new york pre cruise stay

hi
could anyone tell me if the mandarin oriental in new york is worth the price for a pre cruise stay. i am currently waiting for cunard to reply with a costing for this stay, i know its not going to be cheap. If anyone knows of a hotel of similar status which is nicer then i would appreciate any feedback.
i am looking to stay for two nights (i have 2 toddlers so i dont want to leave them to long) and would like any suggestions of things to do in the evening while there.
thanks
lisa

[lexxity]

ahhemm, may i make a shopping suggestion....want to make your dollars go further get yourself down to century 21 on church, don't bother with a hotel just spend your whole time there instead!!
I recommend the gray line bus, hop on/hop off well worth it as it the sex and the city tour.
have a good one and enjoy NYC, its fab!

whichever hotel you decide on youll probably save alot of money if you book it yourself instead of thru cunard. have your travel agent check prices and compare. at that price level there are several wonderful hotels in NY. my personal favorite is the four seasons on 57th ST. also the St. Regis, the Ritz Carlton on Central Park South, and Trump international right across columbus circloe from the mandarin oriental. enjoy.

I agree. You should be able to get a better deal through your agent or on the web.

A cab from Kennedy to Midtown is probably about $40 and a cab from the hotel to the pier from anyone of those hotels should run you $10.00.

I don't know what time of year you're going, but the theater is always on and any of the Big Apple Double Decker Bus Tours would be fun with the children also.

I booked a QM2 cruise through American Express travel, and just learned that if I had booked the same cruise, at the same price, through a Virtuoso travel agent, we would have received 2 free nights at the NY Mandarin Oriental before the cruise. (Amex provided no similar benefit at all). I wish I had booked through Virtuoso. It's too late for me, but maybe not for you!

I don't know what you paid for the Mandarin Oriental but it is a spectacular new place, high up the brand-new Time Warner center on Columbus Circle. You can take the toddlers across to Central Park. There is a Whole Foods emporium in the lower level and you can take out food for your room or eat in the cafe right there. There are a number of restaurants on the lower floors and an Asian one off the hotel lobby (about the 35th floor) with views of Central Park and Broadway.

A taxi from JFK to midtown is a flat $45 plus toll plus tip so will run about $60. The taxi is metered to the airport.
TWS in NYC