mimi7ccr

Thanks so much, goneclear.  Exactly the info I was looking for.

She is an adult, almost a senior, like me!!  I guess what I was wondering is if there is a monorail or people mover from the 

airport terminal to the transport center.  I have located the Megabus location and it is part of the transport center near the car rentals.  

We're on the Vision for her September Transatlantic, so I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of your review.  I know it's an older ship, 

but I'm old too!!  LOL.  

We are taking a taxi to the MIA airport after our cruise into Port of Miami.  Daughter is needing to hook up with a flight on Delta at 2:00 p.m.  I, on the other hand, are taking the MegaBus to Tampa where I will be picked up.  My bus leaves at 11:15.  Our ship gets in at 5:00 a.m. and we should have plenty of time to get off with our luggage and get to the airport by 11 a.m.  Should we tell the driver to let me off first at the transportation center across from MIA, or should he take my daughter to check in for her flight first??  How do we get between the airport and the transportation center for the MegaBus??  Thanks for any advice.

Slightly off-topic question for Queens:  Why so long from Tampa to Miami??  We are making the same drive VERY early on a Saturday morning, end of April.  Which way did you go?  DH wants to drive over to Yeehaw Junction and get on Turnpike and take it ALL the way down.  What's your advice?  Thanks so much.

Thanks, Biker19.  I just saw on Google maps how you stay on 395 (MacArthur Causeway) until the tunnel.  Before I thought we had to exit on 2nd Avenue and then go over 5th St.  Your suggestions seems a lot easier.  

We are boarding MSC Seaside at Terminal F, Port of Miami.  My question is regarding signage from the Florida Turnpike to get over to the port.  Do we get on 395 going east.  Do we look for Port Signs and a tunnel sign, or do we get off on 5th Street?  I just want to know if the signs will be clear for us.  Thanks for any suggestions.

The "sailaway" rate is the lowest price you see for a given category and it includes none of the perks, i.e. "free at sea," etc.

So if you want to include the Ultimate Beverage package or UPB the rate will be usually $300 and upwards for the same 

category.  Maybe someone else can explain it better.  There's lots of information about it on this forum.

Thank you for this information.  We will probably do the sail away rate and get the soda package for both of us.

We are debating whether to book sail away rate and buy the regular (not premium+) drink package in addition, or to 

pay $300/pp more and book a regular inside and get the drinks perk with "Free At Sea."  Does it work out about even?

We also have "cruise next" certificates to add to the mix.  Thanks for any advise.

I'm sorry, I meant to specify on the Seaside, but I suppose other

ships might also be helpful.  Thanks again.

Does anyone have first-hand experience with "Easy" package; i.e., which bars were most helpful?  

Can you go up to bar yourself and request drink?  Is cranberry vodka included?  Just any information

would be helpful.  Thank you for any replies.

We really like La Fonda on Escudullers, just off La Rambla.  The line starts forming before they open at 13:00, I think, so get there early if you want to get a table.  Their prices are very reasonable and the food quality is very good.  It is a "chain" or one of several restaurants owned by the same company, and all of them are very good. This one just happens to be pretty near the bottom of La Rambla, so convenient for those who want to stay close to the port area.  

I haven't been on line with CC for a while.  What happened to the "Forum Jump" option they used to have down at the bottom,

where you could jump between forums??  I sure do miss it!!

Another question about transport in Hamburg. Are there day tickets that cover both the ferry service and the bus and metro, or are they separate? We are docking at Altona in September and want to take the ferry to near city center, then the bus 111 or metro to Rathaus, they same thing on the way back. We are two adults. What would be the price of tickets, please? Thank you.

I tend to believe it is a MSC thing. We've been cruising really regular for 20 years and I've always been very active on roll calls. We are on the Magnifica for a British Isles cruise in one week and it's the smallest roll call I've ever seen. Not enough people to get groups together for DIY excursions. I do hope we have a Mix & Mingle onboard.

If you do take them in your checked luggage, be sure and put them in a Zip-lock bag if you are flying. I learned the hard way that the pressure in the baggage hold made them split open. What a mess!! We take them all the time but are careful with them.

Sorry, but I got the order mixed up. HoHo first, then ride up to castle (not tour) and walk down. Thanks for the suggestions.

Many thanks for the responses. We are not going to tour the castle on this trip, just leisurely walk down Royal Mile and little side streets, see the Cathedral and Parliment, grab a bite for lunch somewhere, then HoHo and back to the ship. At least that is the plan right now.

We are there in early September on MSC Magnifica. One important thing, our ship leaves at 17:00, so all aboard at 16:30. What time do you suggest we get the shuttle for the return trip back to Queensferry? I was thinking about 14:00??? We are thinking about doing the HoHo portion first. We we then be able to stay on board and ride UP to the castle to begin our walk DOWN the Royal Mile?? Thanks for any suggestions.

Thank you. I now see the flag for translation. Looks like it only accepts reservations about 10 days ahead of time, and that's OK.

I wonder if it would be possible to take the first bus at 11:45 but stay longer in Honfleur and come back on the later bus. Has anyone tried that? I doubt they will let you do that, but I will try and ask.

I am also looking for information on the Bee bus that goes to Honfleur. Where exactly is the terminal for this bus, or where did you pick it up? Did you go to the end of the line for the shuttle into town, or did you get off at a stop prior to the end? I would also like information on their web site, as I cannot find it. What I did find was in French and I could not translate it. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

We are doing the same thing. We are sharing a rental car from Budget to the port with another couple on our sailing. We are flying straight back home to MCO (we live 1-1/2 hours away on Gulf Coast). We will have a Budget car waiting at the airport which we will drive home and return the next morning. It seems to be working out really well.

I will go ahead and give my experience here. We booked an inside on Deck 11, cabin 11156 to be exact. The invite to bid stated $75/pp and up for a balcony. I bid $100/pp for a total of $200 and we were advised rather quickly that we had been assigned a family balcony, Cabin #11296, towards aft on port side. I was really happy because this is a 15 night TA cruise, so from inside to balcony for only $200 total. I thought it was a bargain. It's a little more aft than I would have chosen, but it is closer to the elevators and we are a senior couple, so I guess that's a good thing.!!

We are sailing September 3rd. Thought of taking the 11:35 train from Waterloo, getting us to Southampton shortly after 13:00. then walk to the ship (or taxi), so around 14:00. Should be OK??