cessnabmw

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

Get all of your family snorkel masks and fins.  Go south to the salt flats.  Right next to the mining pier is a place to snorkel with turtles.  Easy to do.  A little tricky to get in but worth it.  Then take them to the donkey sanctuary.  It's a good thing you have a car because you can drive around complex as well as get out.  My kids were 18, 12 and 10 and still talk about seeing the donkeys in 2014.  These pictures are from January 2020.

Thanks!

1 hour ago, CruiserLucas said:

I won't guarantee it should things have changed drastically in the 4 months since I was there, but wouldn't doubt you can do that. When we arrived at Miami's port for an August cruise the porters were just taking anyone's bags outside the terminal. They weren't checking your boarding time, since it's not their job. 

Thank you.

We're cruising from Miami in December. Are we allowed to drop off our bags to the port earlier than check in time? Would be easier for us to do that, then go return the car rental and have them drop us back without bags.

Based on what I've been reading here and on other forums, we'll be able to get a free ID Now (NAAT) test done at CVS or Walgreen free before we head back to Canada. Hoping that still works at the end of Dec!

Thanks for the info!! We're doing ABC islands in Dec and can't find car rentals, so we may just use the busses! 

Is there a similar bus in Bonaire?

I just got denied for my two cabins too!!

Hello,

Thank you for submitting your shareholder brokerage statement.

We are unable to process your request and as a valued investor, we trust you understand.  You are currently sailing on a complimentary / reduced-rate cruise BK # xxxxx xxxxx, and the shareholder benefits are not applicable to anyone sailing on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis. Please refer to the Shareholder Benefit attached for your review.

We value your loyalty and hope that you will enjoy a fun and memorable cruise with us.

Regards,

Thanks!

One of the reasons I want to remove pre-paid is that I have OBC that I want to apply for that, but the rate we booked HAD TO have pre-paid.

So, If I can remove the pre-paid onboard, then the OBC can be used for it instead.

We usually like to give our tips directly as cash to all. However, the cruise we're booking has a rate that has to have gratuities pre-paid. First time we've seen that.

My question is can the pre-paid gratuities be removed when we board so that don't double pay? We'd like to pay in cash so want those removed.

9 hours ago, bup1224 said:

Are you sure $175, normally it's $75 (from what others have reported to me).

Yes, pasted below. It's a crazy rate!

Dear Mr. Joe,

Thank you for contacting Advance Car Rental Curacao.

December is a very Busy month. Normally all our cars will be fully
booked for long term rental. We know that nobody will rent a car for 1
day in the high season.
But we will make some exceptions. But in the high season our prices will
be different from normal.

We can offer you a " Small SUV  "  for 21 of December 2021. The price
will be 175 USD for "One day Rent". The car is full insured. NO
DEDUCTIBLE. No extra charges.

Total to pay in cash ( included GPS ) = 175 Dollars ( in cash ! you can
pay when you receive the car or return it back) We don't accept credit
cards! In this price included a cell phone in case you need help or you
want to extend or return the car earlier. Also you will get a map of the
Island and a programmed GPS with all the best beaches of Curacao.

We can deliver the car outside " The Mega Pier" when you walk, search
for the security and find the gate on the yellow wall to come outside. I
will be There with a paper and with your name on it! That you can
recognize me. ( THE MAIN GATE WHERE THE TAXI ENTER TO THE PARKING LOT OF
THE CRUISE PORT.)

Hope it's something you can be interested in. For us it will be a
pleasure to serve you and do business with you!

Please let me know if you are interested.

Kind Regards,

Celestino de Freitas
www.advancecarrentalcuracao.com
+5999-5662220

I'd like to know too if we can still withdraw unused OBC in the casino please.

14 hours ago, bup1224 said:

Contact Advance Car Rental.  He will deliver to the port. He includes a GPS.

Absolutely book in advance. 

Thanks! They just replied with a quote of $175 USD for the day! That's really expensive

Thank you all! We've decided to fly from Buffalo. Cheapest we can find is with Southwest to Miami for the dates we want. Now to find hotels and car rentals! 

15 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Same questions again, as a couple of days ago?

 

Silly to drive up to Ft Lauderdale if you fly into, and sail out of Miami.

 

There are a number of threads here recommending testing operations.

 

Pre Covid, there were car rental places downtown, have used them once or twice. Check the various rental car companies to see who still has them today. Maybe cheaper to return downtown...maybe even to pickup downtown. Parking at hotels downtown won't be cheap.

 

Afterwards a drive to, and stay in Key West would be a nice new look.

Thanks! Yes, had more / different questions.

Anyone know if we can drop off our bags to the cruise port and leave to go drop off the car rental and come back later?

Are there any car rental companies at the port that we can book prior or do we have to do it while there? 

We're 2 adults and two teenage kids. 

Suggestions on places to drive to? Best beaches? Sights? Driving route? 

Thanks! 

Are there any car rental companies at the port that we can book prior or do we have to do it while there? 

We're 2 adults and two teenage kids. 

Suggestions on places to drive to? Best beaches? Sights? Driving route? 

Thanks! 

Are there any car rental companies at the port that we can book prior or do we have to do it while there? 

We're 2 adults and two teenage kids. 

Suggestions on places to drive to? Best beaches? Sights? Driving route? 

Thanks! 

We have a cruise on Dec 18 and planning to drive from Toronto to Buffalo on Dec 14 and take a flight from Buffalo to Miami on the 15th.

Since we're there for 3 nights prior to the cruise we're thinking of renting a car at the airport. 

So for the pre cruise :

Any suggestions on where to stay? Miami? Fort Lauderdale? 

When we're checking out from the hotel, we would be returning the car to the airport. Do the car rental companies have a shuttle from the airport to the port? 

If we have to take an Uber or taxi from the airport to the port, can we drop off the bags to the ship then not have to deal with them? 

For the return trip, we're planning to stay 3 nights again before we fly from Miami to Buffalo. Have to get PCR covid tests to get into Canada. 

Again, suggestions on where to stay post cruise? 

Car rental too, would any of the companies pick us from the port to rent from the airport? 

Apologies for so many questions, but it's a lot of planning needed for pre and post cruise hotels, car rentals and flights! Hoping the experts here can help. 

Thanks! 

Anyone here planning to drive down in Dec for a cruise? Looking at the prices for flights and car rentals and it would be cheaper to have our own car with us! 

4 minutes ago, JohninDC said:

How many night pre and post cruise?  If staying in downtown Miami or Miami Beach you probably do not need a rental car (and the nightly parking fees will kill your budget). If it's too far to walk just use UberX or Lyft.

 

as mentioned by Skrufy above, the tourist season and events will affect room rates - the $300+ room in Feb can go for under $100 in August.

We're 4 people and looking at probably 3 night pre and post each for hotels and cars rentals. 

Contemplating driving down from Toronto (done it twice before). 

55 minutes ago, skrufy said:

The advantage of flying into Ft. Lauderdale and staying there is the flights and hotels are usually less expensive than Miami. The advantage of flying into Miami is the port is only 15-20 minutes away and if you stay in the downtown area the port is 10 minutes away, Cab/Uber to port around $10.00. Prices in both cities vary depending on what time of year and what’s going on, boat show, convention etc. I use booking.com and Hotels.com and compare the pricing. There’s plenty of public transportation and shuttles to and from the ports in both cities. The popular areas people stay in Miami are Downtown, Mary Brickell, Miami Beach, Coral Gables and the Blue Lagoon area by the airport. Ft. Lauderdale people stay on 17th St, ( group of hotels to choose from ), Hollywood Beach, and Dania Beach areas. Have a great cruise.

Thanks for the info! Really appreciate it.

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

Have you looked down the book? Dozens of discussions going on. 

 

Where you fly to might depend on where you are sailing from, which you don't tell us. In most cases a rental car is not needed, as there are plentiful taxis,, Ubers and shuttles, but not sure what you would need one for.

 

"Reasonable " hotels is a tremendously vague term. Hotel prices can be very high during various seasons and events. Again,  some reading and research here could answer a lot of your questions,  and help you narrow down the broad essence of your questions. 

Thanks! Sailing from Miami.

Thanks! I've seen reports of people getting a free PCR/NAAT test at Walgreens / RiteAid too.

Hi! We just booke last night and looking forward to a cruise!

We're coming from Toronto. Likely flying out of Buffalo, but debating if we should fly to Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Need hotels and car rentals too prior to and after the cruise.

Any suggestions on hotels that are reasonably priced?

Do some of the rental companies do shuttles to the Port? Debating if we should even bother with a car rental this time with everything looking so expensive. 

Thanks!

10 minutes ago, mondello said:

You need proof of a negative test results from 2 days before your cruise. Other than that, doesn't Canada still require proof of negative test before you fly back home.

See Carnival's website, the current protocols just click at the top of the page on the Have Fun. Be Safe.

Yes, you can get off at ports. The restrictions are for unvaccinated guests that must go on "bubble" tours. Some ports may have stricter mask requirements.

Note, some Canadians got any available vaccines and ended up with 2 different doses. They were not considered fully vaccinated if their 2 shots were not of the same kind of vaccine. That may have finally been allowed though.

Yes, as of now we would need a test to get back to Canada. We'll get it done after the cruise at a CVS or somewhere in Miami. Hopefully not too expensive.

13 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

I believe you'll be all set so long as the  antigen tests are within 2 days of your cruise.  Not sure which vaccines available in Canada are now allowed as vax proof in US.  I think those changed recently.  But you should double check.  Lots of Canadian cruisers on this board will opine.

 

As far as I have read on the Port of Call boards, none of the ABC isles are requiring separate port tests to debark.  The ship's information on your status will be sufficient. Unvaxxed passengers, and vaxxed parties traveling with them are probably limited to bubble excursions.

Thanks!!