Overdue Review:Precruise NYC/Warwick Hotel

[shonandsuzie]

So I really meant to share this review after I finished the review of our September cruise on Carnival Miracle. Time got away from me and here we are in March...

Thanks friends for reminding me to post this because we really did want to share our experience with all of you at CC who helped us plan and to those who are planning their cruise trips out of NYC themselves.

 

We decided after finding awesome direct airfare to spend 3 days in NYC before our Sept. 4 cruise on the Miracle. We also made plans to meet up with friends from Cruisecritic ( Gary &CeCe) who were cruising along with us and other friends from Cruisecritic (Bree & Anthony) who cruised on the Glory the weekend before ours.

 

Shon and I flew out of our hometown and landed safely at Laguardia. Funny thing, when we arrived at Laguardia they let us on in the middle of the tarmac which was a halarious welcome to NY for Shon and I! They also tore my new luggage! Argh! But hey we were on vacation and everything would be okay!!!!

 

 

[shonandsuzie]

We used Hotwire and got our hotel at the Warwick Hotel on 54th and 6th in Midtown Manhattan. This hotel was not right in Timesquare (which we originally wanted) but it was not far...maybe 5 blocks(?). However far it was, we walked it many times in our 3 days. The hotel is a block from Rockefeller Center and a block from Gary/CeCe's hotel to boot. It turned out to be a great hotel--thank goodness. I fretted a bunch about it orior to the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

[shonandsuzie]

More pictures of the Warwick Hotel: Including the Lobby

 

 

 

 

 

[shonandsuzie]

There were so many things that we wanted to experience in NYC and someone here recommended the Hop On Hop Off bus tours to help us fit in as much as possible without breaking the bank (both time bank and money bank...Lol). We found a special for one that did double decker day, night and boat tours in one. through CitySightsNY. Our tickets were $49/each for 2 days as much as we wanted. This was the best tip we received about this trip because it certainly made our trip! We saw so much and the tour guide explained everything (with a little humor :) ). It was not a boring tour but rather interactive and flexible. We got off several times to spend extra time in certain areas and they had "bus stop" signs that you stand by to hop back on the next tour bus. Easy as pie!

 

 

Bree/Anthony were with us for this tour:

 

 

[Got2Cruise]

Thanks for the review and great pics, especially the hints for the HoHo. I agree that the HoHo is the best way to see NYC for a first timer. The Warwick might not have been directly in Times Square, but sometimes that is a good thing. I recall you got a good price on it, plus the extra walking helps with those cruise pounds.:D:p

[BlueHerons]

Great review! I love the Warwick Hotel! She's such an old grand dame on NYC! I expect when the economy recovers someone will come in and do a $150 million dollar renovation and charge $1000 per night for a room (see Gramercy Park Hotel, The Plaza Hotel, etc). The location is better than actually being in the disaster that is Times Square!

 

Glad you had fun and thanks for taking the time to post!

[shonandsuzie]

A few of the highlights from NYC:

 

This, I remember being a postage stamp. ANyway, it was on the same block as our hotel and everyone was taking pictures with/on it so we did too!

 

 

 

We went to the Today show one morning happened upon the Lenny Kravitz concert... The Today Show is a block and 1/2 from the Warwick so very very convenient.

 

 

We were screaming and waving like crazy outside of this wondow... Corny, I know, but some of our family from home saw us.

 

We headed to the Today Show at about 7:00 a.m. and hung out there for about an hr and 1/2. On the way back to the Warwick Hotel, we stopped into NBC studios and sat in the audience of the Oz Show! We were really feeling famous by the end of this day! Lol!

 

[shonandsuzie]

One thing Shon said we had to do while in NYC....a Seinfeld classic! We walked here from our hotel but it was kind of far. Maybe 3 or 4 blocks (?) We got Soup and then took it to Central Park to eat. Can you get any more NY tourist than that???

 

 

 

 

[Cool Breeze Cruiser]

Thanks so much Suzie! Just what I was looking for. I can't wait to read more.

 

The Warwick looks great & OMG hotels in New York are so expensive! I have never tried Hotwire but might give it a try this time.

 

Juli

[Tweedy]

I'm enjoying this thread. I hope you will be posting more... :D

[shonandsuzie]

Thanks so much Suzie! Just what I was looking for. I can't wait to read more.

The Warwick looks great & OMG hotels in New York are so expensive! I have never tried Hotwire but might give it a try this time.

Juli

They sure are! We were so used to sailign from Florida where the prices are extra reasonable that going out of NY blew our minds! Thank God for Hotwire but even with them we paid a lot. I have to look and see how much it was bc I cant remember exactly.

I'm enjoying this thread. I hope you will be posting more... :D

Thank you. I will be adding more! :)

[Clay Clayton]

Suzie

We are sailing out of NYC in September and having trouble finding a hotel I am willing to pay for. We usually Priceline but given the range of hotels in their star levels, have been considering Hotwire. Did you know you were getting The Warwick before you pushed the button? If so what amenity gave it away?

[shonandsuzie]

Suzie

We are sailing out of NYC in September and having trouble finding a hotel I am willing to pay for. We usually Priceline but given the range of hotels in their star levels, have been considering Hotwire. Did you know you were getting The Warwick before you pushed the button? If so what amenity gave it away?

I was talking to Shon about it and what I found is... low and behold we got it on Priceline not Hotwire.

Now I remember because I was trying to get the Hilton Timesquare (where our friends were staying at) but no price was being excepted in that area so we expanded to the next. We did research on betterbidding to figure out all of them but I cant remember what they said.

Anyway, for Priceline the Warwick Hotel was in a 4 Star in Midtown West and we paid $180/night. **This was labor day weekend 2011**

[Cool Breeze Cruiser]

What a deal! I guess we need to start checking out betterbidding!

Can't wait to read the rest of your review!

[Got2Cruise]

I happened to receive an email today from the Warwick chain concerning a sale. You can see what prices come up using the code. Go to the Warwick online booking site and then:

2) Type the city, state (US) or city, country (world) you are travelling to.

3) Enter your date of arrival and departure, maximum seven night stay.

4) Below on the left, click on the word "Advanced."

5) Enter the appropriate booking code that correlates to the number of nights you will be staying.

6) Enter the appropriate booking code that correlates to the number of nights you will be staying, as follows:

Rate Code WKWIT1 - one-two nights stays - up to 10% off Best Available Rate

Rate Code WKWIT2 - three-four nights stays - up to 20% off Best Available Rate

Rate Code WKWIT3 - five-seven nights stays - up to 30% off Best Available Rate

7) On the right side click "Update."