Marylandteachergirl

Thank you! We hope to arrive in FLL by noon.

Do you think the State Rd 84 is a good location for being easy to find and access from the highway?

Thank you again!!!

I do understand.

I am very concerned about the terrible reputation and reviews I see everywhere now.

When I lived in CA I regularly flew Continental and United from Denver. It's not the alliances I have issue with. It's the ratings and reviews.

A long time ago I was asking about rental car return locations and the crowds during the Memorial Day Beach Bash. I thought you indicated the Hertz on State Road 84 would be outside of the road closure area, but it's hard for me to tell. And I can't find the post!!

http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/departments/parks-recreation/special-events/great-american-beach-party

Am currently scheduled to return a rental car to that location. Would you recommend I try to switch to the FLL airport? It will be the Saturday Beach Bash day.

Thank you!!!!

Southwest does not fly from MCO to FLL. Nor does JetBlue, or I would have done that.

I booked with UNITED, not Silver Airways.

I will just drive and do a one way rental. That really is what I wanted to avoid, which is why I booked the flight.

I have no doubt I "can do" a 45 minute flight, I am more concerned about the terrible reviews - 8 and 9 hour delays, mechanical problems with the Saab planes, etc.

I am sure I can get some future credit with United, not sure how much. I am sure there is also a hefty change fee. It is a lesson learned I suppose.

Thank you for all the contributions. :)

United Air "transferred" my flights from Orlando to FLL to their subsidiary, Silver Airways. In looking online, I see absolutely terrible, awful (like run away as fast as you can) reviews .

So now, I am back to my original dilemma, which is either hope for the best with the flight, or try to rent a car and drive (but some roads are closed for the Memorial Day Beach Bash), or try the Red Coach bus.

A small delay in flights I can manage, as we are going in the day before our cruise, but has anyone successfully flown on Silver Airways? At all?

Thank you for any suggestions!

Hello!

United Air "transferred" my flights from Orlando to FLL to their subsidiary, Silver Airways. In looking online, I see absolutely terrible, awful (like run away as fast as you can) reviews .

So now, I am back to my original dilemma, which is either hope for the best with the flight, or try to rent a car and drive (but some roads are closed for the Memorial Day Beach Bash), or try the Red Coach bus.

A small delay in flights I can manage, as we are going in the day before our cruise, but has anyone successfully flown on Silver Airways? At all?

Thank you for any suggestions!

Really? They ARE automatic? I thought all monster jeep types are standard transmission. This is awesome news. It doesn't say manual transmission in the description, but I thought maybe RC left it out accidentally.

We will be here in Jan., 2017, and I think we will book this.

Thank you to all who contributed here.

Where do you drop off the car on Cocoa Beach? Is there a local office?

Thanks so much!

Day 7 - Sea Day

 

It’s our last day today. You know you have the full day ahead but you also feel sad as the cruise is coming to an end. Guess that’s a good thing though since it means we’re having an amazing time and don’t want to go home (returning to reality of work and chores).

 

We thought that a nice way to end the cruise would be to attend the DreamWorks Character breakfast. I had read mixed reviews on here (probably since it used to be free and now they charge a small fee), but I was still optimistic. Our kids quite enjoyed the character meals at Disney World and this should be similar. At this one, it would be a surprise which characters would show up.

 

Our breakfast was scheduled for 8am, but we were to be there by 7:45am. We were seated right on time and given a menu. It’s apparently the same menu items as the rest of the MDR, but the menu was really cute and creative…all DreamWorks themed from the different movies.

 

And a close up of one of the sections to get an idea

 

Aside from coffee...which is a morning requirement...you can order hot chocolate or chocolate milkshake (which really was just chocolate milk with some bubbles on top). Our DD got the hot chocolate and the rest of us ordered the chocolate milkshake. It’s nice to feel like a kid again. ;)

 

After a bit they announced that there would be 3 “special” guest. First to come out were 2 penguins from Madagascar. (I forget which ones but my DS can easily identify them). Then shortly afterwards Mort from Madagascar also came out. He’s not a main character, but is very cute. They walked around to the tables and you could get your pictures taken with them. They're not as interactive as Disney characters, but it was still well done and we didn't feel rushed or anything. After the characters had reached every table, they left the room.

 

I thought that would be our 3 characters (2 penguins plus 1 Mort = 3), but then they announced that there was one more visitor….and Kung Fu Panda walked in. He is too big to fit between the tables so they had each of us come up to him.

 

Excuse the edited version but here’s a picture of our breakfast friends.

 

We quite enjoyed the breakfast and if you have kids, I do recommend it...even for the small fee, it's a nice family friendly addition to the cruise.

My "kid" is 19, but we are still going to do this on Allure at the end of the month. Looking forward to it. Thank you for the great preview(for us)/review!

I found out that they do outdoor massages on Labadee. I avoid spa treatments due to their outrageous prices but I figured outdoor by the ocean might be nice and I had a coupon. Turned out to be heaven. They use some ruins up a hill (a bit of a hike for me) but once you settle in it is the most relaxing experience. You are high up overlooking the sea and all you hear are waves and the occasional drowning passenger (now I'm just as naughty as you). I was so relaxed and mesmerized by the breezes and ocean sounds that I fell into a nice sleep. Would definitely do that again as opposed to being cooped up in one of those treatment rooms on the ship.

How/where do you get a coupon? Is it a loyalty level perk?

Thanks!

This is such a fun thread! I just upgraded us to a JS for our Allure cruise in May (daughter's HS graduation) and it is a surprise, too!

Do all JS get silver cards? I don't remember seeing those before. Is it new?

Thanks all!

If you bet and WIN - do you get something great, like a plastic key chain or a notepad?

I am waiting too. I have been waiting....

Hopefully soon.

It is best to make reservations for dinner because there are nights when all tables are taken.

I think you have to make reservations once onboard? I don't see it under dining in the cruise planner. Fior JS and above.

And there are no penalties as long as you are outside of RCI's cancellation window?

I agree, prices have seemed to just rise and rise after initial itinerary release. I was just curious about this. Thanks!!!

I still don't know what group chartered our original sailing. Guess it doesn't really matter.

I have only recently heard of this, and am wondering what the benefit is. Not being difficult - truly interested.

People book a cruise, then cancel that same cruise and rebook it on another sailing with the loyalty ambassador?

Is there a benefit to this?

Do the loyalty ambassadors get upset or are they helpful?

There is no penalty as long as you are outside of RC's cancellation policy?

Thank you for all thoughts on this -

This happened to us a few months ago with our Brilliance sailing from Tampa for Jan. 14, 2017. RC called and e-mailed after the sailing disappeared from the website. WE needed up rebooking a Freedom of the Seas cruise because the TWO options they gave us for price protection did not go to the same places. We really wanted to go to Key West. Another time....

So we took the $100 obi "inconvenience" offer.

Does this happen a lot with Brilliance sailings from Tampa, because it seems I see it mentioned often. Makes me nervous to try to book again...

Hi danielle3dave!

We are on that sailing too. Come over to the roll call and "meet" everyone. Welcome to cruise critic, too.

Here is the link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2042919

Lots of fun people there - all ages. Currently we are discussing a slot pull, bar crawl, meet and greets and excursions.

It's a great place to get questions answered too, as several cruisers have recently sailed on Allure and they have great information.

Hope to see you there. :):)

And, I believe you are correct that JS have access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner only. It's part of the new suite benefits roll out plan that officially begins in May (though it has already been happening). I am considering upgrading to a JS, but it's just my daughter and myself, so we will see...

I was watching a JS on Allure, and the price jumped almost $500 as well. I already have free gratuities through TA, so I guess I will just stay in my balcony. Very disappointing though.

...and no one has defined "additional caribbean". Could that be Cuba and they are waiting to see IF it is really possible to deploy ships there.

I don't see it anymore either. Though when I called RC last week for something unrelated, one of the phone prompts was "if you need help with a courtesy hold". Some people say they can see them if they are logged in as C&A members, but I do not see it at all anymore.

Hyatt Place is MUCH better than BW. They don't offer a free airport shuttle anymore though, but they offer a very low fee shuttle. I didn't suggest it because I thought this was for your Jan2017 cruise and they don't have rates or dates posted yet on Valuetrips.

It IS the Jan. 2017 cruise - (son added just last week) and Valuetrips let me choose 2017. Not sure it's a great rate, but I think that's MLK weekend, so prices are going to be high anyway. We are driving down that morning from a week in Orlando and will pick him up on the way to cruise terminal. Since he is coming, now I have to kennel our dogs. Sigh.... but probably one of the last family vacations where we will all be together since he is a real grown up now. ;)

The shuttle fee on Hyatt Place's website says ride from airport to hotel is $2. Very reasonable.

Hmm, still haven't received the confirmation e-mail, but it says up to 3 days to receive and it's only been 10 hours. Hope it's all okay since I put my cc info in. I see that Jan 2017 isn't listed, but it still let me reserve. Guess I can call the hotel next week to verify booking if I don't hear anything.

Went ahead and booked Hyatt Place through Valuetrips. I can always change/cancel reservation later if something better goes on sale, but it seems a good fit for one night with stores nearby in case he forgets something.

Thank you, as always, for all of the great suggestions!!!!

Happy weekend everyone. :cool:

Both the Best Western on SR 84 and Hyatt Place through Valuetrips are about $189. Is one better than the other, it would you all consider it about even?

Oh, this is fabulous news! Peyton and Tom and besties off the field, too.

Happy April.