Explorer of the Seas Review
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Monday May 10, 2010 We had never been to New York before, so we wanted to spend a couple of days there, prior to the cruise. We flew from Sacramento to LaGuardia, via Southwest Airlines (had Rapid Rewards to use!)
We did a lot of research before-hand, especially on the CC East Coast Departures Board. As a result, we decided on Black Executive Cars for some of our transportation, including airport to hotel. That was a very good move. We ended up with the same driver, and, since we booked about 5 trips with them, they gave us a 10% discount. I'm glad we arrived at LGA - the trip from the airport allowed us to get a good look at the area when we arrived.
We ended up staying at the Sheraton Meadowlands in New Jersey. One reason was that it would be a short trip to Cape Liberty on May 13. We got the room on Hotwire for $69/night. The hotel is nice for a base, but not what I would consider a "destination hotel". Very friendly staff, and easy access to/from Times Square. They have a free shuttle to the Secasus Junction train station. It's a short , inexpensive ride on the train to/from Penn Station.
Cabin Review
Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
We had cabin 1364. It had plenty of room. We enjoyed being on deck 10. The only issue was the people next to us were smokers, and that sometimes traveled from their balcony to ours. The bathroom was a good size. Plenty of storage everywhere.