TheSweeneyParty

I am planning to take a cruise that leaves from New York city. We live in upstate New york and since our airport only flies to Lagaurdia, flying is out of the question. I have been to New York city a few times and know that the bus terminal is near the port. I am wondering if we took a bus down what would be our realistic options for getting to the cruise port?
Walking? Cab (any estimates of cost)?

nytraveler

I don;t know how long the cruise is - or how much luggage you're planning on taking - or even where your cruise is leaving from. But if you have more than a small carry-on per person walking dragging your luggage behind you is not a realistic option.

Cabs are generally available at the Port Authority bus terminal - the fare will depend on which pier you're leaving from - but I doubt it will be more than $5 or $10.

mclaurie

I wouldn't discount flying so quickly. La Guardia is very close to Manhattan and the cruise pier. A taxi from LGA is about $35.

The bus terminal (Port Authority) is VERY close to the pier, but I agree, it's not realistic to walk with luggage. A taxi would be about $5.

Another option I suppose is the train. Penn Station is again, not far from the port.

TheSweeneyParty

Another question I have is that one of our stops is St. Thomas. I have stopped in St. Thomas before and took an excursion to Magan's Bay which was beautiful. I want to do something different this time, but the excursions offered by the cruise don't seem that appealing.

Are there any beaches in (or walking distance from)Charlotte Amalie? Any suggestiosn of where to go? I hear taxis in the Caribean can be expensive like $24 one way. It this true?

mclaurie

There is a separate board here for the Caribbean. This is the US board.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=5

There's also a separate board here for cruises

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=31

Finally, there's another website specially for cruises called cruisecritic.om

Any of these might be better for getting the info you want. You may likely find others who've taken the same cruise.

lia_b

When we stopped at St. Thomas on our cruise, we took a cab to Coki Beach. It is right next to the aquarium. The water was beautiful and you could snorkel right off the beach. Later we walked over to the aquarium. Go early, we did and had the beach mostly to ourselves. AS far as NYC is concerned, you might be able to catch a train into Grand Central, if you are on the NYC side of the Hudson or Penn Station if you are on the Jersey side of the Hudson. There are trains coming in from upstate as far as Albany. Buses might take longer. Either way, I would take a cab as the cruise terminal in Manhattan is across the West Side highway and you would have to cross it with all that luggage. Too scary for me. There are lights but, the way across is very wide and there's always a lot of traffic. Good luck!

michelleNYC

I'm confused.... Why can't you fly into LGA and then cab it into Manhattan to your departure port???

rqf

LGA to port - taxi will cost about $30. Trip will take about 30 minutes if you are not traveling in rush hour.
Bus terminal - if you exit the bus terminl onto 9th Avenue and 42nd St. it is about 3/4's of a mile to the piers. Taxi would cost less than $10.
Train - Penn Station is between 7th and 8th Avenues at 32nd St. Taxi will take 10 minutes or less and cost would be around $10. Grand Central station is at 42nd St on the East Side. 10 or so minute taxi drive and cost would be arond $10.

Coki beach is a short cab ride away. When I was in St. Thomas somes years back the cost was $2 or $3 a person.