We will be sailing out of Cape Liberty for the first time on Symphony. We are about 4 hours south of the Port, more if a lot of traffic. Do you think it best to stay at a hotel the night before and look for a hotel that allows parking for the week and provides shuttles or try to drive up morning of the cruise? I have read mixed reviews of the Port traffic, ease of parking and so forth. If a hotel is recommended, any suggestions? Thank you

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Stevens56 · Answer

We drive about 5 hours to port. Never had a issue. Easy driving the whole way with a restroom stop along the way. Leaving on Liberty the 29th.

CraigAndLee · Answer

Usually we drive down the morning of the cruise from northern CT. For our 14 night cruise we did a hotel stay and park for the cost of just parking at the port. It makes for a relaxing morning. You can take your time, and not be stressed before even boarding. Driving down the day of is fine but leave early. If you hit a traffic issue, it's ok, you have the time. Use your favorite mapping program when you leave to check for traffic issues and alternate routes.

maryred · Answer

Personally, I wouldn't stay in any Bayonne area hotel. Jersey City area is a maybe, but I don't have recommendations on which neighborhoods are better. Newark Airport area hotels will be a bit more expensive, but some offer vacation long parking as a room package. Staying Monmouth  or Ocean counties will save you room cost, but only if it's not yet (or after) beach season eith only an hour to 90 minute drive to port.

Icruisersteve · Answer

Thanks for your help, very much appreciated. If we do stay the night before the cruise, any suggestions for hotels close by and easy to get there and to the port the next day? I have read mixed reviews of some hotels. Thank you

Xasmar · Answer

i drive from Massachusetts and I leave around 4-5am and get there early every time. I've done this drive a whole lot lol. You're good. save your money.

damarie · Answer

If it was me, I would come out the night before. this isn't something to gamble with. I remember about 6 or 7 yrs ago we were on our way to the same terminal (which is about 30 mins from us), and we got a flat! had to get that fixed right away. good thing we always head out early.

Bertfish · Answer

We’ve driven there twice from WV with no issues.

chriskim13 · Answer

we live 5.5 to 6 hours away and we are staying at the Hampton Inn in Woodbridge and driving to the port the day of our cruise and parking there

maryred · Answer

If it is a weekday you are leaving on, then the day/night before to a hotel might be a good idea, because of the commuter traffic. But only if the hotel includes cruise long parking and transport to the pier for less than $35/night that the on-site parking would cost you. On weekends, traffic is negligible unless there is an event in Bayonne.

Arielle72 · Answer

I live about 3.5 hours from Cape Liberty.  Both times we've cruised from there. we've driven ip the day of. as long as we leave home by 7am, we get to the port about 11, just in time to embark. the jersey turnpike is an easy drive and it's surprisingly easy to get through znewark and to the terminal parking

smpavone · Answer

We drove in and out on Saturdays in November 2023 and were very pleasantly surprised by how easy the drive was and well run the parking was. If it’s a weekend, I’d park at the port. We stayed in Somerset NJ the night before but were coming from Columbus, OH so driving in the day of would be too far.

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey Port Q&A

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