Category: New York City

Airline Travel Too Much of a Hassle? You Can Drive to Your Ship.

5/13/2020

This is your view as you sail from cruise ports in New York.

By John Roberts
No doubt travel is going to be quite different as we adjust to life during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
We think more people are bound to choose driving trips within their own countries until they feel more confident that they can safely travel by trains or in planes. That's what we're looking to do for the rest of 2020, with plans to visit friends and family via relaxing drives to Wisconsin, New York, New England and North Carolina.
We do plan to dip our toes into a bit of air travel, as well, with trips on the books to go to Las Vegas and Scottsdale, Arizona. We're hopeful but not certain that the process won't be too painful to get through the airport while navigating any new rules for screening, social distancing and face coverings.
Leaving the country is a whole different ball game, however. I really don't want to face the hassles and unknown factors involved with possible 14-day quarantines upon arrival to a new destination. Also, there is no guarantee the rules or conditions won't change in the middle of our trips, leaving the whole experience stressful and unpleasant.
No, there are too many unknowns for me to recommend heading overseas at this point in time -- as we approach summer 2020. I am hopeful that this virus will go away fairly soon and we'll all be fully enjoying our lives and travels again. It could happen, right?
You know that we have always enjoyed cruising as a fun and interesting way to travel. And no matter what the immediate future holds and whether international travel becomes too cumbersome to enjoy, we think you can still enjoy a cruise vacation by taking advantage of several U.S. ports that are located with a short drive away.
While these will serve as fantastic options for cruise lovers and travelers to consider while we transition out of the pandemic era, these drive-to ports are always a great way to save money on travel.
If you live close enough to easily drive to any of these cities, you can save a bundle on airfare and hotels, which traditionally take a big bite out of a travel budget.
Envision yourself easing into a cruise vacation without having to endure the inconvenience, cost and frequent frustrations from everything that goes into flying to your embarkation city -- getting to and from the airport, parking, early arrival, TSA screening lines, flight delays (or cancellations) and pricy hotel stays.
If you're fortunate and live close enough to drive to a port for your cruise, you can simply hop into your own vehicle and be aboard your ship within a few hours. No airport security, no waiting for your luggage (or lost items) or hefty costs of flying.
You realize that the less you spend to get to your ship, the more you'll have in your pocket to fully enjoy your cruise. Plus, you can probably afford to take more cruises, more often when you live close to these ports. Here are our eight best U.S. cruise ports that you can drive to for your cruise.

Baltimore. Baltimore Cruise Terminal is designed for the "drive-to" cruiser. Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line offer itineraries out of Baltimore Cruise Port, a facility that features a vast amount of parking and is located within an hour of Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
The voyages sail out of the city to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and Canada/New England. It's a gorgeous sail away as your ship makes its way along the Chesapeake Bay and past lighthouses, forts and beautiful bridges.

Boston. Out-of-towners would be well served to spend an extra day or two before or after their cruise. Boston is a spectacular city filled with great history, culture, food, sports and museums that you won't want to miss.
Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal (also known as CruisePort) serves more than 500,000 passengers a year and offers cruise itineraries from April to November, with roundtrips to Bermuda and leaf-peeping cruises to Canada/New England, as well as long voyages to the Caribbean and Europe. Ships from Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean and Seabourn call Boston's CruisePort home.

Charleston, South Carolina. The city is less than a five-hour drive from Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. Charleston owns a rich history, and South Carolina's largest city if full of charms. Visitors delight in indulging in Southern Low-Country cooking and exploring the cobblestone streets to explore the pastel-colored pre-Civil War homes. Try a horse-carriage ride for a special romantic outing. This city offers a range of historic sites (Fort Sumter), plantations, parks and museums.
Carnival Cruise Line places ships in Charleston (Carnival Sunshine as of 2020) that sail itineraries in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda.

Galveston, Texas. Just an hour from Houston and less than four hours from San Antonio, voyages from Port of Galveston take you through the Gulf of Mexico and southward to the Caribbean. Expect your ship to filled with plenty of cruisers from the Lone Star state, as well as neighboring states Louisiana and Arkansas.
Galveston is a fun island city with much to enjoy. Check out the Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park, which is filled with restaurants, shops, rides and other entertainment and amusement.
Port of Galveston is the homeport for ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line. You can find cruise itineraries all year long to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Mobile, Alabama. Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal is situated in the heart of downtown on scenic Mobile Bay, so you're close to eateries and attractions such as the Battleship Alabama, History Museum of Mobile and bustling Dauphin Street. The facility features a convenient 500-space attached parking structure.
Mobile is the home port to Carnival Fantasy, which offers mostly four- to six-day cruises to Mexico and the Western Caribbean, visiting destinations like Grand Cayman, Roatan (Honduras), Progreso and Cozumel.

New Orleans. The Big Easy offers a great gateway to fun, via the vibrant French Quarter and its jazz music, dancing, food and festivals, as well as through its cruise port.
The Port of New Orleans is located in the heart of the city, with easy access to the French Quarter, downtown and popular museums and gardens. The port has parking facilities at each of the terminals, with the cost to park just over $20 a day.
Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line offer ocean cruises from New Orleans to the Bahamas and Caribbean. This is also an embarkation point for Mississippi River cruises with American Queen Steamboat Company, Viking Cruises and American Cruise Line.

New York City/New Jersey. Cruisers have three options for sailing out of the Big Apple and along the scenic Hudson River past a majestic skyline that is filled with bridges, skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.
New York is home to millions of people -- with millions more in the immediate region within an easy drive. Visitors enjoy limitless choices of sightseeing, dining and entertainment. Plan to stay a few extra days to explore the city properly.
Visit Central Park, catch a Broadway show, check out the Museum of Modern Art and take a boat ride out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Manhattan Cruise Terminal at Pier 88 and Pier 90 on the Hudson River welcomes ships year-round from Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and others. Sailings go all over the world, with transatlantic crossing to Europe, voyages to Canada/New England, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, in Red Hook close to Governor's Island, is home to Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Princess ships. And Cape Liberty Cruise Port, in Bayonne, N.J., is at the footsteps of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You can sail on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' ships.
New York City is a special destination that owns a special aura and energy, and the best part of sailing from these cruise ports are evening departures that take you up the river and past the shimmering Lady Liberty and the iconic city skyline.

Tampa, Florida. Port Tampa Bay offers a nice small-town feel. It's easy to get around, with hotels and restaurants conveniently located close to your ship. You'll drive to the city to join your cruise, and you'll likely want to stay an extra day to enjoy the activities and attractions. Perhaps you'll want to explore Busch Gardens or grab a meal in the historic quarter of Ybor City.
Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line offer cruises from Tampa to itineraries all over the Caribbean. There is plenty of affordable parking at surface lots and in garages close to the port.

Thanks for reading,
JR

We are an affiliate of Cruise Critic Smart Deals, where you can find the best prices for your upcoming cruises. Check out the deals here. We get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and visit the website. Happy sailing!

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A World Famous Adventurer Wants You to Live Your Best Life

9/27/2018

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Erik Weihenmayer, blind adventurer, kayaks at Manhattan Kayak Co., in Manhattan

I met Erik Weihenmayer during a quick kayaking outing in Manhattan in advance of the upcoming No Barriers Summit being held in the city at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

By John Roberts

If you enjoy travel and adventure, you know what it means to push yourself.

To test your limits. To meet new challenges and get outside of your comfort zone.

Erik Weihenmayer has been the living embodiment of what it means to shatter pre-conceived notions about what is possible.

He is one of the world's foremost adventurers, having conquered Mount Everest, climbed the Seven Summits, kayaked the full 277-miles of the Grand Canyon's treacherous whitewaters, and finished the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. These are just some of the top achievements on Weihenmayer's list.

Impressive? Inspiring?

For sure.

Now, consider the fact that Weihenmayer is blind.

The 50-year-old Fort Collins, Colorado, resident has been working hard for more than three decades to create a new template for how people facing challenges can live their best lives and do what they love.

He lost his sight at the age of 13 to a childhood disease and refused to let that hamper his life. To help others, too, Weihenmayer co-founded No Barriers USA in 2005. The nonprofit organization offers support and a range of resources to fulfill its mission to "unleash the potential of the human spirit. Through transformative experiences, tools and inspiration, we help people embark on a quest to contribute their absolute best to the world. In the process, we foster a community of curious, brave and collaborative explorers who are determined to live the No Barriers Life."

In that spirit, the organization also hosts the annual No Barriers Summit. This year, the event takes place in New York City at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. It will unite 1,500 select attendees to collaborate, share experiences and put forward new ideas and concepts that can help more and more people reach their goals and potential no matter what challenges they face.

In the lead up to the No Barriers Summit, I met up with Erik and other members of his No Barriers team to do some kayaking in the Hudson River (see video at bottom of this post).

Then, we had a chance to chat about some of the goals for his organization, the summit and what he hopes his life and experiences can teach anyone who is facing obstacles or challenges.

5 Questions with Erik Weihenmayer of No Barriers USA

Q: How has No Barriers USA grown and evolved since its inception and what do you hope attendees to the summit get out of it?

A: It's grown a ton. We felt that there was a potential movement here and lots of people who would want to join because a lot of people struggle in the world. They are on the sidelines, not in the thick of things and not the best version of themselves. They feel like they're missing something.

They get shoved to the sidelines for a variety of reasons. Physical disability is a big one. Things like trauma or PTSD or brain injuries. Or maybe just human, invisible things like anxiety and fear.

So, we knew that this movement was potentially massive worldwide. So, then the idea was how to grow it, and we've been trying to do that in fits and starts over the last 15 years.

Now, we impact more than 10,000 people a year, and the summit will be a really amazing opportunity to showcase the message of No Barriers in front of a citywide audience.

We've been going to these incredibly beautiful mountain cities (recent summits have been in Colorado and California, for example). We wanted to take it out of the mountains and bring it into people's faces.

There are a lot of city folks who would not experience this message unless we brought it to them.

Q. What innovations or other developments in adaptive sports are you most excited about these days?

A. Represented at the summit, for instance, is Sam Schmidt. He is a huge hero of mine. He crashed his race car and is a quadriplegic, and with the help of this company called Arrow Electronics, they built him a car that he is able to drive with his eye movement. He's driven that car more than 100 mph, and he'll be there with the Arrow Car.

A project like that is inspiring for everybody. I don't care if you have a physical disability or not.

Another person who inspires me is Mandy Harvey. She's a deaf musician who went deaf while in college during her music program, which isn't a very convenient time to go deaf in your life.

But there is a remarkable adaptability in the human brain. Scientists call it neural plasticity.
So, if you can figure out a way to get information to Mandy (who discovered she still has perfect pitch), then she can sing songs.

She uses a simple app on her iPhone that tells her when she hums something whether she's in tune or not. She's able to learn songs, and she has written her own music.

She sings barefoot, so she can feel the vibrations of the music. And she has all these visual connections with her band, so she knows when to go in or go out.

So, No Barriers is about, yes, innovation, which is hugely important. But at the same time, it's also about the human spirit.

Q. You just had a milestone birthday, turning 50. What will you do to celebrate?

A. I have tons of trips. I'm going back to a Himalayan peak called Ama Dablam that I failed at 18 years ago. It's a 22-and-half-thousand-foot peak; some says it's the most beautiful mountain in the world. In December, I'm going to climb for two weeks in Wadi Rum in Jordan.

I'm feeling really fit, feeling really good, actually. I don't plan to slow down.

Q. What have you learned over your decades of facing challenges that can also help people not look at age as a barrier, too?

I climbed Everest back in 2001 with a guy who was 64 years old. That just shows me that, you know sure, the body does break down eventually, and that's reality. But you can push it for a long time.

You will slow down, but not in a predictable way that you might think.

For me, it's been a little bit of not falling into the trap of that I have to do something harder and higher and riskier. That gets you in trouble and is shallow. It becomes more about your resume.

I think the No Barriers message is about that map that we're building in our lives. It's not like a very neat and prescribed map. It's more like a map that propels you in very unexpected ways forward.

You have to be committed to riding the energy of life to discover new things and not settling for getting shoved to the sidelines.

Q. What is your best piece of advice for people who are reluctant to get out of their comfort zones?

A. Sometimes, what we need is just a kick start. Sometimes that No Barriers journey is so tenuous. People end up at some plateau in their lives. How do they kick start themselves into moving forward?

We get people who just have the courage to jump in and take part in the No Barriers experience, and that becomes the catalyst to them taking on something in their lives.
We call them No Barriers pledges. Whether it's writing a book or getting a job or starting a business. That thing that you were just scared to do, you make that pledge and say "I'm going to do it."

We've had soldiers get off of pain killers and work their way out of trauma.

What I'm saying is that sometimes you get stuck a little bit, and you need to find a way to unstick and make changes in your life. No Barriers could be a part of that unsticking process.

The No Barriers Summit is October 5 and 6, 2018, in New York City.

Thanks for reading,
JR

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Exploring Brooklyn and Queens Away from the Crowds

5/26/2015

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A stop for scenic views at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

By John Roberts

As I began to wake up, stirring from an unusually deep, long slumber, I noticed that my legs felt a little sore. I run more than 10 miles a week and do squats and deadlifts, too, so it's not unusual for my legs to get a good workout.

But this soreness the day after an outing around New York's Brooklyn and Queens was just a further indication of what I already knew: We put in quite a few miles during our guided walking tour with Pecora Verde.

The Italy-based excursion company launched in August 2013 with the goal of offering excursions that give tourists a different type of experience. Guides are residents in the locales in which they are leading groups. Specific tours are offered for off-the-beaten-path areas and can follow a scripted itinerary designed to take you into areas to see how the residents truly live in your destination. But with Pecora Verde's #outofthecrowd philosophy, you can also help to design your trip, your way through the "Special Services" program. Pecora Verde offers overland tours and cruise excursions throughout Europe primarily.

It offers three New York City tours as its only U.S.-based excursions so far. But Pecora Verde has plans in the works to expand its offerings. Maybe we should have slowed down a little for more rest during our tour of Brooklyn and Queens. By the end of the day, our guide, Kiara, had taken us on a 13-mile journey through two NYC boroughs that were new to us.

That's a half marathon worth of walking. Kiara says she does this route or something similar most days during a busy summer tourist season in the Big Apple. That is impressive. The native of Italy has been in New York for three years and has worked to learn many out-of-the-way nooks and crannies of the city in a bid to offer a unique experience to visitors, many of whom come from Europe to tour with her.

Mrs. In The Loop and I live in Central New Jersey and get to NYC quite often, but until this visit, it's always been to Manhattan. This tour showed us there is so much more to see in close proximity to the mass-tourism areas.

Here is what we did during our day with Pecora Verde.

We get off the train at Penn Station in Manhattan and meet Kiara, who leads us to the subway to start our tour. She explains what we are going to see, and we exchange a little bit of our personal background info with one another as we walk. The clouds overhead promise a bit of rain at some time, but we expect we might be able to get through most of the day unscathed. And it is warming up nicely. Our first stop is in Brooklyn. Just a 10-minute subway trip (or less), and it already feels like a different world.

The streets are relatively serene compared with Manhattan, and we spot people out jogging, pushing strollers, walking pooches and sipping coffees on brownstone stoops. Making our way down one tree-lined street, I can spot our first official stop.

The glimmering tiles give it away. Artist Susan Gardner's home stands out among the crowd of reddish brick residences on either side of her home in Boerum Hill. Gardner has bedazzled her domicile in a fantastic array of mosaics. She said she has lived in the home for more than four decades and started decorating the exterior on 108 Wyckoff Street just after 9/11. It's a sight to behold, sitting in sharp contrast with the other homes on her block.

Mosaic artist home of Susan Gardner at 108 Wyckoff Street in Brooklyn

The unique mosaic home of artist Susan Gardner in Brooklyn.

A few blocks away, and we and find another curiosity: the false brownstone townhouse (58 Joralemon Street) that is a facade for a ventilator unit along the subway line (the world's only Greek Revival subway ventilator). Peeking through a crack in the doors, I see a bit of the structure for the No. 4 and 5 trains that is well hidden right in the middle of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.

The fake brownstone townhouse at 58 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn. It's really a ventilator for the subway system.

Over to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, which looks across the East River to Manhattan, and we discover another view of the iconic NYC skyline. What is particularly striking is that you can easily imagine the helpless and horrific feeling people had at this vantage point watching from their homes as the World Trade Center came under attack on 9/11. Now, the Freedom Tower rises in the skyline and a small, framed picture fastened on the railing of the promenade recalls the skyline as it looked when the Twin Towers still stood.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a popular spot for pictures, recreation and relaxing.

The promenade is a wonderful space for sitting and enjoying the scenery or taking a jog. You can spot the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and other spans in the distance.

We loop back and check out Love Lane, a one-block stretch between Henry and Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights. The path was an ideal place for Dutch residents to take romantic walks. A true Lover's Lane from a bygone era.

Love Lane in Brooklyn Heights is lacking lovers on this Saturday morning.

This tour is proving to be quite interesting, and we're loving the different vibe from a more quiet side of New York that exists just a few subway stops from midtown Manhattan. A much-needed lunch stop for food, water and a bit of rest on comfy couches at Brooklyn Roasting Company in Dumbo gives me a chance to fire out some pictures to my social media accounts documenting our morning.

About Dumbo? Well, it's a quaint neighborhood in Brooklyn. It's located Down Under the Manhattan Bridge. Wait that won't quite work, will it? It's Down Under the Manhattan Bridge, ummm, Overpass. Yeah, that's better. You can see the basic genesis of the name.

The neighborhood Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.

The quiet and scenic spot is filled with shops and eateries near the large bridge. Onward to that bridge. Time arrives to cross over from Brooklyn to Chinatown in Manhattan. The 1.25-mile walk over the river via the Manhattan Bridge is on a sidewalk shared by bikers, and you get fine views of the river on one side and vehicles and trains using the span on the other.

A full range of views from the Manhattan Bridge.

Once we finish our crossing, passing all manner of gritty views of housing projects and rooftop graffiti on the way, we lose our sense of peace and quietude. We squeeze through crowded sidewalks in Chinatown, skim past Little Italy and find another subway station for our journey to Queens. Overall, we take four subway trips during the day.

In Queens, we venture through Long Island City and to the waterfront, which again provides fine vistas of the skyline. Queens is more of a blue-collar city, not nearly as attractive as Brooklyn, but with certain charms. We are here to check out the famed Pepsi sign. Disclaimer: We are a devout Coca-Cola family, but that doesn't prevent me from stopping for a few pictures.

A photo-opp hot spot in Queens.

We spot the MoMa PS1 branch of the Museum of Modern Art as we make our way to CitiField and Flushing Meadows (another subway ride) to check out the home of the New York Mets and the nearby courts that host the U.S. Open tennis tournament each September.

We're tempted to stay for the Mets game that night, especially because they are playing the Brewers (the wife's fave team), but game time is about four hours away (even though fans are starting to trickle toward the stadium).

The main tennis court at Flushing Meadows is adjacent to the train yard.

The main tennis court, with renovations in the works, at Flushing Meadows is adjacent to the train yard.

Walking toward the tennis courts and Flushing Meadows -- Corona Park, we take note that it was the site for the World's Fair in 1939/40 and 1964/65. The tennis facilities are quiet this time of year and undergoing projects to prepare for the U.S. Open, but the nearby park is buzzing with families, and the Unisphere structure sits in the middle of it all.

The attraction is a metal globe that rises 140 feet into the air and is 120 feet in diameter. It's a relic from the 1964/65 World's Fair and stands as a sort of Queens landmark. The legs are getting a bit weary now, for sure. But I refuse to admit it, determined to keep the spring in my step.

The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows -- Corona Park in Queens.

We have seen all that is in the itinerary for the day, and Kiara checks how we're doing. Did we get enough pictures? Yes. Need to stop for an ice cream? Want to? Yes. Need to? No.

Our tour was over except for the subway ride back to Manhattan to catch out train at New York Penn Station for the journey home to New Jersey. Just in time, as I notice my ankles starting to get a little swollen from all the walking. One more glance at the pretty green trees and one last moment to savor the sounds of chirping birds before we leave Flushing Meadows, hop on the train and are transported back into the bubbling cauldron of humanity in Times Square.

Thanks for reading,

JR

Travel fit! Travel happy!

You can't beat the views and activity at Brooklyn Bridge Park on a warm Saturday.

The Skinny

In addition to its numerous overland tours and cruise excursions around the world, Pecora Verde has just cracked into the U.S. market. It offers three tours in New York City and says it is planning to add its #outofthecrowd experiences in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and select parks around the U.S.

The Brooklyn and Queens, Exploring New York's Hidden Treasures tour costs $90 per person (we were hosted by Pecora Verde for our tour).

What's not included: Lunch, drinks, subway transfers (we paid $11 per person to get around on the subway with our Metro cards).

The bottom line: This experience indeed gives you a different look and feel from crowded excursions on well-worn areas. You will walk a lot, so be prepared and wear comfortable shoes. The small-group nature means you can adjust your pace and schedule, which is a good thing.

Check out the video of our walking tour with Pecora Verde.

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Airline Travel Too Much of a Hassle? You Can Drive to Your Ship.

A World Famous Adventurer Wants You to Live Your Best Life

5 Questions with Erik Weihenmayer of No Barriers USA

Exploring Brooklyn and Queens Away from the Crowds

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