GEM arriving back in NYC home port "on-time" today, not yet docked

[mking8288]

Will be off the Gem Sept 24 leaving jfk for London in the evening. We are planning to take the bus tour and wondering what time we will arrive at jfk, flight not until 18.30. What is the departure time from the pier please?

Generally speaking, those on NCL tours, including those using post-cruise airport transfer are among the first allowed off, at the same time as those using Express Self-Walkoff or +/- 30 minutes of that, same as guests in Haven & Priority Disembark/Platinum & Gold, etc.

 

They should be done with the touring of the city, mainly in & around Manhattan and arriving at JFK no later than 4 PM local time - which would give you approximately 2.5 hours to complete international check-in & luggage, etc. for your overseas departure.

 

The only caution is that that September week is United Nations General Assembly in session and the East Side of midtown Manhattan might be a heavier in traffic due to security closures, something that the bus driver/tour should be familiar with and bypassing - should not be a problem. For JFK dropoff, there are as many as 6 or 7 terminals, starting typically with T1 for many smaller int'l carriers, including LH, T2 and T3/4 for Delta & partners, T5 for Jetblue, T7 is United & BA, and T8 is AA & partners - depending on your carrier, allow maybe 10, 15 to 20 extra minutes in reaching your particular terminal.

 

Over at the Destination/East Coast Departure forum - there are Q&A and ideas for doing independent touring on your own, but storing luggage is always a challenge & travel time from midtown Manhattan can be a challenge for mid-Saturday afternoon as road/traffic & weather are unpredictable at best. Airport security screening by TSA & long lines being another "what if's"

[mking8288]

Hot & humid in New York, in the middle of another heat wave, late day thunderstorm has been popped up - a friend's 90 minutes, short-hop commuter flight out of LGA airport to Syracuse was grounded/delayed by 4 hours+ on Thursday afternoon due to FAA ground stops, held elsewhere.

 

GEM turning & docked this morning at her pier @MCT a little after 7 AM, AIS tracking data last night has the ship cruising at 15 knots off the shores of Atlantic City, NJ and ETA of 9:15 AM (5:15 AM Eastern Time) As of this moment, several taxis are seen lined up (pix #4) with no passengers on the walkway yet - so, cruisers are still inside the terminal, working their way thru CBP as the ship should be cleared & gangways down before 7:30 AM. Also, not seeing anyone from the live webcam feed that anyone is outside on street level along 12th Avenue. But, it is definitely early & much better than last week.

 

For those worried about making flight & ground transport connections, here are a few screenshots to help you think & plan - good luck & happy cruising.

Welcome home & safe travel to all.

 

Edited August 13, 2016 by mking8288
Images uploading - Tapatalk

[hbe]

My son just text us that they docked at 8:10

[conandrob240]

here we come!

[mking8288]

My son just text us that they docked at 8:10

Must be that caffeine addiction this morning or on Atlantic Time Zone, my bad on typo ?? or not fully awake - should've wrote (I did :confused:) 8 AM arrival and that ship should be cleared around 8:30 AM & not 7:30 AM earlier.

 

Safe journey home to those joining this heat wave and bon voygage to those sailing today. From live cams, cars on arrival level (#2) are tripled parked now, as they normally do - can see piles of luggage on the outside pavement - the turnaround is fully underway. Those with 10 AM trains today, out of NYP should be doable for those on the Express Walk-Off early enough ... not so sure for those with 11 or 11:30 AM domestic flights, too risky - depending on airport & operational status.

[easyboy]

Generally speaking, those on NCL tours, including those using post-cruise airport transfer are among the first allowed off, at the same time as those using Express Self-Walkoff or +/- 30 minutes of that, same as guests in Haven & Priority Disembark/Platinum & Gold, etc.

 

They should be done with the touring of the city, mainly in & around Manhattan and arriving at JFK no later than 4 PM local time - which would give you approximately 2.5 hours to complete international check-in & luggage, etc. for your overseas departure.

 

The only caution is that that September week is United Nations General Assembly in session and the East Side of midtown Manhattan might be a heavier in traffic due to security closures, something that the bus driver/tour should be familiar with and bypassing - should not be a problem. For JFK dropoff, there are as many as 6 or 7 terminals, starting typically with T1 for many smaller int'l carriers, including LH, T2 and T3/4 for Delta & partners, T5 for Jetblue, T7 is United & BA, and T8 is AA & partners - depending on your carrier, allow maybe 10, 15 to 20 extra minutes in reaching your particular terminal.

 

Over at the Destination/East Coast Departure forum - there are Q&A and ideas for doing independent touring on your own, but storing luggage is always a challenge & travel time from midtown Manhattan can be a challenge for mid-Saturday afternoon as road/traffic & weather are unpredictable at best. Airport security screening by TSA & long lines being another "what if's"

 

Hot & humid in New York, in the middle of another heat wave, late day thunderstorm has been popped up - a friend's 90 minutes, short-hop commuter flight out of LGA airport to Syracuse was grounded/delayed by 4 hours+ on Thursday afternoon due to FAA ground stops, held elsewhere.

 

GEM turning & docked this morning at her pier @MCT a little after 7 AM, AIS tracking data last night has the ship cruising at 15 knots off the shores of Atlantic City, NJ and ETA of 9:15 AM (5:15 AM Eastern Time) As of this moment, several taxis are seen lined up (pix #4) with no passengers on the walkway yet - so, cruisers are still inside the terminal, working their way thru CBP as the ship should be cleared & gangways down before 7:30 AM. Also, not seeing anyone from the live webcam feed that anyone is outside on street level along 12th Avenue. But, it is definitely early & much better than last week.

 

For those worried about making flight & ground transport connections, here are a few screenshots to help you think & plan - good luck & happy cruising.

Welcome home & safe travel to all.

Very helpful info. Thanks for posting.

[foxholes]

Thanks for the info, counting the days.

[mking8288]

BA this morning is early, almost at the pier now, like the GEM yesterday.

 

Rise & shine. Welcome home & safe travel.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Edited August 14, 2016 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Welcome home early to the GEM, although RCI's Anthem was extra early coming back doing 22 km coming up the coast, far ahead while GEM was leisurely at 15 km. Docking just around 7 AM, Express Walkoff should be coming seen anytime now on live webcam. Those sailing today, have a safe trip & happy cruising.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Edited August 20, 2016 by mking8288

[Letsgo 2]

Welcome home early to the GEM, although RCI's Anthem was extra early coming back doing 22 km coming up the coast, far ahead while GEM was leisurely at 15 km. Docking just around 7 AM, Express Walkoff should be coming seen anytime now on live webcam. Those sailing today, have a safe trip & happy cruising.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

 

I would be happy with coming back slowly, never in

a hurry to get back, but I guess others want to get

off at soon as they can.....not us!!

[mking8288]

I would be happy with coming back slowly, never in a hurry to get back, but I guess others want to get off at soon as they can.....not us!!

Ditto ... maybe for those with long train or bus connections to make, and early afternoon flights to catch, perhaps - let them go & stand on those long lines to get downstairs (not everybody know to use the porter services for unadvertised fast track)

 

Get a headache just looking at the lines outside on the pier - not so bad for the smaller ship, but for the Breakaway with 2 gangways merging, forgetaboutit. Security can haul us off after we vacate the stateroom by 8:30 AM, we go find a sweet spot to sit, relax & people watch the herd with their oversized luggage & trophy-sized shopping bags.

 

Outside, it's the "battle" for a yellow van-taxi with all the luggage - or to figure out which Dial7 or Carmel car service is ours, across on 12th Avenue ... easy parking on the rooftop was once just $140 for the entire week (in 2003)

 

Anthem pulled into Cape Liberty just after 3 AM EDT this morning - perhaps it was medical emergency that prompted the ship to run at 22 km yesterday back to port. Folks were, apparently, ready & getting off the ship as early as 6:30 AM ... OMG, let us sleep for another hour before going to breakfast in the MDR.

[mking8288]

Breakaway came into NY early before 6 AM today, passed SOL doing 8 knots & on the Hudson by 6:30 AM, slowly up the Hudson around 4 knots (per AIS data) and actually docked at 7:30 AM local time. Welcome back to home port on a wet morning. Express walk-off started around 8 as gangways should be down & ship cleared by then, starting to see folks across on 12th Avenue waiting for ground transportation now (edited: and lots of people waiting at 8:45 to get going.) Get home safely to all.

 

Those on the front of the lines with their own luggage could be outside on the Avenue in as little as 15 minutes (8:15 or so) so 10 AM Amtrak train out of Penn Station is "possible" but not if you are hundreds behind others (tip: use Porter Services). A chance of making 11 to 11:30 AM flight (maybe, depending on road/traffic & airport & security/check-in process for your departure) but still - not necessary for those flying out from LGA, 3 hours recommended arrival time is being suggested, not 2 hours (and - it's for domestic flights) - just making for tricky post-cruise planning on getting home ... good luck.

 

 

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Edited August 21, 2016 by mking8288

[mking8288]

GEM is home again, webcam is down, getting an error "Uh-Oh" message on website taking a vacation. Docked about 7:25 AM and Express Walkoff usually within half hour afterward. Came up near the coast off Atlantic City around midnight, made it to VZ Bridge by 6:15 but then slowly up the Hudson.

 

Get home safely for those disembarking the GEM and enjoy your cruise embarking later, might in a bumpy ride this week ... keeping eyes on the developing weather systems. ;)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Edited August 27, 2016 by mking8288

[Letsgo 2]

GEM is home again, webcam is down, getting an error "Uh-Oh" message on website taking a vacation. Docked about 7:25 AM and Express Walkoff usually within half hour afterward. Came up near the coast off Atlantic City around midnight, made it to VZ Bridge by 6:15 but then slowly up the Hudson.

 

Get home safely for those disembarking the GEM and enjoy your cruise embarking later, might in a bumpy ride this week ... keeping eyes on the developing weather systems. ;)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

 

Hmm, webcam is working just fine, watched her pulled

in this morning

Marion

[mking8288]

Breakaway was sailing a little faster last night around 18 knots compared to her typical run, it reached the Statue of Liberty around 6 AM local/NY time and was docked shortly after 7 AM, almost an hour earlier compared to last Sunday.

 

If docking, clearing & disembarkation went smoothly - folks on the Express Walkoff could've been coming off the gangway before 7:45 AM and the early birds with airline flights and Amtrck connections to catch this morning ... would have a pretty chance of being there, checking in & relaxing with minimal stress.

 

Snapshots of the BA's STATS coming into MCT - Pier 90, from earlier today:

 

Nat'l Hurricane Center just posted (11 AM) about a newly formed Tropical Depression west of Bermuda, nothing to be alarmed yet - Breakaway can probably steer out of harm's way & around it ... although the ocean waves east of Bermuda is looking a bit rougher than average. Expect maybe some chops on the way toward the islands.

 

Hmm, webcam is working just fine, watched her pulled in this morning Marion

Are you sure about that, saw your post yesterday and re-checked - it was (is still) not working for me on ShipMate (mobile) or desktop on popular sites linking; and, even with NCL's own online link/browser. Still seeing the "Uh-Oh ..." maybe they are upgrading or doing weekend maintenance. I have no problems checking live webcam images on MSC, Princess & CCL and their ship's links so that seemed to ruled out issues on my end.

Edited August 28, 2016 by mking8288

[Barb Nahoumi]

I would be happy with coming back slowly, never in

a hurry to get back, but I guess others want to get

off at soon as they can.....not us!![/quote

 

The same with us. We never book early transportation home.we're on vacation and in no hurry for it to end.

[mking8288]

Catching up, GEM last Saturday coming up the coast early to get ahead of Hermine, sail into NY early and docked around 7 AM.

 

Live ship webcam link up & running again. Left almost on time after 3 PM & heading to NE/Canada.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Edited September 5, 2016 by mking8288

[Gershep]

Catching up, GEM last Saturday coming up the coast early to get ahead of Hermine, sail into NY early and docked around 7 AM.

 

Live ship webcam link up & running again. Left almost on time after 3 PM & heading to NE/Canada.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for posting