Arrive into New York

26th November, Tuesday

Up at six, woken by the room boys setting up for the changeover. Presume they don’t want anyone lying in, so they make enough noise to ensure it can’t happen.

Breakfast was mad, but the captain told all the tour people that the gangway was open, so it suddenly went quite. We had the buffet virtually to ourselves, well up until 7.30am when the next tranche of guests got up for breakfast. We returned to our cabin and picked up our backpacks, which in turn enabled us to walk the decks. 

The sun was out and looking superb. We could see the NYC ferry at red hook, just on the other side of the port exit. Perhaps 100m away, with all the taxis. so we felt a little more comfortable about our transfer.

Then it was down to deck three to sit and wait. But we soon got board and walked the deck again until we thought it may be good to get in place for the call to depart.

Realistically we would have been better taking our own bags off, we would have been going through immigration by 7am

We both decided we would do that when we get off the Anthem of the Seas in a fortnights time.

Judith is hovering over me saying ”l am bored, we could have stayed out on deck seven in the sun” 

But we have to wait, then catch the NYC ferry to Wall Street, and transfer to another ferry that takes us up to 34th street. If we can manage the whole journey within 90 minutes you can do it with just one ticket.

The price of the ticket was $2.75, plus the girl allowed us to get on the outbound ferry, instead of waiting for it to come back. 

This gave us a free sightseeing trip along the river. We then jumped ship at Dunbo (the stop prior to Wall Street) and caught the Eastern ferry to 34th St. Walking for 20 minutes until we reach the hotel. The Omni Berkshire. 

Quite a posh name for a faded old lady. Rooms aren’t ready, so we have a pizza across the road, as a late lunch. Then it’s down to the magnificent central railway station in all its glory. Checked out the oyster bar, but at nearly $4 a piece and $35 for a bottle of wine we decided to give it a miss. Then went off to find the underground station and investigate the feasibility of using it on Sunday to get to the port at Bayonne New Jersey. Manage to find the station, but there are lots of steps and the turnstiles look quite small. So much so, l can’t see how an adult and a case would get through.

The hotel said they would text to say if the room would be ready. Surprise, surprise, she didn’t. But returned at 3.30 and all was good. Although the luggage had disappeared. But after a few ups and downs l found them. 

The room was excellent, giant bed, safe, massive tv, bath and shower and air con. What more can you ask for. Perhaps a kettle with tea and coffee.