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We’re on your sailing & doing KSC on day two. I am booking a car/taxi to be waiting for us early so we can be at KSC as soon as it opens (9 am), and a return at 3:30 leaving us with way more time than the ship tour.

Thanks

Hi, wise cruisers!

I searched the boards and couldn't find the info I was looking for, and appreciate your help in advance.

We dock at Port Canaveral at 1 pm on a Sunday; have a tour booked (on our own) at the Daytona Speedway at 2:30. We don't want to rent a car because we really need to get off the ship and hit the road; it can take forever to get the rental car and be on our way. I've been getting sky-high quotes from different companies ($360 round trip) but then found that I can book a car via Mears as a 'charter' for 4 hours @ $200 all in. Driver waits for us while we tour and then takes us back. There are four of us, and we plan to be standing at the ship's door super early to sprint off and hop in the car. Can anyone tell me if there's a better option that I'm missing? 

(And yes, I would've booked a later tour if I could, but 2:30 is the one I could get)

Thanks!

Great idea to bring sauces!

definitely bring a light jacket or cardigan or pashmina wrap.

Havana

For those who saw it: Did you reserve once onboard, or just walk in on the day?

On 9/21/2019 at 2:35 PM, dpepper64 said:

Ocean Blue was very good on the Breakaway  when we got to the Bliss is was very poor.  Going on the Encore shortly   right now not sure if I will be trying Ocean Blue

Was thinking of changing my Italian reservation to Ocean Blue now that the upcharge is gone, until reading this. Am going on Bliss; what was ‘very poor’ about it?

On 9/10/2019 at 4:01 PM, BNBR said:

Just throwing an idea out there, since you are overnighting...  There are bioluminescence kayak tours that go out at night in the area.  Check out BK Adventure. Would be something quite different if you end up not wanting to go to a theme park. 

That is a great idea! Thank you. We don't really want to do a big excursion on that first day, when we land at 1:00 pm. Thinking of using the $50 per cabin shore excursion credit for transportation to Cocoa Beach that first afternoon, and then this kayak tour sounds good too! (Otherwise, we'll just be wasting that $50 credit x 2 cabins...) 

What’s the arcade like on Bliss? Worth buying a pass for 8 nights?

Thanks, everyone. Anyone know what the % of tax is, by any chance?

Searched for the answer to this but could not find it. We have the included drinks package and wondered if we could start using it as soon as we board on embarkation day, or if we had to wait until we're at sea?

Thanks!

We were in a mini-suite on deck 11 under the pool, and while we did hear some chair-dragging early in the morning, it wasn't that bad. We'd been booked in an inside and got a call from our TA offering an upgrade to a mini so we grabbed it. When we did a cabin crawl with our roll call group, we found the cabins overall much more spacious than on the newer ships. You'll be fine regardless of whether you choose a balcony or a mini! Gem is a beautiful ship and the crew is fantastic.

Jason, we are on your sailing and we're doing the Space Center on Day 2. I thought we'd book a car service, but since we may head to SeaWorld on Day 1, your plan for a two-day car rental sounds like a good one... Off to check that out.

What's the nearest pickup point from the cruise port to get a rental car?

Have already tried and love Cagney's, so that'll be one!

Stuck on which other two are worth going to... Help!

Thanks

What's the uncharge for kids at specialty restos?

You've all convinced me! I was leaning that way, too, and now I am super clear 🙂 Thank you!

Looking to book Bliss for 8-nighter. Travelling with hubby, 14-yr-old and MIL. In the past, we've done 2 connecting Insides. I would love a balcony though. Any thoughts on whether we should cram into a balcony, or stay with 2 insides? Also, best decks on Bliss, cabin-wise?

From what I understood, you cannot bring water in plastic bottles onboard. Am I correct?

Great! They'll probably meet up on the first night. How old is your son? Mine just turned 14.

Thanks!

We're sailing June 24 and wanted to show my son a sample of the Circle C teen schedule. Anyone have one they can share? Thanks!

Thanks!

Yes, I love me a shiny new ship as much as the next passenger, but we've had some fabulous cruises on vessels right out of dry dock, including NCL's Gem. We're sailing on Carnival Sunrise soon, and I was wondering what fellow cruisers had to say about the advantages of sailing on a refurbished ship? Price is one reason. Often they add new features and restos. What else?

Anyone know if they have Dive In Movies on Sunrise?