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Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

• The average START time (on your Work Ticket) for our Northeast Cruise Express is 5:45am. Please keep in mind times are *always subject to change and it is always a good idea to confirm all times prior to your day of departure.
  
  
• SPOT time (when you will begin loading at our Yankee Trails terminal in Rensselaer, NY) is 6:30am.*
  
  
• PICK-UP location, unless otherwise noted (on your Work Ticket) is at the Cruise Express Shelter on our Yankee Trails property (or our Main Office vestibule). During winter months we pick up at the Main Office vestibule ONLY
  
  
• You will receive a packet for each Cruise Express trip. This packet includes, but is not limited to:
  
  
• Pick-up lists with passenger names and contact information
• Envelopes for each party, containing information sheets and stickers for the passengers' return trip
• Priority Seating tags (if applicable). Tags are to be placed between the headrest and the seat back with names clearly showing
• For multiple bus moves you will also receive a list of the other Drivers’ passengers. These may be used if a passenger approaches you, to verify they are on another bus  
• A bus sign for the window stating Bus #1, #2 etc.

(NOTE: A Copy of this information should also be in your Distinctive Systems Driver Portal)

• Pick-up lists may contain additional instructions which must be strictly followed. Any no-shows (passengers that are not present at the time of departure) must be documented BEFORE leaving any pick-up location.
  
  
• If you have a no-show, you must wait at least 10 minutes before leaving. Multiple attempts should be made to contact the missing passenger(s). Before leaving, you MUST CALL THE DRIVER HOTLINE (518-704-4344) or speak to a member of Dispatch/Management to receive permission to do so.
  
  
• All no-shows must be reported via the text you receive at the end of the day (asking if there is any information that should be shared with our Operations Team). You will also need to report if someone brought a wheelchair, scooter, etc. and it was NOT already listed on your pick-up list. Make sure you include the names and details in the text message. If you are not able to relay this information via text, you must follow up with Adrienne via email (afarragher@yankeetrails.com).
  
  
• Passengers that were responsible for booking their Cruise Express Shuttle should receive a text the morning of departure and the morning of their return. Before departing, confirm that everyone received the text. If they did not, collect their cell name(s) and cell phone number(s) and include in your text message to our office. This is important in case the driver needs to contact the passenger(s) as well as making sure they receive future text messages. Also, write this information on your pick-up list that will be turned in upon your return.
  
  
• Count all passengers after each pick-up point.
  
  
• Confirm all passenger luggage is properly tagged prior to loading on your bus. If not, inform passenger(s) that luggage tags will be provided upon your arrival to the cruise terminal.
  
  
• Passengers should never put any luggage on the bus.
  
  
• If you have passengers that will be dropped off at multiple ships at the cruise terminal, make sure luggage is separated as it is loaded (using separate luggage compartments).
  
  
• After loading all luggage be sure to walk around your bus and inspect the area, making sure no luggage has been left behind. Upon boarding and prior to departure, have the passengers look out the windows to confirm they have not left their luggage behind or in an area that could have been missed.
  
  
• Prior to disembarkment upon arrival at the cruise terminal, make a final announcement to passengers:
  In ALL cases, with or without a porter, you, the passenger, are responsible for your own luggage. You can carry it or have a porter take it. Please make sure you see your luggage getting in the hands of a porter. Yankee Trails is NOT responsible for your luggage getting on the ship.
  
  
• Before disembarking, make final announcements regarding the general pick-up areas (on the date their cruise returns) as they will NOT BE IN THE SAME LOCATION THEY WERE DROPPED OFF.
  
  
• As passengers both board AND disembark, position yourself at the bottom of the stairs to assist with carry-on bags and packages, and/or to prevent falls.
  
  
• NOTE: THERE ARE NO REST STOPS ENROUTE TO THE CRUISE TERMINAL. IF the Driver MUST stop, all passengers are to remain onboard. The Driver should then close the door, preventing anyone from exiting.
  
  
• NOTE: THERE IS ONE STOP TO BE MADE ON ALL CRUISE EXPRESS RETURN SHUTTLES. Suggested locations on the NYS Thruway are Vince Lombardi, Sloatsburg or Plattenkill rest areas. You must count all passengers 2 TIMES before leaving the rest area to make sure no passenger has been left behind.
  
  
• Upon your arrival at the Yankee Trails headquarters, passengers should be dropped off in the vicinity of where they parked (obtain this information before your arrival).
  
  
• Keep all passengers on the bus while you unload the luggage. It may be helpful to line up the luggage in two adjacent rows, far enough away from the bus to allow passengers to walk on either side to pick up their luggage.
  
  
• At the conclusion of your Cruise Express assignment, you will receive a text message inquiring if there are any details that should be shared with our Sales/Operations Teams. YOU MUST RESPOND TO THIS TEXT.  (If there is nothing to report, respond to the text stating "Nothing To Report".) If someone brought a wheelchair or scooter and it was not noted on your pick-up list, if it was noted on your pick-up list that someone was bringing a wheelchair and they did not, if someone did not show up ("no-show"), it should be noted in your text reply so adjustments can be made prior to the passenger's return trip. Make sure you include the names of the passengers, contact information and details in the text message. If you are not able to relay this information via text, you must follow up with Adrienne via email (afarragher@yankeetrails.com).

  
  NOTE: ALL NORTHEAST CRUISE EXPRESS SHUTTLES (POTENTIALLY) HAVE FOUR (4) DEPARTURE LOCATIONS
  (Departure locations for your trip will be noted on your paperwork)

  DIRECTIONS FROM YANKEE TRAILS (RENSSELAER) TO SOUTHBOUND CRUISE EXPRESS (CEX) DEPARTURE LOCATIONS:
  

  LEFT                             Out of Yankee Trails onto 3rd Ave Ext.
  LEFT                             Onto Rte. 4/ Troy Rd. (at Mobil)
  LEFT                             Onto Rte. 43 / I-90 approach. (at large intersection)
  BEAR RIGHT                Onto I-90 WEST, for 1.2 mi. to Exit 6A / 787 N-S
  KEEP LEFT                   Off the exit toward 787 SOUTH
  FOLLOW                      787 South for 3.0 mi. to Exit 1/ I-87S / I-90W
  KEEP LEFT                   Off exit follow signs for I-87 South / Exits 22-1 NEW YORK

  FIRST (POTENTIAL) DEPARTURE LOCATION: CATSKILL | EXIT 21 PARK & RIDE

  FOLLOW                      I-87 South for 28.0 mi. to Exit 21/ Catskill
  KEEP RIGHT                 Off exit, Park & Ride is JUST past cashless toll gantry, on right
  RETURN                      To I-87 SOUTHBOUND

  SECOND (POTENTIAL) DEPARTURE LOCATION: KINGSTON PLAZA

  FOLLOW                      I-87 South for 22.2 mi. to Exit 19/Kingston. To the roundabout
  TAKE                            The third exit, to 587
  FOLLOW                      587 to the roundabout
  TAKE                             First exit onto Albany Street
  CONTINUE                  On Albany Street to the second red light
  TAKE                             Right onto Clinton Ave, follow to first stop sign
  TAKE                               Right into Hannaford Plaza to Lot E which is the pick-up area
  RETURN                       To I-87 SOUTHBOUND

  THIRD (POTENTIAL) DEPARTURE LOCATION: NEW PALTZ PARK & RIDE

  FOLLOW                      I-87 South for 15.4 mi. to EXIT 18/ New Paltz
  PICKUP                         Is at the park & ride just past cashless toll gantry on LEFT

  DIRECTIONS TO BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL
  (With or without additional pick-up points)

  Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
  72 Bowne St
  Brooklyn, NY 11231
  
  
• 87 South to Exit 15 (Route 17 South)
•  Follow this to route I- 80 east
• To Route 46/95S
• Get off the exit for 95S, New Jersey Turnpike   
• Follow to Exit 13, 278 East, Verrazano/Goethal Bridge
• Follow to Exit 26 Hamilton Avenue, Stay to your right for the Exit
• Go Down to Light and Make a Left on Van Brunt Street, (Usually Police are there to direct at this intersection)
• Make your next Right On Bowne Street and follow into the Port
  
  

From NJ and Points South:

• Take the NJ Turnpike South to exit 13, Cross the Goethals Bridge to I-278, Staten Island Expwy and cross Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn
• Continue north on Gowanus/BQE to Exit 26 (Hamilton Ave)
• After the exit, go down the ramp to the end
• Turn left at Van Brunt Street, travel 2 blocks then take a right onto Bowne Street to enter the terminal