carnival transfer service from Manhattan terminal to EWR

[jb8162]

Does anybody know what time the first Carnival transfer bus leaves the Manhattan terminal for EWR. I am going on the Sunshine Oct. 7th returning on the 14th. I have a 12:30 flight out of EWR on the 14th. I understand we can debark as early as 8am. Carnival agent had no information other than after 9am. Do they wait until bus is full or do they leave at intervals? Any help would be appreciated. How long of a ride is it on a Saturday morning?

[mking8288]

What is the costs for EWR transfer by shared motorocoach for (2 people) vs. doing your own ? Oct. 14th, Sat. is a busy port day in Manhattan with 3 ships plus a 4th in Brooklyn. Ships generally are back early, docking around is 7 AM is common and those with priorities can disembark as early AS 8 AM ... escorted or walkoff with all the luggage ... assuming CBP isn't delaying or holding up, can be outside on 12th Ave by 8:30 or 8:45.

 

Not familiar with CCL's bus program but suffice to say, it will likely take time to load all the pax & luggage, so even if it leave at 9:00 or 9:15 and you are onboard, travel time will be 30 to 45 minutes on average, depending on traffic for the 16 miles trip out to EWR ... there are 3 main terminals for dropoff at the airport. It should have you inside EWR by 10:45 if you are on the 1st. bus leaving NYC, among 50 or so pax using their program - a 2 hours (airline recommended) window to get thru TSA, check-in and find your gate. Weather, road conditions and traffic/accidents are beyond anyone's control - if ship and disembarkation delayed ... bets are off.

 

If you book a car service, we like/use Carmel and DIal 7 being the other, you have better control over when to leave - it's very much price competitive - 4 door sedan $51, $56 or $59 (sedan, deluxe, luxury) or $66 for a minivan (that's good for up to 5 & luggage) plus tolls (about $8 to $24, depending on whether they charge for round-trip as permitted by law) - and 20% tipping for good services.

 

We are sailing Norweign in about 7 weeks - they are charging $39 p/p for LGA and JFK airport transfer for flights after 1 PM only. We will be using Carmel and I will chat with our driver about EWR and their practices about how they charge the tolls (as the $12/$15 toll is only charged eastbound coming into NYC and never outbound ... and they usually will pickup the next fare/rider from EWR),

 

Regardless of delays getting outside the ship terminal and CBP has been known to be short-staffed on a busy port day, you have more direct control & even if leaving there at 10 or 10:15 - would still get there by 11 AM, leaving 90 minutes to get inside/thru to your gate for domestic departure.

 

Can you be assured & guaranteed to be first off the ship and first on the #1 bus leaving at EWR ? Thoughts & comments.

[jb8162]

Thanks for the reply. Carnival rates for one way is $31.00 each for the two of us. I assume plus a small tip. I will check with Carmel and Dial 7 to find out their process and rates. I would rather use a service where I don't have to depend on other passengers and possibilities for delays.

[138east]

Did you consider the airport bus from the street level at Port authority bus terminal? http://web.coachusa.com/coachusaassets/files/94/naerackcard.pdf

 

$10 cab to Port authority and $16/pp bus fare with drop off at your Newark Terminal.

[jb8162]

Yes, I am using them from EWR to Bryant Park prior to our cruise. What we are looking for is minimal handling of luggage as possible. Load up at dock unload at airport. I have FTTF, so I should be able to get off the ship as soon as I want???? Thanks for the thought!

[mking8288]

Thumbs up advantage for FTTF on Carnival, we don't sail them enough as stockholders, LOL but quarterly dividends in 5+ years kept our cruises nicely subsidized.

 

Once you get inside the arrival/luggage hall on street level with your own luggage, if time is important & you need to hurry - grab a porter, they have an exclusive lane to speed thru CBP - last time we used it, had us from the down escalators, finding our priority baggage in the designated section & out past the secured section in 20 minutes vs. behind the regular & slow line with 200 to 300 folks patiently waiting. I used Carmel's free App to request a car pickup in 15 minutes & slowly out to 12th Avenue & then across to opposite corner of taxi stand on W. 48th St. & waited mid-block for 5 minutes, watch as the assigned car came south on West Side Hwy & left turn to pick us up.

 

Fares that I referenced is for a Saturday morning pickup - before a $3 digital coupon code - and, if the driver only charged for NJ Tpke fare to airport (and, not for return trip on same route and toll back to NY) your total is about $62 or $63 including 20% tipping, for a ride next Saturday. Dial7's prices are generally a little higher, with 4 ships in town & most likely at Cape Liberty also w. Royal ... busy Fall foileage sailings, I would pre-book it AND call them to reconfirm & request a dispatch note that you will call when ready for pickup , so that will pre-assign & slot your ride in there to avoid last minutes' "all drivers/cars assigned for next 30 to 45 minutes and N/A ..."

 

Of course, I always have our local, neighborhood car service # to call as backup but hate to wait 30+ minutes for them to go back toward LGA/Queens.

 

With ship's transfer prices (that's $9 less than NCL p/p) - stick with Carmel or Dial7 ... no need to wait for the bus to load or leave on their schedule.