Where to get the Royal Caribbean bus from DC?

September 29, 2005 1:37 PM

LongshotFilter: My wife and I are leaving from Bayonne, NJ, on a Royal Caribbean cruise this coming Sunday. We live in the DC area, and are taking the free bus the cruise line runs from Union Station to the cruise terminal. The problem is that we don't know where at Union Station to look for the bus.

Do they show up in front of the main entrance? Or do they go to the Greyhound bus terminal just down the street? Has anyone taken this bus, or something similar? I just don't want to have to wander around early in the morning with our luggage.

posted by cerebus19 to Travel & Transportation around Washington, DC (8 answers total)

Call the cruise line. Am I missing something here?
posted by mkultra at 1:52 PM on September 29, 2005

Haven't taken it. But you'll recall that altho the G'hound/Trailways/Peter Pan terminal may be 'just down the street,' it's a looong walk, the better part of 10 minutes. So I seriously doubt that your ride's leaving from there, or they'd have specifically told you the bus terminal.

My guess is that you'll catch it out in front of the Station. I can't imagine where else it'd be if they told you Union Station.
posted by mojohand at 1:56 PM on September 29, 2005

Response by poster: Call the cruise line.

Sorry, should've mentioned: I tried that. All they know is that it's "leaving from Union Station." I pointed out that Union Station is a really big place, and asked if they knew anything more specific than that. Nope.
posted by cerebus19 at 2:04 PM on September 29, 2005

Well then, your bus'll either be out in front, but if it's not there, there are some commercial spaces for the rental car outfits and tour buses and such, on the second and third upper levels, sandwiched between the lobby/train waiting rooms and the public parking garage. Go to the train waiting areas and then look for the escalators by the Starbucks.

What I'd do, tho, is call RC back and ask who they charter with for their bus connection. Then call them and get this sorted out. You'll sleep better.
posted by mojohand at 2:19 PM on September 29, 2005

If they say Union Station I'd take them at their word and look for them out front where the other bus pickups (Gallaudet Univ, etc) get people. I'd also call back and push the issue; it's moronic they'd give you such a vague answer and not pursue the matter. You've paid them over $1,000 and they're gonna shrug you off like that? Ask for a supervisor.
posted by phearlez at 2:20 PM on September 29, 2005

There's a bus terminal that seems to be used for a limited number of Grayhound buses and charter buses from Union Station itself. It's on the way to the parking garage. It may be there. The exit from the main area with the train terminals is close the center and on the second level. I believe that is what is meant by Union Station when talking about non-local buses.

It may also be out front near the Taxi stand, but I've never see a bus there.
posted by skynxnex at 2:20 PM on September 29, 2005

Best answer: According to this (look at the 5th comment, seabreezes2), "The bus pickup is directly in front of Union Station[, w]here cabs, etc. pickup/dropoff."
posted by blue mustard at 2:23 PM on September 29, 2005

Response by poster: Beautiful! Thanks, everyone.
posted by cerebus19 at 2:34 PM on September 29, 2005