HawkIVette

2 weeks ago my in-laws had a flight out of NY to Miami for a cruise. The night before the flight time change by 2 hrs. No big deal right? They got to the airport flight cancelled by Delta next 2 flights booked could get them to Miami after cruise left. They were able to get to Ft Lauderdale and get a ride to Miami made it to the ship as the last passengers. They swear never sgain .

 

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Another good reason why trip insurance is worth it. Not that it will make sure you make your cruise, but at least easy the pain.

We are currently scheduled to fly into Miami the morning of our cruise on June 1st. After reading all the posts on CC, I realize that wasn't the best choice.

Why is this a problem? What makes you think it is not a good choice.

Frankly, we have flown in the day before and also the day of our cruises.

In the winter, I will always fly the day before just incase of bad weather and delays.

But for the most part, in June, unless you are coming in later in the day, the chance of missing your cruise is slim.

What time is your flight arriving and what time does your cruise leave? Also, what airport are you coming in to? What port going out?

You can assure her this will not happen, unless you lock her out there. It only locks manually from the inside.

 

 

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Darn. There goes that excuse, huh?

ack!! Anxiety attack!!!! LOL!! :D

Don't do just Priceline (Ack, too). Do Kayak. It searches all the sites. One and done. Except SouthWest. You have to search their site itself.

Do a search on Kayak, and then set an email alert for it. About 2-3 months out. Book it.

Sorry to add this, as it may be a little late for you to change. But when you get the "free" cruise offer, it has been stated that those days don't count towards your VIFP Points as days sailed. Unless you pay for an upgrade, and then they will.

I have gotten 2 offers, and upgraded each time. A small price to pay for a free cruise. Both cruises counted towards my days at sea, and now I am Platinum on my next cruise.

Some people don't care about this, and that is fine. But I am looking forward to priority line at guest services, free onboard laundry, free gifts in my cabin from here on out.

Congratulations on your offer and have fun on your free trip. Some people never get the offer and sometimes can be bitter about it.

 

Yes, we're flexible with the time off. I sure as heck can't find any "deals", though. I can't find airfare for 5 of us from San Diego for anything less than $2K. :( Galveston, New Orleans, or any of the Florida cities. Any tips on finding deals??

 

Again, if we sail out of Florida we need to add on a price of a hotel and a few more meals. (But we don't need The Four Seasons ;) )

I find the best flight deals about 3 months out from your sail date. So if you can wait, (your still about 5-6 months out) I think you will find better rates later on.

Also, if by some chance you select Miami, try the Holiday Inn Port of Miami as a hotel. They had nice rates when we were there ($120/ night) and was real nice and right next to the port. Still needed a cab ride, but it was under $10.

Thanks!

 

 

 

Hoping for the Magic out of Galveston. :)

I just read your other post about the Miracle or the Magic. You made the right choice. I just got off the Breeze, which is much like the Magic. Your kids will love it. We have been on the Miracle before and am going back in 2 months, but this is for the Alaska cruise. It is a nice ship, but not as many activities and fun things for kids.

and on the ship you only need cash for the casino.

Ok, you don't even need cash for the casino.

Follow along with me for this.....

At the tables in the casino, you can buy in for chips using your sail & sign card. It goes on your bill as "entertainment". NO CASH ADVANCE FEE ON YOUR CREDIT CARD.

However, the casino charges a 3% fee.

Ok, so buy in for $100. They charge $103 on your S&S card. You go cash out those 100 in chips at the cage and get $100. Only cost you $3.

That is cheaper than the ATM onboard, which I think was $5.95 or $6.95.

Also, if you use your credit card properly, your will get points for your "entertainment" charge.

And who knows, maybe you will win at the casino a few bucks to offset the fees.

You get the free drink coupon as soon as you turn Red. :)

That's even better yet. Not like they can't afford it.

Sorry, it's been a while since I was turning red.

Just got off the Breeze and it had it. Only a few ships have it. Rope coarse table tennis, basketball, mini golf, running track, weight lifting machines and workout stations, even a hot dog stand (free) up on the top decks above the pools. There are some deck chairs around the area, but your kids can't get into too much trouble by themselves.

Enjoy.

What ship are you going on?

If I am not mistaken, it is just what it says. A brunch that you just go to the main dining room, they seat you and order off the menu, much like the main dining room suppers. Very informal and eat at your leisure. If you are gold status, you should get a free drink offer in your stateroom early in your cruise that you can use at the sea day brunch for a free drink of your choice.

Nice to do instead of buffet everyday.

We just got off the Breeze 2 weeks ago. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami. Got luck with a room on the 9th floor facing the pier. Watched the ships turn around in the bay and sail back out that night.

Also, right across the street is Bayside Marketplace. Nice group of restaurants and shops to pass the time. I would ask for a room with a view though, as not all rooms faced the port. Maybe a 3 star hotel, but very nice.

If you are looking for something real nice, check out the InterContinental Hotel. Very nice.

But I don't think either has balconies. Just nice big windows

My wife and I did a 7 days cruise with my two daughters. At the time, they were 21 and 18. We had a ball. You are just not in the room that much other than to sleep. Getting ready for dinner and getting up in the morning was at times hectic because of 3 girls trying to get into the bathroom at the same time, but we made it work.

Have fun and enjoy. Now you will have more money for excursions.

Just call in sick at the last minute. It wouldn't be a lie. I am always sick of work right before a cruise. Sometimes even after.

I'd like to put my request in for a swim up bar. :D

No, instead, I would like to see a tow behind barge for just the kids.

Let me ask you this. How many times have you sailed Carnival? As you can see, I have sailed carnival 10 times in 12 years and have only had 1 bad experience with them. That's not a bad record. And I still sail them because of the great value I find with them. Especially if they gave me a discount because of a bad experience with a previous cruise.

But, it is good to try new things. Go with the RC cruise, and then you will know if they are right for you.

But if it were me, I would still go with the Carnival, because the numbers look better and they haven't burned me yet.

To me, it's Carnival all the way. But I don't have enough information why you don't think so too. I don't know why you say "Carnival never again". So what can I say to convince you to go with carnival again?

Maybe it is the Carnival is only $1900 for 5 days ($380/ day) compared to RC at $1300 for 3 days ($433/ day)? Maybe that the Carnival room has a view, and the RC doesn't? Maybe that the Carnival has 3 ports and the RC has 2? I don't know. Tough decision.

They are the same class but Magic isn't 2.0 like Breeze is. We had really wanted to go on Freedom but the eastern route dates didn't work for us.

 

 

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In that case, you should have a great time. You will already know the layout of the ship ( it always takes me a day or two to find my way around a different class ship). An as posted before, the extra food options are great. The Italian restaurant is a must. Free during the day (extra $$ at night). Fat Jimmy's BBQ was terrific (just long line and only open sea days). Hot dog cart was even a nice feature. Make sure you go to the Piano Bar if Ben (from Kansas City) is still there. He is the best as far as his act.

Forgive me, as I haven't been on the Magic, but isn't the Magic and Breeze the same class ship and layout the same?

I know the ports will most likely be different for you, but the ships are almost the same, which we like. You don't have to relearn the layout every cruise.

I actually have booked this for my cruise in Sept and will be jumping the food lines ALL DAY!!!! So people, beware!!!

Me too. Though I am just going to grab a chair and sit at the carving station and eat.

Aw, I can see it now. On the Alaska cruise, Pirates looking out for icebergs.

Maybe I'll just wait till "Drunken Sailor" day.

For just getting off a cruise, I can't remember, but their were several varieties of milk in the buffet line. I know there was skim, 2%, chocolate and some other, but can't recall if there was soy. Anybody else?

I've read this before and I'm confused. I have super sensitive feet. The beach itself was fine the whole way down and back to Jack's. I didn't go in the water near Margaritaville, just in front of Jack's Shack but also found it to be sandy. Is it in certain areas? (someone mentioned that the right side, away from MV was rocky but I didn't go over there).

The beach north of the pier is sandy. Everything south of the pier is sand and rock.

In this photo I took (yeah, right), it shows the pier. MargeritaVille is in Yellow. It has a very nice pool and bar, along with food ($$$$). Pool is free. As an excursion, you can do the FlowRider. A standup surf rider. Google it if you don't understand.

In red is Jack's shack. This is where you will find beach, very sandy, along with free beach chairs (some in shade if desired) and reasonable drinks.

Green arrow is where snorkeling excursions and water activites are sometimes held.

We did a snorkeling excursion that picked us up just south of the pier and took us just north up the beach. Snorkeled off the edge of the wall (deeper water) and then took us closer to the beach in about 15 ft. of water and showed us nurse sharks. Got to pet them and hold them.

Did you have the drink on us card waiting for you on the free cruise or do you have to earn it again? Also, any cash at the cage with the free cruise?

No, the free drink card had to be earned again. And no casino cash either.

The way I see it is there are 2 different "free" cruises here.

Premier cruises (and I have had the mail offers before) came in the mail months after a cruise I was on. Discounted rates or great upgrades at little or no cost, casino cash waiting for you at the cage, drink on the house in the casino and free entries in to tournaments.

Other is offers directly from the Casino while onboard ship. These are rewarded because of your play on that cruise. Free (and I mean FREE) 3 to 8 day future cruise, for an inside cabin and must be booked within 14 days and cruise within 3 months, only have to pay port fees and taxes. Ok, so you say that's not free. You have to pay taxes, you find a way out of that, you let me know.

Now, my history with "Free Cruises"

Was on the Conquest in November. I play Craps. Everyday for 2-3 hrs each, maybe more. I took home $5000 more than I took on the cruise. Was given a free future cruise letter.

The cruise on the Breeze last week was my first Free Cruise. I paid upgrade to 7th deck, and paid insurance. Total cost for my wife and I was $354 for 8 day cruise. I consider that a free cruise.

I didn't have to gamble (no arm-breakers waiting for me at the gangway). Chose to gamble anyway, and lost $3000. Still a good deal as the cruise would have cost me another $2000 if I had to pay full price. And earned another Free cruise for this June- Alaska on the Miracle, a $4000 cruise that is only costing me $1000 for the upgrades to Extended balcony on deck 7 again.

Pier 91 is about 3 miles north of the downtown core and Pier 66 is downtown, along the water front.

 

Pier 91 is in an area called Magnolia, and there isn't much around there.

There is a lot of info about the Seattle piers on the Westcoast Departure thread, if you have more questions about the area.

Arrgg. Thanks Deb, for the reminder that there is more to this site than just the Carnival forum. I should have thought of that.