MCT parking—drop off passengers first?

[Dorhead1230]

We have cruised out of Pier 88 numerous times but this will be the first time we park right at Pier 88. We’ll have our 4-year-old son and my 69-year-old mom (who gets around fine but does have arthritic feet) with us. Would it be better to drop them off first and then go park? How difficult is it to get down to the terminal entrance from the parking lot with all our luggage? Thanks in advance!

[njhorseman]

23 minutes ago, Dorhead1230 said:

We have cruised out of Pier 88 numerous times but this will be the first time we park right at Pier 88. We’ll have our 4-year-old son and my 69-year-old mom (who gets around fine but does have arthritic feet) with us. Would it be better to drop them off first and then go park? How difficult is it to get down to the terminal entrance from the parking lot with all our luggage? Thanks in advance!

You don't want to drop them off first at the check in level because you would then have to exit the cruise terminal, drive back north on 12th Ave. to 55th St. and reenter the cruise terminal complex.

Just drive directly up to the parking deck on the terminal roof and and after you're cleared by the security dog pull to the right, drop them as well as the luggage near the elevators, then park your car and walk back to where they're waiting. 

Often there are porters available in the parking lot who can take your luggage. If not just pile everyone and your luggage into the elevator and go down one floor to the check in level.

[Dorhead1230]

@njhorseman thank you! That’s exactly what I needed to know. Knowing we can unload near an elevator and only have to go right down to the terminal level is perfect. Will be even better if there happens to be a porter right there!

[mjkacmom]

For whatever reason they’ve never let us drop off passengers at the elevator and we’ve never lucked out with a porter, but it was still very easy with our 5 kids. Plenty of parking and not a far walk to the elevator/escalators.