9/11 Memorial Tour - confused with options
Oct 18th, 2012, 07:00 PM
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9/11 Memorial Tour - confused with options
We will be in NYC in Feb. Last trip, our family did the tour with the Tribute Center (recommended here on Fodor's) but at that time, the memorial was not open. I now see a few options for tours and it is confusing.
I understand that the Memorial tickets are free and you can reserve them online. We would like to take a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial though but I am getting confused with the options I see.
One is $40 per person for the guide (they do state the tickets to the Memorial are free) It is with http://www.911memorialtour.com.
Then I think I am looking at the tour we did last time through the Tribute Center but we want to include the Memorial this time. That one is $10 per person and is http://www.911memorial.org/911-tribute-center
What are basically looking for a walking tour for our group of 11 to take us through the 9/11 Memorial. Just not sure what tour to do. Any feedback?
I understand that the Memorial tickets are free and you can reserve them online. We would like to take a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial though but I am getting confused with the options I see.
One is $40 per person for the guide (they do state the tickets to the Memorial are free) It is with http://www.911memorialtour.com.
Then I think I am looking at the tour we did last time through the Tribute Center but we want to include the Memorial this time. That one is $10 per person and is http://www.911memorial.org/911-tribute-center
What are basically looking for a walking tour for our group of 11 to take us through the 9/11 Memorial. Just not sure what tour to do. Any feedback?
Oct 18th, 2012, 08:34 PM
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The 9/11 Memorial consists of two large reflecting pools with waterfalls on the footprint of each tower, with victims names inscribed around the perimeters, grouped by floor location. I don't understand why one would need a tour as it is a contemplative area. The museum has not opened yet.
Oct 19th, 2012, 05:08 AM
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I agree with everyone else. In addition to the two waterfalls, there are the unopened museum and computer terminals where you can look up the location of names of individuals who were killed in the attacks. Otherwise, that's really it. The site is dotted with trees and has a few benches for sitting (though in truth it may not be worth doing that in February as it's really cold downtown). There is a visitor center as you exit, and you can visit that as well, but I don't see what a guided tour will show you. Nor will the museum be open by February. I believe I was given a little brochure as I entered, but the site itself is just a public plaza. There is otherwise nothing else there for a guide to explain.
Oct 19th, 2012, 07:40 AM
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Upon reflection, I see that the actual 9/11 Memorial Tour is really a tour of sights in the financial district that are related in some way to 9/11, not just the memorial itself. So I am going to backtrack and say that such a tour would actually be useful, though not absolutely necessary, to appreciate the other related sights that were affected by 9/11, particularly if the guides themselves are good. That would be the more expensive tour.
The other one I'm not sold on. If you want the perspective of someone directly affected by 9/11, then I guess there's value in that, but for all the reasons in my original post, I have some hesitation. And I'm just not sure how they would spend 1 hour and 15 minutes at the memorial itself.
The other one I'm not sold on. If you want the perspective of someone directly affected by 9/11, then I guess there's value in that, but for all the reasons in my original post, I have some hesitation. And I'm just not sure how they would spend 1 hour and 15 minutes at the memorial itself.
Oct 19th, 2012, 08:05 AM
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Okay, this makes sense. For some reason, I thought the museum would be open.
Doug - We are interested in related sights. I am going to look more into the first tour.
Also, last night I found another option that may work. It is the Onboard New York Freedom Tour http://www.onboardnewyorktours.com/nyc-freedom-tour/
What I like about this one is that fact that it gets your there by boat and has lots of other places included.
My mother-in-law would appreciate anything with less walking but with still seeing as much as possible. That is why this one appeals to us.
Doug - We are interested in related sights. I am going to look more into the first tour.
Also, last night I found another option that may work. It is the Onboard New York Freedom Tour http://www.onboardnewyorktours.com/nyc-freedom-tour/
What I like about this one is that fact that it gets your there by boat and has lots of other places included.
My mother-in-law would appreciate anything with less walking but with still seeing as much as possible. That is why this one appeals to us.
Oct 19th, 2012, 08:27 AM
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The latter is mostly just transportation. It's not a real tour, and most of the sites you'll want to see require walking. It is, however, a much much faster way to get from the Intrepid down to the 9/11 Memorial and it allows you to buy tickets on the spot at the Intrepd on most days without having to go through the rigamarole of going online to reserve a spot. For that reason alone, it may be a good choice for you, but really only if you want to see both the Intrepid and the 9/11 Memorial on the same day.
Just be sure to book your Intrepid tickets in advance; that's the one that has the long lines (and allow enough time to appreciate the museum ... there's a lot to see there). Once inside the Intrepid's dock area, you can stop by the NY Water Taxi booth to buy the ticket for the water taxi and the 9/11 Memorial Pass. This means that you need to see the Intrepid first thing and have a lot of stamina. But you might also want to do the walking tour downtown as well.
Just be sure to book your Intrepid tickets in advance; that's the one that has the long lines (and allow enough time to appreciate the museum ... there's a lot to see there). Once inside the Intrepid's dock area, you can stop by the NY Water Taxi booth to buy the ticket for the water taxi and the 9/11 Memorial Pass. This means that you need to see the Intrepid first thing and have a lot of stamina. But you might also want to do the walking tour downtown as well.
