Gumbey

Upgraded from Classic to Premium for our July Beyond sailing for 53% off. It was a Boxing Day Sale. 

Sorry, Atlantis imo is not worth the $$$$. We did it and it turned into a complete gong show. Far too many people in the lazy river, so many that there were literally no tubes available and there were many many log jams at choke points.

Also, lunch was a mess. Line ups out the wazoo and waiting was horrible. Now likely there were other large cruise ships there as well, so take that into consideration, but if it were me I would not do that excursion again.

I am a big fan on the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale 17th St. Convention Center. Walk to the Sun Trolley and Harbour Shops; free Airport shuttle and a $7pp Cruise Port shuttle. Free hot breakfast, beer at night, 24hrs free WiFi and $5/nt parking. The rooms are very clean and rather large.

 

Last two times I've stayed there has been for $95 total after taxes.

 

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2 double beds there for Mar 15 arrival 1 night is $269 plus taxes. w0w

We're flying in and out of Miami airport for our B2B cruise on the Allure Mar 16-30 2014.

• How much is a taxi from the port to the airport?
  
• Do we need to pre-arrange a taxi or can we just hail one there?
  
• Are there minivan taxi's there? We're 4 people with luggage!
  
• How long is the drive from the port to the airport?
  
• Our flight only leaves around 4pm from Miami airport, how long can we linger on the ship until they get upset with us?
  
• I am having a hard time finding anything that isn't under $250 a night for 2 doubles in and around FT Lauderdale on Mar 15 for 1 night. We are trying to stay in a decent hotel (like Pier 66 or Hyatt 17th) Is this normal??
  

Days?? I'm still counting in months... :(

This is probably one of the most in depth pictorial reviews I have seen on CC. Very, VERY well done. I enjoyed going through all the pictures and it literally makes me so jealous that I have to wait until March of 2014 to get on there for a B2B...

Also, I see you swim competitively...my daughter (who is 11) also swims competitively. She qualified for Alberta Age Group provincials (LC) this year in 400m Free, 100m Breast and 50m Breast. She is also doing 400m IM and Relay.

She is trying to keep the "wave" stroke in breast and a lot of others are not so they are a bit faster right now. We keep telling her that this is the correct technique and that it will pay off down the road.

Anyway, I'm going to load up that youtube vid and get more jealous. Keep up the good work!

The only hotel by Galleria Mall is Doubletree Gallery One. They have a decent pool, and they offer suites perfect for families. The upper end restaurants on that block are Truluck, Capital One, Texas de Brazil, and Seasons 52 (this one is more mid-priced). They are all chains but very nice. About 1/3 mile west is Canyon, southwestern fine dining, and less than a mile away on US1 is Casa de Angelo. If the weather is nice, Coconuts (waterfront) is casual but excellent, about 2 miles away in the beach area (has valet). It's very easy to get a taxi at the hotel and at the port.

Thanks for the info!

We are going on a B2B with the Allure leaving Mar 16, 2014. This will be the first time with Royal and the first time down to FLL. We are veterans in and around MCO but never been down to FLL.

We will be arriving the day before into MIA and will likely rent a car fo ra day and need a decent hotel that is near the good mall (Galleria, is it?) and maybe a good upper end restaurant for that Sat night when we arrive.

We will have two kids (7 and 11) so a good pool is high on the list. What are people suggesting these days?

• Embassy Suites?
  
• Marriot Courtyard?
  
• ???
  

Thanks for the input.

Also, need info or ideas for car service (like a limo??) from Port to FLL. We will likely take a cab there from the hotel the day of, but upon our return to Port would taking a cab back to FLL be OK? Do I need to reserve that?

I just booked a B2B in Mar 2014 on the Allure. I also selected MTD and had to pre-pay the tips. I would assume there is no additional charge of $12 per day as mentioned in the OP?

We used Happy Limo (a stretch limo) for our Xmas Fantasy cruise. We had zero issues and were picked up on time and delivered to the port early enough that we snagged boarding #3 tickets. Awesome.

I used Happy Limo this past Christmas for our Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral. I couldn't have been happier.

Do they have a kind of "timer" as to when the last time you purchased a drink? I mean what is stopping people from getting a beer at one bar then coming back to your lounge chair then going to another bar for a non-alcoholic daiquiri or shirley temple?:confused:

380+ days....Booked a B2B Allure cruise in March 2014. Can't wait.

Also, first post on CC!!

:D