Ashland

I've usually used VT for booking the Hyatt Place in Fort Lauderdale. But am now even more impressed with their customer service. I booked 2 rooms with them for mid May two weeks ago and requested double beds in both for 4 adults/2 kids. I called Hyatt Place yesterday to confirm since I hadn't received VT original confirmation yet (I know it usually takes about 10 days) and they confirmed but had us booked in king beds and said they could not change it only VT could. I emailed VT last night and got a confirmation email today verifying the double beds. I then called HP and they confirmed double beds and confirmed VT called HP this morning and confirmed. I had no idea they would do this especially so quickly. So let me just say VT is great !!

Huh !!

Of course it happens on all RCI ships. We were just on Explorer Feb 23rd in an OS and the concierge emailed us a week before departure.

These large shuttle bus's your 5 year old will be fine with a seatbelt. If you want a child car seat you'll have to book with a private company that provides them.

Just remember you don't get the Hyatt points when booking with VT.

If you're a Costco member check out their rental rates.

Don't ever put cruise tags on before a flight. Just get the tags at your port and don't stress over this as it couldn't be easier.

I for one wish there was some definite way for airlines and cruiselines to absolutely verify that these are legitimate service dogs.

We just sailed out of POM on Feb 23rd and again May 4th. Luggage handler's waiting as we got out of our hotel (Hampton Inn Suites Blue Lagoon) shuttle and again out of our Avis car rental shuttle. Couldn't have been easier for us. Sorry you weren't as lucky.

I'm fine with staff serving the soft serve. However they need to do it correctly. The round & round method isn't correct and why you see many times it falls off the cone cause it's just sitting on top.. They need to do the up/down method which fills the inside of the cone first...no spillage this way and it makes a nice serving. Whatever the product that Celebrity uses tastes much better than the one RCI uses. We were just on both cruiselines and could tell the difference in taste.

That's too bad...One of the nice things we like about Hyatt Place and why we stay there is....No parking fee.

OP...in addition to my post #3 let me add that having a rental car for the couple of days you'll be in Fort Lauderdale gives you flexibility.

Easy drive and lot's of parking at the terminal your cruiseline is using.

Might you consider renting a car. Pick up at MIA then return to either FLL or an off site location. Great rates if you're a Costco member.

It used to be with a 7:00am arrival you could expect to be able to get off around 7:30am. However we've noticed on our last few cruises docking at 6:00am it's been 7:30am. So it seems like disembarking (self assist) has been getting later. But again this can and does vary depending on number of passengers and port,

We cruised 7 times 2022, 4 times in 2023 and 2 times (so far) in 2024 and have yet to see a line or problem getting tags from the luggage handler taking our luggage. Lucky I guess. Our choice to get tags this way...so far so good but each to their own.

Perhaps this has changed as we didn't have this happen to us last time out of Singapore. Things can and do change at embarkation ports.

Try Cruise Control for your transportation needs. We've used and recommended them many times...their great !!! 888 416-8830 I've priced out packages before and they've always come in higher. We love Home2Suites in Cape Canaveral.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g34438-d224248-Hampton_Inn_Suites_by_Hilton_Miami_Airport_South_Blue_Lagoon-Miami_Florida.html Here ya go.

Hyatt Place is a great location next door to the Publix market which is in the Harbor Shopping center. Very quick and easy to walk next door. We just stayed there again March 3rd. Check rates through ValueTrips. Have it booked again for May...it's our go to hotel for pre/post cruise.

Look at their website and they have a list of restaurants near by.

Several choices to eat closer from Blue Lagoon than going all the way to Brickell.

We used Avis at 99 SE 2nd Street and it couldn't have been easier. I think having to do this at MIA isn't worth it for us adding on the booked shuttle cost to get there. Just our recent experience this month using Costco to book.

What company are you using? Budget/Avis location on 2nd Street Miami has a free shuttle to POM. We just did this exact thing...couldn't have been easier. Costco has great rates for rentals.

Just cruised both RCI and Celebrity with a day in between. RCI wins hands down.