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Capt_BJ

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  1. the small inexpensive 'walkie talkies' typically seenimage.thumb.png.ed9f3a74f6e0e680ebac51d237520c3c.png operate under 1990's technology and the FRS - Family Radio Service. These are very low power and operate at a frequency that's "ok" out in open areas but horrible when dealing with STEEL. The next step up from FRS is GMRS but these are typically more $$ and used in semi-professional use.  There are yet other hand held radios that DO work well on ships (we used them on ships I worked on) but they typically cost about $1000 per radio and larger ships which employ them often have 'repeaters' installed to improve range versus steel. On board 'cellular phone' systems have all but eliminated these in non-military applications.

     

    I have a set of FRS radios we bought for cruise use back in the day .... they never worked well on a cruise but I kept them for use around the house - sometime helpful during repair projects <searching for the correct circuit breaker>!  They have not come out of the drawer in years since now we just call each other on our cell phones!

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  2. everytime we've cruised Viking (1 river, 2 ocean) I've activated the 'international' and have had ZERO issues. Mrs traveled to Norway on her own and did not activate 'full international' but used the 'call once and get 24 hours> to get her lost bags back ... no issues there either.

     

    I've investigated other providers but when I bring up 'international' everyone has said ''' no" .....

     

    that said" T-Mobile IS the big dog in most of EU but my son dropped T after a year in the US due to poor coverage . . . where he lives (Alabama)

  3. remember that 'port canaveral' is a business entity IN THE TOWN of Cape Canaveral. For example the Enterprise location 'in the port' has the address: 710 Mullet Rd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

     

    In the port is a shared location for Enterprise/Alamo/National

     

    also in Cape Canaveral are

    Budget

    Dollar / Thrifty (shared location)

    AVIS

     

    all are fairly close to the port and on A1A

     

    search for a 'location' of Cape Canaveral . . . 

  4. we sailed from PE for a cruise over Thanksgiving last year and parking was a NIGHTMARE .... It was not our first time sailing from PE but the first time driving (usually fly in or park at child's house who lives near and drives us to the port) We arrived at 10 and most parking was full and folks blocking the entrances. Asking them where parking was available got a shrug and general hand wave ..... eventually I was led to 'the big garage' and directed to park under a big sign: "DO NOT PARK HERE" ..... car WAS there when we returned ..... 

     

    It taints me so far as ever sailing from PE again ... I surely won't plan to park there

     

    even on the best of times you can be at a terminal with NO nearby parking and as dependent on a shuttle as if you were parked off site.  

     

    If I'm flying in same day, PE is nice as it is SO close to the airport. Driving ... not so much. Since I live minutes from Port Canaveral now the flying thing no longer applies . . . and PC gets a big preference over the southern ports . . . 

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  5. I'm doing Brightline in January, and I bought the more expensive tickets, which include an Uber connection between station and port. Not sure if you're interested in that. Just doing your own Uber, might be better, but you'd have to check the numbers.

     

    yep ... some serious number crunching is required here. With the 'premium' ticket your port to station leg is covered no matter how many UBER are required (and I believe I saw they run a mini-bus now); AND I believe the + ticket has some checked bags included .... Versus 2 adults and two kids <how big are we talkin?> and bags per UBER which may not fit!! requiring uber+ or 3 cars ..... You could be looking at two 'mini-van' taxi or two UBER+ ..... versus a BL+ ride with included drinks!  {p.s. BL killed another one today so factor in extra time for possible police investigations ... they are maintaining their position as the most deadly rail road per mile of track}

  6. Port of Miami is closed this morning due to weather / wind

     

    as of 9AM there are 7 cruise ships which normally would be well into off load ... loitering outside of the port .... it appears the first is just now being allowed into the approach channel .....

    image.png.c1ac2abd38c166c183b20e5ff59438bb.png

     

    it appears that due to the wind the Captain of the Port is requiring tug escort / assist .....

     

  7. editorial: Port Canaveral and the town of Cape Canaveral are not BIG metropolitan areas like Miami or Ft Lauderdale and as the port has grown some of the 'support services' have NOT grown to match. One such service is rental cars .....

     

    The local rental offices are not BIG like you see at Miami or Lauderdale where the main offices are actually serving the airport ....  In Canaveral those large rental offices are at Orlando Airport - 45 minutes away. What the local offices are like - how busy they are - is VERY dependent on the port load: how many ships are in on 'your day'.  If your day is one or two ships there is typically no issues but some days there are 4, 5 even 6 and these days easily over run the local rental offices.

     

    If you go to the port website and the cruise section you can find a link to the cruise ship schedule. They tend to keep it filled to about 6 months out and you can check 'your day' and have an idea of what to expect ....  https://www.portcanaveral.com/getattachment/Cruise/Cruise-Lines-Schedules/Port-Canaveral-Cruise-Schedule-Dec23-Jul24.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

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  8. TECHNICALLY if you look at the web sites for GE it is described as being for AIRPORTS only.  However IME I have seen 'priority' lanes at cruise ports marked for GE holders (and used them). They don't have the machines but will hand inspect the card and the line is VERY short .. . 

     

    Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports

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  9. we were on SATURN in July (one of the first sailings) and found the internet service do be significantly less than what we'd experienced previously on other VO cruises.

     

    I ran 'speed test' several times and the bandwidth I'd see for down link was typically WELL under 10 mbps. Btw we don't stream ... use was simple emails/messages, some FaceBook.

     

    Provider was STARLINK ..... I'd noticed the bunch of antenna the first day.

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  10. One of our stops will be Key West so we won't need to go there.

     

    good thing as it is about 150 miles away ..... a couple of companies run Hop on Hop Off <HoHo> from Bayside and this would appear to fit you well.  You should look into the different offerings as they go different places AND note that there is a difference 'tween Miami and Miami Beach ..... sep' cities ..... there IS also an extensive 'free' trolley system which can get you to all the touristy places in MIAMI but there is no narration as you'd get on a HoHo so kinda requires some local knowledge or a LOT of pre-planning .....https://www.miami.gov/Transportation-Roadways/Trolley-Information/Get-Trolley-Information-Schedules-and-Maps

  11. MG uses terminal 3 which has an adjacent garage ... just follow signs to terminal 3 ... SUNPASS is accepted at T-3 parking (T-3 ONLY)

     

    Official Port Canaveral Parking

    Official Port Canaveral Cruise Parking is available only directly adjacent to each of Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminals.  The Port does not own or operate any off-Port parking facilities. Park at your cruise terminal's designated parking area and simply take a short walk to your ship; no need for shuttles. Oversize parking for RV's and buses is also available at each Cruise Terminal. 
     

    Parking Rates 

    Parking is $17.00 per day plus tax for vehicles & RVs, including day of arrival and day of departure. 

    *Rates are subject to change without notice. Contact the Canaveral Port Authority at 321-783-7831 for the latest information.

    Acceptable Payment Methods

    •   No cash accepted
    •   Major credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover)
    •   Presently, EPASS and SunPass accepted ONLY at the Cruise Terminal 3 parking garage

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  12. prohibited outright .... no approach sidewalks ... no foot path on the bridge(s) .... security will be called but will they respond b4 you get across is a different issue ....

     

    a taxi or U/L is basically your only choice ... local bus service doesn't cross the bridge to the north side ... no route ...

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  13. A woman has been banned for life from sailing aboard any Carnival Cruise Line ship for packing CBD gummies along in her carry-on bag for an August 2023 cruise from Miami, Florida.

    Despite the controlled substance being conditionally legal in Florida, all major cruise lines prohibit such items, as is clearly stated on Carnival’s prohibited items list.
     

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