Guide To Nyc

Welcome to New York City Guide by Tina Rinaldi, Owner, Cruise Freek Forums

New York Area Airports New York City is served by three major airports: Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR). We do not recommend MacArthur Airport in Islip, Long Island (ISP) due to it's distance from the city. The reality is that any of the airports can services your needs and, each has their drawbacks. The biggest problem is always traffic, even though all three area airports are 20 miles or less from Manhattan, it can often take an hour or more to reach Manhattan, and, New York/New Jersey traffic is unpredictable and has no rhyme or reason. Getting To Manhattan from the Airports While this is your expense, it is recommended you either take a taxi or hire a car service or shuttle service to transport you from the airport to Manhattan. Public transportation is available but, it is not recommended since you will have luggage in tow. From JFK (Kennedy) • Taxis: $45 flat fare (plus tolls) to any Manhattan location. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand where you will be directed to a taxi. For destinations outside of Manhattan, consult the TLC Fare Guide. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the Taxi Rider's Bill of Rights. There is no additional charge for luggage and rates are based per car, not per passenger (up to four passengers). To return to JFK from Brooklyn or Manhattan, taxis will charge you the metered rate, plus any applicable tolls. • Car Services: Pre-arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport, or call one when your flight touches down. This is a great option if you want to avoid waiting in line for a taxi or if you have a group larger than four people and want to arrange for a van or limousine. Try Limos.com at http://www.limos.com for free price quotes • Private Shuttles: Several companies offer shuttles to Manhattan, including:

◦ New York Airport Service Express Bus: Available from 6:30 a.m. - 11:10 p.m., these shuttles leave every 15-30 minutes. Fare is $13 ($15 if you want to be dropped off at your midtown hotel), but you can save by buying roundtrip tickets online, as they are $22 (you can also buy discounted one way tickets online). One free child under 12 is included in the fare. You can choose to disembark at Grand Central, Port Authority or Penn Station, in addition to hotels between 31st Street and 60th Street. The ride takes about an hour. Return schedules and more information are available on their website. ◦ Super Shuttle: Available 24 hours a day, this shuttle provides door to door service for your party. Fares are $15 - $19, depending on destination. No reservations are required to get from the airport to your destination, but they are required for your return trip to the airport. Consult their website or call 1-800-258-3826 for more information. From LaGuardia (LGA) • Taxis: Metered fare (plus tolls) to any Manhattan location. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand where you will be directed to a taxi. For destinations outside of Manhattan, consult the TLC Fare Guide. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the Taxi Rider's Bill of Rights. There is no additional charge for luggage and rates are based per car, not per passenger (up to four passengers). • Car Services: Pre-arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport, or call one when your flight touches down. This is a great option if you want to avoid waiting in line for a taxi or if you have a group larger than four people and want to arrange for a van or limousine. Try Limos.com at http://www.limos.com for free price quotes

• Private Shuttles: Several companies offer shuttles to Manhattan, including: ◦ New York Airport Service Express Bus: Available from 6:30 a.m. - 11:10 p.m., these shuttles leave every 15-30 minutes. One-way fare is $10 ($12 if you want to be dropped off at your midtown hotel), but you can save by buying roundtrip tickets online, as they are $16 (you can also buy discounted one way tickets online). One free child under 12 is included in the fare. You can choose to disembark at Grand Central, Port Authority or Penn Station, in addition to hotels between 31st Street and 60th Street. The ride takes about 45 minutes. Return schedules and more information are available on their website. ◦ Super Shuttle: Available 24 hours a day, this shuttle provides door to door service for your party. Fares are $15 - $19, depending on destination. No reservations are required to get from the airport to your destination, but they are required for your return trip to the airport. Consult their website or call 1-800-258-3826 for more information. From Newark, NJ (EWR) • Taxis from Newark Airport: Metered fare (plus tolls) to any Manhattan location, approximately $50-75. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand where you will be directed to a taxi. There is an additional charge for luggage over 24 inches if the driver handles the bags, and rates are based per car, not per passenger (up to four passengers). • Taxis to Newark Airport: Metered fare (approximately $69-75) plus return tolls and a $15 surcharge for a NYC Taxi to Newark Airport. • Car Services: Pre-arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport, or call one when your flight touches down. This is a great option if you want to avoid waiting in line for a taxi or if you have a group larger than

four people and want to arrange for a van or limousine. Try Limos.com at http://www.limos.com for free price quotes • Private Shuttles: Several companies offer shuttles to Manhattan, including: ◦ Newark Liberty Airport Express: Available from 4:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m., these shuttles leave every 15-30 minutes for midtown Manhattan and every 2 hours to downtown Manhattan (from 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.). One-way fare is $13, but you can save by buying round-trip tickets, as they are $22. One free child under 16 is included in the fare. You can choose to disembark at Grand Central, Port Authority or Penn Station, in addition to midtown hotels. The ride takes about ah hour. Return schedules and more information are available on their website. ◦ Super Shuttle: Available 24 hours a day, this shuttle provides door to door service for your party. Fares are $15 - $19, depending on destination. No reservations are required to get from the airport to your destination, but they are required for your return trip to the airport. Consult their website or call 1-800-258-3826 for more information.

Sightseeing Guide

We are still organizing sightseeing for the pre-cruise package in New York City for our 2010 Holiday group. Below are a just a few suggestions of sightseeing you may wish to do on your own: • • • • •

Circle Line Tours - http://www.circleline42.com/ Empire State Building - http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm Top of the Rock - http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/ NBC Studio Tour - http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/ index.php?v=nbunbcmktnbt South Street Seaport - http://www.southstreetseaport.com/html/

• • • •

Statue of Liberty - http://www.nps.gov/stli/

http://www.amnh.org/ Metropolitan Museum of Art - http://www.metmuseum.org/ Gray Line Bus Tour - http://www.coachusa.com/ newyorksightseeing/ Museum of Natural History -

Shopping Guide Department Stores • Bergdorf Goodman 754 5th Avenue (58th Street), (212) 753-7300 • Bloomingdale's 1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street, (212) 705-2000 • Century 21 22 Cortlandt Street between Broadway and Church Street, (212) 227-9092 • Fortunoff 681 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street, (212) 758-6660 • H&M 34th St. @ Herald Square (646-473-1165), 34th St. at 7th Ave., 51st St. and 5th Ave., 558 Bway, 125 W 125th St. • Henri Bendel 712 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, (212) 247-1100 • Lord & Taylor 424 Fifth Avenue at 38th Street, (212) 391-3344 • Macy's Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway, (212) 695-4400 • Saks Fifth Avenue 611 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street, (212) 753-4000 Toy Stores

• • • • • • • •

Chimera 77 Mercer Street (Spring and Broome), 334-4730 Enchanted Forest 85 Mercer Street (Spring and Broome), 925-6677 FAO Schwarz 767 5th Avenue at 58th Street, 644-9400 Kay-Bee Toys Manhattan Mall, 901 Ave of the Americas, 629-5386 Penny Whistle Toys 448 Columbus Ave at 81st St, 873-9090 Penny Whistle Toys 1283 Madison Ave at 91st St, 369-3868 Star Magic 1256 Lexington Avenue between 84th and 85th St, 988-0300 Star Magic 745 Broadway, between Astor and Broadway, 228-7770

Jewelry Stores - if you plan on serious jewelry shopping please email Tina at [email protected] to ask about shopping with a local GIA Jeweler • Cartier 52nd St and 5th Ave, 753-0111 and 725 5th Avenue at Trump Tower, 308-0843 • The Clay Pot 162 7th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn, (800) 989-3579. • DVVS 263A West 19th St btwn 7th and 8th Ave, 366-4888 or 366-4115 • Harry Winston 718 Fifth Avenue & 56th St, 245-2000 • Kokopelli Gallery 120 Thompson St btwn Prince and Spring, 925-4411 • Swatch Watches ◦ 640 Broadway & Bleeker St, 777-1002 ◦ 100 West 72nd Street, 595-9640 ◦ 5 East 57th Street, 317-1100 • Tiffany & Co. 727 Fifth Avenue & 57th St, 755-8000 • Tourneau ◦ 12 East 57th St and Madison, 758-7300, (800)772-7836 ◦ 500 Madison Avenue at 52nd Street, 758-6098

◦ 635 Madison Avenue at 59th Street, 758-6688 ◦ 200 West 34th Street and Seventh, 563-6880 Theme Stores

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

CBS Store 1697 Broadway at 53rd Street, (212) 975-8600 The Disney Store 210 W. 42nd St. @ 7th Ave, (212) 221-0430 39 W. 34th St. btw. 5th and 6th Ave, (212) 279-9890 147 Columbus Ave. @ 66th St, (212) 362-2386 The Forbidden Planet 840 Broadway @ 13th Street, (212) 473-1576 Hammacher Schlemmer 147 East 57th Street btw Lexington and 3rd Ave, (212) 421-9000 NBA Store 666 Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street, (212) 515-6221 New York Firefighter's Friend 263 Lafayette St. btw Prince and Spring, (212) 226-3142 Pearl River Mart 277 Canal Street, (212) 431-4770 200 Grand Street, (212) 966-1010 The Sharper Image 900 Madison Avenue btw 72nd and 73rd Streets, (212) 794-4974 ◦ 89 South Street Seaport @ Pier 17, (212) 693-0477 ◦ 4 West 57th Street btw 5th and 6th Ave, (212) 265-2550 Star Magic 1256 Lexington Avenue, between 84th and 85th Streets, (212) 988-0300 ◦ 745 Broadway, between Astor and Broadway, (212) 228-7770 The Sony Store 550 Madison Avenue btw 55th and 56th Streets, (212) 833-6800 Swatch 640 Broadway & Bleeker Street, (212) 777-1002 ◦ 100 West 72nd Street, (212) 595-9640 ◦ 5 East 57th Street, (212) 317-1100 The Warner Brothers Store 1 E. 57th St @ 5th Ave, (212) 754-0300 ◦ One Time Square, (212) 840-4040 ◦ Kings Plaza, Brooklyn, (718) 338-5130 ◦ Queens Center, Queens, (718) 669-6301 ◦ Staten Island Mall, (718) 982-8905

What Is A Metro-Card What is a MetroCard? A MetroCard is a thin plastic cards that is used to pay for bus and subway fares in New York City. What Type of MetroCards Are There? There are two types of MetroCards: Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards and Unlimited Ride MetroCards.

Where Can I Buy A MetroCard? • MetroCards are available for sale in NYC Subway stations. • MetroCards are not available for sale on NYC buses. • Merchants displaying MetroCard signs in their windows (newsstands, grocery stores, etc.) sell select types of MetroCards. Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards • Rides are $2 each, but if you put $7 or more on your card, you get a 15% bonus. ◦ This only applies at time of purchase i.e. if you put $4 and then later $3 on your card you do not get the bonus. ◦ In effect, if you buy 7 rides ($14) you'll get your 8th ride free. ◦ In order to avoid having wonky amounts on your MetroCard, you'll want to put $40 on your card, and you'll get a $6 bonus, giving you 3 free rides. • Up to 4 people can ride together on a single Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard. ◦ If multiple people are riding together on the same MetroCard the first person can swipe the card through the necessary number of times and other riders can walk through the turnstile following them. • Pay per ride MetroCards are refillable. Unlimited Ride MetroCards • Unlimited ride Metrocards are good for one person to ride the subways and buses as much as they like during a specified window of time. • Unlimited Ride MetroCards can not be used more than once every 18 minutes. This is designed to prevent fraudulent use of the card by multiple people. ◦ Subway station agents cannot override the 18 minute rule -you must wait for the time to expire. • 1-Day Fun Passes are $7.50 and are good for unlimited Subway and Bus rides on the day of use until 3 a.m. • 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCards are $25 and are good until midnight on the 7th day. • 14-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCards are $47 and are good until midnight on the 14th day. • 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCards are $81 and are good until midnight on the 30th day. ◦ Monthly metrocards that are lost or stolen and purchased with a credit or atm card are insured against lost. How Can I Pay for a MetroCard? • MetroCard Vending Machines inside Subway stations take cash, ATM cards, and credit cards.

• MetroCard Vending Machines can only return $6 change, and do so with dollar coins. • Subway Station Booths only accept cash for purchase of MetroCards. ◦ 1 Day Fun Passes are not available from Subway station booths. How Do I Know How Much Time/Money is Left on My MetroCard? • When you swipe a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard through a Subway turnstile, you will see the remaining balance displayed. • MetroCard Readers are available at Station Booths and in Subway Stations and if you scan your card through, it will display the expiration date for Unlimited Ride MetroCards, as well as the remaining balance on your Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard. Good to Know: Single Ride Tickets • Single Ride tickets cost $2. • They are available for sale only through MetroCard Vending Machines in Subway stations. • They can only be purchased using cash. • They must be used within 2 hours of purchase to ride a Subway or Bus. • They are valid for one transfer Bus to Bus.

Guide to Riding NYC Subways Newcomers to New York often feel a bit intimidated by our famous subway system. But don’t worry. The New York City subway looks nothing like what you’ve seen in movies from the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the subway is clean (mostly), safe (usually), and the fastest way to get around Manhattan (almost always). There are only a few things that you need to know to successfully navigate the New York City subway system. • Planning Your Trip – Take a few minutes to plan your trip before you leave by visiting HopStop or Trips123. Simply enter your current location and your destination details (you don’t even need the exact address) and find the easiest route via public transportation. You can select which modes of transit (subway, bus, walking) and whether you want the fastest route or the one with the fewest transfers or least walking. For easier trips, just take a look at the latest MTA subway map online before you leave. If you don’t have a chance to plan and have to improvise, have no fear. There are subway maps in every subway station. You’ll find

maps near the ticket booth and often on the platform as well. If there’s an actual human in the ticket booth (not always the case now that automated MetroCard machines have replaced people in many stations), he or she can also provide directions. During severe weather or other emergencies, check the latest MTA Service Advisories for any changes in service. You can also sign up to get email alerts whenever there is a service change on your regular subway line. • Paying Your Fare – The days of subway tokens are long gone. It’s all about the MetroCard now. You can buy MetroCards at convenient machines in every subway station, at station attendant booths, and at many neighborhood merchant locations. Subway fare will generally cost you $2 per ride, though there are discounted fare options available. If you put $10 or more on your MetroCard, you’ll receive a 20% bonus. For example, if you purchase a $20 card, you’ll get two free trips ($4 value). You can also buy Unlimited Ride MetroCards if you’ll be traveling frequently by train and/or local bus – one day Fun Passes (primarily for visiting tourists) are $7, 7-day cards are $24, and 30-day cards are $76. Find out what to do if your MetroCard doesn’t work or is lost or stolen. Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride for free when accompanied by a fare paying adult. Seniors and people with disabilities may be eligible to travel for a reduced fare of $1 per ride. • Subway Safety – The New York City subway system is pretty safe as long as you take logical precautions. Take special care when traveling late at night (especially since you may be waiting for trains for long periods on deserted platforms). Travel with a companion if it’s late and ride in a populated car or in the first car (where the train operator sits) or in the middle car (where the conductor sits). Use common sense -- don’t run on the stairs or escalators, keep your bag closed and your valuables tucked away, and avoid riding between cars. • Subway Etiquette – Etiquette is very important when so many people are crammed into such small spaces. First of all, when preparing to board the subway, let people off of the train before shoving your way inside. Take only one seat when it’s crowded -don’t put your feet up, put your bag on a seat, or sprawl all over the car. Be gallant and give up your seat if you see a pregnant, elderly, or handicapped person standing. Most importantly, keep your hands (and the rest of your body parts) to yourself.

Guide to Riding NYC Buses

1. Go to a Bus Stop Blue-and-white buses operate to more than 14,000 bus stops throughout the five boroughs. You are usually no more than a few blocks from one of those stops. Bus stops are located at street corners and have a yellow painted curb and a sign that displays a bus emblem and route number. Some stops have shelters with large ads. 2. See Which Buses Stop There Most stops have a "Guide-A-Ride." This is a rectangular box displaying route maps and schedules. Local-bus routes are designated by a letter followed by a number. Routes with an "M" prefix operate mainly in Manhattan. "B" is for Brooklyn, "Bx" for the Bronx, "Q" for Queens and "S" for Staten Island. Routes with an "X" prefix are express routes. Some stops serve more than one bus. Look at the Guide-A-Ride to make sure the bus you want will be stopping there. Buses display their route number on the front, and sometimes the back. On some of the heavily used bus routes, there is limited-stop service in both directions to make the trip faster for more customers. You'll know whether the bus that arrives is making limited stops if you see an orange "Limited" card in the bus window. Limited stops are at major intersections, transfer points, and major attractions, such as Lincoln Center. Locals make all stops. 3. Board the Bus When the bus with the route number you want arrives, stay on the curb until the bus stops and the front doors open. NYC buses can "kneel"; that is, they can tilt down toward the curb to make boarding easier. People unable to walk up the front steps of the bus may board using the wheelchair lift. The bus operator has a key to operate this lift, which is located at the rear of the bus. If you're not sure whether the bus goes where you need to go, ask your bus driver. The driver knows how to get around the city. 4. Pay Your Fare The fare box is directly in front of you as you board the bus. You need the exact fare -$2.00 in nickels, dimes, and quarters. Bus operators don't make change and fare boxes don't accept dollar bills or pennies. MetroCards, available at subway stations, can also be used to pay your fare on buses. Up to three children can ride buses free when they're accompanied by an adult. (To qualify for a free fare, a child has to be under 44 inches or 111cm tall.) 5. Ask for a Transfer, If You Need One You can transfer for free between most buses with intersecting routes. Request a transfer ticket from your driver after you pay your fare. A list of each valid transfer point for your route is on the front of the transfer. When you catch your connecting bus, give the transfer to your driver. Transfers are allowed only to continue your trip in a single direction and are only valid for one hour. They cannot be used for your return trip on the same bus line.

6. Ride Safely If there is no seat available, use the grab bars for balance and move to the back of the bus. There's usually more room there. For the safety and convenience of your fellow passengers, keep your packages and personal belongings out of the aisles. 7. Signal the Driver to Stop For the driver to stop the bus where you want to get off, push the tape strip located above and beside the windows. You need to signal your driver about one block before your desired stop. The bus will stop at the route's next stop. Stops are every 2-3 blocks, except for limiteds. 8. Get Off the Bus Try to stay in your seat until the bus stops. To keep out of the way of people trying to board, exit through the rear doors. Once the bus stops, you'll see a green light over these doors to indicate that they can be opened. In some buses, these doors open automatically when you press the tape strip located on the doors.

NYC Common Sense Survival Guide • Finding a Bathroom: First things first. If you have to go to the bathroom, try a Barnes & Nobles, or a Starbuck's Coffee. Both usually have reasonably clean bathrooms. At Starbuck's you'll need to ask for a key, maybe even buy something. Major department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's are also good sources of public bathrooms. • Stay Above Ground - leave subway riding to the locals but, if you insist, avoid empty subway cars, ride with many people or in the conductor's car (usually the middle car of the train). Announcements are very hard to hear in the subway cars so it's up to you to pay attention to stops. Stay behind the yellow line on the subway platform and do not hang over looking for a train. Read how to take a subway (found above) • Never display large amounts of cash out in the open. • Don't keep your wallet in the back pocket of your pants or in a backpack. Moving the wallet to the front pocket of your pants will reduce your chance of being pick-pocketed. • Be aware of your wallet or purse in commotions Pick pockets often use helpers to create a disturbance nearby. • Telephone information from a payphone is free. Simply dial 555-1212 on any pay phone and ask for the number of the business or person you are looking for. You don't need to put in any change. • Have an emergency? Dial 911 from any phone.

NYC General Safety Tips If you have never been to New York before, don't be afraid to go out! Just keep these safety tips in mind and you should be just fine.

• Be aware of who is around you. • Stay in populated areas. • How you carry yourself is crucial. Look confident in where you are going, how you walk and what you are doing. • Clutch your purse/bag securely under your arm. • If there are two of you, place handbags between you instead of on the outside. • Turn rings around, so the gems face your palm. • Keep necklaces tucked under your clothing. • If someone is harassing you on the street, then go into a populated store or shop or find a police officer. • Yell "Fire" not "Help". People will come look if they think there's a fire, but "Help" is like crying wolf. • If you are being mugged then it's better to give the mugger what he/she wants. Your life is worth more than the cash in your pocket! • Try to walk in the middle of the sidewalk and not next to the buildings or the street. At night, stay close to the street so that you can flag down help if the nearby stores are closed.

NYC Scams • Watch out for people offering you taxi rides at any transportation center such as the Port Authority, Grand Central, or Airports. Though many are honest, some are illegally evading a taxi dispatcher or just • trying to lure you to a more secluded spot for mugging.

• Do not deal with people who approach you on the street with some kind of a money making proposition, they are the ones who are most likely to try to grab your money and run. Example: Bag-of-Money Scam • Don't fall prey to people who ask to check if your money is counterfeit or stolen. This can happen in a scam like the fake ID sale scam. • Avoid three card Monte, and the shell game -- YOU CANNOT WIN! • Be aware of the old public telephone coin scam and these metal detector scams. • When a homeless person asks you to exchange 4 quarters for a dollar, they may be trying to get you to give them a dollar for two or three quarters. • Pedi-cabs - these are bicycle drawn carriages (kind of like a rickshaw), avoid them at all costs, they are currently unregulated and many drivers are rude and overcharge for their services.