LLD

I'm still bringing my little black dress but... would a gown be too formal since there is no "official" formal night??

Been on Princess before and loved the formal evenings on the longer cruises...I'm a little sad that there really isn't a formal night. :(

Booked a 4 night getaway cruise from Fort Lauderdale for this month..was told by Princess there are no formal nights on cruises less than 5 nights...

can anyone tell me if they have gone on a 4 night cruise and there actually was a formal night?? thanks

Can anybody tell me if there is a Formal night on a 3 day Bahamas cruise? If so, is it the 2nd night? Thanks for any information . :)

I've been on many many cruises over the years, well over 40 and have experienced a few times where the ship had to divert to another port due to a medical emergency or where we were delayed in port due to an emergency. Do I remember the number of times? No. But I can tell you that it was maybe only 3 or 4..and I can tell you that I was concerned for the person and families who were affected and prayed that the person and family would be alright.

Food for Thought: We can all sit here and say that if that happened on our cruise and our vacation was "ruined" because we couldn't stop at a port we wanted to or that we were "inconvenienced" because we had to sit in port or skip a port and go to another port...ask yourself this--what if it was YOU or a LOVED ONE who had the emergency??? Would you want to be airlifted into a helicopter over a big cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?? Would you want to be left in some horrible hospital on an island that was not equipped to handle such emergencies or where nobody spoke your language just because it was the nearest port??? I think your answers would be NO.

Forgot to say thanks for posting the menus! :)

Glad to hear the food in the mdr was good. Not sure about my feelings about the steak upcharge...hopefully when steak is offered on the regular menu it is good!

As for the bathroom storage as long as there are a few shelves to put some things on I am happy. I've been on ships where there was one little shelf under the mirror and practically no counterspace to even put a toothbrush and a few small travel items! Not fun!

I know on cruise ships the bathroom space is limited but sometimes they do not utilize space where the passenger can store some things.

Thinking of going on this ship soon...3 or 4 nights...anyone have any idea about forward cabins on Deck 2 and 3 which have the 2 portholes instead of a picture window???

How about storage space in the bathroom?

Also, in general, did you feel the food was good? I heard that RCI was upcharging in the dining room for filet mignon and/or a better cut of meat than what was offered on the main menu. I experienced this years back but wasn't sure if they are still doing that...

any info is appreciated.. thanks!

Ok, thanks. I am now re-thinking the clamshell rental.

Don't like to be confined to a certain area.

I can't wait to go to Princess Cays! Been a few other private islands. Love the beach day you get to enjoy.

Good to hear that so my day is already planned out! Beach--along with water shoes...oh, and maybe a stop by Margaritaville! :)

Along with Mistann's question about the clamshells--I have a question too---

If you rent them, do you have to pick it up at the island at a certain area and then bring it yourself to wherever on the beach you want to sit??

Or, is there a certain area that the clamshells are reserved at? (Then you just have to stay in that area of the beach?)

Wondering if I rented one if we would be confined to a certain area of the beach.

We may not arrive with the first few tenders and it may be later in the morning when we get there...Can't sit terrribly long in the sun but love the beach!!

Is it safe to say that all cruise ships dock at the same place?

This thread mentioned "Carnival Pier"...

I was on Carnival and went to the beach, Margaritaville etc...but that was a few years back.

My next cruise is with Princess and now I am wondering if ALL ships dock in the same place???

Thanks for any info.. :)

Haven't been in awhile, but I did go to the beach right near the pier- You could see the ship. Very pretty. Just wanted to tell you that you should be sure to bring beach shoes!

Great. Thank you so much!

Speaking of Cracker Barrel--if anyone is interested...I had their new pecan pancakes recently and they were delicious!!!! I am not a big pancake fan but I would go back for them in a heartbeat!!! LOL!

I too enjoy their food and it is great to go there when you are in a new place. You know you will always get a good meal!

I checked Hilton Marina's web-site. Parking is $20 a day...

May have to call them to since if they will offer some sort of long term parking..

I actually just responded to you on another thread about port parking.. ( you had answered another one of my many questions...Thanks!

Royalcruz- (hey, I love that name!)

Do you know if they have some sort of valet service at the port and where they park your car at the port? Not the Park N FLy or PArk n Go thing...

Now my other half is telling me he may be ok with valet parking--arghhh!!! Now he is making me crazy! First it was nobody gets the keys then oh I don't want to be carrying the luggage all over, and I don't want a shuttle. this is becoming more of a chore than the actual booking of the cruise!!

The Hilton Marina--if we stayed there does nayone know if you can leave your car parked there during the cruise? Heard on this thread that it is right across from pier..

Know you would still need a taxi to get to the ship--anyone know approximately how many minutes it will take? Though things can be "right across the street" or "nearby" I know a "5 minute thing" can turn into a "25 minute thing". yikes!!

This may be a dumb question.. but... I will ask anyway....

Park n Fly--where exactly is their parking lot located?

Sounds like near the airport? If so, how far is it from port?

Also, once you "self park" in their lot--do they shuttle you to the port?

Going on a Princess cruise in June... I am getting super confused with all these parking options! Glad there are options but I am not sure anymore what is best for us!

I would never leave my car parked in a lot where it did not belong! I am sure some people were foolish enough to do that!

Going to call Port Everglades and inquire about parking and also start getting some hotel rates and parking info..

:)

That is my goal. I don't want to wait around for shuttles, taxis etc.. Want the convenience of my car. I will be driving from Orlando..

Will check with hotels though about parking the car there if I decide to go that route. I just don't want any issues getting to the port and being told there are no spaces left! Yikes!

Forgot one thing-

I would like the same answer to that question--is there any advantages or disadvantages?

Thanks again! :)

Thanks everyone for the replies.

One other question--is there enough spaces to actually part at Port Everglades (paying the $15 day) not the Park n Go or Park n Fly....

Thanks.

What??? Move your car around if you valet???

I would NOT want that!

Isn't there just a "Park your own car and pay for the week"..

I want to park at the port, have my car there when I get off the ship and put my luggage back in my car and drive home.

Can anybody shed some light on this for me???....... I've been reading these threads and it seems as if there is no parking your own car and keeping your keys with you at the pier....Maybe I am misunderstanding ( I sure hope I am misunderstanding something here...)

Please help!!

May want to park my own car at the port.....Anybody know if you have to pre-book to get a parking space at Port Everglades?

Anybody know the rate for the week? (7 nights in June)

Thanks.

Going out of Port Everglades in June----

Though some of these Fort Lauderdale hotels offer free shuttles to the port--a few questions:

1.) Can you leave your car parked at the hotel and if so, is there a parking charge?

2.) What about leaving the ship-I would guess you would just need to take a taxi back to the hotel?

3.) If I were to choose a hotel that did not offer shuttle service and I just wanted to drive to the port and park my car at the port can I just do that? If so, does anybody know how much parking is for 7 nights?

I keep hearing about these "Park and Go" places but I may just want to leave my car at the port and have the convenience of going straight to my own car after I get off of the ship...

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.