happened a couple times we missed 2 ports at Ponta Delgada on HAL's ships,  once on a Princess ship.

Captains often announced these changes well ahead of time when we were still at relatively calm sea, during their noon updates. 

 

By the way, on one Southern crossing, the Atlantic remained calm - it was after we entered Med the weather turned rough, with 30 ft sea for some stretch.

 

We have seen 30 to 40ft water a few times but the important thing is, our ships did not lose power - both stabilizers were deployed - we saw the horizon going up and down dramatically but we could still walk albeit like a bit drunk.  In fact during one of such occasions an elderly gentleman with walker refused my assistance to help him when we navigated the cabin corridor back to the stateroom. 

 

Not just in TATL, at the Caribbeans you could run into high sea during hurricane season.  Happened.

 

The things that the mass market lines operate differently, at least comparing to what Sky is operated, is that all precautions were taken LONG BEFORE really bad sea - from the warnings the captains gave during the noon updates and updates as needed thru out the bad weather.

 

All the doors to the outside were secured, swimming pools drained with nets on them,  we were advised not to use the pool deck to go across but use the cabin corridor to go to the restaurant at the stern because of the high wind and slippery decks.  Captains updated the conditions relatively frequently... 

 

BTW, those captains of the mass market lines all are company's direct employees, most work for years with the line before moving up to the staff captain and captain positions,  Only the service sides crews, like the room attendants and the wait staff, the bar tenders, the kitchen staff, the laundry staff and basic maintenance staff, are contracted employees supplied by contractors.  But the people responsible the sailing of the ship, are all directly employed by the lines and worked their way up.  I personally think this makes some difference.  Of course the apologists here would not agree.

 

Basically during all such bad weathers our ships sailed normally thanks to stay in full power and deployment of the stabilizers but everyone is told to take precaution, stayed away from doors to the promenade deck and use handrails whenever possible.

Shops actually also took precautions by putting away the objects that would easily fly loose or crashing down.  Plates normally on the counter of the outdoor grills were taken away.  We heard they had some stuff broken in the kitchen / galley and dining rooms according to the captains but nothing anywhere near what were shown in those videos. 

 

The guy(s) want to know why a 2 years new ship would completely lose power got run off by the apologists on this thread.  Personally I want to know that too -  we are just passengers who care for our own safety, no need to understand how things work, just expect they should work, especially on such a new ship and such a "luxury line".  

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking that since you know that you are not a maritime or technical expert that perhaps you should sit back, relax and wait for the experts to do their work like the rest of us.   Of course there are questions that need to be answered but how can they be a couple of days after the incident?  Speculating or pretending to know doesn't do anyone a bit of good.   Your cruise(s) certainly could be different and comparing to this voyage is wrong.  No one has the full knowledge yet.  Wait for the reports.   I've been on a cruise (not Viking) where a hurricane changed its path in the middle of the night and we had to ride it out.  I don't need to compare this to that nor does it make me a pro.  Different storm, different ship, different locality.   Just wait for the report.

I hope this person doesn't mind me quoting his Facebook post.  It sure tells you how Viking handled things.  I wish all the people judging Viking could read this. 

1 hour ago, oann said:

I don't normally post on these forums but I felt I had to say something to all the people critical of the captains decision to sail in this kind of weather. I have worked on small fast ferries up and down the Norwegian coast for over 30 years and still do. And funnily enough when I want a holiday I usually head for a cruise ship. Watching my beloved ocean stream by without having to lift a finger is paradise.

 

 But back to the topic. I have crossed this stretch of water many times although my main area is around Stavanger where Viking Sky was headed. Frankly if we could only leave port when it would be a hundred percent safe to put out the liferafts we would be stuck in port half the winter and people would not get to work or school or hospital and so on ( mind you the boat I work on take  130 pax so it is small ) and one of our routes are out to Kvitsøy ( look it up on a map ) which is out in the north sea. Life rafts are a last resort. We are trained to consider all eventualities including running the boat up onshore if possible to avoid putting people on liferafts. ( The boat is a catamaran which means it wont tip over to much if you do it right. )

 

My father is also a captain and has also been over Hustadvika many a time both in good and bad weather. We both agreed watching the live footage that the weather was lively but absolutely not of such a character that a ship like Sky should have had any problems dealing with it. It seems the 2 pilots onboard agreed since it did indeed sail.

As for hurtigruten not going, 30 years ago they probably would have. But these days hurtigruten have more tourists onboard in winter and are therefore a bit more mindful when it comes to passengers comfort. Would not do to throw up your 3 course dinner. Whereas before they were quite literally the life line along the coast bringing goods, mail and soforth to the scattered communities.The still do but to a lesser extent. Hurtigruten ships are also quite smaller than the Sky.

 

A black out is rare but can occur to any ship at anytime. I've been in several but only one in bad weather, and the engineer had things fixed up before we got in real trouble. 

 

My 2 cents. Don't know if it will change anything but there you have it. Heading for a vacation in april, a transatlantic and would have had no worries over it if it was a Viking ship.

 

Oann

Thank you.  I very much enjoyed reading your perspective.