What to do in New York before boarding ship.

[hinkley]

We are booked on NCL Jewel Of The Seas Oct 10th, our plane arrives at JFK at 5 :Am any suggestions what to do until we are able to board ship at 1:PM ?.

Has anyone done a fall cruise with NCL? did you have to wait until 1:PM to board.? also any info on transport with luggage from JFK? Would appreciate any input re the cruise. .

[Fabulous2B50]

Trying to do any sightseeing with all of your luggage will prove very difficult. I would try to find out how early you can drop your luggage off at the port, and then try to get some sightseeing in. If it is a clear day, try a Circle Line harbor tour around New York harbor, or go see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, or if you are not determined to board by 1pm, try to do the Empire State Building, and to save time, you can by your tickets online and save some of the wait time by not waiting to buy your ticket. They screen everyone so you will not be permitted to take luggage with you up to the Observation Deck. If I had that much time in NYC before the ship sails, I would rather spend the morning and afternoon seeing as much of NYC as I could. I was just there in March with my daughter and we spent 5 days there and barely scratched the surface. If the weather is bad the day you arrive, go to any of the wonderful museums to kill some time. It's hard to not have a great time in NYC.

[land lover]

What ever you do allow time NYC is a busy place, lol when we went on princess last oct. it took us 1 hour to get to the terminal from our hotel 10 minutes away

...they had blocked all the streets for a bike race.....lines are long everywhere.

If you decide on any escorted or hop on bus tour.....they are always late....so much action in the city...sometimes it is :) better to walk.....good luck

[Leosmom]

I am guessing the Jewel leaves around 5 P.M. ? If so, I wouldn't go too far from the pier after checking in your luggage. I'm not sure but l would think the porters would take your luggage at the earliest 9 or 10 a.m.???....that would leave you only 3 or 4 hours before you would have to board. As land lover says, NYC is a busy place and depending on what is going on getting from one place to another takes time. I wouldn't try going as far away as the Statue of Liberty.

The NYC pier is around 49th St. and the Circle Line (42nd St.) and battleships - The Intrepid - are a short walk away right along the waterfront. There is also a McDonalds' at the Intrepid pier. You could easily spend 2 -3 hours there.

I also recall reading on these boards somewhere that Penn Station may have some

lockers where you might possibly be able to leave your luggage? Not sure, but try

researching that...if i can find the information, I'll post again,

Good luck!

[george@sea]

I also recall reading on these boards somewhere that Penn Station may have some lockers where you might possibly be able to leave your luggage?

 

There are no Lockers @ Penn Station. There is a luggage check-in though, but you'd need a train ticket to check the bags.

[hinkley]

There are no Lockers @ Penn Station. There is a luggage check-in though, but you'd need a train ticket to check the bags.

Thanks everyone, for the info .

[Jane110]

If you can get your luggage on the ship and then have a few hours, I would head to Central Park, starting on 59th Street and 5th Ave. Look around that area - the Plaza Hotel - the 5th Ave stores.

 

Or you could go to the newly re-opened Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) on 53rd Street between 5th & 6th Ave's. Enjoy lunch there too. Don't come to one of the food capitals of the world and eat at Macdonalds. From there, if traffic is heavy, you could walk back to the ship in about 20 minutes.

If time allows, go to Rockefeller Center on 50th Street and 5th Ave. St Patricks Cathedral is right across the street. If you go undergound at Rockefeller Center there are ton's on inexpensive casual restaurants on the mezzanine concourse. Maybe take one of the NBC tours. Ask any guard in the area and they'll give you the info.

 

I agree that with a limited amount of time, you probably shouldn't go to the east side or too far downtown. Midtown and anything on 5th Ave or west is just fine because you can always do like us NYer's and "hoof it"!

 

Jane

[madelinerose]

Oh, absolutely walk! DH and I walk so much in NY that all of a sudden we realize we've walked 20 blocks and it seems like 5 minutes has passed! Great way to lose some pounds from visiting all those fabulous restaurants!

 

Also, you're so dead tired that you get a great night's sleep - lol! ;)

 

What ever you do allow time NYC is a busy place, lol when we went on princess last oct. it took us 1 hour to get to the terminal from our hotel 10 minutes away

...they had blocked all the streets for a bike race.....lines are long everywhere.

If you decide on any escorted or hop on bus tour.....they are always late....so much action in the city...sometimes it is :) better to walk.....good luck