Saint Greg's New York City and Magic to Bermuda - Live - August 27-September 5 2022

[Jamman54]

20 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Thanks Jamman. I actually have followed yours and Patti's adventures.  "Things" have just been tough!  Jim's sister is going on this cruise with me.  I'm just going to close my eyes, grit my teeth and get on the ship.  (and head for the nearest bar lol) We always wanted to sail on either Breeze or Magic so it's time to start fulfilling dreams!  

Good for you! We'll be back on the Magic for a B2B out of New York next September. 😎

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I don’t think I have any super great secrets. Right now I’m not booking anything that isn’t on sale. 

 

When I say I got a good deal someone always comes in and says “me too I paid $50.” It’s nothing like that. I’m not getting anything like that. I paid $600 for this cruise. Tax, title and license. I normally see this cruise in the 1,200-1,400 range. That’s why I jumped on it. 

 

I pay for my cruises with 10% off gift cards from Allstate. So that takes the 600 down to 540. I transferred the booking to a travel agent who gives me about 10% OBC plus whatever carnival gives me. I don’t think carnival gave me anything on this booking but the TA OBC basically takes it down to $490. 

 

Here’s a comparison. I could only find one Bermuda cruise from NYC in August-September next year. It’s a couple weeks earlier and a 4-day instead of 5 but this is my room on that cruise compared to what I paid during the sale.

 

 

 

You can get a 6 day next August or September from Baltimore for about the same price. Don't think you'll see any for $600, unless it's a casino offer.😎

[Saint Greg]

I need to get some opera glasses just to see the reaction when I use them on the front row.

[BlerkOne]

[Crusin Karen]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

Good for you! We'll be back on the Magic for a B2B out of New York next September. 😎

I know!  I checked your "schedule!"  Saw Magic for September and kept my fingers crossed, but yours is NEXT year 

[Crusin Karen]

Greg, You made out like a bandit for sure.  That's a sweet deal!But if I cruised solo, would that be doubled?  What about port fees/taxes and tips?

[Saint Greg]

3 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Greg, You made out like a bandit for sure.  That's a sweet deal!But if I cruised solo, would that be doubled?  What about port fees/taxes and tips?

Those were both solo rates I posted. And included port fees and taxes but not gratuities. Gratuity is about $100 for one person on a 7 day cruise.  I also got great prices on 2024 Horizon ABC and an 8 day spirit Bahamas. That Horizon ABC had been 1700-2300 last year. I got it for $924 total. $700 total for the 8 day spirit. I don’t know if they’ll have any more of those sales or not. But I did well with that one in April.

[EllieinNJ]

When you mentioned the Warwick Hotel it brought back many memories.  I used to work right across the street and in 1965 the Beatles stayed there and I saw them waving to everyone from their balcony.  What a thrill.  

 

I think the 911 museum is closing for good.  Don't know when.

[meatball_nyc]

13 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

When you mentioned the Warwick Hotel it brought back many memories.  I used to work right across the street and in 1965 the Beatles stayed there and I saw them waving to everyone from their balcony.  What a thrill.  

 

I think the 911 museum is closing for good.  Don't know when.

 

The  9/11 museum is closed. Sorry, Greg. Enjoy your nyc time. Visit the Intrepid. It’s awesome. So much to see in nyc. Have fun!

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-911-museum-closes-after-telling-tragedys-story-helping-survivors-heal-2022-08-18/

[nybumpkin]

26 minutes ago, meatball_nyc said:

 

The  9/11 museum is closed. Sorry, Greg. Enjoy your nyc time. Visit the Intrepid. It’s awesome. So much to see in nyc. Have fun!

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-911-museum-closes-after-telling-tragedys-story-helping-survivors-heal-2022-08-18/

Just to clarify: The National 9/11 Museum and Memorial is open; it's the 9/11 Tribute Museum that has closed.

[meatball_nyc]

Thanks for the clarification. 

 

 

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

When you mentioned the Warwick Hotel it brought back many memories.  I used to work right across the street and in 1965 the Beatles stayed there and I saw them waving to everyone from their balcony.  What a thrill.  

 

I think the 911 museum is closing for good.  Don't know when.

That’s cool. In Seattle I saw the one where they were fishing out of the window.

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Saint Greg

[MJSailors]

Greg- You have a good idea to visit NYC for a few days before the cruise to Bermuda. I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in the great borough of Queens. From a young age, I went into the City to shop,see plays,go to museums and go to restaurants. First, with my parents,then friends and my hubby. I worked for a time in Midtown,commuting on the Subway from Queens. 

I have an extreme fondness for NYC, but I am very disappointed in what has happened to the City over the past five or so years. If you are not aware of what I am referring to,perhaps you can do a little research on news web sites. Always good to have an understanding of what is going on in a place that you are visiting for the first time.

Because of Covid and the present state of the City,my hubby have not been there since the Fall of 2019.

I am not mentioning this to you to dissuade you from enjoying your trip, but. I am encouraging you to be very cautious as you move about the City. You mentioned that you plan to use the Subway for transportation. That may be a way to get around during busy times of the day,but I would be cautious in taking it during the wee hours of the morning. I would consider using cabs ,Uber or Lyft and budget accordingly

When walking on the streets, walk with confidence. As my Dad would always remind me- walk like you belong there.

On a positive note, I have stayed at The Warwick a  few times. You have a very good rate for that lovely hotel. It has retained some of the glamour of NYC from bygone days.  The bar there is very attractive with dark paneling and low lighting -at least it was the last time we were there. 

The hotel is located more Midtown than Times Square,although the theaters are in easy walking distance. In the opposite direction is Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and then Lexington Ave. You will find some good restaurants in that area. There are - or used to be -pizza places and luncheonettes in that area also. Please do not eat at any chain restaurants such as Olive Garden or TGI Friday’s !

Go to authentic NYC restaurants.

As far as going to a Mets game at Citi Field, the E or the F train changing to the #7 train is the way to go,particularly in the daytime. The #7 train was always a League of Nations in the ridership. You will not be the only Met fan on the train though!

As others have posted, sailing from the NYC cruise terminal is a wonderful experience. We have done this many times on Cunard and NCL. We have also left  from the Brooklyn terminal on Princess and have left from Bayonne,NJ on Celebrity.We have never tired from the experience. Usually, the ships will back away from the NYC pier,moving down the Hudson River with the Statue  of Liberty being on the starboard (right) side. We always stay on deck or on our balcony until we have passed under the Verrazano Bridge on the way out to sea.

I wish you a pleasant stay in NYC. Be safe !

MJ🙋🏻

 

 

[IslandHppy]

We used to cruise out of NYC regularly.  Our process was to find a cruise, preferably off season.  Then we locate a deal/promotion/coupon on a random NYC hotel from our favorite chains.  The idea is to then walk out the door and explore the area around the hotel like a local.  

[HxFx]

On 8/20/2022 at 4:56 PM, Saint Greg said:

If you do want to visit the TKTS booth, you can find them in Times Square, Lincoln Center, and in downtown Brooklyn.

Dang, they used to have a TKTS booth in Wall Street on South Street. It was great, never more than 5 people in line. Looks like it's permanently closed now 😞 

[STXcruiser1981]

After months of hardships, loss, medical issues and locked out CC account I had to reopen and create another one and lost EVERYTHING!!! I will definitely be following along from the Breeze as I leave on the 29th for a short 5 day myself!!! Can't wait to see @Saint Greg vs New York!!!!

 

~Jay~ 

[Saint Greg]

[nybumpkin]

14 hours ago, MJSailors said:

 

When walking on the streets, walk with confidence. As my Dad would always remind me- walk like you belong there.

 

 

And don't stop in the middle of the sidewalk to take a picture!🙄

[IntrepidFromDC]

St. Greg, just went back and re-read your initial post.  I imagine you're aware, but the Staten Island ferry is free.  In addition, your sail-away view of the Statue of Liberty will be spectacular (unfortunately NJ will be in the background instead of Manhattan).  My favorite three ports for sail-away, in order: Venice, Manhattan, New Orleans.

[IntrepidFromDC]

You probably have your dinners in Manhattan planned already, but here are a few of my favorite.

 

My #1 favorite restaurant in the world is "Daniel", east Manhattan about 8 blocks from Central Park.  It's expensive and they require a jacket (they'll lend you one if needed) but it is as fine as any fine-dining restaurant anywhere in the world.  Be careful, when they come around with the humidor with freshly dug truffle from Tuscany and offer to slice some onto your meal - it's pricey!  Last time I ate there with my daughter it was $440 for both of us and I only had one drink.  But it takes "memorable meal" to the highest possible level and you only live once!

 

Fine dining on a moderate budget - the $184 six-course tasting menu at Gramercy Tavern is sublime and additional value in that they do not permit tipping in the restaurant.

 

Fine dining on a budget - Batard, in Tribeca, offers a four-course menu at $99 and is chef-inspired French and American foodie food at a discount. 

[crewsweeper]

@Saint Greg  Looking forward to following your adventure.  Excellent job on research and deals.

[ninjacat123]

A famous and tasty place for pizza is Lombardi's Pizza on Spring Street.  They use coal burning ovens.

A funky place is Empire Diner on 10th Avenue between W 23rd and W 22nd.  Full bar.

Big, tasty burgers at Jackson Hole Burgers on E 64th St between Second and Third Avenue or on Third Avenue and E 35th St.

 

 

 

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

You probably have your dinners in Manhattan planned already, but here are a few of my favorite.

. 

 

I do have an extensive food list. Maybe enough to fill a month long trip. But I’m not going to be going anywhere that requires a coat and tie or for me to be stuck at a table for two hours. It’s going to be bagels, and pizza, and pastrami and that sort of thing.

 

I have a handful of places that I have as must try places which will be worked into the schedule. Everything else will be grouped by location and will depend on where I’m at when i’m hungry.

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

A famous and tasty place for pizza is Lombardi's Pizza on Spring Street.  They use coal burning ovens.

A funky place is Empire Diner on 10th Avenue between W 23rd and W 22nd.  Full bar.

Big, tasty burgers at Jackson Hole Burgers on E 64th St between Second and Third Avenue or on Third Avenue and E 35th St.

 

 

 

 

I have done extensive NYC pizza research. And if I’m not mistaken Lombardi’s is the place where you can’t buy a slice. I’m pretty sure you have to buy a full pizza there. Or pie as they may call it up there.

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I have done extensive NYC pizza research. And if I’m not mistaken Lombardi’s is the place where you can’t buy a slice. I’m pretty sure you have to buy a full pizza there. Or pie as they may call it up there.

Hmmm, we did get a whole pie.  I bet there's a place nearby that sells by the slice.  I wish Famous Rays was still open in Greenwich Village.  Awesome slice of cheesy goodness, especially at 1:00am!