Newark Penn or EWR for Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Winecliff Station

Service Attendant
Joined
Apr 10, 2019
Messages
222
Location
Hudson Valley
I’m cruising out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne next month and there doesn’t seem to be any difference in distance or price between Newark airport or Newark Penn Station. Does anyone have any experience with the two stations as to which is easier to navigate and get a taxi? It’s a short cruise so only one suitcase. Also on the way back there could be an hour or so wait if we get off the ship early… which is a better location for waiting? Does NJ Penn have a business lounge?
 
I think it would be much easier to detrain in Newark Penn Station and proceed directly yo taxi stand. If you detrain at EWR, you have to pay fare for Airtrain and take that to the airport terminals and walk to taxi stand thru the terminal. Upon return the same would be true, plus EWR just has limited outdoor seating as opposed to waiting area in Newark Penn. There is no FC lounge in Newark.
 
You shouldn’t have to pay a fare for the airtrain if your ticket is actually to/from EWR and not NWK. You can scan your Amtrak eticket at the Airtrain fare gates.

That said, it still seems like you’d be better off at Newark Penn, if for no reason than on your return, you’ll have a lot more options in the event of service disruptions (IIRC, not all trains stop at EWR).
 
Thank you both… I was leaning toward Penn and it’s true there are more trains available there rather than EWR. I’ve just never been to Newark Penn before so I wasn’t sure of the logistics.
 
You shouldn’t have to pay a fare for the airtrain if your ticket is actually to/from EWR and not NWK. You can scan your Amtrak eticket at the Airtrain fare gates.
Indeed! Amtrak has already paid the PA over ten dollar for this privilege, and of course included it in the ticket originating or terminating at EWR.

EWR is good for catching a flight or if you have some business to transact, including working at, the airport.. Not for much else.
 
One advantage of arriving at EWR is the short Airtrain ride to the airport from which you can purchase a transfer from the cruise line that will take you from the airport to the cruise port. And I'm quite sure that a transfer by the cruise line is a guaranteed connection. Taxis, city buses and Uber are not guaranteed and if something goes wrong there's some chance your ship may sail without you. And no cruise line I've used will sell transfers to or from a train station.

In addition, while I've never been to either Penn Station,, the airport, or Liberty Cruise Port, if you intend on getting there with time to spare that spare time would be best spent in the best environment with the best waiting areas, food, drink and restrooms. I'm guessing the airport would be the best. Trip Advisor probably has reviews and photos of all three of those places.

The most important thing is to insure as best you can that you do indeed get on the cruise ship. What you decide to do after getting off the cruise ship after the cruise is a secondary concern.

DW and I almost always go by train to a cruise port and never plan on arriving the day of the cruise. We ALWAYS get there the day before and spend the night in a hotel. ALWAYS!
 
Back
Top