gotobus. Are we taking a chance?

[ctigerk]

My friend and I are on Grandeur out of Baltimore on 4/26/14. We are way out on Long Island and I figure it would cost about $230, at least, for gas, tolls, and parking for a 6-day cruise if we come down the day of the cruise and about $250 to come the day before and do the park and cruise package. It is a 4+ hour ride for us. We can take the Gotobus (Eastern) from Manhattan (free ride into Manhattan) the day before and stay at the Best Western on O'Donnell Street (I have points so the room is a total $60), and take a taxi or shuttle to the port for about $150 total. It would be nice to come in a day early and cheaper. However, we don't know too much about the bus. Does anyone have any information. Are we crazy to do this? We are adventurous. Thanks for any help.

 

Cathy

[Tony O]

I would inquire with the hotel to see if the nightclub on premise is still open since this was the scene of a shooting a few months ago

 

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[ctigerk]

I would inquire with the hotel to see if the nightclub on premise is still open since this was the scene of a shooting a few months ago

 

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Well, I did say we were adventurous. And I was worried about the bus!!

[Tony O]

Well, I did say we were adventurous. And I was worried about the bus!!

 

If you want to be adventurous do a Google map search in the satellite mode and see what is acrosss the street and on the hotel property

[ctigerk]

If you want to be adventurous do a Google map search in the satellite mode and see what is acrosss the street and on the hotel property

 

Thanks Tony O. I see this hotel gets good reviews on Tripadvisor. I'm thinking bullet-proof vest and take our chances.

[Tony O]

The reviews may be good but be careful of the area. Truck stop across the street truck washing company on the premises. Close to low income housing with police cameras mounted on the light poles

 

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[mking8288]

OP, do you have personal/close friends with experience booking & riding with GoToBus and/or Eastern Bus as the provider and find it satisfactory or acceptable, and reasonable with on-time performance. It pays to be penny wise and dollar foolish by considering major providers like BoltBus or MegaBus - to provide your cruise investment, even if you have trip interruption insurance that cover it. That's my words of wisdom for taking a chance.

 

From what I see, GoToBus is acting as online consolidator or marketing agent for various bus operators, and both entities are essentially Chinatown-based companies that US DOT's have been shutting down & closing for serious safety violations. Another one of these cluster's bus was involved in a rollover acccident earlier this week, resulting in injuries but no fatalities and the bus driver was arrested & charged, excessive speed given snow/icy condition on the road as likely cause - being investigated. Their quoted fare for June is about $20 - you can do it on Bolt or Mega for $8 or $10 for a random Friday that I picked. They depart from NY Penn Station so it's easy to transfer even if you don't have a free ride from LI, hop on the LIRR & you are good.

 

One of my SIL used to work in the suburbs of Baltimore & used these fly-by-night operators for a while and suffice to say, it's cheap but if you got better choices and it's reasonable, protect yourself & spend a bit more. We all take chances in our life but it's not necessary if you must ask. Save money elsewhere instead. I will leave it up to others already spoken on the hotel, etc. in Baltimore. Enjoy your cruise.

 

Lost & Not Forgotten - 239 souls onboard MH370, pause & think about them for a moment. God Bless!

Edited March 21, 2014 by mking8288

[ctigerk]

OP, do you have personal/close friends with experience booking & riding with GoToBus and/or Eastern Bus as the provider and find it satisfactory or acceptable, and reasonable with on-time performance. It pays to be penny wise and dollar foolish by considering major providers like BoltBus or MegaBus - to provide your cruise investment, even if you have trip interruption insurance that cover it. That's my words of wisdom for taking a chance.

 

From what I see, GoToBus is acting as online consolidator or marketing agent for various bus operators, and both entities are essentially Chinatown-based companies that US DOT's have been shutting down & closing for serious safety violations. Another one of these cluster's bus was involved in a rollover acccident earlier this week, resulting in injuries but no fatalities and the bus driver was arrested & charged, excessive speed given snow/icy condition on the road as likely cause - being investigated. Their quoted fare for June is about $20 - you can do it on Bolt or Mega for $8 or $10 for a random Friday that I picked. They depart from NY Penn Station so it's easy to transfer even if you don't have a free ride from LI, hop on the LIRR & you are good.

 

One of my SIL used to work in the suburbs of Baltimore & used these fly-by-night operators for a while and suffice to say, it's cheap but if you got better choices and it's reasonable, protect yourself & spend a bit more. We all take chances in our life but it's not necessary if you must ask. Save money elsewhere instead. I will leave it up to others already spoken on the hotel, etc. in Baltimore. Enjoy your cruise.

 

Lost & Not Forgotten - 239 souls onboard MH370, pause & think about them for a moment. God Bless!

 

Thanks for your input. I will check all options. Cathy

[jcl410]

Another option would be to take Greyhound, then walk 2 blocks to the Holiday Inn Express for the night. Check with the hotel if you can use their shuttle to the Port.

 

(That neighborhood isn't great, but safe enough for the short walk.)

 

Aloha,

 

John

[ctigerk]

Another option would be to take Greyhound, then walk 2 blocks to the Holiday Inn Express for the night. Check with the hotel if you can use their shuttle to the Port.

 

(That neighborhood isn't great, but safe enough for the short walk.)

 

Aloha,

 

John

 

Thanks John. That looks good but expensive. We may just drive the day of the cruise. Cathy

[Carnival_Brides]

OP, do you have personal/close friends with experience booking & riding with GoToBus and/or Eastern Bus as the provider and find it satisfactory or acceptable, and reasonable with on-time performance. It pays to be penny wise and dollar foolish by considering major providers like BoltBus or MegaBus - to provide your cruise investment, even if you have trip interruption insurance that cover it. That's my words of wisdom for taking a chance.

 

From what I see, GoToBus is acting as online consolidator or marketing agent for various bus operators, and both entities are essentially Chinatown-based companies that US DOT's have been shutting down & closing for serious safety violations. Another one of these cluster's bus was involved in a rollover acccident earlier this week, resulting in injuries but no fatalities and the bus driver was arrested & charged, excessive speed given snow/icy condition on the road as likely cause - being investigated. Their quoted fare for June is about $20 - you can do it on Bolt or Mega for $8 or $10 for a random Friday that I picked. They depart from NY Penn Station so it's easy to transfer even if you don't have a free ride from LI, hop on the LIRR & you are good.

 

One of my SIL used to work in the suburbs of Baltimore & used these fly-by-night operators for a while and suffice to say, it's cheap but if you got better choices and it's reasonable, protect yourself & spend a bit more. We all take chances in our life but it's not necessary if you must ask. Save money elsewhere instead. I will leave it up to others already spoken on the hotel, etc. in Baltimore. Enjoy your cruise.

 

Lost & Not Forgotten - 239 souls onboard MH370, pause & think about them for a moment. God Bless!

 

You said this way more eloquently than I could have.

 

OP, I'd also look into Mega or Bolt--I've used both to travel to/from cruises with no problem in the past. The only problem you might with Mega is that their Baltimore stop is actually 18 miles away in White Marsh, MD (there is cab service and loads of hotels in the area). If you need the bus to stop downtown than your options would be Bolt or Greyhound.