rtkenmore

1 minute ago, ks said:

Is it possible that Spice H20 will be eliminated and that Vibe will become much larger so that they can sell more passes?

I'd rather see it the other way around..  Get rid of Vibe and open that deck space back up to the general public as an expanded adults only Spice H2O during the day and the more party like atmosphere at night to everyone.

21 minutes ago, LVCruiser65 said:

rtkenmore & buddylover, this is addressed to you!!!! Shoppie124 posted a comment asking for reassurance NOT a pissing contest between the 2 of you. It shocks me that you keep this going and do not see how ridiculous you both are!! Any help anyone has given her is obscured by your nonsense. If this was my post I'd tell you to grow up, zip your pants and move on. Shoppie124 is obviously more patient than me. DROP your grandstanding and pissing and let us actually carry on this conversation.

Whatever LV...  So you muddied the post up further to tell people to shut up on a public forum allowing for public comments..  EYEROLL EMOJI.

6 minutes ago, buddylover said:

Under $200??? Yes, they ALWAYS existed.....re-read my original posts!  And "even under $150"......NOPE NOT what you said, you said you got rooms for $118/nite....BIG DIFFERENCE!  It is NOT your wallet paying, it is mine and anyone who thinks someone would WANT to pay 'close to $200' is out of their minds.  We ALL do our 'due dilligence' in researching to save our OWN pocket books $$$.  You are NOT the only person on CC who knows how to find "great rates".....I am a 'pro' at that....but to put in rates closer to $100 than to $200, as you originally stated,  is an outright fib, those rates have not existed since I began my search.  Don't quote if you don't know time of year....that is precisely why I asked you when you got your $118/nite rate....remember???    Sorry.........

And I told you when I got my $119 rate...  In December.  Then you chastised me saying that didn't exist during "high season" and nothing under $200 could be found.  So I searched multiple weekends in February and March.  I posted lengthily replies with my search results with DATES and HOTEL NAMES showing that indeed, you could find a dozen or more Marriott brand hotels under $200 with several even under $150 (and that was just the first 40 results).  I didn't even move on to Page 2, 3 or 4 to see what results came up.  Yet you still claim the rates I found don't exist...  If you can't duplicate the search I did using the dates and hotel names to find the same rates, then you ARE NOT such a pro after all.... But whatever.  You do you...  I know what I found on Marriotts website with 14 out of the first 40 results being under $200 and 6 of those being under $150 IN FEBRUARY (you know, the high season). Could probably find dozens more if I bothered to search IHG, Hyatt, Wyndham, Hilton or other brands...

You still haven't actually said what dates you have your hotel for in February though...  Why not? You don't want to be proven wrong, again?

1 hour ago, buddylover said:

Yes, thanks......these are the rates that I have been discussing all along, $150 and UP is what it has been all along since I started my search.....AND what it has been for the past several years at that time of year.  I am well aware, as I have stated over and over, that it is "high" season in Florida which began this whole debacle.  Others had to jump in and tell me I don't know how to do my "homework", don't know how to use Marriott's site (among MANY other sites) and that they got rates of $118/nite???  That was when I asked, "where??", "what time frame??", "what hotels??"......just got lip service about how cheap they travel and I don't know how to find the "deals".  So be it.....I am off to other 'searches' now, but I thank you for your input.  It is exactly as I have been seeing and finding myself - and, YES, rates fluctuate but not by $100/nite.....LOL!!

Where? What time? What hotels?

I answered all of those questions on multiple weekends and you still argued that they didn't exist.  I ran searches on marriott.com and found dozens of hotels under $150 (which is not what you originally argued, you said you couldn't find anything under $200)...  And several of those under $150 were in the in the $130's.  Even after give you specific dates and hotels, you claimed you still couldn't find the rates quoted yet I could and anyone who plugged the dates in using the Senior Rate I was using could as well.  So yeah, I still stick by my comment that you don't know how to do your homework when you kept on saying nothing under $200.  You want me to run the searches again?  I bet I can still find plenty of options under $150...

Also, as many times as you kept demanding to know what dates and what hotels.. You never said what your actual travel dates were.  Bet I could find under $200 and likely even under $150 for your dates...  😁

59 minutes ago, buddylover said:

You insist on keeping a war alive.....however, we NEVER prepay as we fly in and don't take risks on losing our hard earned $$....secondly, can't find ONE rate that you have listed above either on AARPs site or Marriotts.....don't know where you are getting your info.  Plus, your argument has changed....you originally were stating pricing closer to $100/nite (like $118, $137), now you have upped your ante to my original comment and pricing of closer to and over $200/nite???  Since I am the one looking to book the hotel room, and must book at the pricing I find in my exhaustive search (whether you believe it or not!) I would LOVE to find pricing as low as you post....however, it is and has not been at those low rates since I booked and the hotels posted their rates over a year ago for Feb 2020!  Would snap up a Marriott, or like hotel, at the rates you started out claiming closer to $100/nite!!  Conversation with you is officially 'closed' on my behalf, I do know of what I speak and of the high pricing at that time of year in Florida!

I insist on keeping this war alive?  You quoted/commented to a post from almost two weeks ago now to bring it up again.

You must not know how to operate Marriotts website as I just went to look and sure enough, most of the rates quoted above are still available.  Some are slightly higher which is understandable since it's been two weeks since I did that search.  You aren't running any exhaustive searches if you aren't finding the rates I quoted.  It's that simple.  Another quick search of February 22nd-23rd found 14 of the first 40 available hotels under $200... And 6 of those 14 were under $150.  These are publicly available rates published on www.marriott.com that anyone can search for and find.... And I didn't even click to look at Page 2, 3 or 4.  That's only Page 1 of the search results.

The reason I went with $200 and below...  "The costs hover and most are above the $200 dollar mark."...  That was your remark and I quickly found a dozen plus hotels UNDER $200 which you claim isn't possible.

So whatever...  You pay your high rates since you can't operate a hotel search and I'll book my $119/night room in Miami for my cruise at the Aloft.

Anyone who ever wants suggestions/ideas/etc. on hotels and finding the rates I've quoted above, hit me up.  I'm glad to help you find these publicly available rates directly through Marriott...  And to top it off, all of these have options to cancel, i.e. they are NOT prepaid rates.

9 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

Since there was such a debate about hotel rates in Miami, I figured I would post an update.

 

Originally, we were booked at Marriott Biscayne Bay in Late August.  Our rate $189 night plus taxes.  Total $450 total

 

I've been watching the rates for the same room/ hotel.  I was able to get the room for $137 night plus taxes.  Total of $310

 

It is the prepaid rate however, my flight is booked and my cruise is booked.  So unless we decide to sleep under a bridge... this is a great deal!!

 

Moral of the story... Never pay full price and always verify you aren't paying full price!

But that's not possible to find such a cheap rate in Miami.  😕

Thank you for proving my point above that if you look enough and keep an eye out that you can find anything you're looking for.  What site did you book through or was it direct with Marriott?

My understanding was that if you had a cruise booked at the time of the change and that cruise would have pushed you to the next level on the old system upon sailing, then you got the next level because you were booked.

For instance, if you had 18 PRIOR to the change AND already had a 7 day cruise booked PRIOR to the change, then upon sailing that cruise even if it was after the change, you would have 25 points and qualify for Silver under the old rules even though you were short under the new rules.

I would tend to agree with Keith on that since your Latitudes account is a NEW account under the new rules, only those would apply and I doubt they would go back that far to bring those 2 points over.  Never hurts to try though.  Somehow my mom wound up with two Latitudes accounts although one had no point history but I did ask one time, if the second account had wound up with points, would they combine them and they said they would.

Go for it and see...

To me, the best is always a good ole Mudslide!

12 minutes ago, buddylover said:

OK rtkenmore.....just NOW, here are the rates for my upcoming Feb cruise on Marriotts website (parameters:  Feb 22-23, Senior rate)

• Courtyard Miami Brickell  $246/nite
• Aloft $271/nite
• Springhill Suites $269/nite
• Residence Inn Coconut Grove $267/nite
• Residence Inn Miami Beach $349/nite
• Courtyard Miami Beach $399/nite
• Courtyard Miami Coral Gables $254/nite (cheaper further out?)
• Four Points by Sheraton $263/nite
• Towne Place Suites Miami Airport $186/nite (close enough to $200/nite?)
• Element $218/nite
• Courtyard Miami Airport $220

Hot off the press just now....on Marriotts own site.  Case "closed" rtkenmore.  Now who is right??  This is the proof you have been avoiding....I do know of what I speak as it is my $$$ being spent and my hours of research looking.  The costs hover and most are above the $200 dollar mark. Yes, there are motels and some hotels very very cheap, but that is not the point.  The point is that the typical hotel we have always stayed in has gone way, way up in price in the past few years to the pricepoints I have shown you above.  It is my vacation, and where we stay is our choice, and all that I have been trying to convey is that it has drastically gone UP in the past few years for the same properties in  the mid January to mid February time frames.  We travel frequently, so I research frequently...and my one and only point to the OP, was "Yes, it has gotten quite expensive" to travel to Florida (including very high airfare prices as well that increased when fuel went up in price and have not come down).  I am not talking about using "points' to pay for a hotel stay, but paying $$$, hard earned $$ and the prices indicated on Marriott's website (your choice of hotel chain) are well over $200/nite average.  Case closed on my end - I know of what I am speaking!

February 22-23rd on an AARP/Senior rate direct from Marriott.com...

Miami Airport Marriott - $178

Sheraton Miami Airport - $175

Fairfield Inn & Suites Airport - $160

Townplace Suites Airport - $186

Aloft Miami Airport - $169

Four Points Airport - $152

Courtyard Miami Airport -$144

Townplace Suties Airport West - $169.

Springhill Suites Doral - $161

Aloft Doral - $143

Element Doral - $144

Courtyard Miami Lakes - $135

Townplace Suites Miami Lakes - $135

Courtyard Miramar - $118

Tell me again how I'm wrong?  14 hotels ALL under $200 and seven under $152.  The same results I've been finding all morning.  You stink at your research... Sorry not sorry.

Sorry Shoppie124..  Hopefully all this research will give you some additional ideas for hotels.  They can definitely be found well under $200/night with reputable brands throughout the area.

13 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

As the OP, I definitely wasn't looking for anyone to hold my hand.   I can say that many of the responses I received made me feel better about what we spent.  It seems I did everything that I could do (based on the posts from others)to balance the cost with having a good time.   I am very loyal to the Marriott brand as I travel for work a lot and that's who we use.  I appreciate everyone's input even if we did vary to a topic about hotel prices and dates.

Try the Aloft or Four Points at the airport (on the nor west side).  They seem to be some of the most affordable Marriott in the area and those are two of the most consistently cheaper ones I find in my searches over December, January and February.

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I got lucky the last time I stayed around Brickell the night before I cruised.  I found the JW Marriott for $129/nite.  That popped up quickly and I booked it just as quickly.  The next day, the rate jumped $100/nite.  I like the aLoft in that area, too.

 

But, best bet is to stay further away.  Brickell area is pretty pricey ordinarily.

Our $119 rate is aLoft at the airport the night before our cruise.  The internet must be so hard for some people.. I'm still finding all kinds of rates under $150 in mid January & February and as you mentioned, even some closer to $100 or under.  

I mean, I even asked what dates buddy boy is traveling to specifically search his exact dates and he's not interested in help.  If I had been arguing all morning with someone who kept finding lower rates than what I was finding, I'd be thrilled if they tried to help me save some money.

Whatever...  I got my $119/night room and I'm happy.

4 minutes ago, buddylover said:

What HOTELS?

I named hotels in Post #43.

6 minutes ago, buddylover said:

Same here.....I always go to the hotel website....they are typically the same or more often than not, even cheaper with 'free cancellation' (which I always do book- as we have to fly in during winter...uggghh).  It actually takes me longer to book the hotel and typically a car rental than to find and book the cruise.....LOL!  If you book  further from the airport/cruise port, then you have to rent a car (an added expense) as shuttles from most hotels are only in a radius of the airport/cruiseport.  The Hampton Inn Brickell, Holiday Inn Cruiseport are at $239/nite right now for our dates .....and have been OVER $200 the entire time I have searched.  So good luck to all of you finding great rates.  We have a hotel booked, further out, but are renting a car too....still cheaper than a hotel close to airport and cruiseport for February.

What dates?

1 minute ago, buddylover said:

Ahhh, now you are getting more like it....YES under $200, like I have been saying all along.....NOT $119, like you said.  Thanks, but you still have not listed the specific hotels......not true unless your claims can be documented.  

Sure, ignore the part where I found Marriott hotels in the $130-$150 as well...  And found 20 something under $150 on Hotels.com.

I get that you don't want to accept that you're wrong... But you are.  There are plenty of options under $150 and as someone above noted, under $100 even.

6 minutes ago, buddylover said:

January and Feb are 'high season' and if you go to your valued Marriott site and look you will be hard pressed to find any rates under $200 nite....I try harder than you do, as I compare all the sites....including Marriott's own site.  The subject of this thread started out about how much hotels have gone UP in price.....and YES, they have, especially in Jan, Feb March, their high season......comparing apples to apples (and not to shoulder season in Dec)....the rates are incredibly higher.  You need to do some more hunting yourself in the months being discussed, your narrow search is BS to what the rest of us are looking at!

And just for sh*ts and giggles...  February 7th for 2 nights on an AARP rate there are 8 Marriott branded hotels within 5 miles of MIA under $200 a night and three of those are $160 or less.

And in March 13th for 2 nights on a AARP rate, I found the same 8 hotels under $200 and within 5 miles of the airport.  Also, three of them still priced $160 or less per night with one at $144/night.

For a seasoned traveler, I would think this wouldn't be too hard.  Again, took about 5 minutes to find these rates.

5 minutes ago, buddylover said:

Not going to get in a match with you....but not everyone has AAA (we for one do NOT), but we do have AARP and we too are very seasoned travellers.  It is NOT BS, it is factual....the week of Dec 7 is "shoulder season", one of the cheapest around......January and Feb are 'high season' and if you go to your valued Marriott site and look you will be hard pressed to find any rates under $200 nite....I try harder than you do, as I compare all the sites....including Marriott's own site.  The subject of this thread started out about how much hotels have gone UP in price.....and YES, they have, especially in Jan, Feb March, their high season......comparing apples to apples (and not to shoulder season in Dec)....the rates are incredibly higher.  You need to do some more hunting yourself in the months being discussed, your narrow search is BS to what the rest of us are looking at!

Wrong again buddylover...

January 11th with a AARP/Senior rate...  $135/night at TWO different Marriott hotels.

January 18th with a AARP/Senior rate...  $135/night at TWO different Marriott hotels.

February 7th for 2 nights with a AARP/Senior rate...  $152 at one hotel and $144 at another.

Again, that took me all of 5 minutes to find those rates.  You aren't trying too hard.

And since you demand names...  Aloft, Four Points, Courtyard are the ones I just found above.  Not hard at all buddy.

9 minutes ago, buddylover said:

Exactly, which is why I am asking you what site YOU are finding these incredibly low prices.  I have been cruising for a while now, and always need to fly to the port, so this is not a new search for us.  So please answer, what sites are you using to find these prices, as I use probably most of them myself (hotels dot com, priceline, hotwire, expedia, travelocity, AARP, the hotel sites directly etc.).  I don't think I leave any 'stone unturned'....and the prices in mid January to mid February are double you quotes, and have been for quite some time.  Please do tell us where you are finding $119 or even $130 (for a Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, Fairfield, Springhill Suites, Hyatt Place, Residence Inn or equivalent type hotel) in Miami???  Even LaQuintas are close to $200 nite??  Very confused with your information.  (The same holds true for the Ft. Lauderdale and surrounding areas as well - i.e., Plantation, Doral, Pembroke Pines etc).

You must not be trying very hard...  

December 7th for 1 night in Miami - Found five Marriott brand hotels under $152 on marriott.com (AAA rate)

January 11th for 1 night in Miami - Found three Marriott brand hotels under $140 on marriott.com (AAA rate)

January 18th for 1 night in Miami - Found three Marriott brand hotels under $140 on marriott.com (AAA rate)

February 7th for 2 nights in Miami - Found one Marriott brand hotel under $150 on marriott.com (AAA rate)

The $119 rate I broked was the day the schedule released for that particular week (December 7th) at the Aloft Miami Airport.  They are currently quoting $137 (AAA rate), $139 (Senior rate), and $124 (Prepaid rate).  I only use Marriott.com as I'm a long time rewards member (legacy SPG) that typically winds up with at least a basic upgrade and I've just been loyal for over a decade to SPG/Marriott.  I'd rather book direct for the perks I get than go through hotels.com or travelocity.com.  Hotel rates can and do change constantly though as most hotels have gone to some type of demand based booking system.  I look about once a week at all of my current reservations and compare my current rate (usually AAA or Senior) with what the current rates are at the same hotel or other nearby hotels that may be of interest.  For December 7th, I'm not likely to beat $119 for the night but all this talk about "nothing under $200" is BS.  There are plenty of options under $200 and even a healthy variety under $150.  Are they all 4 or 5 star hotels?  Absolutely not...  But I don't have to have a 5 star Embassy suite for a one or two night stay before a cruise.  I just searched Hotels.com for December 7th and found 20+ hotels under $150 a night and another 14 under $150 in mid January (11th).

And since you mentioned LaQuinta..  yeah, found it on Hotels.com for $149 a night in mid-January.  I don't know what to tell you..  Try harder.

4 hours ago, buddylover said:

What is the hotel name? and on what website did you find that price?  There is nothing under $179/night and most hover over $200/nite, especially Marriott brand, in late January/February...and I have searched Marriotts website for December and don't see anything for $119/night either??  Hmmm......you got a great deal, if truly $119, but one that I can't seem to find now, nor have been able to find for several years now.  The prices hover close to almost double that!

What days are you searching?  It matters what sites, what days, how many days, what rate codes, etc...  The $119 is no longer available but I just found several around the airport in the $130's...

On 5/15/2019 at 9:52 AM, buddylover said:

We cruise in and out of FLL and MIA multiple times a year and haven't seen $100/nite in MIA for a Long Long time.  What time of year and what hotels do you stay in pre-cruise for $100/nite in MIA?  Just curious as I have 2 more booked cruises for FLA and can't find a hotel for under close to double that??

We're cruising in December and booked at $119/night for one night prior at an airport hotel (Marriott brand).

10 hours ago, Battleship88 said:

Question/Senerio. I’ll be traveling with a total 4 groups of 2 who will all receive the $50 per port credit. Can we combine all of our $50 credits to cover the cost of an excursion that accommodates 8 people??? Specifically a cabana at Great Stirrup?

 

 

Likely no because it’s $50 per cabin.

39 minutes ago, KarlChilders said:

The seller will have ebay fees and cost involved, so I would expect to pay around 150 or so. Still a good deal and maybe they make a tiny profit. Nothing wrong with that

Wouldn't pay more than $125.  Seller doesn't have to sell on eBay as you can find people constantly trying to sell these on Cruise Critics and even Facebook.  PayPal transfer "between friends" doesn't cost anything if you don't use a credit card so no expense there either...  If you want to pay another 20% more for something, by all means you do that but most people are not going to be interested in paying 20% more for something they can get cheaper.  😕

On 5/6/2019 at 2:50 PM, Red-Sol said:

Thanks all for the replies....I kind of figured they were gone...but was still holding out hope! 😉

Really not needed any longer...  With the free/reduced airfare, that's likely a better deal than the credit you got through DV...  The other perks were a hotel credit (NCL way over prices partner hotels), an internet package (250 minutes) and a shore excursion credit.  We had DV on our San Juan cruise back in January and the only part we ended up using was the internet and shore excursion....  Their airfare was more expensive even with the credit than it was booking direct through Delta for us.  And the room they quoted was $300+ for the one night before our cruise.

19 hours ago, trex-de said:

Hi,

I have seen a lot of offers to sell the cruisenext certificates on this forum and on line on eBay.  Has anyone experienced any fraud when buying on eBay?

 

I will use them and a deal can be made with someone who can’t use them and wants to unload. Win win. I just don’t want to get ripped off. 

 

thanks

If you don't want to be ripped off, don't pay more than $125 for one.  The most someone would pay on board is $150 if they purchased one voucher ($250 minus $100 OBC for an out of pocket expense of $150).

If someone purchased 2 or more, then they would have almost been $125 out of pocket...

2 for $500 with $250 OBC = $250 out of pocket

3 for $750 with $375 OBC = $375 out of pocket

4 for $1000 with $500 OBC = $500 out of pocket...

As long as you know that and stick it..  You're good.  Also be careful of expiration dates as you are supposed to book & sail within the 4 year time but often NCL will give a waiver to the sailing requirement as long as you book within the 4 year time frame.

38 minutes ago, La-Z-Guy said:

Not sure the context. But it's by a Spanish painter.... My guess is long term NCL may be thinking of sending her to Barcelona.

 

I thought that as well and figured maybe she would replace Epic her first summer but then they announced going to NYC instead.

We are booked on the Dawn next November (2020) out of Barcelona to Venice with the reduced airfare option.  It is a crapshoot what flights you get but you can figure out a good idea just looking at MIA to BCN and seeing the typical flights/routing available.  If there are no direct to Europe flights from MIA to start with, then you're going to fly to a hub in the US first before the transatlantic most likely (Atlanta, Charlotte, NYC, etc.).  Even in Europe, you may still fly through a hub there such as London, Paris, Amsterdam before the final flight to Barcelona.

We are flying out of Atlanta for the sole purpose of practically guaranteeing we fly Delta and will leave on a transatlantic directly from Atlanta instead of having another US layover.  I would definitely opt for the schedule deviation and fly in a day or even two early.  It's likely worth it to get there and have a day or two to adjust to the time difference and recover from the long flights.