RCCL Explorer Christmas 2010 Cruisers - Pre Cruise Poll

Since there is a lot of interest in EOS for Christmas in 2010, well, actually, it's already in place as a Cruise Freek Group Cruise - I guess as long as Royal Caribbean still keeps a ship in NJ and I don't see why they won't, it's been a huge success so far - this is a poll about a potential Pre-Cruise stay in New York City. Now, I'm a Jersey girl but, I'd probably take advantage of the opportunity and stay a night or two in the city and then come back to NJ for the cruise.

If this is of interest to you and you plan on actually booking the Christmas 2010 cruise from NJ on Royal Caribbean, please cast your vote for the hotel type of your choice. I am only listing types meaning budget, moderate, upscale or luxury. I'm warning you in advance NYC prices are high and during the holidays extremely high!

Keep in mind the prices I have listed are only guidelines. I'm sure our TA will be able to get us a much better group rate at a better hotel than what I have listed. So don't shoot me, like I said these are merely guidelines and a poll to see who is interested and what the majority of us can afford to do.
And, this will help our selected TA, whoever he or she maybe, in getting us organized.

Thanks for voting!

The problem with your idea, for a teacher such as myself, is that not only is it the hotel. I would then have to add in whatever activity is selected, say it's Radio City as suggested, that's another $40 - $60 per person; I'm sure we'd all have to share the cost of the bus for getting us to all the places including back to Bayonne so figure another $20 - $30 person for that; then we still need to eat. Realistically, I doubt I'd be able to afford the extra $400 - $600 you're describing. Not for one night. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great IF you can afford it but, I'm just saying for someone like me, it just isn't realistic.

I do understand your position but, there are some of us that will be able to afford it and I think it's a fun idea, especially for those coming in from outside the area. Say you were coming in from Iowa, would you rather stay in Jersey City or Newark and stay in the hotel the night or would you like a fun night in NYC before cruising? See what I'm saying? That's why I started the poll PLUS many people already mentioned the idea.

And I'm saying it's a GREAT idea but, not all of us will be able to afford it. Nothing else. Didn't mean to insult.

Oh you didn't insult me at all! I was just trying to explain why I put the poll up, I know not everyone will want to do this or will be able to afford it on top of the cruise.

I'm all for it!  In fact, it would be the leading reason for me to book a cruise from a cold weather port.  Without NYC as part of the package, what would be my incentive to leave warm, sunny Florida for cold, rainy or snowy New Jersey?

I'm in MA so again like Tommy Bahamas the ONLY reason I would book from Bayonne during the winter would be to SPECIFICALLY visit New York during the Holidays. This does not mean staying in a hotel in NJ and driving or taking the train into the city. If I were to do it, I would want to do it the right way, meaning at least one night in New York (Manhattan) proper. However, I can't see going crazy, the Holiday Inn, (which I've actually stayed in and thought it was a good location for the price), would be more than fine. I just need a bed and a place to shower but, I won't lower myself to something like Milford Plaza or worse the Hotel Pennsylvania.

As I said when EOS was first proposed for the Holidays in 2010, the MAIN reason would be to visit New York prior to the cruise. If New York isn't included, I probably won't book. Why would I want to spend 1.5 days at sea, inside? However, you give me a night or two in New York and you got yourself a deal!

I'd also like to suggest a Broadway show opposed to Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Not everyone booking will necessarily want to see a Christmas show and a Broadway production is non-denominational.

And, I think Tavern on the Green would be a great restaurant choice for the group.

(In my opinion)

Krazy 4 Kruises wrote:

As I said when EOS was first proposed for the Holidays in 2010, the MAIN reason would be to visit New York prior to the cruise. If New York isn't included, I probably won't book. Why would I want to spend 1.5 days at sea, inside? However, you give me a night or two in New York and you got yourself a deal!

I'd also like to suggest a Broadway show opposed to Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Not everyone booking will necessarily want to see a Christmas show and a Broadway production is non-denominational.

And, I think Tavern on the Green would be a great restaurant choice for the group.

(In my opinion)

Tavern on the Green? YUCK! With all the restaurants that good to exceptional in Manhattan, why in the world would you suggest Tavern on the Green? The only way I'd eat there is if Donald Trump takes it over as proposed and he brings the place back to what it was in yesteryear.

I thought Tavern on the Green was one of "the" places to eat?

Only to tourists! Personally, I'd go to 21 but, that would be major $$ for most people.

Guess I'm a tourist then...

21 is indeed a great restaurant but, with a group with various budgets, I'd probably suggest something a bit more mainstream like one of the Heartland Brewery Restaurants and I just like to remind everyone to keep the boards friendly. We all may have a different opinion on certain subjects - like this discussion - so please keep open minds and let's keep the board flame-free as we have the past 6 months of operations.

Sorry Henry, didn't mean to get carried away if I did. I just don't want to see anyone pay a lot of money for a dinner and get disappointed.

No worries Da Bronx, you're intentions are good, I know that Just don't want this to turn into a battle over something as silly as a restaurant.

Understood. Again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

I won't repeat myself too much since I just expressed my opinion in another thread you guys have going but, I'm very impressed that you're going to have a group cruise during the holidays in 2010 and I'm very interested and will more than likely be joining the group and booking.

That aside, I'll address the topic at hand. I'd say go for the at the Holiday or Sheraton options, this way you'll be affordable to more people and, I think it will be a more successful group if you keep things within reason for the majority.

As the OP mentioned, I'm sure the assigned TA will be able to negotiate a good deal, so, the more people we can get who can actually commit to book will probably help to lower the price for everyone.

Does that make sense?

Here's the way I view it, if it's only a $50 difference between a fleabag hotel or hotel in a so-so area, I'd rather pay the extra $50 and have a decent hotel. I agree with majority that there is no reason to go overboard and book a hotel like the Waldorf-Astoria which would exclude many from the Pre-Cruise opportunity.

I would love to go to Radio City to see the Christmas Show and I'd equally enjoy going to a Broadway production. Either would provide a quintessential New York experience!

Where we have dinner is the least of my concerns. I want to experience New York City for all that it has to offer during the holidays!

Hi everyone, sorry to intrude but, I just wanted to show you what the Cunarders have planned for 2009 for their pre-cruise plans and that might give you a jumping off point for prices and activities:

https://cruisefreekforums.forumotion.com/Cunard-Holiday-Cruise-2009-h31.htm

Happy planning!

Thank you Host Jackie!

Here are my thoughts. If I'm flying up from Atlanta, I'd want at least one night in New York (truth be told, I'd actually want two or three nights), anyhow, I wouldn't want the hotel to be in NJ but actually in New York meaning Manhattan. I'd want a nice upscale hotel and with over two years to save for the trip, I know I can afford the indulgence. Sure, I realize hotels in NY are going to twice or even three times the price of a hotel in New Jersey but, it's the Manhattan experience that I would be coming to enjoy.

As so many have pointed out, if there isn't a pre-cruise stay in New York, why would I want to come North to be stuck inside for 1.5 days at sea? It's Manhattan that is the selling point of this trip, at least for me.

I'd want the chance to see the city and I'd love to see a show, which one wouldn't really matter.

I checked out the Cunard link Host Jackie provided and, I LOVE what the Cunarders have set up and, I'd like to see this group offer something similar. Maybe not at such an expensive hotel but, if we could get in the $300 range, per room, per night. I know that is something I could afford, and, I know it would make for wonderful memories for a lifetime. Since it wouldn't be "just another Caribbean cruise".

Seems like the majority are on-board with the idea. So while we wait, let's see if we can get a TA assigned and maybe start working with us. Sound good?

I sent an email to Tina. Hopefully we'll get a TA assigned now.

Sounds good.

If I book this it would be because of the pre-cruise package in NYC. I'd like to throw out the idea of the Hilton on the Avenue of the Americas. That location and hotel have always worked well for me. It's usually fairly priced, considering it's Manhattan and a Hilton and it's a large enough hotel to be able to handle a group.