*OFFICIAL* CC Group Cruise 02/15/2014 Cupid's IV Southern Caribbean - Carnival Breeze

[Flick]

Just spent the afternoon at an Army of Hope picnic. The Army of Hope is an ELK project whereby we step in and help families of actively deployed military pay small "budget busters" like school field trips, books, sports equipment, and in one case a new refrigerator because Mom just plain couldn't afford it. At any rate this was a fundraiser and unfortunately it is very windy and cold here so the crowd was way down. We've been home a couple of hours and I'm still chilled "to the bone".

We are going to be looking at motels out by the airport that have stay n cruise programs so we can leave the car without breaking the bank.

[ed_k_tx]

We're back. We had a great time up until we couldn't dock in Cozumel.

Winds and rough seas gave us another "Fun Day at Sea".

We really liked the Magic and think we'll like the Breeze even more.

[momofzeke]

Ed ~ welcome back! Glad you had a great cruise, but sorry you couldn't dock in Cozumel. :( That is one of my favorite ports, and the only cruise port we've been to twice.

 

Dave ~ welcome back! I know you & Bettie are in New Orleans, maybe on your way home today?

 

Donna ~ let us know if you find out any info on the Holiday Inn.

 

Dave's sis brought us cake from a bakery we used to go to all the time when we were young & skinny, as a thank you for feeding her kitty while she's been gone several times lately. Dave is actually the one feeding her, so I get cake for doing nothing. Haven't had this cake in many years, and it was just as delicious as I remembered! And I have half left for today... woo hoo!

 

Have a great day, everyone!

[HeidiHo]

Good morning!

 

Welcome back to all of you who were cruising last week.

 

Ed - sorry you didn't get into Cozumel. it must have been pretty rough and windy because Cozumel is not a port that is missed often.

 

Winter refuses to let go here. We could get up to a foot of snow tomorrow. Of course, usually we get less than what is forecast. Depending on which weather report you hear we could get anywhere from 6" - 12". I'll be surprised if we get much more than 6".

 

Staci comes home for spring break later this week. I'm not sure if she's coming Thursday or Friday. She has no Friday classes but sometimes she will stay a day longer if something is going on that night. I'm real anxious to see if the cat will quiet down while she's here. She's still driving us crazy with her night time yowling. She does it during the day too but at least then she's not waking us up. This morning she was going at it in Staci's bedroom which is why I think she's missing Staci plus it started when Staci went back to school after winter break. She is a very tiny kitty and it's hard to believe that such aloud noise can come out of such a tiny body. If she was a young cat I'd be tempted to send her to live with Staci (she is actually her cat) but she's 16 and I think it would be too traumatic for her. Besides, I think I would still miss her too much. I'm still mourning the loss of our other kitty. :( Staci will most likely move home in May when she graduates anyway.

 

Have a great day. :)

[De-Luxe08]

I just talked to reservations at the Holiday Inn POM and here is the scoop. 2/14 falls during the Miami Boat Show and there is a minimum of a 2 night stay at $209 per night for this date. I was told the Miami Boat Show is a huge event and it runs Feb. 13 to 17. I'm guessing finding a hotel near the port is going to be difficult and if it is as popular as the girl at the Holiday Inn says, I'm wondering just where we might find a hotel in Miami.

 

So the search begins,

 

Have a good day.

 

Donna

[HeidiHo]

I just talked to reservations at the Holiday Inn POM and here is the scoop. 2/14 falls during the Miami Boat Show and there is a minimum of a 2 night stay at $209 per night for this date. I was told the Miami Boat Show is a huge event and it runs Feb. 13 to 17. I'm guessing finding a hotel near the port is going to be difficult and if it is as popular as the girl at the Holiday Inn says, I'm wondering just where we might find a hotel in Miami.

 

So the search begins,

 

Have a good day.

 

Donna

 

Yikes!

[HeidiHo]

Just to be sure we have a hotel I just booked a room at the Fairfield Inn & suites Miami Airport South. In July of 2011 we were in Miami and stayed right next to the Fairfield. It was the Courtyard Miami Airport but that is booked solid for Feb. 14th too. I will continue to look for a good place to stay as I'm sure the rest of you will be doing also so please post your findings here. I booked a fully refundable rate so I can cancel at any time. I suggest everyone do the same.

[HeidiHo]

I now have reservations at 2 hotels. LOL I also just booked the SpringHill Suites Miami Airport East/Medical Center. It's much closer to the port and cheaper than the Fairfield. The Fairfield was $199.00 ($224.87 with tax) for 2 queen beds (I think a king bed is $189.00) and the SpringHill suites was $129.00 ($145.77 with tax) for a King and sofa sleeper. I prefer to get 2 Fulls or Queens but that was quite a bit more so I booked a king. If it had only been $10.00 more like the Fairfield I would have gotten 2 beds.

 

I also checked the Hampton Inn & Suites at Downtown Bricknell that Esther was talking about but it was over $300.00 per night. I don't want to spend that much.

Edited March 4, 2013 by HeidiHo

[De-Luxe08]

Just to be sure we have a hotel I just booked a room at the Fairfield Inn & suites Miami Airport South. In July of 2011 we were in Miami and stayed right next to the Fairfield. It was the Courtyard Miami Airport but that is booked solid for Feb. 14th too. I will continue to look for a good place to stay as I'm sure the rest of you will be doing also so please post your findings here. I booked a fully refundable rate so I can cancel at any time. I suggest everyone do the same.

 

 

I booked this one also. The rate I got was $209.00 (2 queens). I have a hard time with this since that is what I paid in Jan. for the Holiday Inn POM. But I at least have a room.

 

The downtown Courtyard by Marriott (1/2 mi. from port) is available for 2/14 at a rate of $309.00. Springhill Suites by Marriott is available at $169.00 (2 queens) it is near the airport and the medical center. Didn't book it because not sure of the area and the girl wasn't too sure about it either. So I plan on checking it out and if it an ok area, just might switch.

 

Hampton Inn (Miami Brickell) is available in the mid $300s. Hampton Inn airport area is around $220.

 

Still continuing to look.

 

Donna

Edited March 4, 2013 by De-Luxe08

[De-Luxe08]

I now have reservations at 2 hotels. LOL I also just booked the SpringHill Suites Miami Airport East/Medical Center. It's much closer to the port and cheaper than the Fairfield. The Fairfield was $199.00 ($224.87 with tax) for 2 queen beds (I think a king bed is $189.00) and the SpringHill suites was $129.00 ($145.77 with tax) for a King and sofa sleeper. I prefer to get 2 Fulls or Queens but that was quite a bit more so I booked a king. If it had only been $10.00 more like the Fairfield I would have gotten 2 beds.

 

I also checked the Hampton Inn & Suites at Downtown Bricknell that Esther was talking about but it was over $300.00 per night. I don't want to spend that much.

 

Seems like we were posting around the same time. A thinking along the same lines with checking hotels.

 

Great minds think alike.

[AKB10]

Here is a link to Trip Advisor's reviews on the Fairfield Inn and suites Miami Airport south -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34438-d1239603-Reviews-Fairfield_Inn_Suites_Miami_Airport_South-Miami_Florida.html

 

And Spring Hill Suites Airport East / Medical Center -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34438-d1584732-Reviews-SpringHill_Suites_by_Marriott_Miami_Airport_East_Medical_Center-Miami_Florida.html

 

I was hoping for the Holiday Inn also, have heard good things about it here on CC. Wish I knew for sure when we will be going to Miami - Thur or Fri.

 

Edited to add - I do not know why you just can't click on the links to get to the sight??? I guess you will need to copy and paste.

Edited March 4, 2013 by AKB10

[HeidiHo]

The area around the Fairfield is OK. I say just OK because it's not as nice as the area by the HIX that we stayed at in FLL for Cupid's 3 but it's not bad either. We walked down the street a few blocks and ate at an authentic Cuban restaurant that was pretty good. We felt safe walking but we did not walk at night and Dave was with us. The main drag in that area seems pretty safe but but I wouldn't want to wander too far off the main drag into the neighborhood.

 

It's a shame that the Fairfield is not a part of the Marriott Campus right next door where we stayed last time. There are 3 Marriott brand hotels in what I call a "Campus" because they share a secure parking lot, shuttles and pool. The pool is in the middle of the 3 hotels. The 3 hotels are the Courtyard Miami Airport, Residence Inn Miami Airport and the Miami Airport Marriott. It is just a really nice little "campus" but all 3 are booked for Feb. 14th. The Fairfield is literally right next door but is separate from the others and people at the Fairfield cannot use facilities at the other 3. It's a shame that all 4 aren't together since they are all Marriott brand hotels.

[ooulio]

Cruise went up again. I tried all day to book. Now there is no more credit at all for this group for new people. Erin has been trying all day for us. We finally just booked for the 4 of us. It is a lot higher than it was for our cruise we took last month. YOu would think Carnival would be nice instead of charging crazy. We are going on this one but we booked by ourself. They couldnt give us any deal if we booked with the group. I guess we wont be with you guys. We tried. It was cheaper to book the 9th floor by ourselves than to book with the group like we tried. I didnt know the boat show was this week. I wanted to stay where we just stayed last month but I am not spending over $300 a nite for Hampton Inn brickell. It was good for me because I could eat PF Changs . They serve GF food. Maybe we can stop in and say hello if you dont mind. We spent too much for this ship already. I love this ship. I will enjoy this ship anyway.

[HeidiHo]

Cruise went up again. I tried all day to book. Now there is no more credit at all for this group for new people. Erin has been trying all day for us. We finally just booked for the 4 of us. It is a lot higher than it was for our cruise we took last month. YOu would think Carnival would be nice instead of charging crazy. We are going on this one but we booked by ourself. They couldnt give us any deal if we booked with the group. I guess we wont be with you guys. We tried. It was cheaper to book the 9th floor by ourselves than to book with the group like we tried. I didnt know the boat show was this week. I wanted to stay where we just stayed last month but I am not spending over $300 a nite for Hampton Inn brickell. It was good for me because I could eat PF Changs . They serve GF food. Maybe we can stop in and say hello if you dont mind. We spent too much for this ship already. I love this ship. I will enjoy this ship anyway.

 

Esther - Don"t worry about not being with the group. It's not like we were all going to be in the same part of the ship and we don't have any group activities planned that would be for "official" group members only. On Cupid's 2, one of the group amenities was a 1 hour cocktail party so that was only open to official group members but we won't be having that this time. Any activities we plan will be open to anyone who wants to join us. You are welcome to join in.

[momofzeke]

Esther ~ as Heidi said, don't worry about not being "official"! We welcome you anyway! You are most welcome to join in with us for anything we have going on. Glad you booked! :D

 

Thank you, Donna & Heidi for the info about the boat show filling up the hotels in Miami! I had not even begun to look for a hotel yet. Because of your heads up, I thought I'd better get one booked! I went ahead and booked the Fairfield Inn & Suites Miami Airport South on a fully refundable rate, just to make sure we have a bed for our head the night before the cruise. I will continue to search though.

[ooulio]

thanks guys for being so nice. We are going to start looking at hotels too. I need to wait til next month. Need to pay my $600 deposit first. When we did the Dream a couple years ago, We went with the group.. We had a scavenger hunt which was so much fun. We had a Casino game. We each threw in $20.00 ,. Whatever we won, we split in a group. They called each name one at a time. Of course, when they called my husbands name, he disappeared. I had to go up twice. We had a meeting where they did a lot of things. I actaully won a award for saving dogs. I volunteer and try and save dogs all over the place. I also lived in Chicago before. We lived in Lake in the Hills. My brother lived in Schaumburg. Now we live in Rhode Island. My other brother and his wife live in Washington state. They are coming with us too. Nice to meet everyone. Esther

[HeidiHo]

My brother lived in Schaumburg. Now we live in Rhode Island. My other brother and his wife live in Washington state. They are coming with us too. Nice to meet everyone. Esther

 

Esther - I work in Schaumburg.

 

I just did a quick search fro restaurants near the Fairfield Miami Airport South. There are 2 in the Marriott Campus right next door. One is called Cane Fire Grille and the other is Champions Sports Bar. Cane Fire is kind of pricey but Champions is not bad. You can see their menus on the Marriott website. Another one nearby is La Rosa and we ate there the last time we were there. It has pretty good reviews on Trip Advisor except for the fact that due to construction they have no bathrooms right now. :eek: There are porta potties outside. :eek::eek: I would assume that by next Feb. they would have bathrooms. LOL. They had them when we were there a year and a half ago. This restaurant is walkable but is 2 or 3 blacks away. Another one nearby is Pollo Tropical. I am not familiar with this one but I really couldn't tell from their website if they were a sit down or fast food restaurant. Anyone know? I kind of think they might be fast food. I think it's a little farther away that La Rosa but probably walkable. I also remember another restaurant right next door to the Marriott Campus but can't remember much about it and didn't see anything about it on line. The Faiffield also includes breakfast.

 

It is snowing like crazy here. Schools are closed. Dave came home from work early and will drive me to work just like he did last Tuesday night. the snow today is worse than last week. The restaurant will be dead but they won't close and I'm a closer so I'll have to go in. They will call some other people and tell them not to come.

 

Have a good evening. :)

[walkswife]

Haven't been on much lately..... sorry such is the busy life.....

 

Heidi will you text me with the hotel info when you guys decide or email me at renee@renardscheese.com......

 

Lisa and I need to get it together here.....:eek:

[Nazarushka]

I hadn't even considered worrying about a hotel yet for this trip, I just did the one for Alaska 2 weeks ago! However, after looking at the postings yesterday and again today, I did go ahead and book a refundable rate for the Springhill Suites at $129 per night. So count us in! :D

[Flick]

Booked the LaQuinta Inn North today for $179.67 including all taxes etc. They offer a free shuttle from the airport plus, if we drive, free parking for the duration of the cruise. We may rent a car for drop off on Friday and a new car on Sunday, providing they are open. Not the greatest but hey it's only for one night and they have shuttle service to the port for only $10.00 per person. I've done so much correcting of this post you would never guess we sat in the Florida room and had two bottles of red stuff while grilling chicken! If you come onto this thread you are more than welcome to join us in whatever activities we finally decide on doing.....

[Cruisin Dave]

Good evening Cupids,

Bettie and stayed an additional 3 nights in Nawlins. Had the Sunday Jazz Brunch at Commanders Palace, saw the WWII museum and movie narrated by Tom Hanks. Took a bus tour of Nawlins that drove through the 9th Ward and ate way too much sea food.

Can't wait for our next cruise with the cupids and will start looking at hotels. It may still be a little early to book with some hotels. They may not release their dates for a few more days. Hopefully the HI-Bayside will become available soon.

We had fun in Jamaica and went to a lovely beach called Chukka Beach. RCL has their own port at Falmouth and it is lovely. So much nicer than Mobay.

In GC we walked around, did a little shopping and ate at a wonderful restaurant called Guy Harvey's Island Grill. Great food and a great view of the harbour.

In Cozumel, we went to Mr Sancho's. Had a great time with lots of food and drink and plenty of timein the water. The sky looked threatening all day but we missed all the rain.

We will sail RCL anytime. The suite was great and the amenities that you get with the suite is supberb. We also met Ruben Studdard. He was just down the hall from us with his entire family.

Back later,

Dave

[HeidiHo]

Can't wait for our next cruise with the cupids and will start looking at hotels. It may still be a little early to book with some hotels. They may not release their dates for a few more days. Hopefully the HI-Bayside will become available soon.

 

 

Dave - it's not that the Holiday Inn Bayside hasn't opened reservations yet, the problem is the Boat show is in town and they have a 2 night minimum. I assume the require Fri and Sat as the 2 nights because i tried to do Thursday and Friday and couldn't do it. We have booked the Fairfield Miami Airport South just so we have something but will continue to look around.

[Cruisin Dave]

Dave - it's not that the Holiday Inn Bayside hasn't opened reservations yet, the problem is the Boat show is in town and they have a 2 night minimum. I assume the require Fri and Sat as the 2 nights because i tried to do Thursday and Friday and couldn't do it. We have booked the Fairfield Miami Airport South just so we have something but will continue to look around.

Dang Boat Show! Guess I will look at a few hotels. Really wanted to stay at Bayside.

Dave

[Cruisin Dave]

In lieu of the Boat Show. I have booked the Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami-Airport/Blue Lagoon for $189 per night. We liked them in NOLA and they do have a nice breakfast in the morning and plenty of room. If something better comes along I can cancel. It is only about 2 miles from the Fairfield. Would be closer but there is a lake between us. LOL

Dave

[Flick]

LaQuinta shows the daily rate at $125.00 but charged $159.00 plus taxes for next year. Don't know if that is "boat show pricing" or just plain old "price creep". At any rate I took three rooms and was glad to get them.I was making life difficult in my search by wanting a shuttle from the airport for Jann and Kenn, plus reasonable parking rate (and FREE is very reasonable)plus transportation to the Port and finally didn't want to spend all my "drinkin'" money on the motel instead of the ship.I'm still looking but at least I have a place. One of the motels listed here in this thread wanted $15.00 a day for leaving your car there during the cruise!

Edited March 6, 2013 by Flick