Neachy79

On ‎4‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 1:15 PM, Grumpy Husband said:

Neachy 79...Here are a couple of videos that may help you out to see where the places you named are, and see what the walk will be like.

Video 1 Mallory Square to Southard St.

Video 2 Southard St. to Southenmost Point

Video 3 Southernmost Point to Casa Marina.

Nice!!!  I had to follow your page.  Love the videos!

On 3/27/2019 at 9:15 AM, peter_krynicki said:

If you were to walk up Whitehead instead of the Loop you'd walk by the Mile Marker 0 (snap) the Hemingway house (snap) right onto Petronia for Blue Heaven (savor, snap) Back to Duval for the Lighthouse (snap) then hit the Southernmost Point (snap, snap). Walk one block over on South Street to Duval and the Southernmost café (snap, chew, sip), then down Duval where everything else is (snap, snap, snap) except for Tony's which is 1/2 block over on Greene (snap).

 

A few blocks more down Duval and you're at the sunset pier at the Ocean Key Resort (snap) for the views and maybe a farewell Bloody Mary (slurp)

 

Pjk      

Thank you!!!!  Sounds great!!!!

Thanks everyone!!! We will check it out. Sounds like 20-30 minutes is a good estimate for how long it might take. That’s doable. I was worried the line was like 1 hour+...and I rather spend that hour seeking key lime pie or a rum runner. ☺️

Hi! In a few weeks my cruise will be in Key West from noon until 5pm. I've never been to Key West but my group of 7 does not want to pay for a tour.  Our plan looks to be a self guided "tour" to walk off the cruise food but the planner in me...needs a well thought out plan.

My thought is get off the ship and take the Duval Loop to Southernmost Point.   I would like the typical tourist photo by the buoy but I don't want to waste too much time waiting in line. How long are these lines typically? I keep hearing it's a long line but wondering what is normal...30 minutes or an hour+?   If we are talking 15 -30 minutes I'll do it but anything longer...nope I don't need a photo.  Let me know how long you waited if it was a long line. I would imagine the time of our ship arriving and seeing another ship arriving right before us it will be long.  Just trying to gauge the norm.

After seeing the buoy  I was thinking go over to Southernmost Point Café for a quick drink. Walk by Hemingway's house...no tour just take a photo by a sign and say "I was there".  Then head to Blue Heaven for Key Lime pie. Next stop the 0 Mile marker for a quick photo and then walk over to Duval Street ...stopping at shops and bars along the way as we go back towards the ship. Bar stops I have on my list: the Bull and Whistle Bar, Sloppy Joes, Capt. Tony's Saloon and World's Smallest Bar. 

Oh and I want a conch fritter but I don't know where to go for that...so let me know if you can suggest a good place along my route.

If an experienced Key West visitor can critique my plan and give any advice/tips I would greatly appreciate it.

On 3/18/2019 at 2:28 PM, murfturf said:

Bringing this topic back to the top! 

 

I've been browsing for a new suit and thinking about trying a two piece - not a tankini but maybe a high waist bottom with a flounce top. So I've looked at Torrid and they have some really cute pieces I may order.  But when I looked on Lane Bryant I was NOT impressed with what they had to offer. The suits didn't look good on any of their models. 

 

Any great finds for the 2019 season? 

I got cute swimsuits online from Target and City Chic (make sure it's the US website).  And I'm always checking Swimsuits for All but I haven't bought anything yet.  Torrid has been releasing new ones this week and so has Fashion to Figure. 

I'm happy we have more options now!

Thank you all!!!  I will hold on to these suggestions for our April cruise.   With 7 different ladies I'm sure it will be hard to find one thing that everyone will want to do.  So I wanted to give them all options and if we split up and do our own thing then that's fine too.  I know if it was just me I would be all about pub crawls, restaurants, Hemmingway tour and a bike tour to the Southernmost Point. 

I will be in Key West in April with 6 of my best friends/sisters (ages 26-41).   We are in port from 12pm-6pm.  I've never been to Key West and I'm doing research on what to do. Initially when we booked the cruise we thought it would be our beach day...but sounds like Key West is not a great beach port.  I know some of my friends will not want to pay money for an excursion and since we have a drink package on the ship a pub crawl is out.   So what do we do?  Just walk around?  I don't mind spending money for something that's cool and worth checking out. I already know I want key lime pie (I'm hearing Kermit's is a good spot but open to suggestions) and I guess we should be touristy and go to the Southernmost Point for a photo op. But I may be alone on this when it comes to waiting in a long line. After that what else? Go back to the ship and enjoy a quiet ship and day drink?  Is there something cool we should definitely check out?   I would love to go on the Ernest Hemmingway tour but I might be alone on that one with my party crew.  Just trying to figure out how to entertain a group that wants to party and have fun.  Thanks for your tips!!!   I value all input.  

Thanks everyone!

So I decided it would be more economical with 7 people to take a free shuttle from the airport since we all may have different flights into Tampa and then Uber XL together the next day...likely 2 Uber XLs with luggage.

Has anyone stayed at the AC Hotel by Marriott? It had pretty good reviews and looks like it's close to some nice restaurants. Price wasn't too bad either.

Never mind...I did more research and discovered they will be closed on the day we are in port. :(:loudcry:

Hi! Has anyone visited Fábrica de Arte Cubano? If so, how far was it from the terminal? How accessible by taxi and estimated cost? We have this as a place to visit after our tour but when I look at a map it seems pretty far from the port (but I'm not exactly an expert map reader either ;)). I'm guessing we will need a taxi but I want a price in mind so I'm not hustled in Cuba.

Thanks!

Thanks so much everyone!!! I will check out all of these options. I

This is exact topic has been stressing me out. Carnival's language in their paperwork is really pushing "people to people" and in return that means they are "forcing" you to purchase their overpriced excursions. It really has me regretting we booked with them. At this rate I could've done a different tour to Cuba in which I could've stayed for a full week.

I'm preparing my group to argue to be able to do "support of the Cuban people" but possibly being forced to do "people to people" by Carnival staff. It really shouldn't be this difficult but I think Carnival is making it that way in their communications to their customers. I've noticed a theme that everyone struggling with how to meet the requirement are traveling with Carnival. I'm guessing NCL and RC aren't doing this. But I just got another email today stating :"All guests who booked their cruise on or after June 16, 2017 are required to participate in a group people-to-people authorized category of travel." Which pretty much leaves paying for the pricey excursion. And if that is the case this will be my last time cruising with them (if I don't just go ahead and cancel now).

Sorry if I seem upset...but if I had seen this prior to booking 7 people I would've chosen a different vacation or cruise line.

Hi everyone! New here! Or I should say I come here to research but never post. :D

Six of my friends and myself will be taking a cruise out of Tampa in April. I'm looking for a hotel with an airport and cruise port shuttle if possible. Seems like I'm finding one or the other but not both.

I think if we are forced we will do a hotel with a shuttle to the port.

So please give me your Tampa port hotel recommendations!

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!! TIA!