Collective Governors Island

Hotel

Was really let down by this experience. Had planned this trip for 6 months as a present for my husband, and was convinced by the website and the price that this would be a luxurious experience but it was anything but. The camp itself looks unkempt with construction materials everywhere. We were asked what time breakfast should be brought to us at check in and then it was brought an hour early. We received a text at 10:50 AM that water to the camp would be shut off from 11-3, something that certainly should’ve been communicated earlier. There was no hot water on our second morning, and the staff seemed bothered by guests being there on a Thursday night. The s’mores experience described on the website is blatantly untrue; they truly set out marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars in jars. Overall, I was paying 5 star prices for a 2 star experience. Would not recommend.

This has been on my wish list for a long time! The website, marketing, pricing all suggest this is gonna be one of those accommodations you won't regret! But unfortunately the concept is cool but it wasn't a luxury experience at all!
1 — Tents are dirty grungy ripped the zippers don't work well.
2 — we went on a cold rainy weekend & although that can't be controlled the heating sucked! The bed warmers had to be disconnected and reset multiple times to maintain heat.
3 — the facility itself is muddy, a lot of dirt grounds, like there's no lushness at all.
4 — the entrance to the location is full of scraps garbage and debris — not a welcoming entrance at all.
5 — the breakfast to your room is plain yogurt, seeds and bread with jelly. No drinks. Self make coffee or water from your room (bathroom sink bc apparently filtered)
I don't mean to be a complainer. I did enjoy the skyline view and I made the best of it but truly if you're looking for a luxury experience, this is not it.
For the pros: they drive you back-and-forth between places on the golf carts and you get a free ride on the ferry in and off the island. The byredo bathroom products are a plus although I felt they weren't originals more like a hotel watered down version (don't quote me on this)
I'm not saying don't go but if you do go expect camping not glamping.
& Tips: bring warm clothes if cold weather, and food because the food options are limited in the morning.

Glamping on Governors Island is a fun novelty, and this concept could be so much more. Unfortunately, the execution and service are generally lacking. If it were $200 per night, that would be fine, but at $600 for the "Journey King", including a bogus "resort fee" for Wi-Fi, the value is very poor.
Governors Island is beautiful and the views are wonderful, but you don't need to stay overnight to get that or to dine at the restaurant, which is decent, if unexceptional.
The tents are a bit grimy, and the decor is generally spartan. Although I saw mention of 1500 thread count sheets, the ones on our bed were 40% polyester and of particularly low quality. Walking a distance to a collection of bathrooms is more camping-like than glamping. Breakfast included reasonably good yogurt and granola and some soggy, cold croissants (had they been warmed, they could have been fine). Staff were little in evidence and one certainly didn't have the feeling of being pampered or well cared for.
The consensus among other guests was that it was fun to have tried, but overpriced. No one said they planned to return.

My thoughts on the Collective Retreat on Governor's Island… the accommodations were definitely nice and as advertised. The way the tents were set up were creative, offering the experience of staying in a tent with modern conveniences.
That being said, the service was not that great. The staff were lovely, especially the hostess in the restaurant who saw we were cold and invited us to hang out in the restaurant even though dinner service wasn't until 6. The issue was that there were was no organization and no clear direction from management. The bartender had no idea what to charge for happy hour drinks. Our waiter was constantly behind and had to be reminded to clear our table. The email stated an island tour at 1 so we arrived early just to learn from a confused host that they didn't do tours, they meant the island did. The island tour was at 12:45 and we needed to pre register, which we didn't do. The breakfast basket was meager and in the morning there was barely enough coffee for 3 people and no one came back to check on it and make more.
The food was standard American fare: burgers and salads. The appetizers were good but the entrees were oversalted and dry. They did have a live musician which was a nice surprise and his singing was gorgeous.
Lastly, a lot of reviews complain about how this experience was not worth the money because it was noisy and loud and some of the past visitors saw rats on the premises.

I had never been to Governors Island before coming to Collective, and it was such a cool way to experience the island. The view of the skyline/city from the island is captivating. You feel connected to New York, but with a unique peace. The accommodation was beautiful, with a porch area perfect for enjoying the evening. Dinner was delicious, and the staff were friendly and attentive. I recommend ending the night with a cocktail and a s’more at the fire pit if you can.