Residence Inn, Meadowlands (Secaucus, New Jersey): Pre-cruise Hotel Review

The Residence Inn in Meadowlands, which is located in Secaucus, is an excellent choice for lodging if you are going on a cruise that departs from a port in the state of New York or the state of New Jersey.

Recently, my family and I took a cruise that departed from Cape Liberty, which is located in Bayonne, New Jersey. We chose to stay at the Marriott Residence Inn in Bayonne because of its convenient location and the various hotel amenities.

We couldn’t have asked for more!

This is by far the best hotel that we have stayed at on our previous visits to this area. Some of the other hotels we stayed at did not live up to the expectations set by their own websites or marketing on their level of cleanliness.

Evaluation of the Marriott Residence Inn Hotel in Meadowlands (pre-cruise stay)

I decided to provide you with this review of a hotel because I believe the information would be useful to you when you conduct research into the pre-cruise preparations you will be making.

Location of the hotel: Meadowlands, Secaucus, New Jersey

When we go on a cruise from New Jersey or New York, Meadowlands, Secaucus is our go-to neighbourhood for booking a hotel before we set sail.

This location is quite convenient whether you are sailing with Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, Princess, or Cunard (am I forgetting any other lines?).

Distance from New York City

The Meadowlands region is a strong contender for the role of ideal place to stay for a night or two before or after embarking on a cruise that departs from either Manhattan, New York, or Cape Liberty, in Bayonne.

You are literally within ten to fifteen minutes of New York City, and there are excellent public transportation alternatives available to get into the city while keeping your car parked at the hotel. In addition to that, there are shuttle services.

Close proximity to the ports where cruise ships dock

Because we live around six hours away, we decided to travel to New Jersey by car. On the other hand, whether you fly into town, hire a car, or take Uber or a taxi to the embarkation port, you will find that this location is relatively central.

It takes roughly 15 minutes to get to Manhattan (taking into account the possibility of getting stuck in traffic), and it takes about 20 minutes to drive to Cape Liberty from Bayonne.

Region of the Meadowlands (Secaucus, New Jersey)

Particularly for a stopover before a cruise, this region of New Jersey is one of our favourites. The fact of the matter is that there is a lot to offer in such close proximity to one another, even within walking distance.

We were able to stroll to a Starbucks, Chipotle, and a fantastic restaurant called Cheeseburger in Paradise, all of which were located in close proximity to the hotel where we were staying.

We also enjoy that there are several other hotels, a convention centre, and several large supermarkets in the area, which gives it a safe and insulated feeling. Travelers will appreciate the quick access it provides because to its location just off the freeway.

The accommodations and rooms at the hotel

The Residence is a hotel that manages to be both elegant and comfortable. The principal lobby is enormous, and it contains a great deal of seating that is arranged in clusters all over the principal level. In addition to a seating area dedicated to breakfast dining, the establishment features a bar section.

Hotel room

We decided to choose a studio accommodation, which was spacious enough for three people and had the atmosphere of a mini apartment. It appeared to be modern and had plenty of space inside, plus everything worked properly and was in good condition.

During this pre-cruise stay, we were only staying here for one night; but, if we were visiting New York for longer than two or three days, this would be the ideal place to stay as a hub.

The room itself opened up to a sufficiently sized kitchen that featured a refrigerator, a stove, a dishwasher, and a microwave. We did not make use of any of this during our visit; but, if we had been there for more than a few of days or if we had been travelling with little children, I believe it would have been quite helpful.

On the opposite side of the kitchen counter, which was where the seating space for the “living room” was located, there was seating in the form of bar stools. Our son slept in the L-shaped sofa, which unfolded into a bed for him to use. He commented on how surprisingly comfy it was, as well as how much he liked this “cool” space.

We got access to a King-sized bed in the bedroom area, which was decorated in a way that was quite open and spacious. The mattress, as well as the linen, offered a high level of comfort.

There was also a large closet in which we were able to hang up some of our “formal dress” cruise apparel as well as a few other items that I hoped would remain as wrinkle-free as possible. In addition to that, there was a comfortable counter space in the room itself that was equipped with a mirror.

Hotel room washroom

This was a stunning example! If there was a way for me to make it at home, I definitely would. This was a very wonderful bathroom, featuring a spacious spa-like shower area in addition to being modern and classic in design.

The common areas in hotels

Swimming Pool and Exercise Facility at the Hotel

The area around the pool was quite attractive, but we were never able to make use of it because we were always so busy. You might be able to notice that there is also a fitness centre right behind where the pool is located. This fitness centre is a rather good size.

Once more, had we been for a longer period of time, we would have made use of the pool area to unwind and relax. You can see how pleasant and light the areas are, as there is a significant amount of natural light entering the building.

Hotel service/staff

The personnel was really kind and willing to assist. Even though we have a GPS with us, whenever we are in New Jersey we make it a point to ask a local for some instructions (if you’ve ever driven in New Jersey you might understand why).

The nice employees at the front desk were kind enough to print out directions for us to the Westgate Garden Plaza Mall, which was approximately 15 minutes away. Before we embark on a cruise, my family and I like to do some pre-cruise shopping in New Jersey, where the sales tax on clothing and shoes is not collected.

Continental Breakfast

This motel offered a complimentary breakfast that was a continental style. It was quite typical of other breakfasts that are served in the style of a continental buffet, with both hot and cold food options available. The location maintained its cleanliness and looked well cared for at all times.

The meal that was provided was delicious, and it included things like waffle mix, eggs and sausage, yoghurts, fruit, cereal, breads and muffins. There was also milk and juice in addition to coffee and juice.

When coffee and breakfast are provided in this manner, we find it to be really handy since we are able to consume our meals at our leisure before setting out on our journey, and we are not required to make a second stop.

What we got up to when we were in and around the region

Should you decide to book a room at this hotel, I thought you might find it interesting to learn more about the neighbourhood and the outdoor areas.

During the course of the day, we went to the Walmart that is located just five minutes away by automobile. We always make sure to pick up a few items for the trip that we might have forgotten to bring with us.

We make sure to pick up any medications for motion sickness or any additional amenities that we might have forgotten the day before our vacation.

The worst possible scenario would be if we boarded the ship without our essential belongings. It is important to keep in mind, if you are going on a cruise, that not only will it be costly to bring your belongings on board, but it also might not be possible.