New York City Transportation Experts - this one is for you!
 

3 of us will be parking our car at Newark Airport around 8:30 - 9:00 am on a weekday mid-August and would like to get to the cruise ship terminal in Brooklyn (Pier 12, Bowne St) by around 11 am or a bit earlier. What would you recommend? Would any specific combination of train, taxi, bus work well for us who will have a decent amount of luggage (as in we will be 'lugging' a lot!)? Are we allowing enough time?

In case anyone is wondering about parking at Newark instead of closer to the cruise terminal, we could use the minimum number of miles for our return flight from London into Newark, don't want to do the driving into NYC ourselves during rush hour, wondering about the safety of parking in Brooklyn, and we prefer to have more hassle before the trip instead of after the trip - getting the longer transportation time through New York over with sooner rather than later when we will be jet lagged (oh, and when we booked the cruise, it didn't occur to us to ask where it left from - we assumed Manhattan - surprise!)

Thanks!

I would recommend that you use a car service such as CarmelLimo or Dial 7 since you have a lot of luggage. Check online for coupons they offer. We always use them for airport transfers in and out of NYC.

I'm one of those who gets "put down" for often suggesting public transport from Newark airport, but with your time and "lugging a lot of luggage", I agree -- car service is the best way to go -- by far.

The unfortunately there is only once choice and that is car service.

The pier is no where near a subway and there is only one bus from downtown Brooklyn, on which you will have to schlep your luggage and that is once you get there from Manhattan Penn Station.

Ask your driver to stop at my favorite sandwich shop in Brooklyn, Defonte's.

http://defontesofbrooklyn.com/

Yes I understand you re going to eat all day, all night, on the ship, but Defonte's is worth it. It tastes like old Brooklyn.

So I assume you're taking the QM2 and this is your car you'll be driving. So, yes, it would be crazy to drive since you're flying back from EWR.

I would avoid this problem entirely and take the cruise-sponsored bus transportation, which will be offered both to from EWR. It may or may not be cheaper than the car service, but it's easy to arrange. I just don't understand why people don't do this.

It will cost you over $100 for the car service plus about $25 in tolls and the tip. I'm guessing about $150 to $175, so not horrible per person. It's really your choice, but I'd price both options.

Wow, Doug, I know you're the cruise ecpert, but why didn't the OP mention this? Sure, it makes a whole lot of sense if the cruise line offers the service. First of all it puts the ball in their court if anything goes wrong.

Car service it is. I did check with Carmel Limo and including tolls, tip and online coupon (!)...ta dah... $89.

No brainer!

Thanks everyone. I knew asking you guys would take care of everything!

I think you could be mistaken about the cost. Be sure you didn't price the trip from EWR to the Manhattan cruise terminal. In order to get to Brooklyn from EWR, you have to take a tunnel and cross Manhattan and take a bridge. Or you have to take two bridges (both with tolls) and cross Staten Island, and $89 is almost what I pay to get home in Manhattan from EWR with the tip and tolls.

Or perhaps the $89 doesn't include the tolls and tip. I could very well be wrong, but I think the cost will be more like $120. The trip just to JFK from my apartment costs $70 all-in from Carmel, and that's half as long and only has one toll.

Their quotes don't include tolls or tips.

Thanks Doug and Christine - I did check again after reading your comments (yes I was a bit nervous after reading them) and it is indeed $63 to go to Bowne St Pier 12 in Brooklyn from EWR. The price without tips and tolls is $63 and that is the price sited on the confirmation email, stating tip (20%) and tolls ($18.75) are additional. The all-inclusive price I was given verbally (including coupon) is 89, which turns out to be rounded down, but I can count on $90 total, now confirmed by 3 different employees. I'd better not argue a price I have in writing. :)

Neo - Doug is right on the ship, but I don't think it matters that we are going on a cruise. All I needed were suggestions on how to go from point A to B and I got wonderful ones at a much better price than the cruise-provided transportation to boot. Yea! AND we call the shots as far as scheduling goes - we won't have to wait for a large bus to fill up before setting off from the airport. Win win! If something goes wrong, we are familiar with NYC and will get there on time. Thanks everyone for all the help!

In case anyone else is looking into this, the Cunard-provided shuttle from Newark to the Brooklyn pier on Bowne St is $60 per person and the bus only leaves between 11:00 and 12:00. We just saved $90 and will be on the ship by that time!

And neo - I did mention in my first sentence that we were going to a cruise ship terminal! I'm happy with the entire outcome other than we were initially thinking of stopping in NYC to visit my father, but he will have to wait until another time!! :)

Well, if that's the price then that's the price. Congratulations, and I hope you have a nice cruise.

Thanks Doug. I love sea days - I hope it's not overkill!

kwren, I think the point Doug was making, and I asked why you never mentioned it was the idea that the cruise line itself might offer the transportation rather than having to arrange it yourself. It wasn't just that you'd be taking a cruise later! But if that price includes tax, toll, tips, etc, I'd say you did "damned good" arranging it yourself.

We are on the Carmel Limo as I type this...all going according to plan. Thanks for the info!

kwren… if you're on the QM2 I am realllly envious. If I were on board I'd treat you to a glass or two in Sir Samuel's.

Bon Voyage wherever you are!

Pardon, I don't get why everyone is suggesting to pay for car service since the OP in fact has a car?! Wouldn't driving yourselfs to Brooklyn save you some $120?

As for parking, what does it cost to park in Newark vs. Brooklyn?
Oh, and don't forget the return trip back to Newark costing you yet another $120!

POMAH -- a little late to the party. They have been on the ship for two days already . . . .

1) >> Wouldn't driving yourselfs to Brooklyn save you some $120?<<

2) >>Oh, and don't forget the return trip back to Newark costing you yet another $120!<<

1) it wasn't $120 -- it was $89 all in, and 2) that is crazy -- they are sailing across the Atlantic and <i>flying back to Newark</i> so having their car stuck in Brooklyn while they are at EWR would sorta be counter productive . . .

Thank you janis. You got it all right!

POMAH we paid $8/day at Newark vs $20/day at the pier in Brooklyn since you asked. But we didn't do this to save on parking - we did it to save on driving time back to PA after the trip. Driving to Brooklyn and then back to PA would really not make any sense at all!!!

Everything worked out perfectly as we did it!

Are yu going to write a trip report? -:)