aeneas3

we have 2 hours shorter to waste next week and are taking an uber to the cheapest of the rental places (budget) and then driving to the anne kolb nature center. Then dinner in Lauderdale.

We have have 5 adults and one child going from Homewood Suites Blue Lagoon in Miami to the port. Is Uber our best bet? What size do we need?

i forgot to mention that uber gift cards go on sale at some retailers sometimes. if you can catch a sale on a gift card and know how much to buy, you can save up to 20% that way.

hi!

You can actually prebook the ride, which is likely the best bet.

How to do that:

https://www.uber.com/info/scheduled-rides/

What size do i need?

https://www.ridesharingdriver.com/whats-the-difference-between-uberx-xl-uberplus-and-black-car/

My advice with 6 people is that since you will have luggage you could get away with an uber xl for 4 and an uber x for 2

interestingly, if you want to prepay tips on carnival thru the web site you cannot adjust the overall amount. In other words if you adjust due to having kids in the room you can only prepay the standard tip rate x amount of people in the cabin or do zero. I guess i will continue to remove tips at the counter and tip with cash and a nice note.

I am doing the opposite - getting a car post-cruise. I figure uber to get in and out will be worth the expense instead of waiting for a shuttle.

Another option would be a rental car, depending on how much time you have to kill. We have 8 hours post-cruise to kill and are planning on uber to the rental place and then maybe one of the nature preserves or parks on the way to FLL. total cost of caravan + uber will be about $85 to fit 2 adults, 2 kids and luggage. If you just want transportation and do not need to waste time, I would consider a straight uber xl up to FLL as mentioned.

probably not long enough but we might be hitting Anne Kolb Nature Center for the afternoon before our flight out after our cruise. I think that is only a few hours. Anyone been there?

We're going on Symphony next January.I know that SAS won't pick up from Riverside Hotel.And QLS quoted $155.We are planning to use Uber from Riverside Hotel to POM,will 6 people fit in an Uber XL ? Thanks

6 can fit but likely not with luggage. If you look here

https://www.uber.com/ride/uberxl/

it says up to 6 passengers or extra luggage. I would not risk an xl to fit 6 passengers and luggage. Now, if you were going to the symphony and not on the Symphony, xl would be fine. Some cities have larger options or probably be better just to get 2 x XL. My parents and in-laws are going in one uber xl with luggage (4 people) from the fashion boutique in Miami to the port while we (2 adults and 2 kids) are going in another with luggage this coming Saturday.

Of note you can sometimes find sales on uber giftcards, so you can save up to 20% this way.

We were thinking about doing the same. Looks like a taxi from havensight to crown bay dock would be about $5 pp. Ferry is $10 round trip. so $20 pp seems like a steal!

We are looking into the ship's excursion: Luxe Power Cat to Secluded Congo Cay in St. Thomas. It looks nice and Congo Cay seems to be a bit more secluded than other snorkeling sites. Is this the case? Also, how is the "luxe power cat"? How is the snorkeling in Congo Cay since

the hurricane? Thank you for your ideas.

While I cannot speak to this exact tour, I would expect the powered catamaran would be similar to all others. Central cabin that is usually open and often has a bar and dancing area with long nets to hang out on. Catamarans are my favorite boats to be on for an excursion like this. Weather permitting, if you do not mind being on a net and seeing the water go by it is hard to beat IMHO. For this exact excursion I am not sure. As for Congo Cay, not sure either.

There is a similarly named excursion reviewed on tripadvisor, I am unsure if I can post the link.

Sapphire is our favorite, if you're there early you'll have no problem fin\ding a nice SHAded spot along the water with beautiful water and island views.

See my recent thread with webcams of some of these east end beaches.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2485208

what is your favorite way to get to Sapphire. We have 8 hrs in port - 6 adults, 2 kids (5 and 9). I have been looking into taxiis, private tour, etc. thanks in advance!

news today said that the port area and airport are heavily damaged and they are working on fixing the airport to get people out. Has anyone seen anything to confirm this? So afraid for the friends we have made during our travels to the wonderful island and its neighbors.

thank you, guys!

Think the boys will want to swim and the Galvez has a heated pool. Going to shuttle there, then walk around and eat. Then head back to hit some of the places you guys mentioned.

thanks again!

Coastal Water Temperatures

Place Temperature

Eagle Point, TX 71.1 °F

USCG Freeport, TX 66.9 °F

Galveston Pier TX 66.0 °F

Galveston Bay (North Jetty), TX 66.0 °F

hi all,

Planning on getting in Friday for Breeze Sunday. Curious if anyone has thoughts on things to do Saturday. Any particular areas you would suggest we check out? We were thinking of going to sea wall area. We checked out the port area last year (and liked it.) This could be all day.

My thoughts were to take the shuttle from Harbor house to the old pier, check out Murdochs and walk around. I was not planning on bring suits to swim but we could. Any idea what the Gulf temperature is this time of year?

thanks!

hey bonzai. from my research it appears prices are the same online and in person.

I bought online because.

1. if it rains, we will be wet anyway ;)

2. I do not want to show up and have them be full. I have heart of this issue at other places, not here.

Also, you can make your own waterproof pouch. After one of my "waterproof" pouches leaked, I just travel with a few sandwich baggies. Throw your money or whatever in there and then put it in your pouch and you are golden.

As already mentioned, be a minimalist. Although some disembark with passports, I would only do so in countries in which a US ID would not effectively get you the same thing. We usually disembark with our IDs (two adults), minimal cash for a souvenir and activity, and a single credit card without foreign transaction fees (visa or mastercard usually accepted more easily.) You can even carry less cash of the shops you will be hitting are close to the ship and you could possibly go get cash and come off.

In terms of cell phones and other gadgets, I usually bring my kindle paperwhite and not my kindle fire OR instead pick a book just to read onshore. This is what I am doing next week. My phone never leaves the room onboard.

The big challenge for me is that I want to bring my canon t3i. So luckily my parents are coming so one of the 4 adults can stay onshore at a time and watch the gear. It can be annoying, and a disposable camera can likely bring you the same joy as a more expensive one..

The main reason I posted was to suggest bringing baggies. Also, it might be helpful to buy a travelers pouch that is less easily pilfered - I prefer a cross chest one.

Just to add a different view.

You can always go back and forth, which is great.

For the two of us with two young cruisers, I have always found that for us it is easier to eat wherever we are going than hike back with the kids. That being said, I am all for eating on board and saving some cash!

Just to agree. we did this with a 3 year old and 7 year old and luggage last year. doing it again in a month!

any more thoughts on galveston limo? tripadvisor reviews - some are scary and reasonable.

we have 4 - two kids. Going down Friday from HOU before Sunday cruise. Coming back Bush on the day the cruise leaves. Galveston limo is quoting 180 RT which is much cheaper than elsewhere.

Not sure about age limits - there are life vests available

 

I would suggest Playa Mia for anyone taking a 4-year old to Coz.

thanks that is what we decided to do

please tell me they still sell ting in jamaica :)

hi all

do you guys know - what is the youngest that can or should go on the waterpark at paradise beach? Mr. Sanchos has bigger things it seems. Our 4 year old can swim with swimmies fine and has been on these toys before. Was not sure if the place has an age requirement.

thanks

ps

thinking playa mia is better for the 4 year old

Go out the gate, turn left and it's an easy walk about 1 mile.

 

 

Enjoy.

awesome thanks!

I kept thinking to the right but I think I was remembering another port.

hi all

Been a while since we were last at grand cayman.

2 questions:

1. Which way do you go from the port to get the public bus to 7 mile?

2. where is cemetery beach in relation to calico jacks? Cannot seem to google its location, which is strange. totally want to walk there.

thanks

edit: found it

http://www.*******************.com/forums/images/misc/MiniMapCemeteryBeach.jpg