Is this time frame Doable?

[sbflcruiser]

We are returning to the NY Brookyn terminal from a cruise on the CP on 9/11/10, we are looking to board the 10:53am train in Penn Station? Amtrak says we need to be checked in 45 minutes before departure.

 

PS the ship is suppose to be in at 7:15am, if we did walk off ourselves would we make it time wise??

 

Thanks for all your help.

[Budget Queen]

Are you well traveled and able to handle all your own bags and be timely and organized getting off a ship?? Know your way around Penn Station?

 

This may be a tight timeframe for many. IF you are coming in by Amtrak, having your round trip tickets will be a timesaver.

[sbflcruiser]

We should not have any trouble with our own baggage (young enough in our 40's), we are flying in to JFK for 4 days pre cruise, so we will not be on a round trip, however, during our stay I was going to stop in to Penn Station for a look around to be a little more familiar with surrounding.

 

If not realistic there is another train that leaves at 3:15pm in the afternoon I can book as well. So I would want to make sure if there are any time issues we will just take the later train.

 

It is just a little longer getting back, so if would be too tight I will just book the later one.

 

Thanks

[138east]

That is the 9/11 anniversary, so getting from Brooklyn to Penn Station could be an adventure by cab through lower Manhattan in the early morning. You should get some feedback from the New Yorkers as to what that could be like.

[GTJ]

We are returning to the NY Brookyn terminal from a cruise on the CP on 9/11/10, we are looking to board the 10:53am train in Penn Station? Amtrak says we need to be checked in 45 minutes before departure.

 

What Amtrak has said is nonsense. There is no "check-in" to travel aboard an Amtrak train. You simply need to be at the station before the train departs. I usually allow at least 5 minutes, but sometimes I have arrived at the station only 2 minutes before departure.

 

You will want to be at the station earlier if any of the following apply:

 

1. You don't know your way around the station. Allow at least 10 minutes. In fact, Amtrak does not usually post tracks until 10 minutes in advance, so any earlier of an arrival would simply have you standing around watching a blank departure board (unless you're traveling by sleeping car, in which case you can wait in Club Acela).

 

2. You want to check bags. Allow at least 30 minutes (in many cases it is easier to bring bags on board rather than to check them).

 

3. You need to buy tickets. Allow at least 5 minutes if using a kiosk to pick-up pre-paid tickets, or 30 minutes if you need to reserve and buy tickets during busy times (such as the Saturday morning that you'll be there).

 

Many times you can switch departure times without charge when going by coach, but if you're getting sleeping car accommodations (I assume you're taking one of the Florida trains because you're traveling someplace south of Richmond, Va., but are you traveling overnight?), the rules are more strict. If you can change without charge then certainly go for the earlier departure.