MEGAbus drop off.....how to get to port from there

[turning40withMickey]

I am looking at Megabus schedules, the fares are unbelievable! The drop off point and pick up points are different in NY. Keeping in mind there are five of us, and five rolling suitcases.

 

How do we get to the pier?

 

How long/ how much $$ for the transport (cab?)

 

Anyone done this?

 

 

The Megabus drops off at 7th Ave and 28th Street, so we would need to get to the Manhattan port from there.

 

 

Heading back, we board Megabus at west side of 9th stree between 31st Street and 33rd street.

 

From Pittsburgh, we can ride roundtrip for 10-20 bucks each!

[smeyer418]

I am looking at Megabus schedules, the fares are unbelievable! The drop off point and pick up points are different in NY. Keeping in mind there are five of us, and five rolling suitcases.

 

How do we get to the pier?

 

How long/ how much $$ for the transport (cab?)

 

Anyone done this?

 

 

The Megabus drops off at 7th Ave and 28th Street, so we would need to get to the Manhattan port from there.

 

 

Heading back, we board Megabus at west side of 9th stree between 31st Street and 33rd street.

 

From Pittsburgh, we can ride roundtrip for 10-20 bucks each!

 

yes a cab from 7th avenue and 28th street to the Manhattan Cruise terminal should be about $15 or so and slightly less to 9th AVENUE(not street) between 31st and 33rd street(by Madison Square Garden)

 

5 people will need two cabs...

[turning40withMickey]

yes a cab from 7th avenue and 28th street to the Manhattan Cruise terminal should be about $15 or so and slightly less to 9th AVENUE(not street) between 31st and 33rd street(by Madison Square Garden)

 

5 people will need two cabs...

 

 

Thanks, I had 9th Avenue written but mistyped on here.

 

Suppose we arrive early......what to do (remember we will be with luggage) until we can go to the cruise terminal?

 

Can you just "wait" at the cruise terminal?

[GTJ]

I am looking at Megabus schedules, the fares are unbelievable!

 

Mind you, Megabus fares are dynamic, not static. As you contemplate, the fares for any particular voyage will likely increase until purchase. I used Megabus last summer for travel between New York and Pittsburgh. Round-trip for two of us was a total of $4.50; the subways on each end were more expensive than Megabus.

 

The equipment used by Megabus is designed to squeeze in as many people as possible. The coaches are double deck, and each deck has very limited headroom. Many people have to bend over in order to stand in the aisles of the coach (only in the stairwells is there enough headroom to full stand upright). There is no overhead storage, nor are there any closets. If you have coats you will have to keep them on the backs of your seats (where the people behind you will have difficulty keeping the legs and feet off of them), on your lap, or on the floor below your seat. Likewise, any parcels you have will also have to be stored on the floor under your seat. The seating is adequate, but not especially comfortable. The main competitor of Megabus, BoltBus, does a better job in all these areas, but BoltBus has a more limited route network (no service to and from Pittsburgh), and their fares tend to be higher than Megabus.

 

The drop off point and pick up points are different in NY. Keeping in mind there are five of us, and five rolling suitcases. How do we get to the pier? * * * The Megabus drops off at 7th Ave and 28th Street, so we would need to get to the Manhattan port from there.

The Manhattan discharge location is not the most organized. You'll alight on a busy sidewalk, gather around the rear of the coach (where the luggage compartment is located) and wait for the employees to off-load your luggage. It is possible that the unloading of luggage will commence before you or anyone else in your group has been able to alight from the coach. Note that baggage is not checked, there are no luggage tags or other systems of ensuring that luggage is reunited with the correct person. For these reasons it is advisable to keep an eye out the windows, as you wait to alight, to make sure that your luggage is not taken by someone else.

 

Heading back, we board Megabus at west side of 9th [Avenue] between 31st Street and 33rd street.

The bus stop is located closer to 33 Street than to 31 St. This is a barren and windswept location, across the street from the rear of the main post office. It is next to a blank wall on an overpass that straddles the railroad tracks leading to and from New Jersey. There are no facilities or shelter here to protect you from the elements, no adjacent stores or businesses (just an open parking lot), and should it rain you will likely get wet. There is no place here to store your luggage should you arrive early (you'll have to make such arrangements elsewhere, as described in greater detail on other posts in this forum). As departure time from New York approaches Megabus employees will cause the passengers for each of the several destinations served to line up in queues along the sidewalk in an attempt to organize what would otherwise be a rather chaotic situation (you will likely recall the experience of being lined up in elementary school as recess was ending and the pupils were herded back into the classrooms).

 

In sum, the boarding and alighting of the bus are much more akin to boarding and alighting from a Port Authority transit bus than more typical intercity buses, railroads, or airplanes. You will have the opportunity to save quite substantially, but you will also need to understand the level of service that is provided.

[smeyer418]

Thanks, I had 9th Avenue written but mistyped on here.

 

Suppose we arrive early......what to do (remember we will be with luggage) until we can go to the cruise terminal?

 

Can you just "wait" at the cruise terminal?

the terminal opens around 9 am. I assume you aren't getting there that early...

[turning40withMickey]

the terminal opens around 9 am. I assume you aren't getting there that early...

 

6:55AM is arrival at the 7th and 28th....

[turning40withMickey]

VERY informative, GTJ!

Thank you for the details:D

 

You did Pittsburgh to NY~ free parking in Pittsburgh at the Megabus terminal, do you recall (or pehaphs it wasn't even an issue for you)

 

The prices only go up, never down as time passes?

[smeyer418]

6:55AM is arrival at the 7th and 28th....

 

luggage storage.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1353137

[GTJ]

You did Pittsburgh to NY~ free parking in Pittsburgh at the Megabus terminal, do you recall (or perhaps it wasn't even an issue for you)

 

We live in New York City, and neither of us drive. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza near the South Hills Village mall, we used the Port Authority's "Blue" line in getting to and from the Megabus stop. Parking was not an issue for us. Megabus itself does not operate any parking lots. The bus stop in Pittsburgh is located on the street under the Convention Center, and while there are some parking lots surrounding the area, I do not know if they are available for public use, nor do I know if multi-day parking is permitted. In any event, I would be quite willing to make a substantial wager on there being no FREE multi-day parking in downtown Pittsburgh.

 

Perhaps you might be able to get dropped off at a transit center and not have to worry about parking? From the south, the light rail trains stop at Wood Street station, a short walk from the convention center Megabus stop. From other parts of the region may express buses stop on the busway at Penn Station, also a short walk away. Otherwise you may have to do a little local research on your own for parking (sometimes the street view on Google Maps can be helpful in this regard). The Rivers Casino has free parking, and maybe they would allow multi-day parking (though they would probably charge you in that case); you could get a taxi, Port Authority bus, or Coach USA bus over to the convention center.

 

The prices only go up, never down as time passes?

 

I have never seen the prices go down. I suppose it is possible, especially when considering that a bus seat (like a cruise ship stateroom) is a perishable commodity that is better sold for a low price than left unsold at departure time. I would not could not count on this occurring.

[GTJ]

6:55AM is arrival at the 7th and 28th....

 

It has been a long time since I was young enough to readily accept an overnight bus journey (other than in places with more sophisticated bus networks, like Mexico where the buses are so much more spacious and comfortable compared to the United States). I don't find the Megabus seats especially comfortable, and there's really not a lot of room to stretch out for sleeping. If you're able to sleep anywhere then you'll do fine. If you need to do this in order to save a few dollars, then you may just need to endure it. But if cost is not a barrier, you might well want to consider taking the daytime trip rather than the overnight trip.

 

One more tip. Specific seats are not reserved, but are made available on a first come basis. If sitting together is a priority, then you will want to ensure that you arrive early enough in order to be able to find five seats proximate to one another (seating is 2+2 on these coaches). Typically, 30 to 60 minutes in advance would do the trick. This is more true on the busiest days, Fridays and Sundays, less true on other days.

[turning40withMickey]

It's all about saving $$ :D

 

I don't think we will use megabus for the cruise, but I am thrilled to have learned of this option for a trip to NY sometime...preferably when it is only DH and I (the other three are our teen children, who can indeed sleep anywhere and wouldn't mind the bus a bit)

[turning40withMickey]

And you are quite correct, GTJ

no free parking will be had in the 'burg;)

[AuntieBon]

I see that you have decided not to take the bus but wanted to share my experience.

 

I scored a $2.50RT ticket from Boston to New York for a October 2010 cruise and as soon as I got off the bus there was a mini van taxi right there. He dropped me off across the street from the cruise port and I walked right in.

 

The return trip had a longer taxi cab wait but imagine all the people getting off the ship needing one vs. getting off a bus. It was however well managed by the port authority. I was able to pay an extra $5 and get on the next bus.

 

I would certainly take the bus to NYC both for a cruise and for a visit. I'm 5' 7" and on the fluffy side and didn't think the seats where any more uncomfortable than your average airplane seat.

[turning40withMickey]

I see that you have decided not to take the bus but wanted to share my experience.

 

I scored a $2.50RT ticket from Boston to New York for a October 2010 cruise and as soon as I got off the bus there was a mini van taxi right there. He dropped me off across the street from the cruise port and I walked right in.

 

The return trip had a longer taxi cab wait but imagine all the people getting off the ship needing one vs. getting off a bus. It was however well managed by the port authority. I was able to pay an extra $5 and get on the next bus.

 

I would certainly take the bus to NYC both for a cruise and for a visit. I'm 5' 7" and on the fluffy side and didn't think the seats where any more uncomfortable than your average airplane seat.

 

Thanks for sharing! If I scored the dollar or two fifty tickets, we would DEFINITELY be doing the Megabus!

[turning40withMickey]

I see that you have decided not to take the bus but wanted to share my experience.

 

I scored a $2.50RT ticket from Boston to New York for a October 2010 cruise and as soon as I got off the bus there was a mini van taxi right there. He dropped me off across the street from the cruise port and I walked right in.

 

The return trip had a longer taxi cab wait but imagine all the people getting off the ship needing one vs. getting off a bus. It was however well managed by the port authority. I was able to pay an extra $5 and get on the next bus.

 

I would certainly take the bus to NYC both for a cruise and for a visit. I'm 5' 7" and on the fluffy side and didn't think the seats where any more uncomfortable than your average airplane seat.

 

oops, double post

 

The times are not great for our cruise for the cheap tickets, it is looking like 174 roundtrip for us, plus taxis to and fro, and parking in Pittsburgh, so not really worth it for this trip....

[Brighton Line]

Just want to point out that not all Mega Buses are double deckers but they do cram people in, this is not a long distance Greyhound cruiser, they add more rows to standard bus with one deck. That said you can get a good deal, if you know how to watch your bags and understand that the lower fares in part are because they do not pay to use terminals or have anyone but the bus driver (and maybe a ticket seller if real busy). I've used them an Bolt Bus and would use them again.

[turning40withMickey]

re-visiting this thread

Since I am earlier this year (and the megabus can't even be booked yet for June), this is an option again for us.

 

This thread has been very helpful!

 

Since the arrival is very early in New York, we are thinking perhaps breakfast will kill some time and get us to the the pier at a more reasonable time.

 

Can we walk from the Megabus drop off to a diner of some sort for breakfast?

 

Any walkers out there trekked the whole way to the cruise terminal? I see it is about 2 miles via Google maps.

 

As always, your personal stories are quite helpful!

[ducklite]

Please look at Mega's safety record before you decide to book with them.

 

BOLT is a much better organization. The buses are better maintained and they have a great safety record.

[seabreeze78]

four of us went from Philly last May Couldn'r be easier. As soon as the busses dropped us off, the cabs were all over It cost about 11.50 for the cab ride to the port and on the way back about 6.50 to the bus stop. I had my 71 yo mother with me and she couldn't believe how easy it was! Beats driving for 2 hours, the lincoln tunnel, tolls 30.00 a day parking and congestion around the port. 24.00 for the 4 of us up and 44.00 back. As for breakfast..not sure but when your finished eating ,taxis are plentiful in the city:)

[SNJCruisers]

30.00 a day parking and congestion around the port.

Not any more.....went up to 35.00 a day:(

[candybarcarter1982]

I am going on the Carnival Glory in Sept out of Ny and i was wondering the best way to get there. I am in maryland and was thinking of doing the mega bus. I am 30 and my mom and aunt are around 60 and thought it would be better to have my brother drive us up to the port and pick us up. I didnt know if anyone knew of a hotel that has shuttle buses to the port if we stayed over or not?? Any information would be great. I also read on megabus you can only bring one suitecase so that is also a concern considering we are going to canada and may have to pack heavy lol.

thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Candice

[turning40withMickey]

I am going on the Carnival Glory in Sept out of Ny and i was wondering the best way to get there. I am in maryland and was thinking of doing the mega bus. I am 30 and my mom and aunt are around 60 and thought it would be better to have my brother drive us up to the port and pick us up. I didnt know if anyone knew of a hotel that has shuttle buses to the port if we stayed over or not?? Any information would be great. I also read on megabus you can only bring one suitecase so that is also a concern considering we are going to canada and may have to pack heavy lol.

thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Candice

 

Definitely only one suitcase, Candice. Can't help with a hotel nearby, parking is very convenient at the port (but also 35 per day!). Good luck deciding!

[njhorseman]

I am going on the Carnival Glory in Sept out of Ny and i was wondering the best way to get there. I am in maryland and was thinking of doing the mega bus. I am 30 and my mom and aunt are around 60 and thought it would be better to have my brother drive us up to the port and pick us up. I didnt know if anyone knew of a hotel that has shuttle buses to the port if we stayed over or not?? Any information would be great. I also read on megabus you can only bring one suitecase so that is also a concern considering we are going to canada and may have to pack heavy lol.

thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Candice

 

You could try taking Amtrak from Baltimore, or Wilmington, DE (depending on which city is closest to your home) to NY City.

 

There are no hotels in NY that provide a shuttle to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

[candybarcarter1982]

Thanks, I think we may end up having my brother drive us up to the port and pick us up. That way we can take as many suitcases as we want and can be dropped off at the port. just wish the hotels there had a shuttle service, they could bring in so much more money.