palmtre2

Just booked an NCL cruise to Bermuda for July. What can you tell me about this free ferry - first I am hearing of it.

Holiday Inn Port Of Miami is a 3 star perfectly adequate hotel for one night pre-cruise. Yes, a bit outdated but clean, staff has always been friendly and it's a $12 cab ride to the port. Our latest booking for a king harbor view was under $200, we pre-paid for breakfast (again adequate)in their cafe which pushed it right to $200. Bayside Marketplace is directly across the street with shopping and several restaurants with water views. Used this place quite a few times for a one nighter and never had a problem.

Walked all over the downtown area at night, no different from any other city.

I second the Holiday Inn from a previous post

Holiday Inn Port Of Miami is a 3 star perfectly adequate hotel for one night pre-cruise. Yes, a bit outdated but clean, staff has always been friendly and it's a $12 cab ride to the port. Our latest booking for a king harbor view was under $200, we pre-paid for breakfast (again adequate)in their cafe which pushed it right to $200. Bayside Marketplace is directly across the street with shopping and several restaurants with water views. Used this place quite a few times for a one nighter and never had a problem.

Looking for a low cost option from the airport to downtown (Holiday Inn POM) or if anyone has taken a cab recently what was the cost?

Holiday Inn Port Of Miami is a 3 star perfectly adequate hotel for one night pre-cruise. Yes, a bit outdated but clean, staff has always been friendly and it's a $12 cab ride to the port. Our latest booking for a king harbor view was under $200, we pre-paid for breakfast (again adequate)in their cafe which pushed it right to $200. Bayside Marketplace is directly across the street with shopping and several restaurants with water views. Used this place quite a few times for a one nighter and never had a problem.

just posted this on another thread

Holiday Inn Port Of Miami is a 3 star perfectly adequate hotel for one night pre-cruise. Yes, a bit outdated but clean, staff has always been friendly and it's a $12 cab ride to the port. Our latest booking for a king harbor view was under $200, we pre-paid for breakfast (again adequate)in their cafe which pushed it right to $200. Bayside Marketplace is directly across the street with shopping and several restaurants with water views. Used this place quite a few times for a one nighter and never had a problem.

Holiday Inn Port Of Miami is a 3 star perfectly adequate hotel for one night pre-cruise. Yes, a bit outdated but clean, staff has always been friendly and it's a $12 cab ride to the port. Our latest booking for a king harbor view was under $200, we pre-paid for breakfast (again adequate)in their cafe which pushed it right to $200. Bayside Marketplace is directly across the street with shopping and several restaurants with water views. Used this place quite a few times for a one nighter and never had a problem.

Agreed, sounds like the Baths

I hear Blexie tours are great. Hit up the caribbean boards, specifically Cuba for his contact info. I believe you can just google Cuba tour with Blexie and get info.

Merchants and tour operators can accept USD but they lose in the end since they have to exchange to CUC. They can accept but not spend. The exchange rate is very close to 1:1 but there IS a fee, from what I have been able to gather it's about $3 for every hundred.

I thought if I chose a sail away balcony I would be assigned a cabin at the pier, I was immediately assigned a cabin. Not the greatest location perhaps that's why they assigned it?? Now I am getting offers for upgrade upgrade bids, maybe there is a method to their madness??!!

Choosing to be a cop does not seem a wise career choice for some who is irritated by drunks, just saying... BTW the drunks can and usually are in all cabin levels.[/quote

 

She probably didn't mind so much BEFORE she was a cop, the things they have to put up with!

I chose the shore excursion credit but now I'm thinking that we may not want that since we are only in 2 ports both with limited choices. Is it possible to change to internet access from shore excursions AFTER you have booked and paid in full?

I just got back from a cruise to Cuba with NCL and they really try hard to convince everyone that the best way to fulfill the travel requirements is to book excursions through them, (no surprise). We privately booked a 2 hour ride in an old, beautifully maintained convertible Buick, cost was $80 total for 2 of us. We walked around town, had a beer in a Paladar (privately owned restaurant), and just soaked up the city. We had checked "support for the Cuban people" as our reason for being there and Miami customs only asked us if we had liquor or tobacco. Didn't really care why we had been in Cuba nor did they ask for any documentation or proof of what we did while there.

Thanks for posting. We'll be on NCL in July and would love to do a short private by classic car tour, do you remember who yours was with?

It depends on how you filled out the affidavit for your visitor visa. If you checked off "Support of the Cuban People", you are free to wander. Some of the other reasons for being on the island do require an organized tour.

BirdTravels, I've seen you thread and want to say thank you for all the great info!

drvmywifecrzy

do you recommend someone for a car tour, the one from the ship is a dollar a minute!! Would love to tour Havana in an antique but not at those prices!!!

NCL is a great cruiseline. I have found the food even in the main dining rooms very good, Cagney's is great. Bistro is very good too. The shows on NCL are better than most of the mass cruiselines.

The excursions are NOT necessary although NCL alludes to the US tourism requirements as if it is. If you fill out your visa affidavit by checking Support of the Cuban People, you can wander around as long a yoou stop in a gallery, craft store, or restaurant on the way and take note of the name, you have fulfilled to requirement. I choose the excursion Free at Sea option and I'm not sure I'll be using it in Havana.

We sail on the 23rd of July on the Sky. If you have any other questions my husband and I are seasoned sailors, so ask away!!

The cruise I'm on is also sold out of Haven but I can still modify my bid for a Haven cabin. Why would that be ? I can bid more for something they don't have. Why wouldn't the offer just say bidding closed or no longer available ?

I know what you mean, I can't go without my balcony anymore!!!!

Norman Island snorkel is a great trip, I did not use the cruise ship excursion though. We travelled on the Daydream. The catamaran was easy to find and was a short walk off the ship. The crew was amazing - Darren and Dee will take great care of you. We saw Norman Island, the Indians and had lunch on the Willie T. the day cost us $105/pp for a minimum of 6 people. Contact Gary with the Kuralu. Easy google search.

The Skyline Hotel at 49th & 10th is a few blocks from the pier. I have walked from there in warmer weather. They have a car park and reduced rates during your stay but I don't know what the rates go up to.

Several years back we purchased a few excursions online - never thought to go back to the credit card and check. We got to the ship and had NO excursions and the ones we did want were now SOLD OUT. The manager at the excursion desk was rude and patronizing and basically brushed us off even though I had a hand full of email confirmations. This next 14 day cruise I have only purchased ONE excursion through NCL and that will more than likely will be the only one.

Cozumel and a rented Jeep, ship's time was on my watch in my bag - Jeep time on the dashboard. Husband says to me we have plenty of time let's take the main road the opposite way of the ship. Something told me to look at my watch!!! We had a 20 minute drive and ten minutes to make it!!! Needless to say, we were passing chicken trucks and farm vehicles and doing 55 (as fast as that Jeep would go). We got to port, skidded to a stop in front of the rental office, tossed a guy the keys as he shouted keep running!!!! They were pulling the main lines off the dock and had only one gangway down. We boarded got in the elevator and the ship was already moving. By the time we got to our cabin on deck 6, we were yards from the dock. Never want to repeat that stunt!

Gail, what is the floating table thingy, looks fun!

Yay! I can count on checking in on the kiddies at home!!!

Me too, same cruise!!! Have fun I know I will! See you at the M&G after muster!