bettyboop16

Hi Dana,

I've always enjoyed reading your reviews. I assume Paris will be a land vacation. Do you have a blog site & will you write a review on your Paris vacation?

We've used Uber/Lyft several times at the airport (FLL) & Port Miami. Lyft is usually cheaper. Feb.2018 with 6 ships in port we didn't have an issue getting a Lyft....waited about 5 mins. With the app, you can choose the size of car you need & when you accept you will know the color & make of the vehicle, also you will get a pic & name of the driver. Feb. 2019, we waited 3 mins for a car with 2 ships at the port. Cost runs about $36.00 + tip. We choose a vehicle that can carry 4 passengers + driver (Toyota Corolla, small suv) We usually carry 2 large & 2 small suitcases & 2 personal size bags.

We used Lyft on Feb 28th from Miami to FLL airport. Cost $36.00 + tip. Arrived at the airport within 30 min. Driver had a Toyota Corolla. His trunk fit 2 lg 2 sm suitcases plus 2 smaller bags. Driver arrived 3 mins. after my request for pickup.

1 hour ago, BNBR said:

 

Worth noting that Lyft and Uber are almost one in the same. The drivers almost all use both apps. I like to check both just in case a difference in rates. 

I did check & Lyft was always cheaper. We had a couple of drivers that worked for both companies.

We used Lyft this past Feb. $36.00 plus tip. This was a 1 way trip.

We just returned from our cruise. We used Lyft from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami Beach & then several places in Miami. Lyft is the way to go. Courteous drivers with clean vehicles.

Doubletree has a small mall adjacent to the hotel with restaurants & a few small stores.

Kelly's Landing. We were there last April & Tuesday's is Lobster Night.

Hi Nicole,

We have booked the Carnival Radiance for May 2020...Yay! I've never been to Europe & I feel overwhelm already. What did you use for research of the cities & transportation. At home, I use CC or Trip Advisor.

Tia, Betty

I believe there signage for "private transportation" follow those sign to the outside of the terminal . I was very nervous using Uber the first time. 

If you decide to stay at Double Tree, you are only a couple of blocks from a Publix grocery store. Hotel has a couple of restaurants plus there's also a mini mall connect to the hotel with restaurants.

I've been having the same problem last couple of days.

We stayed 2 nights last Feb. It was a nice hotel, our room was very big, bed was comfortable, & had a nice view of the bay. There are a couple of restaurants within the hotel, it's also attached to a mini mall with several restaurants & small stores. Hotel pool is Huge!

Hotel is also close to the metro mover which we used many times. You are in walking distance to a grocery store Publix & a couple of fast food restaurants.

We used lyft to get us over to the port.

Hi Nicole, I have read many of your reviews & love all the pics you post. You must have known I was looking for you on CC...LOL. I was going to read your Vista again because I may be going to Barcelona on a cruise in 2020. Carnival Radiance & your Horizon review pops up....this is great. I'm glad you decide to post on CC for your latest cruise.

Hi, always enjoy reading your reviews. All the kids are really growing up!

When you rent a place in Aruba, do you rent from VRBO, Flip Key or something else?

Thanks,

If you are looking to cruise out of Norfolk, it's best to go ahead a book. Typically prices for cruises out of Norfolk don't go down.

I was looking at the prices. Much higher than I paid last April.

On ‎10‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 8:38 PM, GMRPHRN said:

I've heard of these TA sailings but never seen one on the website.  Are they typically just sea days or do they make some stops?  How long are they typically? 

There's a 13 night cruise from Spain to New York in 2020, Yes, it does have some port stops.

22 hours ago, watermelonqueen99 said:

Saturday, October 28th, 2018, Con't:

We headed to the Alchemy Bar and had a Quick Fix and a Sidecar. We could tell right off, just reading the bartenders, that this wouldn't be "our bar" this cruise. After our drinks, we went to one of the upper decks to watch sail-away:

 

The "Mein Schiff" was in port with us. Never seen/heard of this line before:

 

 

Also, the MSC Divina was with us. We've been in many ports before with this particular ship:

 

 

Also, the Carnival Horizon. We had an epic horn battle with her as we sailed away:

 

 

We came back in and took a couple pics in the lobby. This guy was very popular for pics/selfies all week:

 

 

They had these in the lobby. Looked like something fun to do with kiddos. Or adults if you're overgrown children like C and I. We didn't participate because there wasn't alcohol involved:

 

 

We made our way back up to our room (Deck 7 aft) and our luggage had arrived We unpacked, and decorated our door. Since I must remain anonymous per my agreement with the witness protection program after what happened in the piano bar last year, I can't show you our door. But it turned out really cute. We headed down to the casino bar and I had a Tiramisu martini and C had a Crown on the rocks. We bar hopped back and forth between the lobby, casino, etc. I know a lot of people like it, but the fact that Carnival has switched to strings as their main musical entertainment is so disappointing to us. We miss the high energy bands. If I wanted to feel like I was on the Titanic while it was sinking, I would sail on Princess or Celebrity. You would think that on night one on a ship going out of Miami, the music would be rocking. Instead, it felt like we were at my grandmother's holiday party at her nursing home.

 

We ended up in the piano bar. The PBE, Zack Daniels, was absolutely amazing We closed the PB bar down, then closed down the casino bar. We fell 2 drinks short of that goal of 15. We felt defeated, like mere amateurs. We vowed to try harder the next day. We eventually made our way to our room. I fell asleep, and dreamed that we had missed Muster. Our punishment was that we had to spend the whole cruise in the library, with no bar service, with the string band playing 24/7.

 

To be continued......

We took our 1st Celebrity this past Feb. on the Equinox. I had the idea entertainment would be slow.. like HAL slow! I was wrong!

Silent Disco was so much fun! great bands....never saw strings. People on this ship partied hard. Beverage package was put to good use by many... cocktails were strong!

Keep checking their website. I booked our room around 11/19/17 for April of this year.

Barbados- Catamaran Tour....Silver Moon or Calabazza

I have used uber/lyft in Fort Lauderdale & Miami. Using the app for the first time made me nervous, but no problem after that. Unless something has changed recently you can add the tip by using the app or use cash for the tip. I always tip in cash. 

We stayed at Double Tree on Biscayne Blvd. this past February. Their pool is huge!

Just keep checking back, they will post dates for next year. I'm not 100% positive, but I think they didn't release dates till November 2017 when I was looking to book for April 2018.

We haven't sailed HAL since 2010, but we did 3 previous cruises with them. I thought food was good, service was always excellent, but sorely lacking in the entertainment department.... so we moved on to other lines. We sailed Celebrity for the first time this past February on the Equinox. Food was good, cocktails were strong, service was excellent, & great entertainment.....only 1 problem....staff trying to sell you everything from drink package, watches, specialty dining, & spa treatments....this was every day! Right now, I won't sail with Celebrity, in time I might change my mind.