Host CJSKIDS

They are NOT an official website for Port Miami and Miami is one place to be very careful with parking. There is no valet parking at Port Miami unless that has recently changed. Parking at the port is plentiful and I have never seen it too full. This is one port that I would say part directly at the port.

I have honestly never been inside of the Aloft but from the little bit that I have heard, they aren’t doing the best of jobs of taking care of it. Sorry I can’t help.

Do you have Global Entry so getting back into the country will be even quicker? If so, I would simply grab an Uber or Lyft and take it to the hotel in Fort Lauderdale. There are usually lots of Ubers around in Miami and there will zero traffic at that time of night. Then you get to sleep in the next morning.

Ubers are plentiful in that area and allowed in the port. There usually isn’t a long wait for an Uber here. I wouldn’t go closer to the airport and Brickell is a great area to stay in after the cruise. You will be able to walk so shops, restaurants, bars, etc. You will also have access to the train, metromover (free) and trolley (free). Zoo Miami is a great zoo will be quite a drive from there, you will need a rental car. Frost Science Museum is an aquarium in downtown Miami and you can reach it very easily via the metromover. It’s really nice! There is also Miami Seaquarium over on Key Biscayne which you could Uber to. Little bit of trivia, they did film the original Flipper tv show here.

Great idea @Steelers36 thanks for the suggestion. It’s been renamed. Please continue to post information and share the pictures taken on the ships.

That would be great. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

sorry to hear you are sick Steve. Hope you enjoyed every moment of your cruise and that you recover quickly.

Oh Tracie, I’m so sorry to hear that you are now sick with on but so happythat you made it home. Hopefully you recover quickly. Make sure to drink a ton of fluids. Because of my lung issues since the fire, my doctor actually put me on plaxlovid, a z pack and prescription cough syrup. I was better within days. Between that and the 3 vaccines I was fine. So glad you were able to enjoy a few days in the Sanctuary and it was great to live vicariously through you. looking forward to hearing how the rest of the days on the ship were once you are recovered. Get well!

Uber/Lyft will be the easiest way to go. There are busses that go there if you do want to go that route. Here is the official website and it will show all of the choices. https://www.mlb.com/marlins/ballpark/transportation

Oh Tracie, I’m so sorry to hear this. I had covid last week so while not on a ship, I totally understand the feelings. Thank you for being so responsible and reporting it. And you rock for going into quarantine when you didn’t have to. That’s love!

There is a 90% chance of it turning into a tropical depresssion or tropical storm Alex when it hits southwest Florida tomorrow but it will mainly be just a massive rain maker so the ship should more than likely have no issues getting in on time. Last I saw it was 6-10 inches for my coast and 4-6 for the East Coast. Enjoy these last 2 nights everyone on board! And Tracie and Julie, please have a cocktail for me!!!

So true. Finally got my check yesterday!

By the time I found out I had a credit, the casino was closed on my last night. Disembarked The Regal on March 3 and I am still waiting on my check.

That would be fun. We need to get Chris and Brenda along, think of the fun (and great wine) we would have!

Yay, so excited to follow along! Thrilled you got to get your seats in the Sanctuary as I know yuh love it as much as we do. Enjoy every moment. Wishing both of you as well and Julie and Henry the best of sailings!

Oh I’m so sorry to hear you have covid. I just recovered from it this week and know it’s not much fun. I actually said to my husband, I’m glad I’m not on a cruise ship! I hope you recover quickly and can get home soon. So sorry to hear they aren’t taking care of you. Feel better soon.

I just recovered from Covid this week and can say that having Gatorade to keep hydrated was a lifesaver. They make packets that you put in a bottle of water so brining along some of those for a covid kit would certainly be a great idea. Also good for Noro, too much sun or if you enjoy too much of the Princess Plus package! LOL

Yes, there are a few great Italian restaurants. Toscana Divino is locally owned and at Mary Brickell Village. Andrea Marchesin is an amazing chef. Brenda make a wonderful cocktail. Also has a great outside patio. North Italia is a chain there, not as much of a fan however. It does have people that enjoy it. Fi’lia is nother great Italian restaurant. Enjoy this a lot as well. If you want a unique experience Casa Tua Cucina at Brickell City Centre is similar in concept to Eately just on a much smaller scale. Great food. Francesco used to be one of the managers at Toscana and he is now over here. Il Gabbino over by the Intercontinental is another amazing restaurant. As for Mexican. Lots of great tacos places Coya Taco, So Cal Catina (all outside) which my friend Leo is part owner is great and Pilo’s Street Tacos are all great. Cantina La Veinte which is located on Brickell at the Icon and W Hotel building on the water is amazing. Expensive but excellent. Tacology is at Brickell City Centre, good and pretty but pricey for what I feel you get.

You are most welcome. There is a Cuban cafe at the bottom of the Hampton Inn called Sergios and you can grab a Cuban coffee though I do prefer the ones at Latin Cafe 2000 which is at the back of the 1050 Brickell building, which is to the left of the Starbucks on Brickell plaza. There is also a great coffee place at Brickell Citi Centre Called Pasion del Cielo Coffee that has beans from all over the place. It’s so much better than Starbucks. They have both tables inside and tables outside to enjoy the coffee and muffin. If you haven’t ever walked around Brickell Citi Centre, I would recommend it. The Hampton Inn will have coffee out all day long in the lobby if you don’t mind that. If you want to email me at HostCJSKIDS@gmail.com, I’m super happy to give you lots of dining recommendations along with any other info you need. There are some amazing locally owned restaurants in the area, like River Oyster to even some great chain restaurants. I will say that Ubers in that area are extremely plentiful and that will be cheaper than a taxi to the port. My daughter lives outside of Cincinnati!

absolutely and there are two. One is at the Bond Building which will be the closest and the other one is at Mary Brickell Village. It’s a Very short walk! Make a right when you get out of the hotel. To get to the the one at Mary Brickell you will then make a left onto South Miami Ave (you’ll see a restaurant being with construction on one corner and Apollo Bank on the other) and walk to Mary brickell village. It’s on the east side of the shopping center ground floor The one that is a bit closer at the Bond, make a right out of the hotel. You will see a small triangle “park” with a black building across from Apollo Bank. The park straddles south Miami ave and brickell plaza. The bond and Starbucks is right there on the other side of the park. you can’t miss it! FYI, watch where you walk, especially near this “park” as for some strange lazy reason, many people who live in the area don’t feel the need to pick up after their dogs!

Courtyard by Marriott is an older hotel that hasn’t been renovated (needs a refresh) and is right on the downtown side. Honestly for walking around at night, I would highly recommend the Hampton Inn as well as the fact that the room as are all nicely renovated. You have Walgreens, CVS, two Publix grocery stores, liquor stores, Citi Centre and many restaurants all right there. The Courtyard is super close to Whole Foods though. I lived on Brickell Ave for 8 years super close to the Hampton Inn so know the area very well. The Ferris Wheel is about 1.5 miles walking. You can also grab the free metro mover at either the 10th street stop or Brickell stop and get off at College Bayside to get there. I preferred this over the trolley because traffic can be so horrendous. Otherwise the trolley will get you there as well. Any others recommendations that you need, happy to help.

Remember when they changed the drink package from unlimited to the 15 drink limit they currently have and one other change that I can’t remember ? They did not grandfather in those who had purchased the package prior to the change and it clearly was not what was purchased by many. I would like to think that Princess would do the right thing but that isn’t always what happens.

As the question has been answered, I’m going to go ahead and lock the thread.

I just stayed at the Hampton Inn Brickell a week ago and the renovations to the rooms are fantastic. Service was great, breakfast was great and it’s in the perfect area. Of course I lived on on Brickell Ave for 8 years so I’m partial to the area but I highly recommend the hotel. You will have many restaurants within walking distance and the shopping at Brickell City Centre.

As Princess has started cruising again, here is the perfect opportunity to discuss all the changes and the new enhancements to the Medallion program. It's especially great since those who have used it can give us all invaluable information on how it worked for them