Brooklyn Cruise Port Embarkation - The Basics!

[@teehawk75]

I am about to take my first MSC cruise which leaves from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. This video was very informative and detailed. Thanks so much for sharing!! It helped me a lot. 😀

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks so much! I hope all goes well with your embarkation and you have a great trip!

[@JustTheilogsAdventures]

First MSC cruise for my family too. Honestly I'm still intimidated getting to this port and all the disorganization within the terminal. Though going to make it the best experience I can make it.

[@bellavancepierre5461]

@@JustTheilogsAdventures drink 5 manathan before its help

[@johnsteed265]

It also serves MSC cruises

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks, noted!

[@JustTheilogsAdventures]

Extensive review! Thank you very much!

[@ThePortLowdown]

You're welcome!

[@TheCruiseDog]

Excellent information. Thanks.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Quite welcome!

[@spark_6710]

A very thorough ,great video !! 👍👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[@ThePortLowdown]

Great! Thanks so much! That's our intention and we'll keep working to make more like them.

[@teslalou1]

Taking MSC cruise out of this port. Thanks for video very informative.

[@ThePortLowdown]

You got it! Have a great trip!

[@keishacam]

Excellent video! I feel so prepared now

[@ThePortLowdown]

Awesome! Thanks for the kind words.

[@brendalogan6281]

thanks for the vide...very helpful

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks a lot!

[@City-Hiker]

The Queens Mary II is gone, and MSC Cruise entered into this port. B63 and B61 goes to there. You can talk a walk in the Brooklyn Bridge Park and Red Hook Waterfront, but Red Hook waterfront parks are pretty quiet though there are many different restaurants in Red Hook too.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Well, I certainly hope to come back to explore some more. It seemed like a cool place!

[@heresnotdave]

Cunard is still using this port

[@City-Hiker]

@@heresnotdave : I saw the Queens Mary 2 very often before, now I only see the MSC Cruise everytime I passed by the Brooklyn Bridge Park or the bridge.

[@heresnotdave]

@@City-Hiker It's on a different rotation now, often going trans-atlantic, then north or south. I will be there Dec 21st to catch it. That's why I found this video.

[@PhilElvitt]

I'm from NY but I have been living in Atlanta for 32 years. My wife and I are planning on Cruising out of Brooklyn to Bermuda September 8th. just Curious...what would you say is the Uber cost from Newark to the Brooklyn Port? Really enjoyed your presentation, thanks.

[@ThePortLowdown]

We had a party of 5 and it cost us $88 from our hotel in Newark to the port. Not a bad deal with all the luggage we had. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

[@tinawozniak374]

Thank you for the info. Looking at taking my first cruise out of Brooklyn and while my family was from here, they are all now gone so no one has a clue how to get around. LOL I am looking at driving in and parking in Weehawken, taking the Imperial Ferry to Wall St, then the ferry from Wall Street to Red Hook. This works great on a Monday but the Wall Street Ferry back to Weehawken doesn't run on weekends and the return trip ends on a Sunday. Anty suggestions?

[@ThePortLowdown]

Our fallback was Uber. When we got out, Uber got us back to Newark Airport. Hope that helps!

[@Steven_Mitchell]

Thanks for the good info. What hotel did you stay at?

[@ThePortLowdown]

Hi! We stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott Newark Elizabeth/Liberty International Airport. Took Uber to the port the next morning.

[@brookelpeterson]

Could you walk to the port from those 2 Red Hook hotels you mentioned?

[@ThePortLowdown]

Yes, it's about a 15 min walk. But that can seem longer if you're hauling lots of bags. I did something similar in Boston. Not fun, but doeable.

[@EvoMediaStudios]

Great video. Couple question, where do we get the luggage tags 🏷️ or how? How earlier to the embarkation time on the ticket 🎫 can you arrive? How is the Uber pick up on the day of arrival? At what time is the disembarking or by what time people have to disembark? Thank you!

[@ThePortLowdown]

Hi! You get luggage tags (the paper colored ones that determine your exit time) on the ship, either by arrangement ahead of your cruise or while you're on board. Different class status, special request play into that. If you simply want to walk out with all your luggage instead of having it checked out, you can do that too and skip this process. Every cruise line is a little different on how they do this. Brooklyn was pretty loose about our embarkation arrival time. We were there slightly early and had no problem getting on board. If there's a big crowd, you may have to wait in a holding area past security check. But most ports I've been too simply want to process as many people as possible efficiently, so we usually don't wait long. If you want to come in a little early, I think that should be fine. Our Uber ride was fine, but had to compete with the other cars at the port. It's a bit crowded and chaotic during disembarkation. Rideshare has their own section for pick ups toward the car entry gate, just keep close watch for your car and be visible to the driver. Disembarkation typically starts around 7 or 730am and concludes around 9 to 930am. They need to turnaround the ship quickly for new arriving passengers starting around 11am. Hope this helps!

[@EvoMediaStudios]

Thank you so much for your help and for explaining. It’s very helpful. This is going to be our first time on a cruise. So I guess disembarking day they don’t serve breakfast? As content creator, have you ever brought a drone to a cruise or do you know if they are allowed? Thank you!!!

[@ThePortLowdown]

They do serve breakfast at the buffet. Usually, most passengers are off ship by 9am, the room cleared by 8am. So between 8-9 gets busy with exiting passengers and luggage in the buffet area! Drones are not allowed on ships as well as many ports.

[@EvoMediaStudios]

Thank you so much for your prompt response and for all the information provided. It is greatly appreciated.

[@robertshaver1612]

Thank you. Actionable advice. Rare these days.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks so much!

[@ajs11201]

Here's the lowdown on NYC. People think of it as an enormously huge city--and they'd be right on some levels. However, for folks who live there, it really operates as a myriad small towns snuggled right next to each other. Each neighborhood has its own feel, and Red Hook is no different. It's a bit gritty and edgy and a really good way. The neighborhood has been gentrifying for over a decade, and the youthful energy is palpable. The down side of that neighborhood is that it's somewhat isolated from the rest of Brooklyn and NYC, but once you're there, it can be a lot of fun, and you'll eat well, too!

[@ThePortLowdown]

I made a point of stepping out of the dock area and explore, rain or no. Like I mentioned, I enjoyed the area. Now, I know I can take the ferry to Manhattan from there and I wish I had time to. BTW, I mentioned 2 hotels in Red Hook. As a local, what would you recommend for anyone staying a few days? If it were me, I'd stay in Brooklyn (DUMBO looks interesting) and explore the area, then Manhattan. I enjoy a more local vibe.

[@ajs11201]

@@ThePortLowdown As a local, I don't really stay at the hotels, so I don't have first-hand experience with either of those properties in Red Hook. The neighborhood is fine, though, and besides hotels, you may find some good B&B or VRBO options. DUMBO is also a fun neighborhood, but again I don't know the insides of any of their hotels. The only Brooklyn property I have inside knowledge of is the Marriott in the downtown area near the courts and Borough Hall. That's a nice property. The neighborhood isn't as much fun (though it's safe), but the transportation near the Marriott is probably the best you'll find in the city as about ten different subway lines run no more than a block or so way. Mind you, each line is in a different direction, but you can easily get the 2-3, 4-5, N-R, A-C, and F all within a block's walk. If/when you return to NYC, feel free to contact me privately, and I can have a deeper discussion with you.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks for the detailed reply, really appreciate it. If we have plans to come back (I hope so), I'll keep your offer in mind. Thanks again, man!

[@princessmich4628]

We’ll be at that port Aug31st, flying into JFK the day before… any hotel recommendations for near JFK…

[@ThePortLowdown]

Sorry, no. We flew into New Jersey.

[@nicholasbristol68]

Does the pier allow cabs to go straight in, close to the ship?

[@ThePortLowdown]

It's a pretty small port. Cabs have their drop off pretty much across from the terminal entrance. And it's one berth, so you're as close to the ship as you're going to get.

[@ps_83]

Did you arrive at the cruise terminal at your scheduled time?

[@ThePortLowdown]

Actually, a bit early. We had no problems getting on the ship.

[@ajs11201]

As a New Yorker, I've used all three airports. I'd say that Newark is probably my least favorite, favoring JFK. Of course the major consideration will be your airline, and, if you have loyalty to one or another, that will inform which airport you'll need to use. Delta heavily uses JFK and LGA while United heavily uses EWR. I think American Airlines equally uses all of them.

[@ThePortLowdown]

We were kinda bummed we didn't have time to visit the city, so we went for cheap and convenient (for us) in Newark. It worked for my elderly in-laws, making a trip to the hotel quick - it's a longish flight from LA. We flew Southwest.

[@ajs11201]

@@ThePortLowdown Of course everyone needs to evaluate their own circumstances. One thing's for sure--there are a lot more hotels near the Newark airport as well as in the city of Newark and nearby towns along the Hudson River. Other than the new PanAm terminal hotel in JFK, there aren't a lot of great hotel options near the Queens airports, so you probably made the best decision. My circumstances are different since I live in NYC and don't need local hotels. Airport for airport, I prefer JFK, but what works best for me may not be such a good choice for you.

[@princessmich4628]

@@ajs11201 my husband and I are flying into JFK day before our cruise, I wanted to stay nearby since we don’t get in till 8:30, any hotel suggestions?

[@ajs11201]

​@princessmich4628 Is that 8:30 p.m.? If so, then maybe consider the TWA hotel at the airport. There is not much else that's terribly close to JFK that I would recommend, nor is there much near the Brooklyn cruise terminal. So, if the TWA hotel isn't exciting you, then I'd suggest you consider hotels in downtown Brooklyn, such as the Brooklyn Marriott.

[@princessmich4628]

@@ajs11201 yes 8:30pm

[@cakesoiree3085]

If your cruise schedule to arrive at port 7am, would i be able to catch a flight at 11:30am at jfk? Or if i take a late afternoon flight, is there a place i could keep my luggage?

[@ThePortLowdown]

It depends. Our experience of getting through passport check was longer than we thought, about 45 min. If you arrive at port at 7am, do you have priority disembarkation or will you wait longer? All that factors in. Bottom line, assume at least 8- 8:30 am to be out. If you want peace of mind, you can try to book the flight through the cruise company. We found this isn't any more expensive than regular booking and they have the responsibility of making sure your connection will work. As far as luggage storage, there wasn't any at the port or the surrounding neighborhood that I saw. I'll drop you this comment I caught from the Cruise Critic Boards from last year. Hope it helps! "There's no luggage storage at the cruise terminal and you can't just leave your bags there and come back for them later. They will be in a secure area of the terminal which you can't just walk into from the outside as they are subject to inspection by USCBP . There's an app for a company named Luggage Hero that lists retails stores and other places that offer luggage storage. It appears that the closest place to the cruise terminalis about 0.8 miles away:" app.luggagehero.com/home;location=Brooklyn Cruise Terminal;lat=40,6807677;lon=-74,013841;bags=1;from=202310211200;to=202310211300;geolocate=false?lh_campaign=gmb_link_5b1ffd2a5dac500005bde027&lh_medium=gmb&lh_source=google&lh_landing_page_origin=https:%2F%2Fluggagehero.com&lh_landing_page_path=%2Fnewyork%2F&visitorId=3c9b9045-9bfb-4dad-bcaa-c10068c1fe7f&lang=en&_gl=1*ncngs9*_ga*MTk4NTE5MjU0NS4xNjk3ODk1NzIw*_ga_HRQEW23GY0*MTY5Nzg5NTcyMC4xLjAuMTY5Nzg5NTcyMC42MC4wLjA.&_ga=2.54449505.877476411.1697895720-1985192545.1697895720

[@cakesoiree3085]

@@ThePortLowdownthank you for the detailed reply

[@ajs11201]

I would really recommend you consider flying the day before your cruise. True, if everything goes to plan and is right on schedule, you could probably get away with the flight times you proposed, but airline travel these days seems always to have an unexpected turn somewhere along the line. While I realize that an extra night's hotel room and corresponding meals will quickly add cost to your trip, the peace of mind may well be worth those dollars.

[@karenmyrie6215]

YES on cabbies not liking to travel btwn NJ & NYC. They don't think they'll get another fare coming back.

[@Warren357]

“F” train to Smith & 9th than an Uber or 20 to 30 minute walk.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Hmm, I see. Looking at the map, that's certainly true. Most likely an Uber from the station if you're pulling alot of luggage. But certainly another option. Thanks!

[@comics360]

Don’t stay in Jersey! JFK has lots of cheap and mid-range hotels, a casino and lots of ethnic food nearby. The A train goes directly to almost all tourist sites, such as museums, Times Square (theater district) 34th st(Macys)the 9/11 memorial, etc. and runs 24/7. Don’t believe the hype -it’s not any more dangerous than any other subway in the world. Taxis and UBER to the port are much cheaper from there too.

[@ThePortLowdown]

Thanks! I was wondering about alternatives, so I'll look into your suggestions when I plan to come back, especially since we haven't toured the city yet.

[@DanielWeitz-f9b]

My father worked in the area for twenty years; he bemoaned the fact that there was no easy way of getting there. By the way, learn how to eat Pizza.....

[@ThePortLowdown]

😆 Yeah, I pretty much mangled my pizza!