Cruisin Broad

Thanks for the additional thoughts. We've pretty much decided we want to spend most of one day on the water taxi and trolley. There are so many good choices.

Taylor95, thanks for the follow up. That's great to hear. Hope you had a good cruise.

Is the OBC per person or per cabin? Thanks.

Drazil65, thanks for the response. Looks like we've made a decision on at least one excursion.

Did you have to go in the water to retrieve any clues? My friend and I would like to participate in this excursion, but neither of us is a good swimmer, so we wouldn't want to have to find clues in the water.

You confused me with having to pay $90 for a $100 gift card. Do I have to lay out some cash as well or does it use points only?

 

Drats, figured that. It's OK, I'll catch it next go round. ;)

Yes, you have to lay out some cash as well as use some points. For a $100 gift card, you pay $90 and use 1000 points, plus you have to pay for shipping. If you were to order five $100 gift cards, you'd pay $450 and use 5000 points, plus pay for shipping.

We are with Verizon, but have never "registered" for the rewards program. Our account shows that we are eligible to join and we have already accumulated a nice chunk of points.

 

How many points does it take to purchase a $100 gift card?

1000 points per $100 gift card, but you still have to pay $90 per $100 gift card. I just checked and both the $100 and $500 gift cards are sold out.

Carnival offers excursions in Miami. It states on the site that the vendors will store bags while on the excursion and then drop you at airport.

When you book the cruise, you'll be asked for a preference of dining time.

I'm thinking my friend and I would like to go to Mr. Sanchos' while we're in Cozumel. I looked on the website, but I don't see any mention of cabanas. Would someone be willing to post what they paid for a cabana? Thanks.

You might want to check out the Marriott Rewards Visa Signature card. There are no foreign transaction fees, plus they offer various promotions (statement credits, points, free night's stay, etc.).

Great, thanks for the info.

So, when you book with LMT, do they immediately charge your credit card? When I book with hotel sites, I give my credit card to hold the reservation. Today, when I was looking at a LMTclub hotel, it appeared that I would pay immediately if I made a reservation through the LMTclub site. Has that been your experience?

Thank you for the info!

x2, Capriccio.

For those of you who recommend the "Amazing Race" excursion, is there someone to organize the various groups or is it kind of everyone for himself/find your own group? How many are usually assigned to a group? My friend and I are interested in this excursion, but would want others in our group, especially someone who'd go in the water if that were necessary. We're good at finding things once we reach a destination (my husband and I are geocachers), but we're not good swimmers. Thanks.

I had corresponded recently with MJS Transportation. Their response about delivering to hotels in Ft. Lauderdale was this: "Due to our volume of passengers we do not offer returns to hotels. We can take you to FLL at our great rate and you can get hotel shuttle from there."

I've also corresponded with QLS. If I'm not mistaken, they gave me a quote of $50 for two from Port of Miami to the Embassy Suites in FLL.

I love the Embassy Suites pre cruise, but for after we stayed at Gallery One. MJS transportation picked us up from Port of Miami to Gallery One last year, so don't rule out shuttles

Perhaps others have had a different experience recently, but I contacted MJS and their response about transport from Port of Miami to Embassy Suites was this:

"Due to our volume of passengers we do not offer returns to hotels. We can take you to FLL at our great rate and you can get hotel shuttle from there.":(

Glad to hear their business is a success, though.

Perhaps I missed it, but I checked the Carnival excursions for Grand Cayman and I didn't see this one. Was it a Carnival sponsored excursion or did you arrange it on your own? Thanks.

I'll check out MJS Transportation and the water taxi website, but I believe we'll keep our plans to stay in Ft. Lauderdale. We have the Embassy Suites reservation for now, but I'll probably cancel that and reserve somewhere else. Thanks for the suggestions.

Hello again. Thanks for the responses. I guess I may just have to rethink the plan I'd made. We really don't want to rent a car, but we do want to be within walking distance to restaurants. If we were to decide to stay in Hollywood, FL, would we still see the same things/have the same stops on the water taxi? Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. Hmmm, I'm disappointed, as I thought I had done my homework before posting. BlueHerons, are you saying the Embassy Suites isn't near a water taxi stop? I'm sure we'll make it over to Las Olas Blvd, so we'll check out the breakfast/lunch recommendation.

Cash back from credit cards is the largest contributor to my cruise fund. If I'm lucky enough to find the Carnival gift cards on Verizon, I purchase some of those too. Usually about six months before a cruise, I start putting away any small bills ($1 and $5) I collect to use for tips at airport, hotel, onboard, etc.

Hello all. My friend and I will be returning to the Port of Miami from a cruise on February 28. We have decided to stay over in Ft. Lauderdale the nights of February 28 and 29. I've been perusing the "Florida Departures" board for suggestions on places to stay, things to do, etc. and believe I've made a plan that will allow us to enjoy Ft. Lauderdale without the need for a rental car. I'm thinking we'll reserve one of the shuttles recommended on this forum (QLS/SAS) to transport us from/to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. We'll stay at the Embassy Suites on 17th Street, where it appears we'll be close to shopping, restaurants and can walk to the water taxi. We'll have only 1 1/2 days to explore and will most likely spend most of the 29th hopping on and off the water taxi. For those who have spent time in Ft. Lauderdale, does this sound like a good plan? Thanks.

Courtyard Miami Airport offers rooms with 2 queen beds for $236 (taxes included) for the night of February 20. There is a complimentary airport shuttle, but a fee for breakfast it appears. The Fairfield Inn has slightly lower prices, with a complimentary airport shuttle, free breakfast, and it also appears they offer a paid shuttle from the hotel to the port.

At this moment, the $100 Royal Caribbean gift cards are available on Verizon.