Tcas1

We took Autotrain for our 2012 cruise from Port Canaveral. Loved having our own car. We enjoy the Autotrain so that was a plus. I thought is was easier than flying in and hiring a car service to the port area. Also didn't want to get stuck at hotel for the day. I like my freedom.

We arrived the day before the cruise and stayed at LaQuinta Suites in Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral. They had a park and cruise rate. We paid just over $100 for the night (probably a little more now). It included parking for the week and a shuttle (for two) to and from the port. Shuttle service was excellent. The hotel was basic but clean and comfortable.

Thank you everyone. I have been looking at Sixt, but was hesitant as I've never heard of them. Want to pick up a Miami Airport and drop off downtown before cruise. Now I feel much better about using them.

Such a great forum.:)

We had the best time there. We did the all-inclusive. The swim-up bar is awesome. Mr. Sanchos is gorgeous. We were a group of 19 or 20, and we're all going back again this year. It was among everyone's requests/demands.

We're booked for July 2016 Western Caribbean. Costa Maya was always our port. One of the reasons I picked this cruise. Love Costa Maya. Just make sure you leave the port area. The Malecon is awesome. Tropicante is our pick when there. Check out the ports of call page.

Thanks so much for the ideas. Monty's sounds like a good plan. Just to make sure I understand correctly, I can sit and have a few drinks while watching the ships leave from there? Sounds like a great evening.

Next year we are cruising out of Miami on a Sunday. I would love to go to South Point Park to watch the cruise ships leave on Saturday.

I have heard that the parking in that area is a nightmare. Do any of you have any good tips on parking?

I love to plan early. I'm a little OCD and a lot excited.

Regarding the fireworks: We will be in room 13160 (port side, of course). Do you think that would also be a good cabin for viewing the firework display? I would be nice to enjoy a cocktail while viewing them without thousands of people surrounding us.

It will probably be in the 90's and humid. However, I found Florida worse in August than Belize. I come from an area that generally gets very hot and humid in the summer. I found Florida unbearable, but Belize was bearable for me. Just wear light clothing and drink plenty of fluids.

Thanks for your response. It at least gives me an idea of how it works.

I am sailing with extended family (there are 19 of us in 6 cabins). I want to get the photo package. I want to gift our parents with photos of each child's family and individual pics of the grandkids. Will I be able access photos of the other cabins with my package?

I hope this was clear.:confused:

Thanks, so much. That's really good to know.

We recently booked the Getaway and got the UBP for free. I was just wondering how long you have to wait between drinks before getting another one. Thinking about that mojito bar and those could go down pretty easily. Other cruise lines have a 15 minute wait. Is it the same with NCL? Just wondering.

Wow thanks guys. Gotta love these forums. Post up a specifc question, get specific answers backed with documents in minutes.

 

Love it. Now the tough part, which one to take UBP or UDP. I know, it depends if we like to eat a lot (in speciality), or drink a lot. While we are not heavy drinkers, we could do a bottle of wine per night, plus maybe some specialty drinks by day (during sea days mostly). On a typical 7 day cruise, that means mostly wine at dinner, but only a couple sea days worth of drinks.

 

That is why I am struggling between the two. Specialty restaurants can add up fast, but somehow I feel I am going to "enjoy the liberty" of ordering alcohol without worrying about my end bill, where-as the specialty dining, would have done it anyways irrelevant of promo.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

Thanks for the wine info guys !! Appreciate it !!!

 

Neil

My DH and I had the same problem. We chose to get the UBP and pay for the UDP. I figured that by buying the UDP I was only spending an additional $280, but if I chose the UDP and bought drinks, we would have spent way more.

I just booked the UDP for our July 2016 cruise. The $140 included gratuities. Hope this helps.

We went on a cave tubing excursion a couple of years ago. Never saw one snake. I guess it's always a possibility since you're in a jungle. But if I had seen a snake I would have freaked out, especially in the water. We're planning another cruise for next year and we'll probably do the cave tubing again. Loved it.

Congratulations. I hope to one day be able to post the same thing. Enjoy!:D

I went to all those ports on the Dream two years ago. My favorite port was Costa Maya (they really don't stay there long enough). Get away from the port area, take a cab to the small town 5 minutes away (Mahahaul). We went to a place called Tropicante. Best time ever. Cheap beer, drinks and massages on the beach. We were three adults, two kids. We had 3 buckets of beer (6 beers per bucket), 4 non-alcoholic drinks for kids and a 30 minute massage, the bill was less than $90. Beach area was heaven.

I did enjoy EVERY port we went to. Went to Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, cave tubing in Belize (booked on our own) and Tabiana Beach in Roatan (Dream couldn't dock at Mahogany Bay). We would have done the ziplining near Mahogany bay if we had been able to dock there.

I would love to do that cruise all over again.

When do the first FTTFs become available? I'm thinking about booking the Pride for 2016 when the itineraries come out this spring. Wondering if they open up right away.

Thanks for the excellent review. We're planning a cruise on Pride for summer 2016. Can't get enough info.

Festival, 1995. Unfortunately I've only been on 1 other (Dream in 2012). Looking forward to another in 2016.