what time should we get to the NYC Pier

[jfpb]

I know this question has been asked so much, in fact I think I asked it myself a couple of months back, but my husband thinks if we get to the pier between 10:30am-11:00 we'll be waiting for 7 hours to get on the ship. A co-worker of his went on the triumph last week and got there about 1:00 and didn't get on the ship until 3:00. I've read that people who have gotten to the pier early are on the ship about 12:00 or so. So which is it? :confused: I want to get their as early as possible to start the vacation. Thanks in advance for your advice.:D

[derf5585]

When is your cruise?

 

rom nybumpkin

You're coming through my original home turf of Burlington County, NJ! I'd recommend using the Lincoln Tunnel to 9A North (West Side Highway) to the Passenger Ship Terminal. There will be a turn-off lane for the terminal around 55th Street. Drop off your luggage at curbside with one of the porters before going to the parking lot; there are no elevators from the lot to the embarcation area. If there are no other ships in port, it should be relatively sane; the embarcation line moves fairly fast. When you return, they will not let you take your bags directly to your car; you will need to have someone wait at curbside with the luggage while someone else goes up to the parking deck to retrieve the car and then drives around curbside to pick up pax and luggage. It's a pain in the neck. We did it with 3 ships in port; fewer would be better. Hope this helps!

 

from MrPeteLI

The pier is actually three levels.

There's the ground level. There's an elevator from the ground level to the second level. Some people get dropped off on this level from the street to avoid the traffic congestion in and out of the pier.

The second level is where you will be getting onto and off of the ship. This is where most people also get out of their transportation for drop off. This second level also has a mezanine waiting area, for those that get there too early. There are staircases on both sides, and they are never consistant in which sides you go up and come down. We only got it right once.

The third level is the parking area. There is an escalator from the third to the second level.

 

I usually drop luggage, DW, and DD off on the second level, and drive up to the third level to drop off the car. Then we Nextel each other till I find where she is on line.

 

Getting off, we take our luggage off. This way we used to beat the crowds. There's just too many people doing it these days, and I will have to rethink my plan of attack. Regardless, we take our luggage off, roll it to the curb on the second level, then I run up to the third level to get the car, drive down to the second level and pick up luggage and family, and drive home.

 

from Maraprince

Even though you are leaving on a Saturday with only one ship in port, BEWARE there are always at least 2 street fairs on Saturday and Sunday EVERY weekend in NYC. What this does is divert traffic around the event -- closing some streets and restricting access to others. This means getting to the west side where the ship is becomes a game of strategy.

Best advise -- head to 59th Street and go west. Why? Because the entrance to the port starts at 59th Street and once you get to 59th Street and go west it becomes a matter of driving until you find where your ship is docked.

If you try going to 55th Street and then going west, you may find yourself directed up and around to 59th Street by NYPD. So save yourself the trouble and go to 59th Street and head west.

 

from nybumpkin

I wish I had known that we should have dropped off our luggage with a porter before parking the car.

 

From Private Vehicles:

Passengers arriving by Private Vehicle should drive up the 54th Street Viaduct Ramp to the Receiving Area adjacent to their Cruise Vessel’s Berth. Signs identifying the Vessel are posted on pillars nearest the proper berth. Baggage will be received there by Porters and taken directly to the Vessel. Passengers can then transit inside the Pier to the Embarkation Desks of the Cruise Line to complete the Boarding Process.

 

Upon Returning From The Cruise:

As Passengers arrive at the Pier they enter the same Customs Hall from which they had originally embarked. Their Baggage will have been positioned by Porters under appropriate signs coded by Letter, Cabin Number or Color depending on system followed by Cruise Line. After selecting their bags they proceed past Customs Inspector and rendering their Customs Declaration assisted by Porter according to their preference.

 

Address

Port of New York

New York City Passenger Ship Terminal

Piers #88/90/92

711 12th Avenue

New York City, NY

 

Directions

From outside of New York City -

* New Jersey Turnpike North/South

* Take the Lincoln Tunnel to New York City

* Follow signs to West 42nd Street

* Turn left on to West 42nd Street

* Turn right on to 12th Avenue (West Side Highway)

* Turn left at 55th Street and proceed up the ramp to the terminal

* Proceed to Pier #88/90/92

Travel Time: 15 miles from Newark International Airport; travel time is approximately 45 minutes. 15 miles from LaGuardia Airport; travel time is approximately 45 minutes.

 

Parking

$18.00 per day (rate subject to change by the Port Authority)

* Open, rooftop parking on Pier 92 - use automobile ramp at 55th Street and 12th Avenue

 

DECK 3/LOBBY

Pursers Desk-Dining rooms-Rome Lounge

 

DECK 4/ATLANTIC

Dining Rooms-Rome Lounge-Photo Shop-Library

Card Room-Internet Café-Hollywood Dance Club

 

DECK 5/PROMENADE

Shops-Sports Bar-Casino-Arcade-Vienna Café

Lounges-Piano Bar-Hollywood Dance Club

 

DECK 9/LIDO

Asian-Deli-Pizzeria-Grill-Ice Cream

South Beach Buffet

 

Event Title: Carnival Cruise, Triumph

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Arrival:0700

Depart:1700

Pier 90 Berth 4

 

While it's true, cruise ships usually board early, there is nothing to say you won't board until the specified 2PM. Immigration now does document checks every other month for the entire crew which will delay everything by 1-2 hours. Because the Atlantic is more prone to storms, it's not uncommon for a cruise to be late arriving in NYC (the schedule isn't padded as much as you would think). Mechanical delays, someone not showing up at immigration, phase of the moon, they can all work against you. Sitting on the floor of the NYC passenger ship terminal for hours: not fun! And of course there's all those people fuming that boarding is "delayed" when it's 1PM and they've been waiting for hours. Pack some water and snacks (I like powerbars: they travel well) in your carry on. Trust me, even if you're delayed until noon you'll thank me!

 

Luckily, you're in NYC and there is a ton to do, even a few things just down the street. Drop off your big bags and check in. Why sit around a hot terminal when there something fun you could be doing? Just south of the cruise terminal is the Circle Line tour boat. They do 2 and 3 hour harbor tours that would be a great way to kill time. They also have a ton of tourist info there, and I believe are a stop on the Big Apple Bus tour route so you could hop that. The Intrepid Air museum housed in an old aircraft carrier which is interesting for a couple of hours and only a few blocks away. Standing with your back to the river, all the above are several blocks to your right.

 

While it all very likely that you'll board early, the reality is people have come to expect this, so when things get pushed back to the published time you end up with a bunch of grumpy people. Don't be one of them and for heaven sake avoid the irritated masses. Just leave the building and have bit of fun!

 

Originally Posted by lindabelll

What if there isn't a log book on the Valor, what kind of book do you use?

When I placed the one for the Triumph, I used a hardback 6x9 (I think) general notebook/journal that I bought a Borders clearance for a few dollars. I decorated the cover with a color picture of the Triumph and label for Cruise Critic Log. I also applied a label to the spine with the same title. If you want to start one, you have some freedom in what you choose, since you are first.

 

On the inside cover I noted what the book was for (there was standard wording at the time - perhaps one of the hosts can dig out the old archives) and then made the first entry to the log on the first page, giving my Cruise Critic name, real name, where I am from, interests, why I was taking that cruise, etc. Other people could write whatever they felt like writing, with the stipulation that you should restrict your comments to one page. If someone noticed that the log book was getting full, they were supposed to note it here on the boards so someone could take and add a volume 2 (or 3 or 4 as the case might be). There were even dedicated threads to the Cruise Critic logs. I don't know whatever happened to them after the big reorg of the boards.

[montekat]

We arrived at 11:30 and were onboard by 1:00. The only time you would have to wait to get on is if the ship is late offloading passengers from the previous cruise.

[yogimax]

It all depends on the debarkation. If there are customs and immigration problems (always a possibility), you will be delayed. The obvious answer is that the earlier you arrive the earlier you will be able to go onboard. The unknown is how long you will have to wait

[MrPete]

A co-worker of his went on the triumph last week and got there about 1:00 and didn't get on the ship until 3:00. I've read that people who have gotten to the pier early are on the ship about 12:00 or so. So which is it?

 

WOW. I've been DERF'ed!

 

10:30 to 11:30 is perfect. I prefer 11:15 myself. Barring no hold ups, you will end up on the ship between 12 and 12:30.

 

Bon voyage!

[GlenEllen]

Just returned from the July 16th sailing on the Legend. Arrived at the Pier at 11:15 a.m., and were sitting on the Lido Deck having lunch at 1:15. Somehow we ended up on a line doing "pre-check-in" and rec'd an orange dot on our Boarding Pass. That line was suspended just a few families behind us. When it came time for Boarding, all those "with the dot" were allowed to process thru first.

Now of course, we came in yesterday and because of a storm, the ship did not even come into Port until after 9:30 a.m., self assist debarkation started at 10:40, and the rest of us began being called by Deck at 11:30. Therefore, I am guessing that those passengers sailing on yesterday's voyage were going to be somewhat delayed in Boarding.

Thanks to "Mr Pete" - our boarding went off without a hitch - almost text book to what I had read on his previous posts. We also live in Rockland, so I decided to use his timetable and all went well :-)

[JOANN226]

I was on the legend July 8, was at the terminal about 11:45 and was on the ship by 1:00. They didnt let anyone on until 1:00. Went to our rooms they were ready dropped our carry ons and off to lunch. Have a great time.

[robsvacation]

The reality is there is no right answer to this question because it varies so much from week to week. The LATER you arrive the less likely you are to have to wait, but this is NYC so you never know what will cause traffic. Expect boarding to be delayed until at least 1PM 25% of the time.

 

Personally, I'd arrive early, drop off my large bags, and inquire as to what's happening. If it looks like there's a delay (aka, like i'll sitting around the terminal not enjoying myself) I would promptly walk out the building and check out the Intrepid, take a 2 hour circle line boat tour, or head a few blocks over and sit in a resturant and while away the time.

 

I also always make sure to pack water, meal replacement bars, something to read and some music to listen to all in my backpack. Be prepared to wait, be extra happy if you don't, and avoid all the irriatated people.

[freckles58]

Just got back from the July 16th sailing on the Legend(fantastic time!!). We came from Long Island, left about 9:30, got to the pier and were dropped off by 10:30. A woman working for Carnival had everything under control for about 1 hour until the MASSES of people showed up and chaos ensued. Luckily we were one of the groups to do a pre-boarding, received our "dots" on our boarding passes, so we were among the first to get on the ship. We were sitting by the Lido pool, drinks in hand by 12:15. My room was made up so I even got to put my carry-on in there, the kids changed into their bathing suits and went swimming. I would HEARTILY recommend getting to the pier by 10:30-11:15. Any time later than that it seems to get out of control with all the masses of people arriving at the same time. I had read about the horrible embarkation and debarkation but I did self assist and was off the boat by 11:00, home (sigh) by 12:15.

You'll have a great time no matter. Just remember....you're on vacation..no stress, only happy thoughts.

[jfpb]

thank you all so much, I think I'll stick with my original plan to get to the pier by 11am. It never even occurred to me to visit the intrepid, you are all wonderful, I've learned so much from this board. Can't wait until 8/8/05. :)