Amtrak - Penn Station NY

[cmurchake]

Anyone have  experience docking in Manhattan and then taking the Amtrak train home? I am supposed to dock at 7 and didn't know if catching a train around 10 would leave plenty of time.

[navybankerteacher]

31 minutes ago, cmurchake said:

Anyone have  experience docking in Manhattan and then taking the Amtrak train home? I am supposed to dock at 7 and didn't know if catching a train around 10 would leave plenty of time.

It would leave plenty of time if the ship is actually alongside at 7 and there is nothing to prevent your getting your luggage and being out of the cruise terminal by about 9.

 

On January 3 our ship was over an hour late alongside the pier - and debarkation started  about an hour later.

 

 Are you carrying all your luggage yourself - so you can do unassisted debarkation? If so, you could probably make it.  I would still suggest a somewhat later train if you have options.

[cmurchake]

1 minute ago, navybankerteacher said:

It would leave plenty of time if the ship is actually alongside at 7 and there is nothing to prevent your getting your luggage and being out of the cruise terminal by about 9.

 

On January 3 our ship was over an hour late alongside the pier - and debarkation started  about an hour later.

 

 Are you carrying all your luggage yourself - so you can do unassisted debarkation? If so, you could probably make it.  I would still suggest a somewhat later train if you have options.

 

Several options a little later so no worries. And understood about delays. Figured it would be a quick taxi to Penn Station so wouldn't need too much time after we get off. Thanks!

[princeton123211]

1 hour ago, cmurchake said:

Anyone have  experience docking in Manhattan and then taking the Amtrak train home? I am supposed to dock at 7 and didn't know if catching a train around 10 would leave plenty of time.

I did this a few months ago coming from from Bermuda and then taking the train to Philly. I had booked a 10:52am train thinking I would have no problem making that. We did not disembark first-- we waited for our number to be called and were off the ship around 845am (granted this was the relatively small Oceania Insignia-- bigger ships will have bigger waits). Curbside by 9 and in an Uber we were able to make the earlier 9:47am without breaking a sweat. 

 

My best advice is to book a safe train and just quickly switch to an earlier one via the Amtrak app once you get to the station-- you won't even need to go get new tickets. 

[markeb]

2 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

My best advice is to book a safe train and just quickly switch to an earlier one via the Amtrak app once you get to the station-- you won't even need to go get new tickets. 

 

Just know that if you do this, it's at that day's rate. So if you got a deal on an advance purchase ticket, you won't get the same deal even switching to a same day train. So book a train at a time you're happy with, and definitely check if you're early. But if you're on a 14 Day advance purchase saver fare for $49, you will not be able to trade for that same fare on the day of travel.

[princeton123211]

14 minutes ago, markeb said:

Just know that if you do this, it's at that day's rate.

In this case it was an advanced purchase rate of $54 per person from NY Penn to Philadelphia 30th St Station and the same day up charge that morning to get on the earlier train was $6 per person. As you say, they do change, but on regional trains on the weekend it's not by that much (and certainly worth it for the flexibility). 

[markeb]

33 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

In this case it was an advanced purchase rate of $54 per person from NY Penn to Philadelphia 30th St Station and the same day up charge that morning to get on the earlier train was $6 per person. As you say, they do change, but on regional trains on the weekend it's not by that much (and certainly worth it for the flexibility). 

 

That's a great deal. I've never been that lucky from WAS to NYP (and the OP is probably going to Baltimore), but that worked out great for you.

 

That was probably one of their "mid-tier" rates that are usually closer to $130 going into DC, with fewer restrictions. The Saver rates, that are around $50 one way, are 14 day advance purchase, so you'd jump from $50 to probably $130 to change times...

[cmurchake]

Thanks princeton & mark, this was very helpful!

[mking8288]

Packing light, able to do the early walk-off the ship (and to stand in line to wait for the ship to be cleared by local officials) with all the luggage, and/or having some sort of priority status to early disembark (escorted to the gangway/into the cruise terminal) and using porter services once inside ... all these help; once, the ship is able to dock and get the process going.  

 

Is it on the weekend, a mid-sized ship vs. mega-ship (NCL ??) ... we had been on dozens+ sailing at MCT, returning early, super early, just in time and luckily, slightly delayed once.  But, we've been there waiting to embarked and watched plenty of dramas at the pier, folks still rushing off the gangways at 10 and 11 a.m. - security & check-in counters still closed.   

 

Otherwise, book a later train if prices aren't much different, enjoy a leisure morning & sit-down hot breakfast onboard, then watch the herd rushing toward the gate - and go easy to make your way over to NYP for the trip home.  

[navybankerteacher]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Packing light, able to do the early walk-off the ship (and to stand in line to wait for the ship to be cleared by local officials) with all the luggage, and/or having some sort of priority status to early disembark (escorted to the gangway/into the cruise terminal) and using porter services once inside ... all these help; once, the ship is able to dock and get the process going.  

 

Is it on the weekend, a mid-sized ship vs. mega-ship (NCL ??) ... we had been on dozens+ sailing at MCT, returning early, super early, just in time and luckily, slightly delayed once.  But, we've been there waiting to embarked and watched plenty of dramas at the pier, folks still rushing off the gangways at 10 and 11 a.m. - security & check-in counters still closed.   

 

Otherwise, book a later train if prices aren't much different, enjoy a leisure morning & sit-down hot breakfast onboard, then watch the herd rushing toward the gate - and go easy to make your way over to NYP for the trip home.  

 Good advice - why get involved in an unnecessary race.   Most destinations from NY Penn Station are served by many trains.  Book well in advance and save money and take it easy getting back to real life. 

 

Getting a taxi, or meeting a ride,at MCT can be a real hassle — the west side of Manhattan does not lend itself to smooth handling of a couple thousand people rushing off a cruise ship.

[princeton123211]

13 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Getting a taxi, or meeting a ride,at MCT can be a real hassle — the west side of Manhattan does not lend itself to smooth handling of a couple thousand people rushing off a cruise ship.

I agree that it doesn't, but those of us who availed ourselves of Uber/Lyft got away about 20-30 minutes faster than those waiting in the taxi line. Not many taxis show up early morning on the weekends. 

[navybankerteacher]

57 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

I agree that it doesn't, but those of us who availed ourselves of Uber/Lyft got away about 20-30 minutes faster than those waiting in the taxi line. Not many taxis show up early morning on the weekends. 

Absolutely - whatever small increase in Uber’s or Lyft’s cost over taxi fare is certainly worth the time saved by: quicker availability, pinpointing pick-up location, and avoiding the occasional “taxi pirate” who jumps in from the street side as you are getting in on the curb side.