KerryT

Thanks for your reply and advice.

Hi

I am planning on booking Dial 7 Car service to pick me up on Sunday 25th February 2018 from my hotel Hilton Garden in Times Square to arrive at Cape Liberty does anyone know if the port terminal allows the driver to drop me of directly to the loading dock for the ship. Also does anyone know how long it will take to travel there so I can book the service on their website. I have booked my arrival appointment with RC for 11am-11.30am so Ideally want to aim to arrive at the ship for 11am so need to know what time to book the driver to pick me up at the hotel.

Thanks for the advice will definitely give it a go and download the app.

Thanks. Only sea days are coming up on the planner for my cruises. So booked day 2 for I fly and day 3 for North Star and hope weather is okay. First time on Anthem so want to try both.

WEATHER

Can anyone tell what the weather would be like on day 2 and day 3 on 12 night Southern Caribbean cruise on Anthem of the Seas departing on 25/2/18 from Bayonne ? Temperature and the likely weather conditions.

Looking to book North Star and IFly and wonder if either would possibly be cancelled if weather not good.If day 10 or 11 are better options.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks. We are arriving 3 days before the cruise so we do have time to see a lot of New York before we get on the ship.

That's why I was wondering what you covered on the tour so I could miss that out and see on the tour before going to JFK.

I thought tour best to fill time and kill 2 birds with a bit of sightseeing and transfer to the airport for the price.

Was worth doing then to kill time before going to the airport ?

I asked about RC Disembark cruise of NY to JFK airport. Did you get on a different bus to those going to JFK Airport ?

We are flying at 6pm to the UK so if we got there at 2pm that would be good as we need to get there 3 hours before so we have plenty of time to get through security.

Besides getting off near 9/11 memorial did you stop and get off anywhere else and if so where and for how long ?

Thanks

BOGO deal is still showing under my cruise planner Anthem of the seas for Feb.2018 so may be it is only selected cruises it is offered on.

BOGO 2 NIGHT DINING.- This is available now if you go into your Cruise planner under Dining.

Just booked this great offer it is for night 1 & 2 and it was £23.10pp not sure what it would be in dollars

Works out £11.55 per restaurant for each meal for night 1 & 2.

We have 2 spinner suitcases and 2 spinner cabin bags so they were won't fit on top. If we can fit all in suitcases we may not need to take

2 cabin cases and get away just taking 1. Have to have enough clothes for cold weather in NY and warm Caribbean. .

Just checked cruise planner and see the 4 hour tour with transfer to JFK. That may be our best option. It says it is okay for international flights after 4.30pm and domestic flights departing after 3.30 pm. So as long as we arrive at JFK 3pm that'll give us recommend 3 hours before departure. It starts 9.30 am so wonder if you're bag pick up time for getting off ship would be later if you book tour.

Thank you both for all your advice and the information has been really helpful.

Kerry

Thank you both for the detailed information and advice. Alot to take in and look at. Great knowledge and much appreciated.

Can I ask as we will have 2 suitcases and 2 pieces of cabin sized luggage to take on public transport my husband wonders if it would be better to book private transport from the hotel to take us to Cape Liberty and into the port on Sunday 25th Feb. Do you know how much this may cost and would it be someone like dial 7 who you would book with,would they be able to take you into the port ? or any other recommendations.

Same coming from the Port on Friday 9th March is it an option to book in advance or call company as Dial 7 to take us back to New York to store luggage. Would this be an option and how much would it cost ?

Taking in everything you have said and how busy it will be on a Friday and how long it will take if we took public transport quickest and easiest route will be to take a car with Dial 7 or cartmel to JFK to catch our flight home. I was planning of getting to the airport by 2pm.

Many Thanks

Kerry

Advice for travelling from JFK to Hotel in Times Square and then from Hotel to Cape Liberty. After cruise to centre New York and luggage store before flight back to JFK

Looking for advice after reading lots on here and looking on various webpages can anyone advise my best options.

My husband and I are flying to JFK New York (our first time) on Thursday 22nd Feb 2018 landing at 13.15pm from UK.

So after a long flight wondering whether best option is to book in advance online for private car such as Dial 7 or any other recommendations welcome to our hotel the Hilton Garden In Tiimes Sq 790 8th Avenue.

Then on Sunday 25th Feb. we have to get from the Hotel to Cape Liberty to meet ship RC Anthem for a cruise.

I can see that the Port Authority Bus Terminal 625 8th Avenue is a short walk from the hotel. Would my best option be to walk to Port Authority Bus Terminal and get a bus as have suitcases I think I saw 119 bus goes to Bayonne and then call a local taxi to get into the port to the ship?

Then on 9th March the ship docks at 6am and we will probably be off the ship by 8.30am. Our Flight from JFK is not until 17.55 so we thought we could store luggage and have about 5 hours sightseeing. Read about Schwartztravel.com ?

Anyone used or advise on them and/or any other luggage store. I was wondering if I should get same bus back to Times Square and store luggage and spend a few hours until have to then get to JFK for flight home. Any advice on getting back from here to JFK.

So much to research for New York, Cruise I have spent lots of time in front of the computer so any advice or pointers on my ideas would be greatly appreciated. Trying to get organised in plenty of time.

Thanks

Kerry

Thanks for the tip

Thanks for the information you have been very helpful. I will book the others as well.

Kerry

Thanks. The offer is for for night one an two. My understanding is you get allocated the restaurant for each night but can change the venue once on-board if available. We enjoyed Chops Grille when on BOS last year and Wonderland gets good feedback so would like to try.

Did you go to any of these shows? I assume they are good if you have to pre- book them. How does it work when you book are you allocated a ticket number for the date and time. Never had to book for shows before just turn up to the ones we like the sound of.

Kerry

We did a 12 night and the shows are repeated a few times. I know that WWRY was done once at 2 pm. It is best to book shows first, then dining.

Thanks. I know what you're saying, makes sense. Just RC has an offer on cruise planner for speciality dining BOGO for 30 dollars . You get 2 speciality restaurants for good price 30 dollars pp for the first 2 nights . you just have to pick time. Not sure how long offer will be available. If we book a dining time can it be changed later once shows are on cruise planner to book if they clash. Do the these shows get shown twice nightly ? Do you remember what was on first 2 nights ? Thanks Kerry

Booked on Anthem of the Seas 12 night Caribbean cruise for Feb 2018 and read it is advised to pre-book on cruise planner shows for WWRY & Spectrum & The Gift when they become available. Anyone know who has been on this cruise before what days and times any of these 3 shows are please ? Want an idea so can book speciality restaurants.

Thanks Kerry

I am on this cruise next month and unlike so many others, don't have a drinks package included. I have had drinks packages before on other cruise lines and found them worthwhile. However, as we only have two sea days, not sure about purchasing it this time. It was really interesting to read Peter's message about the added taxes. So my dilemma is ... purchase drinks as we go (I do like a cocktail or two, champagne and we will also be drinking lots of water), purchase classic package online prior to sailing (in Australian dollars) or purchase classic package when we board and hope for a good deal, albeit the additional taxes and currency conversion etc. I'd really appreciate any advice. It's a lot of money for two people but I don't want to have any regrets. Thanks so much. Sue

Hi

We have just returned from cruise on 10 day Italy and Greek Isles Celebrity Reflection on Monday. We did not buy a drinks package as we do not drink enough to justify the price per person they charge. So I would say it depends on how much you drink to get your moneys worth. We were off the ship every port day and even when back on board the Ocean view Cafe is open 24 hours for teas, coffee except speciality ones, cold water and fruit juices and ice for free. There are other drink stations dotted around we used the master grill station on deck 14 when sunbathing. An example on prices I used to buy a cocktail at $11 and my husband would get a Heineken at $7 and with add ons it came to $22. But it does depend on what you drink and how much. They heavily push the drink packages in the first few days and even if you have the classic package they ask if you want to upgrade to the premium one as a few fellow CC we met up with who had a free classic drinks package in with their booking upgraded to this for an extra $11 per day which they thought benefited them for speciality coffees and other wines,spirits, cocktails not included on the classic package price limit that they drank.

Hope this helps

Kerry

Hi Pete

Thanks for your reply. We have already booked for select dining times each night at around 8pm ahead of the cruise via my

celebrity online account so if we want to buy a 3 speciality dining package can you only book this online before the cruise or is this available once on board. If you book online before can you only book times and restaurants once on board.

Thanks

Kerry

Hi Pete,

Just a question on dining packages as wondering whether to purchase before sailing or wait till onboard and see if they have any offers. There is a 3 dining speciality package but if you just wanted to book adhoc once on board one or two nights at a speciality restaurant were they offering any discounts. Any advice or recommendations on this and what would be best option ?

Thanks

Kerry

Hi Pete

Okay thanks.

We're the same on shows pick and choose.

Look forward to more of your posts.

Thanks

Kerry

Hi Pete

Thanks for the photos and all the very useful information you have shared with us. Great as I am going on the one departing next week 9th June.

Do you have any copies of the daily compass or any information on the shows and times.

Look forward to more of your blog. Only down the motorway from you in Liverpool.

Thanks

Kerry