Coastaljen

We are renting a car in SC one way to Staten Island. Then we will take the ferries to Brooklyn and stay at The Lodge. Then we do the reverse on the way back. My son wasn’t willing to fly, I love driving, and it was much cheaper than leaving my car for five weeks at the terminal. We are driving in late May and picking up the car rental July 3 to come back.

I used to cruise a lot and always took cheapest cabin I could get. I wanted to get to EU without a plane, so we are taking the QM2 in late May and taking another one back to the US in late June. It is a cheap inside cabin. I just wanted to get to Europe. I wasn't picky where. My other option was Carnival, and it took twice as long, but it did leave Miami.. which I preferred. However, I have no desire to go on Carnival so even if it was the same amount of time i probably wouldn't have tried it. I tried to find every possible option. I booked both in late March I believe.

I’d be talking leaving about the time they returned but still… I’ll see if there is a Princess or Celebrity leaving about May 25. I’d like at least a couple weeks and hopefully a total of three to be gone. That puts me into mid June. At the same time I believe my friend whose family is going for a graduation present will not be able to go until June. I had never thought of typhoons. When we did our seven week trip one summer, Moab was absolutely miserable. Many said it wouldn’t be that bad, but it was. It was the worst part of the trip. Maybe I can take the heat into consideration when planning what we do, and it will help. I’m 60s. I hate to wait until almost 70 to go. I really want to experience the culture and food.

We can leave late May like we are leaving on a trip next summer. That’s a little better.

The typhoons worry me more than the heat. My son had a classmate visit Japan this summer and was interested in going someday. I knew another friend who went also. Both took their families in June. Neither did cruises. I planned to do precruise land and then the cruise. A colleague is taking their son next summer for his graduation present. The other option is I’ll wait seven years and if I’m still able to travel like this I’ll go then. I was watching for the Japan cruises, so I guess the good news is I’m a little less excited now for them to be released.

I was watching for the summer 2027 cruises to be listed for Princess and Celebrity. I just don't know about the word "brutal", but summer is the only time of the year I can go unless I wait another seven years. I had heard it was incredibly hot, so I will have to decide.

It would have to be a chunk for me to do it. I booked with a website I used to use a lot. I did see a significant drop (hundreds) and rebooked both of my transatlantic cruises for next summer. They did let me keep my onboard credit but said I had to give up the wine that is in the room when I get on. I said, that is fine. I believe it was a Memorial Day Sale. I told her I doubted it would drop again, and she said you never know. Keep Watching. I may check every month or so. It was a case where I saw it was low one night online when I checked (and the travel agency was closed), but then it went back up. Within about a week or so it dropped to that price again during that Memorial Day Sale. I have not really watched it since.

I'm deciding whether it is worth it too, but I have almost a year (unfortunately ha ha) until I sail with my son. He has one jacket he wore for homecoming court. Unfortunately, I said pick out which one you want. He chose a tan jacket.. kind of woven.. that he wore with tan dress pants. I am going to wait and see if I have a need to buy him a dark jacket this year. I am leaning toward he will choose not to dress up those nights even if I do buy one, and it will be a waste. If we do pack a jacket, I am planning to put the dress clothes in a small carry on and pay the $65 to Cunard so that they take and store it so we don't have to drag it around until it is time for our ship to return to NYC.

I looked today and I lean toward keeping it. I cruised and traveled solo prior to adopting my now teen. We just came back from a six week road trip last week. He loves surprises so he had no idea of my plans for that trip. Same goes for next year. He probably won’t know unless someone says something at check in.

I was so excited to have booked the Lodge for next year the night before the cruise. Darn.

I tried to use tickets on my phone years ago at a tourist place called Meow Wolf. I couldn’t get them to pull up. I had to get out of line to keep trying. I always printed tickets after that. Never again. I’m printing the ETA for Great Britain too and saving proof on my phone. I’m so glad the need for proof of the ETA was discussed on a forum too.

Those photos make me so excited for the trip, and I have almost a year. I’m ready for the ferry.

Ok. Yes I was confused on the one leaving Staten Island. I’ve corrected my notes. I’m not even looking for battery park. I’m deleting all references to it. I’m taking a free ferry from Staten Island (orange and black) to pier 11 and then buying tickets on the NYC (blue and white one) to go to Red Hook. we have two 21-inch two wheel suitcases and each a backpack. I assume neither has an issue with bringing suitcases.

Sorry I’m not clear. I meant when I take the free ferry from Staten Island I get off at a stop called “Battery Park”.

I just updated my itinerary where I keep all my details for the trip. Thanks. That’s good to know. The free ferry to “Battery Park” is correct. Right? That’s where it should say it’s going.

Ok. Someone I know in Manhattan mentioned the ferry was free. She came up with the idea of dropping the car off on Staten Island because I’m not keen on driving in large cities. She had said to take a ferry to Battery Park from Staten Island and walk to Wall Street. From there take a ferry to Red Hook. My hotel is in Red Hook walking distance to the boat. It sounds like this works. The only thing is I just need to buy a ticket from Battery Park to Red Hook. That’s good to know. I wasn’t aware of that.

OK I booked a cruise out of NYC and then back to NYC in summer 2026. I just added the ferry app when I read this thread. So I just buy four $4.50 passes for my son and I a few days prior to take the ferry from Staten Island (where I will be dropping off a rental car I reserved). They will scan two when we get on the ferry to go to Wall Street. Then they will scan the last two when from Wall Street ferry to Red Hook where I booked a hotel for next May that is walking distance from the pier? It looks like it is good for 90 days so I could buy the pack of 10 so I would have them for the return trip ready to scan and save money. We will not have a lot of luggage. I didn't realize that there was an app to buy tickets until this thread. We return on July 3, 2026. I did just Google to see that it runs from early in the morning until late at night.

I am sitting here stalking the Princess website to see when they put their MayJune 2027 Japan cruises out. I hope they have some longer ones again that summer.

These all sound like great ideas. I’m not going to worry. It did dawn on me my printer at home doesn’t print in color, and you need color printing, but I’ll just get a friend to print them or go to a store like Kinkos or something. It’s a great printer that costs an arm and a leg for each color cartridge to be printed, and you have to buy them individually. The last five years or so I’ve managed without color.

So the boarding passes are available three weeks in advance, and that is the only thing I would need to print off that we will receive prior to boarding? I am assuming luggage tags are given at the same time. We will be on QM2 to Southampton and then spend three weeks over there and then return on the QM2 to NYC. The return is my issue so I opened this thread, but it sounds like as long as I can find somewhere to print them for me during the three weeks of travel over there, I should be ready to board. I hope this makes sense. We don't leave until a year from next week, but the printing issue hit me after I booked both cruises. It has been too long since I went on a cruise.

We don’t sail for a year. I’m just excited and already planning. Leaving on a seven night to Southampton May 2026 and then returning the end of June on QM2.

This is a great thread. I’ll look at the kid’s menu posted. He’ll be 16 next year by the time we sail. He’s an old soul, but is picky. I’m excited for the kid’s menu. I really didn’t want to have to eat at the buffet at night so I can eat with him. I saw sauces, etc and was hoping we could get something just “plain” if nothing else. This may be easier than our traditional road trip traveling because he’s outgrown kid menus due to age at most restaurants. I’ve never taken him on a cruise or out of the country in part due to his being super adventurous in the eating department. I’m so excited for this cruise now.

I’ve booked the QM2, and I have a 15 year old who may be living at the buffet for dinner. We shall see. He’s a picky eater.