Ladysail , I'm afraid that I still do not follow the sequence of events. If your cruise ends on, say, Day 1, are you flying out of EWR that same day? Are you overnighting at the DoubleTree by Newark Penn Station on Day 1, going back into Manhattan for sightseeing, and flying out of EWR on Day 2? If you're overnighting at the hotel on Day 1, then wouldn't your luggage already be at the hotel on Day 2? You're not planning on dragging your 45-pound suitcase with you if you go back into Manhattan on Day 2 for sightseeing, are you?

I'll have to leave it to another FlyerTalker who has ridden the #62 bus more recently than I have to comment on the bus' current layout. But you certainly would have to lift your suitcase up when boarding and disembarking from the bus. All NJTransit buses are equipped with a "kneeling" feature:

"NJ Transit also offers kneeling of buses. When a bus 'kneels' the first step lowers several inches toward the ground. All buses are equipped with this feature."

Source:

https://www.njtransit.com/bus-safety