Radams503

I am wondering the same thing I am booked on Sky for this Saturday. My flight from Portland Oregon to Fort Lauderdale was canceled this morning when I was at the airport. Can’t get a flight to FLL from Oregon until Friday, arriving 7:30 pm, this is cutting it close. My friend who I am cruising with went through Seattle and he will get there today without me. Hopefully, I will make it in time for ship. Best of luck to everyone traveling to Florida today. 

I agree, I am booked in late March.  I would like to know what is happening, I live in Oregon and need to book airfare due to being spring break in Florida. 

This question has probably been answered before, but I looked and couldn't find the answer...

We are looking at a cruise out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale in October. Flights from Seattle are significantly less expensive and non-stop if we fly in to Miami rather than Fort Lauderdale. We would have plenty of time (about 8 hours) between the flight landing and needing to be at the terminal. It appears to be a reasonable distance between the two. Can anyone help us figure out how we would get from the airport to the terminal? Are there shuttles? taxi? Uber? rental car? Appreciate the help!

I would use Uber, I did this last October went from FL to Miami it was about $30; first time I used it and I am 63. Also I am from Portland, enjoy your cruise. I am on the Allure in October.

By all means make a reservation elsewhere so at least you have something but I'd keep checking the BW site...ever since I booked I've seen them either with vacancies or full...for the same dates that we've booked. I'm sure people book and cancel all the time. You still have time before your cruise.

Hey you were spot on. I tried back and got a reservation using my Best Western points for the night that I needed. I will be staying pre-cruise and post cruise now. I really like the location of this hotel and the staff. Thanks again for the advice.

This hotel is very popular now. I am on the Allure and I booked for 10/13/18, however, I tried to book for post cruise on 10/21/18 and it was full. Now I have to find another hotel.

Yes it has a lot of places to eat just pass the marina. There is a place that has $20 lobster, being from Oregon this was a great deal and it was very good. Look for sign out front and you can sit outside.

Hi looking for a hotel for one night that has a shuttle, free WiFi and breakfast! But something for dinner in walking distance! Stayed at Hyatt Place last summer but missed something in walking distance. I will have private transportation take us to POM! Thanks

 

 

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I like Best Western Oceanside Inn. It’s near the beach and water taxi. Has nice pool, a bar and a good breakfast.

My friend and I went on the Victory on October 9th. We are both from Oregon and decided to take this cruise basically because of the timing and price. Again we choose this cruise because of the price and we usually sail with RCI. Our wife’s decided not to go because they were afraid to sail during hurricane season and they do not like hot weather. So they decided to stay home.

We flew to Ft Lauderdale a day before and decided to go onthe water taxi and see the sites. Wepicked one that had a bar and it was very enjoyable. We stayed at the BestWestern Oceanside Inn near the beach in Ft Lauderdale. This hotel is in a very nice location by thebeach near the water taxi and restaurants. Living in Oregon we do not have much of a chance to eat main lobster andat reasonable prices, we found lobster dinners for $20 along the beach in Ft Lauderdale.Setting along the warm tropical beach in Florida eating lobster and havingcocktails is not what we get to do in Oregon. This was exceptional.

Departure day. Weused Uber from Ft Lauderdale to the port in Miami it was about $40 and a verynice trip to the port. We arrived around12 pm and went through check in and waited until our deck was called, we waitedabout ½ hour and were on board in a short time. Went straight to the buffet for lunch and it was OK and decided to tourthe ship and see what it was like compared to a RCI ship. I thought the ship was in really good shapeand it was exciting to sail on a Carnival ship. I have sailed on Carnivalseveral times; however, have not been for about 5 years.

Went to the cabin around 1:30 and checked it out. We were on main deck with an oceanviewroom. We were very happy with the cabinchoice and it was recently updated. Luggage arrived around 4 pm and unpacked. Idid place a box of wine in my checked luggage and it was taken by the scanning crew. I realize this is not acceptable and I gotcaught. There was a letter attachedsaying we found alcohol in your luggage and it will not be given back toyou. Well, I should have got the drink package;however, I did not purchase the package. I did bring one bottle of wine in my carry on without any issues. Lessonlearned on trying to get box wine onboard in checked luggage.

Food: I thought thefood in main dining room on this ship was very good. I upgraded to the steak and lobster for $20the first night. I am a foody guy and Iknow how to cook, this upgrade was very good quality and well worth the extracost. We had anytime dining and wereasked by head waiter to stay with them the entire cruise. Staying with same wait staff turned out to bea great decision, they were great and we joked around with them and they reallyenjoyed having us. Every night at dinnerthe head waiter recommended what to have and would bring additional food for usto try, they went out of their way to ensure we had a great dining experience. I was very pleased with food and service inmain dining room on this ship. We didtry the buffet a couple of times for lunch and it was OK. There were quite a few of “professionalbuffet eaters” that transitioned from breakfast to lunch and then onto dinner,I think they never left the buffet area, same people hanging out in there. Irealize that is the thing they like to do and are getting their money’s worthby booking a cruise. I did enjoy the sea day brunch I thought the selectionswere good and food quality was great. Idid try the Carnival pizza and thought it was pretty good. There was always a huge line for the pizza. I also tried the grill and it was good as well.

Casino: My first impressionof the casino was wow, does this ship not have an efficient smoke removingexhaust system. It is really smoky andit reminds me of Reno Nevada. I am acrap player and did roll the bones a few times at the crap table. Their crap table odds are not very good; Iwas up a little and ending up losing about $40. Had a good time and thenhung out in the sports bar and watched some football, overall had a good time.

Ports: We hadnever been to Key West before as mentioned we live on the west coast. We rode the old trolley and enjoyed the narrationabout Key West and its history. Went toa few of the tourist bars and have a few cocktails and walked around town. There were a few places in town where youcould see the damage of Hurricane Irma. Key West cleaned up from this disaster and was in really good shape. Wealso went to Cozumel and decided to go to Mr. Sancho’s all-inclusive for theday. This turned out to be an excellent choice$55 for all the drinks and food you wanted. Had a very good time and it was agood value and had quality amenities.

The Ship: Thisship went through renovation a few years ago and its going back for additionalupgrades soon as pointed out on CC. I thought the ship was in good shape, thegreen atrium was great to hang out in and do some people watching. There were all kinds of different people onthe ship, I did not get the “Carnival Walmart vibe” that some CC people writeabout. Most of the people seemed to befrom the south and they were well mannered and nice people. There were a quitea few kids on this cruise hanging out in the main pool. I have no problem with kids, I have kids alsoand now a grandkid. I did not see much cutting in line and chair saving goingon near the pools. I worked out in the gym several times and I found a goodsection of weight machines and treadmills. Went to several of the shows, Ithought they were good, especially the Varoom show.

Summary: I had avery good time on Carnival, there were no negatives. For the price I paid for this cruise it was avery good value. As compared to RCI asmany times as it has been said on CC, Carnival is similar, however, if you needthe “Wow Factor “of newer ships then choose RCI. I have sailed on Oasis and several other RCI ships;I would not hesitate to book another Carnival cruise. I would like to tryCarnivals newer ships. Thanks for reading this short to the point review of theVictory.

I am from Oregon, our forest are on fire out here, however, it's nothing like what your state is going through. Good luck and stay safe. I get to visit Florida next month for a cruise to Key West, I am hoping for the best.

Will be on the Victory in October, it arrives at 12 pm. I am trying to decide on getting AI at Mr Sanchos or just going pay as you go because it closes at 5 pm. By the time I get off the ship and to Mr Sanchos it would be about 1 pm. Anyone have input on the best way to go? We are not huge drinkers, however, it would be nice to have a few when on vacation.

Thanks,

Great questions I am doing the same thing picking up a car in FLL and driving to Islamorada and then returning it to Miami cruise port. Returning the car on sailing day for Carnival Victory in October. I found Dollar to the best price at about $35. Will be picking up a car at Miami cruise port and returning to FLL the following day, best price was from Budget for about $60. Hope you have great weather while in the Keys.

Do you recommend Mr Sanches over the other AI resorts?

I have not cruised on Norwegian, and I have never been on a west coast re-positioning cruise. Does anyone have any experience with this? What is the entertainment like on this type of cruise? I regularly cruise with Royal or Princess.

Thanks

I was on the Oasis last October, I used the Gym a great deal, it did not smell like a honky tonk bar. The Gym has great work out equipment and you can run on the treadmill and see the ocean. The only problem I had was there were a lot of people using it in the mornings around 8-10. I started going around 11 am, did not wait for a machine.

I used Liberty Tours last week and went to Secret Falls. Ricardo is a great guide, I highly recommend them.