Cape Liberty Cruise Port

[Slam308]

Just a couple questions for those of you who have sailed out of this new port...

 

Are the traffic lanes well marked now? I've heard there were some problems with this.

 

Which way does the ship dock? Which side of the ship faces the Statue of Liberty, which side faces the dock? Do they come in, turn around and dock, or do they pull straight in?

 

I've only sailed the caribbean before, are the seas noticeably rougher when sailing down the US coast? Can you see the US coast or are you further out to sea?

 

Thanks for any info

Slam308

 

Song of America 1-97

Monarch of the Seas 3-98

Voyager of the Seas 9-01

Explorer of the Seas 3-04

Voyager of the Seas 9-04

Mariner of the Seas 2-05

[BaumD]

No, the lanes are not well marked. When I was there, the previous cruise was late getting off due to a suicide on board and the traffic was a mess. If you are parking, keep to the right and go straight into the lot and carry your luggage to the terminal (about a 5 minute walk) If you pull around to drop off luggage, you end up in the same line again to get back to the parking lot.

 

VOS backs into the port as the channel is not deep enough for her to do a 180. The port side (left) faces NYC and the statue and the starboard side faces the dock.

 

On the Canada sailings the captain indicated we were sailing 50 - 60 miles of of the coast, was to far to see land.

[Slam308]

Thanks BaumD,

Figures, we normally get a balcony cabin on the port side, this time we picked starboard. I'm sitting here in my pajamas, drinking a cup of coffee and had been debating driving up the Tpk to see the ship and which way it's facing. Now you've saved me the trip. Second cup of coffee anyone??

[Merion_Mom]

The only thing I would add to BaumD's excellent description is that the walk from car to terminal is closer to a zero minute walk. I swear that it was a shorter walk than from our aft cabin to the theatre on the Voyager!

 

Carol

[Slam308]

We're actually getting dropped off at the port because we're doing the repositioning cruise. I shopped around for prices and I ended up picking the only company that had actually been to the port before. Still, I'm a bit anal and leave nothing to chance. If I know ahead of time where we should be going, it may save some time. We live in Burlington County and are getting picked up at 9 am. I figure we'll get to the port around 10:30 or 11:00 depending on traffic. I'd rather wait at the port than wait at home!

What's the earliest anyone's gotten on the ship for the caribbean trip?

[BaumD]

When Voyager is in port in Bayonne and the weather is clear, this website gives a great picture.

 

http://www.libertycam.com/

 

She should be in in the next hour or so. (look left of the statue, if she's in, you won't be able to miss her)

[cruisinfanatic]

Dropping off luggage at the curb and then parking is not recommended? Is the parking really that close? I thought that the lot was not paved. Would be dificult for rolling luggage on a non paved lot

[BaumD]

The lot is partially paved. You have 2 options, struggle with your luggage for 50 - 100 feet or wait in the traffic line twice and waste an extra hour.

[cruisinfanatic]

Is it really only that far. Even if I had to make 2 trips it would be faster?

[BaumD]

The other option is to pay for the parking, go thru the parking entrance, unload luggage in paved area, leave one person to guard luggage, park the car on gravel and then head to the terminal.

[tlzeterrell]

I figure we'll get to the port around 10:30 or 11:00 depending on traffic. I'd rather wait at the port than wait at home!

What's the earliest anyone's gotten on the ship for the caribbean trip?

We were on the Canada cruise, but everyone was off the ship by 10:30. You should be able to get on shortly after 11am. Have fun!

[BaumD]

People going to the Caribbean will prob. be on by noon as the previous Canada cruise arrives in Bayonne before 8am. On the Canada cruises, the ship does not arrive back into Bayonne till 11am or so, delaying boarding for the Canada passengers til about 3 pm.

[LJLB6]

Slam308--we also live in Burlington County. We left at 9 am and had no trouble unloading luggage at Bayonne for the Empress---there was no traffic in the port area--pulled right up to the luggage area to unload then made the loop around to the parking lot. We had your same philosophy--I'd rather wait at the port than wait at home.

One word of advice . . . got my camera out to take a picture of an RCL sign at the port while waiting to check in . . . a security guard literally went nuts on me . . . told me to put my camera away and not to get it out again until we got on the ship. It is a homeland security policy that you cannot take pictures in the dock/port area---I didn't know it and innocently wanted to take a picture.

[lovetocruiserccl]

We're actually getting dropped off at the port because we're doing the repositioning cruise. I shopped around for prices and I ended up picking the only company that had actually been to the port before. Still, I'm a bit anal and leave nothing to chance. If I know ahead of time where we should be going, it may save some time. We live in Burlington County and are getting picked up at 9 am. I figure we'll get to the port around 10:30 or 11:00 depending on traffic. I'd rather wait at the port than wait at home!

What's the earliest anyone's gotten on the ship for the caribbean trip?

 

Slam308

 

We live in Burlington County NJ. I hope that the same one you are talking about. I tried to have a group cruise out of Bayonne but to no avail to was not able to. So we are doing the group thing out of San Juan on the Adventure is August 2005.

 

please let me know how your cruise went so I can get on in NJ. Save that airfare for the casino.

[Slam308]

I'll definitely let you know how it goes.

It should be different with an 8 night cruise and only two stops. I'm wondering if we could actually get sick of the ship! I highly doubt it, but my mom was on the Navigator when Francis hit and she said the extra two days made all the difference. Of course, they also had the stress of wondering if they'd get flights home, etc.

My all time goal is to be the FIRST one on the ship for that week.

Last March, we got to the Miami port at 9:15. We were the first ones in the waiting area and after we went to our floor's checkin, we were 7th and 8th on the ship. Ahead of the weddings as well!

Aaahhh, I live to cruise! Any other pointers or clues you all can give me about the port (or anything) is much appreciated.