meadowlander

Thanks for such a detailed explanation. I have seen WWRY multiple times. I hope you get the chance to see it one day & enjoy the performances. And yes, I did read your original post completely, the one you made under the assumption I asked for an explanation despite not expressing such a need (if you had comprehended the intent of my original post).

Gotcha. Not familiar with any of these musicals. You posted about "telling the performers story" and then listed musicals that do tell a story of the artists. I was letting you know, WWRY, has nothing to do with Queen aside from their songs, unlike the musicals you originally did list.

Other than the songs, We Will Rock You has no relation to Queen or their story. It is about rediscovering rock and roll music by inhabitants of the future. The story line is a stretch yet the performers have always been outstanding.

Yes, it was announced in October 2021 that the daily rate of $25 would be increased to $30, though not implemented for more than a year. It is presently $30 per day as others have stated.

More like a bunch of songs by Queen were selected to form a musical. The story line is a stretch but not having seen WWRY between January 2017 and November 2023, it is much improved with the use of the video screen on stage.

Onboard Vision for a December 2023 cruise, the Royal app listed a Monday night NFL game & a Tuesday night NFL game. There were Tuesday games due to covid but none since 2020.

No doubt, in an attempt to validate their expertise knowledge, someone will respond with Hudson Plaza Motel located in Bayonne. Ignore that response as Hudson Plaza is an hourly rate motel. Check hotels in Jersey City for proximity to Cape Liberty.

I live near Cape Liberty and the majority of my cruises are from there. I have sailed 3 times from Baltimore. The first 2 times, I drove down the day prior and booked a hotel/park/cruise package with Trinity Reservations. In December, I used Amtrak from Newark Penn Station to Baltimore Penn Station for a cruise that afternoon. Based on that positive experience, I will likely transit via train rather than auto for future Baltimore departures. Would using Amtrak be an option on sailing date or 1 day prior? The same would apply for cruises departing from NYC, taking Amtrak to New York Penn Station rather than Newark Penn. There is not much difference of itineraries from Bayonne compared to Baltimore. The significant difference will be the cruise ship as Oasis class ships sail from Bayonne between May & October with Quantum class sailing November through April. If you do drive 1 day prior, there is no need to stay close to the port as there are no hotels in Bayonne. Hotels in Jersey City(adjacent to Bayonne) will have outstanding views of lower Manhattan though with traffic and charge for parking at the hotel. Downtown Newark hotels are better choices than in the airport area as those hotels have limited dining choices and road signage in NJ could be much better than it is. I would suggest staying in Woodbridge, Islein, Carteret, Clark areas which will be an easy drive to Cape Liberty the next day. If you have a weekday cruise departure, leave your hotel after 9 am to avoid commuter traffic. Parking is $30 per night at Cape Liberty. Best to arrive there by 10:30-10:45 am as the 1 lane road leading to the terminal will have traffic backup after that time. If your cruise is between May & October, the parking garage and parking lots are used as multiple ships will be sailing. November through April has only 1 ship sailing and all cruisers use the garage. You must drive by the luggage drop zone prior to parking. I suggest if you are sailing May-October to drop your luggage first as some of the parking lots are quite far from the terminal. Check in is easier in Bayonne (imo). Certainly easier to board the ship as opposed to the numerous ramps used in Baltimore. Check in times are not look at much less enforced. If you arrive prior to the first boarding time, you will be assigned where to sit and when boarding commences it is done by the row one is sitting in, not their scheduled boarding time.

Vison had the foldable deck plan map last month.

Agree with you. Twice, that I am aware of, in 2023 Royal ships had the same issue docking at Cape Liberty. There was no forewarning the day previous.

Technically speaking you are leaving out Trenton-Mercer airport, which has daily flights to Orlando, and is also a 90-120 minute drive from NYC. One could add Philadelphia International and Bradley in Hartford if they fancy a 2 hour plus drive after flying.

With such a difference in price offered by Royal and what is available through a travel agent who has group rates, yes it is hard to believe but it is factual. I checked the price I booked for 2 Odyssey 2025 sailings compared to the price on Royal's site (within the last 5 minutes). My savings is over $1,200 on each cruise. Finding an agent with group rates will benefit you greatly.

For another option check Yankee Trails which provides bus service from Albany area to the Boston, NJ & NYC cruise terminals.

Debarked Vision 2 weeks ago. Paid $3.80 for 2 scoops of Ben & Jerry's. I like the new RC flavors compared to previous flavors.

They did say they are flying in a day early.😉

Since you are going to use public transit to Cape Liberty, PATH trains (not part of the NYC subway) will take you from 33rd Street in Manhattan to Hoboken or Jersey City (closer to CL) stations. You can switch from PATH to the Hudson Bergen light rail (going in the direction of 8th Street Bayonne) at either Hoboken or Jersey City. Validate your ticket after purchase. Exit light rail at 34th Street in Bayonne. CL is 2 miles away, some people walk that distance. I advise uber or Archie's cab in Bayonne, estimate $12-16.

Which cruise line are you on that departs from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ and returns to MCT in Manhattan? I am not aware of any that do.

Cape Liberty uses facial recognition, only if there is an issue at facial recognition does one need to present a passport. There are numerous lanes for facial recognition and employees direct departing passengers. to open lanes. I have never been more than the 3rd person waiting in line & the process takes just seconds for each person.

I asked a server in WJ last week about this, his response would indicate it is not being done.

Uber is easier than taxi at Cape Liberty. After passing facial recognition, exit left. Once outside, you are in pick up zone 7 for car services (other than taxi). The pick up zone extends from zone 6 (to your left upon exiting) to zone 10 (to your right). Last cruise, I was lucky as Uber arrived 5-7 minutes after booking from outside the terminal. All taxi service on disembarkation is located in a parking lot, not in front of the terminal as for car services. For taxi, exit the terminal to the right. When outside, go left towards the road. Use the 2 painted crosswalks to reach the parking lot from where cabs are dispatched.

You can travel on your own from the port via ferry to Great Bay(can also walk there) and get 2 loungers with an umbrella for much cheaper than $100 for 2, much cheaper!

Boarding Anthem last week, the person ahead of me was in a wheelchair. When they reached the ship, the employee pushing could not step onto the ship as they were employed by the terminal not the cruise line. The husband then pushed his wife. I had assumed Royal employees provided this service, I know they do on disembarkation. Royal has a special needs department which you should be able to email and make arrangements.

For travelers at Newark Airport that use the Air Train (monorail) there is no $8.50 fare or any charge at all. Travelers can transit as many times as they wish between the Air Train stops at EWR without incurring a fee. There are no fare machines selling tickets to ride Air Train because it is free for these travelers. For those travelers who purchase a NJ Transit train ticket & use Air Train between terminals to the EWR railroad station (Amtrak stops here too) a surcharge is added to the price of the train ticket. That surcharge is for the cost of Air Train and that surcharge is included into the NJ Transit ticket. Separate charges and separate tickets for Air Train and NJ Transit does not exist. For those thinking there is an $8.50 charge to use Air Train between terminals, based on what is posted in this thread, there is not. One can use Air Train to EWR station as well without incurring a fee but without a NJ Transit train ticket(that includes the surcharge) they cannot access entry to the station.

Ha! My first Oasis cruise I left Cats after 45 minutes unable to endure anymore. I returned on another night, waited until the show was 45 minutes into the performance, to hopefully view the complete show over 2 dates. I could not make it to the end again. Before I walked out on the second show I witnessed what is my lasting memory of Cats (no pun intended). 3 women in the row in front of me decided Cats was not for them as well. As they approached the aisle, they came upon a man in their row who had fallen asleep. The first turned back to her friends, they laughed at the situation. It was an easy decision for them to wake him, having endured enough of Cats themselves.

Queuing is an option as is waiting 10- 15 minutes after the show begins, many seats likely to be emptied by then.