Manhattan cruiseport

[4summer]

My husband & I are looking at taking a cruise on the Venezia 5/27 - 6/6. We will need to fly in, probably into LaGuardia. Have to be honest, I'm a little intimidated leaving out of NYC since it has been at least 40 years since I've been there. We usually drive to our cruise ports but NYC is too far for us. We are trying to decide between flying in late (can we spend the night at the airport?) vs flying in on the morning of the cruise, arriving around 10am. If we arrive in the morning, what are our best options for getting to the cruise port in a timely manner. And what time would we need to get there by, so as not to miss the departure? What have others done in similar circumstances.

 

 

[jsglow]

Welcome to CC. You might consider doing some reading in the East Coast Departures section. I'd absolutely fly the night before. We're doing that in a month and will be staying near Madison Square Garden. I suspect we will cab to the hotel and then to the port in the morning. Planning to land at LGA at 10a is one canceled flight from missing the cruise.

[mjkacmom]

Ask these questions on the east coast departures board. There are hotels near LaGuardia but I don’t know anything about them, you can take a taxi or ride share to the cruise terminal. I think you want to be checked in 2 hours before sailing.

[bar1068]

We just booked this same sailing yesterday, I'm thinking you'll get a good number of replies suggesting not flying in the same day, something I'd agree with also. While we could drive, we'll probably take Amtrak to Penn Station and taxi or ride share to a hotel at least one day before the cruise. Another airport to consider is Newark New Jersey. While I can't say for sure, I've heard it could be a more efficient ride to the cruise port than LaGuardia, but I've no idea.

 

Here's a review of someone who recently sailed on the Venezia, that along with the East Coast Departures forum could provide some useful info.

 

 

[stobe1]

I am an airline pilot and let me strongly advise you to NOT fly into LGA (or JFK/EWR). While LGA itself has been vastly improved facilities-wise over the years with a brand new terminal, the airspace has not been. NYC airspace is some of the most congested in the world with 4 busy airports all within a stone's throw of each other, with the 4th being PHL.

 

NYC airports are very delay/cancellation prone. Probably the only other airport that is bad or worse about delays is SFO, due to its closely spaced parallel and intersecting runways. When the weather goes down, ATC has to start spacing planes further apart when pilots have to start flying instrument approaches and cannot do a visual apporach to the airport or maintain visual separation with the preceeding aircraft. There is only so much airspace, so they have to start delaying and cancelling flights otherwise it becomes gridlock and nothing moves at all. And let me say that it doesn't take much weather to clog things up. It doesn't even have to be at the airport. If there are thunderstorms 50 miles away blocking the arrival corridors into NYC, it will cause delays and cancellations. It WILL be weather related and the airline will cite weather as the cause, even though the weather is 50 miles away. It always leaves passengers wondering "what weather? Its a beautiful day here". And accuse the airline of lying about it. Well again, its the storms 50 to 100 miles away causing the disruption on the arrival or departure routes.

 

All of these airports have what we pilots joke as the 1-2-3 rule.  1 cloud, 2 airplanes, 3 hour delay.

 

Fly in the day prior. Enjoy the city. Have a good dinner at Carbone or Joe's Shanghai. There are literally hundreds of hotels beteen the airport and the cruise port. Just DON'T fly in the morning of. 

Edited February 22 by stobe1

[stobe1]

33 minutes ago, stobe1 said:

I am an airline pilot and let me strongly advise you to NOT fly into LGA (or JFK/EWR). While LGA itself has been vastly improved facilities-wise over the years with a brand new terminal, the airspace has not been. NYC airspace is some of the most congested in the world with 4 busy airports all within a stone's throw of each other, with the 4th being PHL.

 

NYC airports are very delay/cancellation prone. Probably the only other airport that is bad or worse about delays is SFO, due to its closely spaced parallel and intersecting runways. When the weather goes down, ATC has to start spacing planes further apart when pilots have to start flying instrument approaches and cannot do a visual apporach to the airport or maintain visual separation with the preceeding aircraft. There is only so much airspace, so they have to start delaying and cancelling flights otherwise it becomes gridlock and nothing moves at all. And let me say that it doesn't take much weather to clog things up. It doesn't even have to be at the airport. If there are thunderstorms 50 miles away blocking the arrival corridors into NYC, it will cause delays and cancellations. It WILL be weather related and the airline will cite weather as the cause, even though the weather is 50 miles away. It always leaves passengers wondering "what weather? Its a beautiful day here". And accuse the airline of lying about it. Well again, its the storms 50 to 100 miles away causing the disruption on the arrival or departure routes.

 

All of these airports have what we pilots joke as the 1-2-3 rule.  1 cloud, 2 airplanes, 3 hour delay.

 

Fly in the day prior. Enjoy the city. Have a good dinner at Carbone or Joe's Shanghai. There are literally hundreds of hotels beteen the airport and the cruise port. Just DON'T fly in the morning of. 

 

After reading my post I made a mistake and it was too late to edit it. What I meant to say in the first paragraph was DONT fly in to LGA the morning of. The way it reads makes it sound like I said don't fly in there at all. Sorry about that. 

 

Go a day or 2 prior if you can.

[jsglow]

I see that you're in Chicago. Our buddy flies the international routes for United from there.

[pe4all]

I second going into LGA  or JFK the day before.  Though not a pilot (native Long Islander here) we also have a saying: "if someone spits on the runway at JFK/LGA there will be a delay."

[stobe1]

23 minutes ago, jsglow said:

I see that you're in Chicago. Our buddy flies the international routes for United from there.

Yeah. I am here for 2 more years until my daughter graduates high school then I am out and moving to the Florida panhandle. I can't escape Illinois and the Chicago area fast enough. I don't like talking politics on message boards so I will just leave it there lol.

[jsglow]

We had our entire professional careers down there returning to our native Wisconsin in retirement. I here ya. Our buddy actually lives in SE WI and drives down to ORD. 

[Mike45LC]

I'm flying into JFK three days before the cruise, to give myself two full days of sightseeing before the cruise, and to avoid any stress of delayed and/or cancelled flights.  I've booked a Times Square hotel, which should be reasonably close to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

[PammyMouse]

We’re on this cruise too.  We come in Friday morning but chose EWR for the train and the price.

 

PM 

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, PammyMouse said:

We’re on this cruise too.  We come in Friday morning but chose EWR for the train and the price.

 

PM 

Good choice. Newark (EWR) is a much better airport to fly in and out of than JFK or La Guardia. JMHO

[carol louise]

I live on the West Side of Manhattan and almost always travel out of Newark. But I second the suggestion of flying in the day before, so it won’t matter so much which airport (LaGuardia, JFK, or Newark) you choose. And stay at a Manhattan hotel. That way your transfer to the terminal on embarkation day will a much shorter taxi ride than a taxi from any of the airports.

[notscb]

I'll not repeat what others have said, but instead focus on what to do once you arrive.

 

LGA is nice in that there's a free bus service that'll connect you to the subway system (which is always best IMHO) to get you anywhere you might want to go. I'd suggest riding the subway in to midtown and staying somewhere close by whatever sights you might want to see and then the day-of taking an uber to the terminal.

 

JFK has the airtran, but the ride is longer and costs money. The downside as well is that it transfers at Jamaica Station which is a longer ride inbound as well.

 

Alternatively, you could always book a nearby hotel with airport shuttle. From there, day of, uber/lyft/taxi to the cruise terminal.

Edited February 26 by notscb

[MJSailors]

The Op states that they feel intimidated about a NYC departure and it has been 40 years since being in the City. No way would I suggest getting into the City from either LGA or JFK

by subway.

Using a cab or car and driver -Carmel car service is one-is the safer way to get into the City.

I do agree with other posters thatOP should get into NYC at least a day before 

going non the cruise.

MJ.

 

[HappySails4U]

So we also always drive to the cruise ports, however in September 2023 we booked a trip on the Venezia sailing into Canada.  This was our first trip to NYC and I was majorly overwhelmed with the logistics and planning for the cruise.  We opted to fly into LaGuardia on Friday a.m. before the cruise departed on Saturday.  Our flight had no delays and arrived at LaGuardia on time.  We used ride share as transportation to the Comfort Inn Midtown (walkable to the port).  As nervous as I was to fly into LaGuardia, our experience could not have been any easier.  Since we arrived at the Comfort Inn so early, they put our luggage into storage so that we could begin exploring the city.

 

I also want to note that the morning we arrived back at the Manhattan cruise port the ship was early.  Walked across the street and contacted ride share.  We were in line at LGA at 8:30 a.m. and were able to have our flight time moved up.   Based on this experience we would for sure fly into 
LGA again.

[bar1068]

8 hours ago, HappySails4U said:

So we also always drive to the cruise ports, however in September 2023 we booked a trip on the Venezia sailing into Canada.  This was our first trip to NYC and I was majorly overwhelmed with the logistics and planning for the cruise.  We opted to fly into LaGuardia on Friday a.m. before the cruise departed on Saturday.  Our flight had no delays and arrived at LaGuardia on time.  We used ride share as transportation to the Comfort Inn Midtown (walkable to the port).  As nervous as I was to fly into LaGuardia, our experience could not have been any easier.  Since we arrived at the Comfort Inn so early, they put our luggage into storage so that we could begin exploring the city.

 

I also want to note that the morning we arrived back at the Manhattan cruise port the ship was early.  Walked across the street and contacted ride share.  We were in line at LGA at 8:30 a.m. and were able to have our flight time moved up.   Based on this experience we would for sure fly into 
LGA again.

 

How was that Comfort Inn, ok at least for a night or 2? We stayed at a Comfort Inn in Galveston for a cruise on Jubilee a couple of weeks ago...we were umm....not pleased with that one, but may consider this one for our Venezia cruise in Mayl

[Crusin Karen]

On 2/22/2024 at 3:57 PM, stobe1 said:

 

After reading my post I made a mistake and it was too late to edit it. What I meant to say in the first paragraph was DONT fly in to LGA the morning of. The way it reads makes it sound like I said don't fly in there at all. Sorry about that. 

 

Go a day or 2 prior if you can.

 

On 2/22/2024 at 5:28 PM, jsglow said:

I see that you're in Chicago. Our buddy flies the international routes for United from there.

BFF is captain with United flying international out of EWR!  

[MJSailors]

@bar1068 An alternative to the Comfort Inn is a Holiday Inn Express near the port. The rooms are small, but doable for an overnight stay.

You may want to check the web site though as we stayed there about ten years ago. 
MJ🙎🏻‍♀️

[HappySails4U]

5 hours ago, bar1068 said:

How was that Comfort Inn, ok at least for a night or 2?

The Midtown Comfort Inn met our needs for being clean and having a comfortable bed.  The king room was compact but we didn't need any additional space.  The front desk staff was helpful with directions and advice.  They offer complimentary breakfast in the lobby and that area is very small.   If wanting to have a seating space for breakfast I recommend getting in line as soon as it opens.  If not you may need to take your plate back to your room.

[Indiansbaseball]

I’m nervous, the Comfort Inn got pretty bad reviews. Anyone else have other ideas or recent experience? 
Thanks 

[Nitemare]

18 hours ago, Indiansbaseball said:

I’m nervous, the Comfort Inn got pretty bad reviews. Anyone else have other ideas or recent experience? 
Thanks 

What's your budget per night?  How many beds?  Exact dates?  What do you want to be close to?

[n2chocola8]

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