What's easier- parking at Port Liberty or taking taxi into port from hotel?

[nkwoman]

Ok, here's the deal. This is not about cost as it is about less stress. We are driving to a hotel near the airport the day before our cruise. We can park there for the cruise duration, and take a taxi in, or just drive into the port that morning and park ourselves. I'm really not into taking a hotel shuttle.

 

For those experienced cruisers at Cape Liberty- what would you do or have you done?

 

Also, for planning purposes, what is the approx. cost of a taxi from a Newark airport area hotel and the Cape Liberty port?

 

Thank you.

 

Nancy

[138east]

Ok, here's the deal. This is not about cost as it is about less stress. We are driving to a hotel near the airport the day before our cruise. We can park there for the cruise duration, and take a taxi in, or just drive into the port that morning and park ourselves. I'm really not into taking a hotel shuttle.

 

For those experienced cruisers at Cape Liberty- what would you do or have you done?

 

Also, for planning purposes, what is the approx. cost of a taxi from a Newark airport area hotel and the Cape Liberty port?

 

Thank you.

 

Nancy

 

Personally, I'd park at the port, but I understand that that might not be for everyone.

 

If you are not going to park at the port, you want to prearrange a car service like dial7 or Carmellimo to take you both ways. This costs $55-60 each way.

 

My questions to you are which of the hotels are you staying at and where are you driving in from?

 

If I were really into reducing stress, I would be staying about an hour away in a hotel in a nice suburban area and driving the last distance on the morning of the cruise. This completely avoids driving the roads around Newark Aurport trying to find a hotel.

 

Do you have the driving instructions from exit 14A into the port?

[d-train]

We parked at the port - very easy and reasonable cost.

Wouldn't do it any other way actually.

[markeb]

I would second Carol. We stayed in the Edison area last summer, and had a very smooth drive in the morning of the cruise. Far enough out that there was no charge for parking, but only about an hour in that morning, AND we avoided the entire EWR area.

 

Which way are you driving from?

[138east]

The OP has posted that they are from NE PA, which probably means coming in I80. So the Parsipanny area is a good place to look for a hotel. They are also sailing on a Sunday, so the drive from Parsipanny to the port would be very easy.

 

The hotels in Parsipanny would be less expensive and in a much more comfortable area. There are plenty of name brand hotels off I80 that will be much nicer than their counterparts at EWR.

[markeb]

The OP has posted that they are from NE PA, which probably means coming in I80. So the Parsipanny area is a good place to look for a hotel. They are also sailing on a Sunday, so the drive from Parsipanny to the port would be very easy.

 

The hotels in Parsipanny would be less expensive and in a much more comfortable area. There are plenty of name brand hotels off I80 that will be much nicer than their counterparts at EWR.

 

Missed the PA direction. And I was just using Edison as an example; only applied to me coming from the south, obviously, but an example that staying away from the airport can be a more relaxing experience!

 

We also enjoyed being able to get in the car and on the road on return!

[138east]

Missed the PA direction. And I was just using Edison as an example; only applied to me coming from the south, obviously, but an example that staying away from the airport can be a more relaxing experience!

 

We also enjoyed being able to get in the car and on the road on return!

 

Don't feel bad markeb - you didn't "miss" it. I had to look around on the boards to find it. Edison is a very good example for folks coming from the south.

[nkwoman]

Good point I hadn't thought about. Yes we are coming in from the Scranton area. Think I will look at a hotel further out. We are reserved for Springhill Suites .

Edited June 11, 2015 by nkwoman

[138east]

Good point I hadn't thought about. Yes we are coming in from the Scranton area. Think I will look at a hotel further out. We are reserved for Springhill Suites .

 

Springhill Suites charges $12 parking. It offers free breakfast but has no restaurant. It is in an isolated enclave on the north side of the airport with the Courtyard Newark and Fairfield Inn. The Courtyard has a restaurant. If you don't eat there, there are limited choices in the area (primarily other hotels) and it can be tricky navigating the area to get to other properties. It's a nice hotel, but it does have these limitations. If you miss the turn into the hotel, it can be tricky finding your way back.

 

Here are the directions into the port from exit 14A.

 

At exit 14A please follow these directions. Others have followed them successfully. The signage is poor. There are lots of choices and you have to make a quick decision as to where you are going. For a first timer there's not time to stop and try to spot the correct little sign and I'm not sure the names of all the streets are clearly marked. GPS is not 100% reliable in this area.

 

The ramp is straight across the toll plaza. Here's a video. No real street signs.

 

After you pay your toll you go straight across the toll plaza and get on a 2 lane ramp that goes up and curves left. This is hard to miss. On the ramp you stay on the right and make the first right, stay to the right and make another right. You will come to the light at route 440 where you will make a left, stay left, and make a left at the first light onto Goldsborough Drive. Route 440 is a four lane divided highway. You can only turn left at a traffic light - going south the first light is now at Goldsborough Drive. The left turn into the port used to be at Port Terminal Blvd (and it still is coming the other way), but they shut down that turn and made Goldsborough Drive the main port access road coming from the north. Goldsborough Drive will merge with Port Terminal Blvd. You will be able to see the ship and you just follow the crowd about 2 miles out to the ship.

[nkwoman]

That video and those directions make me think I'm better off taking a taxi from Springhill Suites. We reserved the cruise package, which allows for parking for the duration of the cruise at a good price. Not worried about the meal situation, since we'd be driving in late afternoon and grabbing something to eat before arrival the night before. We are a party of 5 and would need to get a taxi to take us to the port, and then back to the hotel after. Guess I will have to think about it. We were on an organized trip a few years back and I now recall our bus driver getting lost on the way to the port in Bayonne. I'd feel more comfortable if I was familiar with the area or done it before.

[138east]

Been there, done that. I have also been on a bus where the driver had no clue. I will be doing it this Sat and will report back.

[nkwoman]

Enjoy your cruise and yes, please report back. :)

[bballmom21]

138 East: We are traveling from NH and would like to stay somewhat close to cape liberty pier and then drive in the next morning. Could you suggest an area as we aren't familiar. Would hotels in parsipanny be on our rt? Thanks for your help. Our cruise leaves on a thurs if that make a difference. Thanks in advance.

Edited June 13, 2015 by bballmom21

[138east]

138 East: We are traveling from NH and would like to stay somewhat close to cape liberty pier and then drive in the next morning. Could you suggest an area as we aren't familiar. Would hotels in parsipanny be on our rt? Thanks for your help. Our cruise leaves on a thurs if that make a difference. Thanks in advance.

 

Unfortunately there aren't as many choices coming from NH. Parsipanny is not on your direct route. What is your budget? Your main choices are the Stamford CT area, Secaucus, or Newark Airport.