Encore Aug. Sunday Return, 2pm Flight LGA

[buckeye rob]

Thinking of using a car service like Dial 7 for port pickup.  Flight leaving LGA at 2 pm. Hear that LGA is still in construction. Plenty of time I presume for distance to LGA just reaching the proper terminal (American AA) is a concern. Pre-cruise decided on 2 nights Westin Times Square, (I know), and taking Dial 7 to Manhattan Cruise Port Sunday am. We do not  travel light and cabs and Ubers sometimes just don't cut it.  Thought any delays or waits to drop off is on them.  With the terminal mess at LGA also considering Dial 7 at airport pickup Friday afternoon arrival rather than a cab.  Any input helpful to these tentative plans.  Regards, Gerry. 

[markeb]

It's been awhile since I've flown through LGA, but we always preferred a car service. Cabs are on the meter from LGA. Let's see what else you hear on that as I know the construction has made that more challenging.

 

You're probably OK with a cab from the Westin. You're already west of Broadway and 7th Avenue, so that should be an easy shot. There are larger cabs available in Manhattan with more space for luggage, and they do cruise the hotels.

 

No experience at the cruise terminal, so can't help you there.

[mking8288]

I've been in & out of LGA a few times "recently" - closest to us, 3 miles away & convenient, but rather fly JFK. 

 

AA is at the expanded Terminal B (a/k/a "old" main/central terminal) and car service/taxi stand (plus Uber/Lyft, etc.) are across the skybridge inside the brand new, large multi-story parking lot - very good signage & there are greeters to help those looking confused.  You can pre-book or just order/request a car on arrival once you retrieved all checked bags - do take a restroom stop first, NYC traffic is absolutely unpredictable & gridlock/closure can happen anytime, anywhere & w/o warning or reasons.  Car service usually has their dispatcher on duty and if not, find & pickup the courtesy direct-line phone to call - a standard 4 door sedan these days is a Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima or even Hyundai Sonta or equivalent, usually fine for 3 adults + generous # of luggage /smaller bags inside the pax compartment ... buckle up for safety riding in the rear. 

 

Construction at LGA is a long-term expansion project, lately - it's not too bad, except at peak time but Friday afternoon - well, I'm sure it's just like Boston, Chicago, Dulles or LAX; same old ... traffic = patience.  Taxi is on a meter plus toll & congestion surcharge & likely PM rush hour extra.  Go with Carmel or Dial 7 as you wish (lately, I find Lyft/Uber pricing is be just about the same for rides from Queens into Manhattan) as it will be a confirmed flat rate + toll + tips + surcharges ... 

 

Return trip to LGA on a Sunday morning for 2 pm wheels up ... should be safe, even if ship is running not too late.   We disembarked the mid-sized Gem last month with priority, jump into a taxi (no lines across 12th Ave) & got back to Queens (3 miles east of LGA) before 10 am (CBP using facial recognition supposed to help speed things for mega ships with 4,000+ pax).  All airport terminal drop-offs are direct curbside, no shuttle bus ride involved - I wouldn't worry unless you are still "trapped" somewhere inside the terminal at 10:30 behind 500 people.  

[buckeye rob]

Thank you both so much.  Very helpful.  Being in Haven we should have priority disembarkation, however never having disembarked in Manhattan before I don't know where that gets us. Do you have to cross the street with luggage upon leaving the pier or is pickup right in front ?   We've been in Suites where we were walked to customs and also where we were turned loosed in the middle of a crowd.   Regards, Gerry.

[AF-1]

buckeye rob;   I have traveled in and out of LGA many time in the past year.  Sunday or Saturday morning should be piece of cake.  In reality I have been in car service out of Teterboro, NJ and made it to LGA in 30min.  You should be good to go with 2pm;  and I bet you will actually have more time than needed at LGA.  Upon arrival you will have to take a shuttle bus to the car service area. Unless you pay extra for the driver to meet you outside baggage claim with you name on a board; then you would all walk to where the car is parked.  Hope this helps

[mking8288]

7 hours ago, buckeye rob said:

... Being in Haven ... priority disembarkation, however never having disembarked in Manhattan ... cross the street with luggage upon leaving the pier ... been in Suites where we were walked to customs and also where we were turned loosed  ...Gerry.

 

Gerry - NCL here in NYC (don't worry, nothing is ever pefect) just about nearly perfected the fine-tuning for Haven & VIP disembark, whether you are doing the "easy" walkoff or (I highly recommend, with your flight schedule) send your luggage out for pier pickup in the morning ...  Enjoy a leisure morning breakfast upstairs & the concierge/bulter team will escort & help you up to security once they get the rest of the Haven folks doing the "express debark" (you know the difference.)  

 

Especially with mega/+ ships, port facilities/layout just isn't setup for curbside pickup - get a porter (as we always do) to fast track thru CBP (almost certain @ Pier 88) & most will get your luggage & you across 12th Ave - to get pickup by the car service.  Even if the ships is badly late, which we've not been on - rather, waiting for everyone to come off for a zero count ... the Haven guests will always get VIP treatment & some escort, maybe not all the way thru - the porter will do the rest to get you outside.  

 

Coming into LGA on AA, you will NOT need to take a shuttle ride for car service - unless things changed in the future (those coming into LGA on Delta & JetBlue at different terminals, do and will need to take a free shuttle ride to Terminal B, where all car services are to be done)  See this link - check & reconfirm 1 to 2 weeks prior to your flights, in case of changes - 

https://laguardiaairport.com/to-from-airport/car-service-and-shared-rides 

 

 

 

On our Dawn cruise coming back to NY, we met the concierge at 8:45 am, thru security & onto the pier by 8:50, collected our tagged luggage - porter - thru CBP and exited the building in 10 minutes flat - into 2nd. waiting taxi (no lines) and pulled away from the curb (across 12th Avenue) by 9:04 - zipping past LGA's airport exit by 9:25 (getting to Terminal B ... no problems, another 5 to 10 minutes at most at those hours) & curbside @ home by 9:40.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by mking8288

[buckeye rob]

Thanks again AF-1 and mking8288 for such detail and helpful info.  Much better idea now that I know what I will be dealing with and will set out luggage in pm for pier pickup next morning.  Time for one last Haven breakfast and then off.  Probably have driver pick us up at baggage claim upon arrival.  Hoping I'm not overthinking NYC but realize it is not Fort Lauderdale !😉 Looking forward to this cruise and 2 days in your great city !  Regards, Gerry.  

Edited January 8, 2020 by buckeye rob