TNcruising02

I recently cruised with RCL and used a TSA compliant lock on my luggage.

I always do carry-on only when I cruise on Carnival and can snag a Faster to the Fun pass. I take my carry-on bags directly to my room to drop off and wash clothes midway through the cruise. I prefer doing this over packing a large suitcase, but RCL and NCL don't have self service laundry, so I have to pack a large suitcase.

If you don't get a Faster to the Fun Pass, you will need to lug your bags around until your room is ready. It's possible you can get away with taking your bags to your room and leaving them outside of your door, but you might be stopped from doing that. I would check even a carry-on bag if I couldn't take it directly to my room.

Thankfully, I haven't witnessed any bad behavior on my cruises, other than the slightly annoying behavior of people saving two or more seats for shows. I don't understand how hard it is for a group to arrive together. I can see saving a seat for someone who is using the restroom or getting drinks, but saving multiple seats just because part of the group chooses to arrive right before the show starts is very rude. People do it all of the time though, so I guess they don't care.

Anyway, my husband and I were lounging in the shaded area on our last cruise. The deck was wet. A young guy, maybe late teens or early 20s, had on tennis shoes and was skating around the deck. He made several laps using his tennis shoes to skate across the wet deck. Suddenly, my husband and I heard a loud thud and looked over to see this guy had slipped and hit the deck. He just got up and skated off. He didn't seem to learn his lesson because we saw him making more laps around the deck.

We spend about one week in Miami each year before a cruise.

 

Not knowing your price point that you want to spend on a room I will give you several selections; some of which have been mentioned.

 

They are all within about one miles of each other.

 

Close to the Port:

 

Intercontinental

Marriott Maquis (about thee years old)

Epic Hotel (priciest of the ones I am mentioning)

Holiday Inn (some like it but I would recommend the other two)

Hyatt (I like the location better of the first three even though it is close by)

 

These hotels are about five minutes from the port. Near restaurants and CVS Pharmacy which is good to pick up last minute items and near a Whole Foods.

 

 

Just a couple of minutes further from the port

 

Mandarin Oriental (priciest of the ones mentioned). Private man made beach.

 

About 10 minutes from the port or maybe 15 depending on traffic but relatively close so no worries.

 

JW Marriott

Conrad Hilton

 

East Miami (relative new hotel so doesn't get mentioned much and is near the new Brickell Centre. More on Brickell in a moment.)

 

And then just another few minutes away

 

Four Seasons (like Mandarin a bit pricier then most I've listed) but in a very quiet location.

Hampton Inn (a lot of value here. It is not a full service hotel but it is a nice Hampton and includes breakfast)

 

The last group of hotels I have mentioned starting with Mandarin Oriental and ending with Hampton Inn are near lot of restaurants.

 

There is Mary Brickell Village and right near there are lots of restaurants (for Italian I like Perricone's) and also near two CVS Pharmacies (JW Marriott right next to a 24 hour one) and near Publix (there are two in the area) where you can pick up lots of last minute items.

 

Then there is the new Brickell Centre which opened last in 2016. Lots of stores and restaurants.

 

I have stayed at some of these hotels and have been inside each and everyone.

 

Again, they represent a wide range of price points.

 

When you get UBER be sure to get the coupon code. It is easy to use. I used it for the first time in Miami this past January to get from the hotel to the port. Great experience and much nicer then a taxi.

 

Keith

Thanks! That's a great list. And I will definitely get a coupon code for Uber.

Thanks to everyone who provided suggestions. I appreciate it. This gives me a much better idea of places to choose.

We have sailed Getaway out of Miami twice and stayed in a Hampton Inn both times. First was the airport (Blue Lagoon) location and the second time we stayed at the Coral Gables/Coconut Grove location. Both locations offer a park & cruise option which was way cheaper than paying for the room + parking at the port. We preferred the Coconut Grove location better.

 

We are now sailing on Escape Sept 30, 2017 and since we are flying in this time and don't need parking, we are trying out the Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami Downtown/Brickell so we can visit the Brickell area.

 

On a side note- your original post said you are arriving Sat morning and asked about early check-in, but doesn't your cruise depart on Saturday the 23rd?

I meant to say that I am flying on Friday. oops. I really need to proof read my posts! The only direct flight from my city arrives at 9:25 am on Friday. I could take the same flight on Saturday, but I have had too many flight delays in the past to ever take a chance flying in the same day as my cruise.

Thank you for the hotel suggestions!

I prefer using a credit card for my account.

For sea sickness, I've read that a lower deck in the middle of the ship is best. However, I don't have experience with that. My son's girlfriend got sea sick and took medicine that helped. I get dizzy on swings and roller coasters, but have never gotten sea sick on a cruise.

As far as packing, everyone is different. I can tell you what I always pack.

Popup hamper (some people use their suitcases, but for me it's easier to just throw dirty clothes in the popup hamper that I store in the closet.

Portable clock - I will never cruise without it. I can't stand being in a room and waking up in the middle of the night only to fumble for my phone or watch to see what time it is. I take a portable clock where the numbers light up.

Rain Ponchos - Although I have never taken them, I will now. On my last cruise, it poured when we were walking back to the cruise ship after an excursion. I got soaked and looked with envy at the very smart cruiser who used a lightweight clear poncho and stayed dry.

Conditioner - Only two of my cruises provided conditioner. My hair is a rat's nest without conditioner, so I won't travel without it.

Small bills - For tipping (excursions, room service, luggage, cab, etc)

Small travel purse with shoulder strap - For excursions. I only need something large enough for my ID, phone, money, hand wipes, and a few misc items

Other than that, I pack as if I were going on a land based vacation. Clothes for workouts, evenings, and day time. I can usually wear the same top and pants a couple of times during the cruise if I only wear it in the evening. I never wear the same daytime clothes twice because the weather is always so warm.

Great review! We were on the same cruise and had the same thoughts about the cruise director. I was also not surprised that he was the headliner for the Neil Diamond show. I suppose the show was good for Neil Diamond fans, but we didn't care for it.

I know they had the drinks cards, but don't remember the exact day they went on sale. I think I noticed them midway through the cruise.

On Air, Saturday Night Fever, the comedy shows, and the ice show were all very good. We arrived about 25 minutes early for those shows and got good seats. The comedians were both very funny.

We brought our own lanyards with us and went to guest services so they could punch a hole in our sea pass cards.

On the second day, we were able to down-grade our drinks package to just the soda package because we realized that we would not get our money's worth. We aren't big drinkers. They had no problem letting us change our plans and giving us credits.

The slot machines were different than the Carnival ships where I could just insert my sea pass card. The machines took cash or you could go to the cashier and buy a ticket (they charge a small fee) to insert into the machines.

The buffet food was good and I was glad that they always had someone stationed at the entrance to encourage people to use hand sanitizer.

The chairs around the pool areas were hard to get, but we could always find chairs in the shade. We prefer to lounge in the shade, so that was fine with us.

They provide some type of shampoo in the shower. I am not sure if it's a combination of shampoo and conditioner or just shampoo/body soap. I used that and brought my own conditioner.

We were in no hurry to get off of the ship because we had a late flight. We were on the 8th deck and given number 34. We ate at the buffet and then went to our waiting area. After awhile, an employee came in and said that we could all leave if we wanted to. We did, so we got in line to get off of the ship and it was a very fast process.

I will say one thing about tendering. It's best to go get your tender ticket as soon as you get up. The later you wait, the higher your number. If you have a ship excursion, they might give you a number. I am not sure. We did not have a ship excursion and waited until after breakfast to get a number. In hindsight, I would have gotten the ticket first thing.

I think you could have a great time on any cruise line. I have cruised on Disney, Carnival, RCL, and NCL and have had great times on every single cruise. I recently cruised on RCL's Liberty of the Seas out of Galveston and had a wonderful time.

If I were you, I would first decide what area would be the most enjoyable. There are cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, and other areas. Once you decide which area you might enjoy the most, then you can look at the cruise lines that go to those areas and the ports.

After you choose a port and then a cruise line, you can start looking at excursions. For a first time cruiser, I think it's easiest to book excursions provided by the ship. After you put down your deposit, you can view the excursions. To me, it's helpful to read reviews. Some of the cruise lines have reviews when you click on their excursions and others don't. For the ones that don't, I will google reviews or look on Cruise Critic under that particular port to read reviews and suggestions.

I hope you have a wonderful time! It's great to meet new people, visit different places, and have wonderful experiences.

Thanks LHT28 and VideoTech. I appreciate the information!

I will be cruising out of Miami on NCL Escape this September and am looking for a hotel in the area. What is your favorite hotel and why?

My flight gets in on Saturday morning, so I am also curious to know if anyone has had any luck with arranging for an early check-in.

Also, I have convinced my husband to try Uber for the first time. I read that you can download an app. Do you make reservations for a pickup or click on the app once you get your baggage? How long does it usually take a driver to pick you up? What about using Uber for the return trip to the airport? It will just be my husband and myself. We will have two large suitcases and one carry-on.

My last question is for anyone who has cruised on NCL Escape out of Miami. If you chose self-assist, what was the process and approximately what time did you exit the ship?

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

As far as reservations, I have been on several Carnival cruises and never had to make reservations for entertainment. I just got off of the RCL Liberty of the Seas and didn't have to make reservations for entertainment. When I cruised on the NCL Getaway, I didn't realize until I was on board the ship that reservations were required for entertainment. I was still able to get them for the times we needed.

I am cruising on the Escape in September and have already made one show reservation online. I plan on making the ones that aren't available online as soon as I board the ship. I don't like making reservations for entertainment, but that's the way it goes with some ships.

On all of the cruises that I have been on, the internet package was per device. I could use it on all of our devices, but only one at a time. You will get login information and should be able to log on from any device. If one device is logged on and you try to log on from another device, it will log the other device off or you may have to log the other device off first. Be prepared for very slow internet service.

While out at ports, some restaurants and places have free internet or will let you use it if you buy a coffee or something.

I am using Galveston Limo. We were going to catch the hotel shuttle to the airport and then wait for them there, but they called this morning and said they would pick us up at the hotel. I don't know if they do it all of the time or if this is an exception because they have time. It is worth asking them. The cost for us is $30 each one way.

I am cruising out of Galveston tomorrow. Every cruise I have been on up until now has had great weather. If the storm gets worse, I hope we get diverted to someplace sunny. My husband and I are determined to make the best of whatever happens. We might spend more time sampling new drinks, dancing at a club, or doing things indoors, but we will make it fun.

I don't know. I am staying at a hotel near the airport and taking the hotel's free shuttle back to the airport to board a shuttle to the Galveston port.

One day. :cool:

When I go on Carnival cruises, I pack 1/2 the amount of clothes I need because I wash a load mid-cruise. On ships that don't have self-service laundry, I pack for the entire cruise.

In addition, I pack the following items:

* Portable clock (I don't like to fumble for my phone or a watch when I wake up in the middle of the night)

* Pop-up hamper

* Lanyard for sea pass

* Sunscreen & bug spray

* Conditioner (There is usually no conditioner offered and my hair is a tangled mess without it)

* Beach bag

* Small travel purse (When I get off at the ports, I carry only essentials like my driver's license, sea pass, hand wipes, and a few small items)

* Hand wipes/ hand sanitizer

Given those two choices, I would choose 2:30.

In answer to your question, the earliest flight I would book with the cruise line's shuttle bus would be noon and hope for the best. If you arranged for other transportation, you could leave a lot sooner. The cruise lines always wait until the buses are full before leaving, so even if you exit the ship early you will still have to wait for the bus to fill up.

I had no idea people were not supposed to put the room service tray and dishes outside their door. I always thought that is what they preferred because it allowed someone to remove it and didn't burden the person cleaning the room. This is good to know. I definitely learn a lot from reading these boards. It seems like the staff should always put a note with the tray to let people know what to do with them. Many people probably just don't know.

I am booked on RCL and have a cruise this weekend. I received an email from them regarding the ZIKA, along with a link. It's out there, so I didn't pick any excursions where I will be deep in areas where a lot of bug bites can happen. I think they spray in a lot of areas. I've never been bitten by a mosquito while on an excursion and have been on a lot of excursions. I am definitely going to use bug spray while I am off of the ship.

I think it's a small risk, but it is there and the cruise ships do send out emails about it. I was on a Carnival ship earlier this year and got an email about it. I have adult children, so I am not as concerned as someone who is younger and could get pregnant. Personally, I would not go on a cruise where the Zika is prevalent if I was pregnant or could get pregnant. It's a personal decision and everyone has to decide for themselves on the risks. If a male gets the Zika virus, he might not have symptoms, but could infect another person by having sex. That is why it is also a good idea for the males to use bug spray to not only protect themselves, but to protect their partners.

You can stay at a hotel near the airport, a hotel closer to the port, or a hotel in Galveston. The hotels near the airports (both Houston Bush and the Hobby) are inexpensive. Some of them provide a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. The hotels in Galveston are more expensive, but there is more to do since many of them are located across the street from the beach. Some hotels in Galveston offer shuttle service to the port (free or for a fee).

If you stay at a hotel near the airport, then the morning of the cruise you can take a shuttle to the port. I think some people even use Uber. I have stayed at hotels in Galveston for prior cruises. I stayed at the Country Inn and Suites and the Doubletree by Hilton. Both offered shuttles to the port for a fee and were fine. I think there are a few hotels that offer free shuttle service. It is fun to stay near the beach.

I am cruising out of Galveston this weekend and staying at the Sheraton near the Houston Bush airport before my cruise. I got a club level room for only $83 per night (about $97 after taxes) with a AAA rate. I'm taking their free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. The next morning I am taking their shuttle back to the airport to catch the Galveston shuttle. I am paying $30 per person for a one-way trip to the port. They offer a discount for round trip. To get back to the airport after my cruise, I am using RCL's transportation. I booked that online by logging into my RCL account.

Yes, i would prefer to book a cruise on a ship that is non-smoking.

I would be willing to pay slightly more, but not more than $100 per person.

That's definitely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can't even count the number of times I have been in the ocean and have never seen a shark. All it takes is once time though. Thankfully, the odds are slim.

Yes it is sexually transmitted and her husband did stay on ship. I believe that I can speak for them they loved the cruise and did not mind missing the ports as Disney still offers much to do when in port.

Actually it's kind of nice having the ship not so crowded.

I agree, the Disney ships offer a lot to do. My one cruise with them was awesome. It is nice sometimes to be on the ship when it is at a port and be able to do things with less crowds.

So I keep hearing great things about Carnival's comedy show. I did see an awesome comedian on RC. What's special about the show on Carnival?

 

 

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They have a selection of comedians who often do different shows each night. On the last cruise we were on, we saw four different shows in one night. Some of their comedians are better than others, but as long as two of them are really good, that means being able to see a lot of different and entertaining shows. They usually rotate and have two comedians at the beginning of the cruise and two other ones at the later part of the cruise. They have adult shows and family shows and often the same comedian will have two (or more) different adult shows and different family shows. If you like comedy shows, then in my opinion, Carnival is the best. This is one of the reasons we will always keep Carnival in our rotation of cruises.