We are arriving at Penn Station on a Friday evening and are staying that night close to the Brooklyn Pier, as we are boarding a cruise the next day. We want to go to a show on Friday night. I found some info online about Schwartz Travel's luggage storage in two locations downtown. Has anybody used them? Any other recommendations? I was also told most hotels will hold bags for a few hours?

Most hotels will hold the bags if you are guest there.

Hotels in Manhattan that I am familiar with will not hold your luggage unless you are a guest in the hotel, getting ready to check in or to leave. Does anyone know of a hotel that will check your bags if you are not a guest?

I doubt the OP wants to schlep all the way to the hotel at Brooklyn pier to check the luggage before the fri. p.m. show since she is arriving Friday early evening.

Amtrak at Penn Station will allow you to check your luggage at the luggage counter for several hours before a train that you have tickets to board. I don't know if they will let you check luggage as you are de-boarding an amtrak train though. But if I was you I would call Amtrak at Penn Sta and find out.

If they want to pick up the bags AFTER a show they need to find out how late the luggage service is open. They could also check the theater - but I very much doubt they will hold luggage.

Amtrak's web page notes that baggage storage is available 24 hrs at penn station at the baggage check counter, but you must have an Amtrak ticket for travel that day, and you must show it at the time you check the luggage. you do not have to show the train ticket when you return to get your luggage. I use this service frequently, the last time being 3 wks ago.

You could buy a refundable amtrak ticket for a departure later that night after the show (note that Amtrak runs trains from NYC to Newark, the city terminal not the airport, as late as midnight). Show that ticket in order to be able to check your bag at the amtrak baggage storage counter at Penn Station after you arrive.

Then go online at Amtrak.com or call and cancel the reservation for the train to Newark. Go to show, and go back to Penn Station to fetch luggage after show.

Yes, it is working the system, but there really are no other good options that I can think of re storing your luggage during the show.

Schwartz works if they are open that late, but I think they are not. Otherwise your best bet may be Amtrak. A hotel will not store bags for non guests.

If you're arriving via Amtrak train, you may be able to use their service. http://schwartztravel.com/ is only open til 11. If you plan on eating dinner before the show, some restauarnts might hold bags, esp. if you come back for dessert after the show.

Which theater are you going to? I work at the broadway theaters and people check luggage all the time at the coat room.