KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

Sounds like a mass-illegal emigration scheme. 70 people, all with fake visas?

Holland America has some cruises that begin and end in Montreal, QC. That's VERY far inland.

If you're going to Tampa one day prior, consider AMTRAK which has 1X daily train from either Orlando Station or Kissimmee Station. Price is around $11 per person one way. I wouldn't chance it the same day as the cruise because the train is coming from Washington DC and could be running late. The Tampa Union Station is within walking distance to the cruise terminals and there are hotels in the area reachable by the TECO streetcar line.

For those of you contemplating a cruise from Australia, usually overlooked is P&O Australia and their cruises to South Pacific nations. Please note when viewing their website that prices are in Australian Dollars and there is no tipping culture there. https://www.pocruises.com.au/

It's long enough to do a bar crawl.

I've done MSC in the Persian Gulf (from Dubai), MSC in the deep southern Caribbean (from Martinique), MSC in the Red Sea (from Jeddah) and MSC in the Baltic (from Kiel). Was not aware of the Canary Island itinerary described by the OP above so will need to read-up on that.

Just take a taxi or rideshare.

LOL

I was booked on Armonia when covid scrubbed their Tampa plans. Post-covid, they put a ship into Port Canaveral instead. Right now they seem to be focused on Galveston and apparently Los Angeles. Have heard nothing about Tampa.

FLL expanded their Customs & Immigration area around 10 years ago because Spirit was operating so many international arrivals there. And of course there is COPA. If your cruise is from Port Everglades, fly into FLL and save the hassle of getting there from MIA.

There is a Hampton Inn by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton in Ybor City; there may be a third hotel that is non-branded. Ybor is definitely a nightlife destination but during midweek it will be rather quiet. It's full of bars, clubs and restaurants. Columbia Restaurant is at the far eastern end of the multi-block area. I stay there several times per year for the nightlife. Yes, it is a safe and viable option.

Yes, the speed limit is 65mph for most of it. 35 minutes.

I don't go to Ultra but I do go to EDC-Orlando up here every year. I am flying down to Miami tomorrow morning for a few different music events this weekend.

If you've never used the Uber/Lyft app and/or you're in a hurry to get to the airport, I'd skip the rideshare and just take a taxi. You have to wait for your rideshare driver to show up after you order it while taxis will be right there at the terminal exit and ready to go. Rideshares might be a few bucks cheaper but not by that much. IMO, take a taxi and GO!

You can absolutely make an 11:30am flight, especially if you have TSA Pre. And the drive from Port Canaveral to MCO is only 35 minutes, not an hour.

Final DJ sets at Ultra actually end at Midnight.

During online check-in you should be able to skip the photo and credit card sections and still complete everything else. You can then generate your cruise docs once you're within the time window. Your photo(s) will be taken at the check-in desk in the cruise terminal and credit card input at a kiosk (or Reception desk) onboard.

Before leaving on any international trip my wife or I announce "PASSPORT CHECK" and we each have to show each other our passports regardless of how many times we had recently looked at it.

My power strip was confiscated when boarding MSC Seaside at Port Canaveral last year. It was returned by my room stewardess on the final night of the cruise. But this was the first time that MSC or any cruise line had taken the power strip. Now I just bring a multi-plug to expand one outlet into three which is plenty.

Correct, that's what my MAS rep told me. The Bahamas cruises on Paradise do have a fuel surcharge but the Mexico cruises on Islander do not.

It's been my experience that it's less than 30 days. They refer to 2 billing cycles because some of the population has a billing closing that's this week, or next week, or in 3 weeks, etc and it might not post this cycle but which puts it into the next cycle. But if your credit card cycle just closed, it may very well post before the next bill drops.

Got my own answer. There is no fuel surcharge on the Islander.

No, there are no nice beaches near the cruise port. The port is in a very industrial area. But there will be taxi drivers there offering rides to a beach which is about 20 minutes away, near the Port Lucaya Marketplace. The taxi will be a shared taxi van and will run about $15 return.

When you drop off a car at the Rental Car Center at MIA, especially with one of the major rental car companies, you'll find a staff of greeters who will scan the code on the door, close your rental and print/email your receipt. You can then be on your way to the port via taxi or rideshare. When you return your car to a city/neighborhood location, you typically have to park your car and go inside to close your rental. Inside, on a port day (which is pretty much every day in Port Miami, you'll find the above-described chaos with so many coming off ships and renting cars while you and others return cars. If you have a hotel, then taxi/rideshare/hotel shuttle to the hotel. In either case, save the heartache and return to the airport rental car center.

I just priced-through a November date on the MAS website doing the 50% rate on the Islander. The online price quoted was $229 per person + $109.70 per person taxes/fees for a total of $338.70 pp. Total for 2 would be $677.40. Not great but not too bad either. But no mention of a fuel surcharge. Is this something they spring on you once onboard, added to your shipboard account?