Best time to arive at Manhattan Pier

[MsMercury]

We are leaving from NYC on NCL Gem in December (coming from CT). Since we have a baby and all the fun baby stuff, we are going to park at the pier. What is the best time to arrive to get in, parked, and on the ship quickly?

[CruiserBruce]

Every cruise is different, as travel arrangements are different for different people. About the only real predictable is that there will be a crowd waiting to board as soon as boarding is allowed. That seems to be true no matter what port you are sailing from.

[Keith1010]

I would ask own the cruise line board.

 

In our case we drive by around 11:00 AM and wait for boarding.

 

Keith

[sebas030]

For my last NYC departing cruise ( Breakaway with 4000+ pax ) we arrived early at around 9am. We had boarding group 5, at around 11am there was a monstrous line for check-in with at least 1 hour of wait time...and boarding numbers were very far away....

 

Either you arrive early, check-in instantly, find seats for the family and board quickly when the process begins...or....you come in later, wait in line to check-in and wait again to board the ship...or.....come in closer to sailing time, no wait to check-in and no wait to board...but might be more stressful for the parking ( parking at pier 90 or 92 and walking to 88 if it is full )

 

The way I see it is that I will HAVE to wait anyways...so I personally prefer to be there early and wait while seating and getting aboard quickly!

 

Have fun !

[MsMercury]

Thank you both! Our plan as of right now is to try and get there around 11/11:30.

[sebas030]

Thank you both! Our plan as of right now is to try and get there around 11/11:30.

 

This is "prime time" at the pier.....

 

Expect longer delay to check-in and board....

 

 

At least the bathrooms are easily accessible and spacious to take care of the "baby stuff" ;)

 

Enjoy your cruise !

[MsMercury]

As long as we are inside and have bathrooms, all is well :)