T&J1014

My wife and I are leaving this Sunday for our cruise on the Sensation that departs on Monday.  Have an OV room at the back of the ship - looking out the back.  M2?? Something like that.  Second cruise.  Our first was a balcony on the Splendor.  Kind of looking forward to watching the wake of the ship.  Loved watching the dolphins and flying fish off the balcony last time, so rear facing view should be interesting. 

Anyone ever stay in one of these rear ocean view rooms?

Cruise line - Doing our 2nd Carnival one - so probably sticking with them unless some unique itinerary/scenario pops up

Location - want to see new places

Things to do - Example - this upcoming cruise we selected based on Ocho Rios having a golf shore excursion

Departure port - Would probably only do Miami or Ft Lauderdale, as they seem to offer the most options.  Plus airfare out of Detroit is great (although we hate Miami airport's layout).  Being in Windsor, Ontario - flights out of Detroit are so much cheaper than driving 4 hours to Toronto, plus DTW is only 20 minute drive maybe, and our airport doesn't have flights direct to any cruise port locations.

re: Ship - not too picky, my wife and I don't want to be one of the super cruise ships - like our smaller ones (Splendor was perfect size for us).  Don't want to cruise with 5000 other people.

1 hour ago, Flymia said:

What airline? Some terminals are much better than others for long layover. I assume it is either American or Delta. American has a huge terminal with many places to eat, drink and shop. 

 

With so much time I would see if you could check your bags in, or store them and then head out to town. Dolphin Mall is very close. Or you could take an easy uber/bus/train ride to Downtown Miami/Brickell area and check out Bayside, Museum Park, Brickell CityCentre. 

Yes - American Airlines.  Might be enough options to keep us busy.  I just found my only other experience at Miami airport to be so confusing with their layout - at least compared to Detroit Metro, or even Las Vegas.

I may check out the Carnival Miami South Beach post cruise excursion - it includes being dropped off back to the airport after.  8 hrs is a long time to be waiting, especially after the cruise, especially knowing the weather is likely going to be nice compared to back home.

Our January cruise returns to Miami 8AM Sat Jan 19, 2019.  The best flight we could get (direct) to Detroit doesn't leave until 7:35PM - all other flights were either too early(cutting too close to when the ship arrives), or super long layovers (making a 2.5 hr flight into an 8hr flight as an example).  On our previous cruise there was over an hour delay getting off the ship due to tornadoes in the area around the same time of year. Timing is off by a day as, us both being big Toronto Maple Leafs fan, are missing the Leafs playing in Miami by 1 night!!!!  If the timing was right we'd hang around and get a room and catch the game and fly back the next day..... That being said.....what is there to do in the airport for what's going to amount to probably 8 or so hours before our flight leaves?  Can we check our luggage that early at the terminal?  We don't want to be hauling our carry on(s) plus our checked bag all over the place.  Can you leave the airport at all?  Is there much to do around the airport?  I mean, finding a golf course that rents clubs would be awesome, but I am not sure what there is to do at the airport for that long.  I know we'll probably want to eat lunch. possibly dinner as well before we get on the plane.

Any suggestions?

I'd suggest checking out Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon - super close to airport (you can see it out the window) and close to cruise port.  Stayed there and and enjoyed it, doing it again in January.  Just be aware of their annoying sales pitch for future travel after booking.

My wife and I are flying into FLL for our cruise out of Miami in January.  We have a private limo thru Expedia/Travelovity booked to take us to a hotel in Miami after our flight arrives.  This is our second time cruising out of Miami, and second time staying at Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon.  They have a sailaway package - you get transfer to cruise port and free breakfast the morning of your cruise.  You can see the planes coming and going if on the right side of the hotel - has a nice pool and walking path too. 

Has anybody done this? Seems like you get 18 holes, with a cart and club rentals, plus it says caddy is included. Any feedback, thoughts, etc.

Is a caddy really necessary? If so, why?

Seems like a beautiful course! My wife pretty much picked our cruise based on including a golf excursion (Carnival is the only that offers golf excursions of the more popular cruise lines?).

I have never had a problem with delays out of Detroit metro (closest airport to us), and Windsor, Ontario does not have direct flights to Miami or Ft Lauderdale. We are thinking of booking a flight Detroit - Miami early morning of our cruise (Nov 2018) and then maybe flying Ft. Lauderdale to Detroit on the way back. I know this is still hurricane season, but the predictability is so low, it's not something I really feel the need to concern myself with. Other option is do a flight from Windsor to Toronto to Miami or the Miami, Toronto, Windsor on the way back. Sadly, it is much cheaper for me, as a Canadian to fly from Detroit.

That being said, we are likely to do an early morning flight into Miami (arrive 9:40 or so AM) and that gives up lots of time to shuttle to the cruise port. On the way home.no rush..find the most economical way back without having to rush to the airport after the cruise. Our other cruise we took (Jan 2016) we didn't get off the ship until almost 10 as there was a tornado in the Miami area and severe storms. Still made our flight back no problem.

I am used the Great Lakes temps, low 70s in the summer. I am considering this excursion for our late Nov 2018 cruise.

Not to take this sideways, but..... what are the chances there will be hockey on any of the TV's on the ship? I have a Nov 18 cruise planned and it would be awesome to get the Saturday night Toronto Maple Leafs game - although I am sure Hockey Night In Canada wouldn't be shown. ;)

Interesting. We did our first cruise Jan 2016 on the Splendor, and had our, just about to turn 17, daughter with us. She suffers (or did at the time) severe anxiety, so getting to and through that muster drill was an adventure. I don't mind it, and know it is part of the procedure, because you never know if it will actually be necessary should something happen.

When we were on our first, and only so far, cruise in January 2016 on the Carnival Splendor, there was an announcement about booking your next cruise before debarkation (or something to that effect). Obviously we did not do that at that time. I was curious - if you should chose to book a cruise this way, or these on board offers much better? Are these usually discounted? Is there a time in regards to when the sailing is?

We don't book cruises that go to Nassau because for us, it's a waste of money. We just thought it was comparable to somewhere like Detroit or places in NJ. Not somewhere we enjoy going. Wouldn't hurt my feelings if they did away with going there, but I know there are a few who actually enjoy it.

Detroit eh......that is right across the river from me, see it daily, and shopped there regularly when the CDN dollar was better. ;) Mind you some places are scary big time. Plus Detroit metro is the airport we use to get to Miami.

Odd - I can fly direct to Cuba and other caribbean places from our own airport, but not Miami - and it's too expensive to drive 4 hrs and fly from Toronto.

We saw some eye opening poverty in Belize on our ride to the Mayan ruins our last cruise, but it is what it is.

Still looking forward to both Amber Cove and Grad Turk (wanted to join Canada a few years back!). As I said, Nassau was probably going to be a beach day most likely.

I have the opposite sense - I would gladly miss Amber Cove and keep Nassau. I like the beach, and Cable Beach in Nassau is where I park myself. There is no beach in Amber Cove.

It does appear there are some all-inclusive excursions for reasonable price to some nice beaches though....I think that is what we will end up doing.

Any reasons for not liking Nassau? I think we would have probably ended up just walking to Junkanoo Beach and hanging out there at Tiki Bikini Hut - there actually didn't seem like much to interest us there.

Wife and I have our second cruise booked Nov 24, 2018 - was Eastern Caribbean from Miami. Original schedule was Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk. Got an email yesterday for itinerary change. Was actually looking forward to Half Moon Cay - Nassau.....unsure. Now it is leaving Miami, full day at sea, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, full day at sea, Miami.

Sounds like Nassau is being dropped maybe? "Due to operational considerations..."

Chichen Itza is on my bucket list for sure. Just the history behind it, plus it's appearance on Ancient Aliens!

When we were in Belize in Jan 2016 we did Cahal Pech. Long ride through Belize, but the guide was awesome, and the lunch stop was great too (Orange Restaurant). Had lots of time to climb the ruins, etc. Unfortunately, it leaves you virtually no time to check things out around the cruise port. Wanted to stop at the Wet Lizard.

Next time in Belize we will most likely do another Mayan ruin excursion. So fascinating!!!!

We did book an oceanview room, but not at the back. Just grabbed a starboard side stateroom - main deck (I think). Those back of the ship rooms looked interesting, but we thought we'd have a lower chance of seeing the interesting things that might be out there at sea. :)

Getting read to book a cruise on the Sensation. Looking at oceanview room. Was curious if any has anything to share on the OV rooms that are at the very back (looking out the back) of the ship. Sounds pretty interesting.

Thanks in advance!

I would just take a cab to Calico Jack's (that's what we did). Pretty short ride, in traffic even, and the huge beach is right there. Can rent jet-skis if you desire too! We caught some sun, grabbed some food and drinks, did our jet-skis, caught some more sun, and made it back to port area with time for shopping too before back on the ship. I think there was one other ship that day other than ours.

Did Cahal Pech in January 2016 - long ride (1.5 - 2 hrs?), but informative tour guide and the ruins were great. There was even an archaeological dig happening when we were there!

Did this with Carnival Splendor in Jan 2016 - it was great! Only problem - it was first thing in the morning, and I was exhausted by the time we were back on our ship - tequila, margaritas and Corona for lunch.

One question though - Does anyone have, or know where I can get, the recipe to make the chilli mango margarita that they serve at the back of the park before you tour the scale models of the Mayan temples? That was awesome, and I am having a hard time trying to find a recipe for this!!!!

My wife, daughter and I did our first cruise in January on the Carnival Splendor - loved it!

If I had to make a couple wish I knew then points:

A) - Get to know your ship - know where things are

B) - Don't be intimidated by the dining room - We didn't do the formal, and were intimidated by the casual dining as well, until the 3rd day we found out what we were missing - although our time was not good. We booked late and asked for "My Time", but we got the late dinner. :( Go to the casual dining - find your seats - they treat you very well. It was 3 of us, we were seated at a table for 4 all by ourselves, which was kind of cool.

C) - Unless you are big drinkers, do NOT buy the booze package - It really was hard for me (and my wife too) to even come close to the 15/day max on the card - ended up it would have been cheaper to buy drink at a time.

D) - Don't feel compelled to book excursions at each stop. We had excursions booked at Cozumel (Jose Cuervo Exp), Roatan (Monkeys, Birds, Pirates), Belize (Cahal Pech), but Grand Cayman we just took a local cab to Seven Mile Beach and relaxed (and rented jet-skis....).

E) - Get to know your steward - they are there to serve you and make your stay onboard enjoyable

F) - Have fun!!! Expect first time confusion, frustration, but don't let it ruin your trip.

Well, it looks like a 7 day cruise....either late Nov (29), or early Jan (10)....Western Caribbean

For a better airfare, try a package search.

For a comparison, did you see what apple vacations would offer?

 

One week - All Inclusive(includes flight) @ Royal Solaris

408 Sq Ft, One king bed or two double beds, 21-inch flat screen Satellite TV, Hairdryer, In-room safe, Iron/ironing board, Air conditioned, 2 chair dining set in room, Bathroom with marble, vanity and shower only.

$895.88 per person* includes Govt Taxes and Fees

We've stayed here and liked it. Go on excursions from here!

Yes, I have seen some good deals with air included on expedia.com (even though I am in Canada, I would use .com, not .ca). I don't want to drive 4hrs to Toronto, when Detroit Metro is 20 minute drive.

We are just trying to decide between the cruise or a resort. We've never had a chance to do anything like this, and really need a getaway like this. I'm 42 and my wife is turning 39, so we are still young and want to have a great vacation.

It seems there is a lot of extra charges for cruises (booze package as an example, gratuities - are 2 I see as not included) in the price. But you get the benefit of seeing different places. Would want wifi as well.