Best time to arrive to NYC cruise ship terminal?

We are going on the Breakaway in July. What is the best time to arrive at the cruise ship terminal in NYC? We would like to board as early as possible, and we aren't in the haven so we don't have priority boarding. We will be parking the car there for the week as well...DH will drop of me and the boys and go park, then meet us inside.

You need to get there before 11am to breeze right through x-ray machine and the Sail Card lines. Boarding starts at around 12pm whether or not you have priority (probably one of the most disorganized things about NYC /NCL port if you're not a suite guests). If you are not there before 11am, expect 2-3 hours wait; beforehand, its 10-30 minutes tops.

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We parked there and sailed 2 weeks ago. Arrived at 10:00 and were onboard by 11:20. If your husband drops you off he misses the parking garage entrance and will have to go past the terminal and turn around and re-enter. It really is very easy to just go up to the parking level all together, grab your luggage and get on the elevator. There are people there telling you where to go. Once off the elevator you check your luggage and then go in to check in. Very easy. ;)

Thank you, we will be sure to arrive nice and early! I think if we leave our house in Brooklyn around 9am, that will give us enough time to allow for traffic as well, just in case.

I didn't realize it's that easy to just park and bring the luggage down to the correct level. We have a lot with us...do they have a cart to put the luggage on to get to the elevator? I'm guessing no...so we might have to be dropped off first. We shall see.

I don't remember seeing carts on the parking level. Also, I remember seeing somewhere that they charge $35 if you drop off passengers/luggage!

We've always aimed to be at the terminal around 10-10:30, coming from NJ, for either our NCL or CCL cruises out of NYC. It usually gets us a reasonable line for check in and security (<30 min). Then we wait for a little while settling into the many rows of chairs until we are called to board. I don't think we've ever waited more than an hour, whether we had any priority boarding perks or not, and usually onboard before noon.

Thank you, we will be sure to arrive nice and early! I think if we leave our house in Brooklyn around 9am, that will give us enough time to allow for traffic as well, just in case.

 

I didn't realize it's that easy to just park and bring the luggage down to the correct level. We have a lot with us...do they have a cart to put the luggage on to get to the elevator? I'm guessing no...so we might have to be dropped off first. We shall see.

You probably won't be able to find a porter with a cart. Your husband can drop you off (no charge), but he might not be back for another half hour to join you. We managed to get our luggage down ourselves (5 kids, plus had cases of water).

You probably won't be able to find a porter with a cart. Your husband can drop you off (no charge), but he might not be back for another half hour to join you. We managed to get our luggage down ourselves (5 kids, plus had cases of water).

Yes, 20 minutes to half an hour sounds like about how long it took him in the past (last cruise was two years ago). I think we can manage with that.

When you enter the parking lot, your husband can drop you all off. That is right by the elevators. He can then park. Then you all can go down and drop off the luggage. Driving all around really makes no sense for him to get stuck in line and traffic. It really is very easy that way.

We will be sailing on the NCL Breakaway to Bermuda this summer. Since it will be our first NCL cruise would appreciate some tips. We are in the Haven, in a suite- what time are suite guests allowed to board? Is the Haven open as soon as we board? Interested in having dining and other arrangments made asap by the concierge staff. Can we make make our own reservations prior to the cruise?

Thanks.

before the ship leaves

before the ship leaves

Dee da Dee! Daha:)

We will be sailing on the NCL Breakaway to Bermuda this summer. Since it will be our first NCL cruise would appreciate some tips. We are in the Haven, in a suite- what time are suite guests allowed to board? Is the Haven open as soon as we board? Interested in having dining and other arrangments made asap by the concierge staff. Can we make make our own reservations prior to the cruise?

 

Thanks.

For most of your questions -Get to the port before 11am to avoid the long lines even for the Haven Guests. For your reservations, you can booked them 100 days before your cruise date via MyNCL due to being in Haven suite (90 days for everyone else).

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When you enter the parking lot, your husband can drop you all off. That is right by the elevators. He can then park. Then you all can go down and drop off the luggage. Driving all around really makes no sense for him to get stuck in line and traffic. It really is very easy that way.

They weren't letting folks drop off passengers/luggage by the elevator on our last cruise - DH had to go park.

For most of your questions -Get to the port before 11am to avoid the long lines even for the Haven Guests. For your reservations, you can booked them 100 days before your cruise date via MyNCL due to being in Haven suite (90 days for everyone else).

 

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Thank you so much for the helpful information.

If you park between 10 and 10:30 you will be in the mdr enjoying lunch by 12:30

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They weren't letting folks drop off passengers/luggage by the elevator on our last cruise - DH had to go park.

That's probably because of the line of cars backing up and the sniffing dogs stuff

Everyone has wheels on their luggage and most are packing light these days so really not a problem to park further down a bit and walk

Only the frail should need to be dropped off at the lower level

Otherwise wheeling luggage from car to elevator should not be an issue.

If it is for you just drop it with porters on lower level

Either way if you use the porters you are tipping regardless of at drop off or after the parking

We only do 21 inch wheel on and a tote so no giving our bags to anyone

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That's probably because of the line of cars backing up and the sniffing dogs stuff

 

Everyone has wheels on their luggage and most are packing light these days so really not a problem to pack down a bit and walk

 

Only the frail should need to be dropped off at the lower level

 

Otherwise wheeling luggage from car to elevator should not be an issue.

 

 

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This is not necessarily true. I have back and neck issues (so does my 65-year-old mother who will be cruising with us), but I don't consider myself frail at all, nor does my mother consider herself frail. However, I am very careful with the amount I carry and not all of our luggage is rolling. We also have an 8- and 10-year-old with us so more luggage and they're still kids and are limited as far as the amount they carry. So not all of us that have gotten dropped off on the lower level are frail or weak. We also bring a garment bag with us because we prefer to dress up each evening (cocktail dress for me and slacks with a polo for DH). Not on wheels.

And I have no issue tipping the porters on the lower level either. No one on this thread has complained about that.

That's probably because of the line of cars backing up and the sniffing dogs stuff

 

Everyone has wheels on their luggage and most are packing light these days so really not a problem to park further down a bit and walk

 

Only the frail should need to be dropped off at the lower level

 

Otherwise wheeling luggage from car to elevator should not be an issue.

 

If it is for you just drop it with porters on lower level

 

Either way if you use the porters you are tipping regardless of at drop off or after the parking

 

We only do 21 inch wheel on and a tote so no giving our bags to anyone

 

 

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Considering the cost of parking, we live in Nassau County Long Island, so actually a private car service will cost about the same as driving and paying tolls and parking- so we will probably take a car service. We have too much luggage. At least 2-3 large suitcases and two carry-ons. While some people do pack light- we do not. Does NCL give free laundry service to Haven guests?

I don't remember seeing carts on the parking level. Also, I remember seeing somewhere that they charge $35 if you drop off passengers/luggage!

It's $40 now and that would be if your ride who is not cruising with you wants to park and escort you into the terminal where they will only be able to enter say goodby and turn around and leave

If you ain't got the docs you ain't staying in the terminal. Lol

In which case the smart money says drop off luggage and pax on lower level get a porter if needed ( we only carry on so don't use porters) hug your cruising peeps goodby and just drive away. Lol

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We will be sailing on the NCL Breakaway to Bermuda this summer. Since it will be our first NCL cruise would appreciate some tips. We are in the Haven, in a suite- what time are suite guests allowed to board? Is the Haven open as soon as we board? Interested in having dining and other arrangments made asap by the concierge staff. Can we make make our own reservations prior to the cruise?

 

Thanks.

You have a separate check in area. They take you to a room and when there are a few they take you to your own reserved elevator straight to the co clergy desk in the haven. Then you can book what you like.

Alternatively reservation open online earlier than they do for all other guests and you can book and pay before you cruise. Or pay for the iconcierge phone app and book them on your phone, or on your room tv.

Considering the cost of parking, we live in Nassau County Long Island, so actually a private car service will cost about the same as driving and paying tolls and parking- so we will probably take a car service. We have too much luggage. At least 2-3 large suitcases and two carry-ons. While some people do pack light- we do not. Does NCL give free laundry service to Haven guests?

Lol. I book the cheapest insides!!!

We love to cruise frequently including the med so we get the cheap seats so I don't know about the haven

Just an FYI your car service will more than likely pick you up at 12 th and 48 th so you will be crossing 12 th with your luggage at debark

I think I recall porters with carts standing by the huge luggage piles for those that do not do self walk off ( which sounds like that might be you)

So you might get one to wheel your stuff to the sidewalk but you will still need to get it across the street unless if course you can get a driver to pick you up on the southbound side of 12 th but that us unlikely

Question? Did I miss something? Why would it be a problem to just drop off your luggage at the curbside with a porter at embark?

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If I've understood correctly, the Haven has its own NCL check in but has to go through normal port terminal security? This would mean that we should arrive around or before 11am to get ahead of the crowds?

If I've understood correctly, the Haven has its own NCL check in but has to go through normal port terminal security? This would mean that we should arrive around or before 11am to get ahead of the crowds?

Literally before 11am because as soon as its hits 11:01am, the line is going to swell with people thinking that they're going to make it for the 12pm boarding (that's what the 2-3 hour wait basically is). If you truly want to make it for the 12pm or earlier boarding, you need to be there on line at like around 10:30am - 11am and the x-ray / General Check-in (Sail Card) / Haven Suite will be like 10-30 minutes wait max. Seriously, get in before 11am or you will be waiting on line just to be x-rayed.

Thank you, we will be sure to arrive nice and early! I think if we leave our house in Brooklyn around 9am, that will give us enough time to allow for traffic as well, just in case.

 

I didn't realize it's that easy to just park and bring the luggage down to the correct level. We have a lot with us...do they have a cart to put the luggage on to get to the elevator? I'm guessing no...so we might have to be dropped off first. We shall see.

ONG do not leave at 9. I left at 10 and even with the marathon traffic last Sunday, I got there at 11 and waited until 1140 to hear Group 1 being called to board. I was group 7 and was called by 1150 and onboard in minutes. At 11 when we arrived at the pier, we spent 20 minutes getting our key card, dropping luggage. There is no 2-3 hour wait after 11 as all aboard is at 1, fire drill is at 230 and the ship leaves at 3.

There is absolutely no reason to be at the pier before 11.