ehw51

+1 on this!!! Check out what TripAdvisor says about some of these properties....not worth it IMO.

Did you compare these prices to getting a good rate at a hotel you'd rather stay at + the cost of parking? 
I think park and stay "deals" are too restrictive and rarely save money.

Hi!  been a busy week but I did find some information.  There are multiple hotels in the area that offer a cruise and stay package, however many still charge for parking at a reduced rate.  BUUUUUUUUTTTTTTT......There are three hotels 10 miles or closer from the terminal that offer free parking for at least seven nights if you stay the night before. In addition these hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal.  While I was looking for a few different "upscale" options, free shuttle transport AND free parking is really nice!  These hotels are:
 
Hilton Garden Inn of Staten Island
1100 South Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 477-2400
 
Country Inn & Suites Newark International Airport
100 International Blvd, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(908) 282-0020
 
Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel
1000 Spring St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(908) 436-4600

@Lovetocruise2002 @USCG Teacher @karl_nj Thanks for the added input. Hyatt House seems to be a good option! I will definitely be contacting them soon to see if they indeed do a cruise package where parking at the hotel would be complimentary or discounted. Also will check out the W. If these hotels do a package, I will post my findings on this thread. In the meantime, I can gather the information of the hotels in the nearby area that I know for sure offer a package and post it here. Like I previously mentioned, we have stayed at two hotels that offer such perks.  Keep the awesome input coming!!!
 
Drew

I think that is what caught my attention about that area.  While I do really like Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ, that area is not very walkable at all.  And for us, when we do pre-cruise stays, areas that have lots within walking distance is very appealing to us.

Yeah, the rooftop bar is nice in that hotel.  Especially when it's nice enough to sit outside.  The company I work for had an after work event there once, and I also went there for drinks after work a couple of times (pre-pandemic).  
There is a W hotel in Hoboken that also is a good option for a pre-cruise stay.  Close to the PATH train, and ferry terminals to get to NYC, plus lots of great local restaurants to walk to.

While I can't speak to Hyatt House specifically, I can say that Jersey City is a nice option for those visiting the area.  It's very close to Manhattan if you want to hop over to see NYC, it is much cheaper than staying in NYC itself (and the rooms are generally considerably larger), it offers amazing views and has tons of really good dining options.  Jersey City is an extremely walkable area, and when it's time to head over to the terminal, being on the Jersey side makes Ubers/Lyft cheaper and the ride easier.  Just my 2 cents as a born and bred Jersey boy.

I just thought of something else just now, for a one night pre-cruise stay, there is another hotel that has caught my attention in the past. I was supposed to try it out back in August but never had the chance to. It’s Hyatt House in Jersey City. Right along the water front and lots of restaurants within walking distance. It looks more modern compared to Hyatt Regency and it has what looks to be a fabulous rooftop bar area. Another option for you. 

All of these responses have been so helpful! We have stayed at the Hilton Inn at Staten Island and a hotel (forget the name) at the Newark airport. They were both OK. Yes it’s just one night but to us a trip like a cruise is an experience and the entire experience should be as positive as possible. With that said, while the previous hotels had the complimentary parking, we would like try another option that has better accommodations. I think I’ll check out the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City. @Lovetocruise2002  and @Jax I would love to stay in NYC but my husband would think I’m crazy to drive and park the car in Manhattan. He doesn’t like driving in the city (He also doesn’t like when I drive ?). The free parking perk at the hotel as opposed to the cruise terminal is really nice. So for those of you following look for a hotel with a cruise package for parking and/or transportation! @WAAAYTOOO I’m getting a “Zone 6 Star Class” tattoo on my wrist so I don’t forget LOL.

My wife and I were team leaders for one of our first cruises. We still attend and participate, but not doing the team leader thing again. LOL

1. Sail out of Baltimore in January. Rough seas in the western Atlantic that time of year and too cool for the first two days. (Unfortunately, It only got up to 70 & cloudy in Nassau)
2. If Possible, not go to Nassau again. (just stay on board if we do end up there)
3. Dragon's Breath Flight Line in Ladadee. Too much money for a SHORT experience.
4. Never done this, but, be a volunteer for The Quest. ? 

Buy 'by the inch' 'jewelry' chain.
 
 
 

Yeah, there's no way we could get off work for 14 days, it looks AMAZING .... But I wonder if the 7-nighter might be in play. 

Although, there is the question of...... what's she going to be doing in '21?  We shall see. 

This is a new one ..... they just released a couple of sailings on Grandeur in 2022 that start/end at Barbados.  Wow.  Looks like I need to relocate closer to my precious Lady G.  The pricing and the couple of itineraries released are definitely in a "WOW" world.....dang.  And the pricing is good to.  You just need to get there.
 

Go formal on Formal Night. 
The past few cruises we decided to just hit up the buffet or a specialty restaurant.    

Not walking out of the straw market at Nassau. Feel like we missed A LOT! Nassau is a place that you cannot judge by its port area.
 

My first wife and I were there in 1995 (Nassau).  It was fun for me at the time, however I was not long out of the Marine Corps, during which time I had been able to experience some of the more....interesting....parts of the world.  I'm older and a tiny bit wiser now.  

The zipline on board the ship.  As much as I enjoy zip lining, they way you stop yourself is by slamming into a concrete wall. Thankfully, (I suppose) I did it on my last day on the ship.  I spent the next two days in a wheelchair because of knee damage. Won't do that again! 

I will never tip the cabana attendant in advance again.  We were on Labadee in a cabana a few years ago.  We thought it would be easier to tip the attendant up front in case we got busy and forgot later or decided to leave and couldn't find him.  We gave him $20 at the beginning of the day and never saw him again.  Won't make that mistake again !

Well I get that...I don't venture past the first shop at the Labadee market and i only go that close cause she wants to "look around and shop"...lol
 
I only started cruising in 2013...so it hasn't been that bad at Nassau...still have to say NO a few times, but I can handle 30 seconds or so of that to get out and do my own thing.
 
 

For me it was an experience in the 90s where the setup is different than now.  Back then getting off the ship required walking through a gauntlet that makes the Labadee market seem tame.  A couple trips like that were enough so I avoided cruises that included a stop in Nassau for years.  
Years later I found myself in Nassau and it was better but it took me a long time to get over that initial experience.

I always wonder why people have such disdain for Nassau.....
 
I mean its one thing to stay on the ship cause you have so many fun activities planned, its pouring rain etc.....but to simply refuse to get off the ship because its "Nassau" has always bewildered me....
 
I have enjoyed Nassau all 10x or so I have been there!

I am very familiar with this problem....

1. Get off the ship in Nassau
2. Getting hounded into letting those nice ladies braid both my daughters hair at $2 a braid and they both have my thick Italian hair ??‍♀️
3. Not get the drink package. Our first ever cruise was Disney and I was so stressed about the drink prices. Second was RCL with the drink package and it was so much more relaxed. I’m not a huge drinker, but being able to have the few drinks I do want, and the specialty coffees made it a no brainer. The On the Go drink in the Bamboo Room is fantastic! 
4. Not pay gratuities in advance. Also another stress factor removed. 
 
We rented snorkeling equipment, but thinking of investing. We relocated from CO to FL in June 2020, and I’m thrilled to be close to port, if we ever get back to cruising, seems like it’s been forever and we went on the March 2-6, 2020 Mariner.