jimbug

I need more of this review, stat! :D

Ok, I have to ask. What did the guide say about December 2012? ;)

Thanks for the review, by the way!

This may be the best review EVER. Love reading about your adventures!

We are doing the same in January--flying Spirit into FLL and cruising out of Miami.

We are actually taking the Tri-Rail commuter train to MIA airport. There is a free shuttle bus from the FLL airport terminals to the train station, about 5 mins away. Train fare is $3.75 and runs frequently on the weekdays (M-F). If you're flying on a Sat or Sun, I wouldn't attempt this, as trains are 2+ hrs apart on the weekends.

Anyway, once we get to MIA, we will catch our hotel shuttle (Marriott Miami Airport). They have a shuttle to the port the next day for $11/person, or included if you book their pre-cruise package. Other hotels that we've come across that have port shuttles are: Element by Westin Miami Airport, Courtyard by Marriott Miami Airport South, Embassy Suites MIA, and a few of the budget properties...there is a Comfort Suites that offers it for sure, and I know there are a few others.

If you don't take the Tri-Rail to MIA, I recommend SAS, or JR Shuttles (google them for webpage). It will run about $60-$70 + tip for a van to Miami.

Oh yay, I love detailed reviews! Keep it coming! :D

Reading reviews, making detailed packing lists, getting a pedicure.

Great start to your review! Can't wait to read more...

Alicia, thanks for taking the time to post this fabulous review! I, too, love your photos.

I will be awaiting your Breeze review in November--we'll be on the same 8-day Breeze itinerary the following January! :D

The taxis to Uvas are approximately $10 per cab, not per person. Definitely book directly with Playa Uvas if you want to go there!

Emmy, I think they are both really nice and perfect for a formal night on the cruise. Enjoy!

Ooo, completely off-topic, but JoshGrrr, I see you thought Costa was your best cruise yet. Can I pick your brain about that cruise? I've been sooooo tempted to try Costa on more than one occasion but have always changed to another line based on a lot of negative reviews. However, I figure it's a Carnival Corp. product, it can't be *that* much different, right?

Before my HAL cruise in 2006, I was chatting with one of the retirees in Fort Lauderdale who works for Costa and meets the passengers at the airport to tell them where to catch the shuttle, etc. He insisted he thought Costa was the best (and it truly seemed it wasn't just because they were paying him) for their Italian food and service, not to mention their beautiful ships.

Thank you all for the info. I think we will definitely be going to Chankanaab now...sounds like it would be great for my grandmother, not to mention the rest of us would be able to do Snuba if we chose.

I'm also flip-flopping (geez, you would think I would figure it out already!) still. But now, instead of Nachi vs Playa Uvas, I'm not going back and forth between Chankanaab and Playa Uvas. I ruled out Nachi, because although I'm sure it's very, very nice and beautiful, there doesn't seem to be snorkeling, and we don't want to go out on a boat and leave my grandmother by herself.

So, I have *almost* talked myself into Chankanaab just because there is more to see and do there and we would at least have the opportunity to do Snuba again if we were so inclined that day, and there is a space for us. (Only 2 large ships in port, so not too worried about that...). Hmmm, what to do...I am slightly swaying towards Chankanaab just because my grandmother is non-swimming and non-drinking, so she will at least get to see the botanical gardens and replica ruins, etc. at Chank. She would pretty much be just confined to a chair at Uvas, I think.

We are still planning to go there on our cruise in 2 weeks. After going back and forth about Uvas vs. Nachi Cocum vs. Wyndham, we settled on Uvas. Mostly because the people there just sound so nice and like they will really make your day there special, but also because we will be with my grandma, who wouldn't really take advantage of an all-inclusive (she doesn't drink), nor does she swim/snorkel, so it was nice to only have to reserve the entrance fee ($7) for her. We'll pay for her lunch a la carte, and still come out way ahead.

I will be sure to report back and take lots of pictures when I'm there.

http://www.playauvas.com

Eduardo's e-mail should be directly on the page. Good luck!

That makes sense to me and I believe you are correct. Eduardo's e-mail did appear that the rental of the beach bed is $10 for the bed, not per-person.

The price with Eduardo is actually $59/pp. It includes facility use, a beach towel, locker rental, lunch, open bar the whole time, beach chair, umbrella, etc., guided snorkel tour, and guided clear kayak tour.

I looked extensively into Island Marketing's options. The All-Inclusive Resort Day is at the Wyndham, and while it looks like a perfectly nice resort, the food options just didn't sound appealing at all and it didn't get a super-great review here on CruiseCritic. I also looked at booking Nachi Cocum, but decided I'd rather have the option to snorkel. So, Island Marketing also has the Cozumel Shore Snorkel excursion, which does take place a Playa Uvas. Unfortunately, their tour does not include the use of the kayaks, and the open bar is only for 2 hours. It is cheaper, though, so it might be worth it.

The one thing that was nice about booking with Eduardo is that I was able to reserve a spot for my grandmother for the entrance-only plus welcome drink package, which is only $7.00. She doesn't swim or drink alcohol, so she wouldn't take advantage of the other options. We'll just buy her lunch separately and still save quite a bit of $$ on her, I would think.

I just reserved Playa Uvas directly with Eduardo, and I noticed on his confirmation that the use of beach beds are now $10.00. Just wanted to pass along the info--it's not that big of a deal to me, since a chair is just fine, but I know some people might care.

Looking forward to our day there in 3 1/2 more weeks!!

Oh, does anyone know if they allow you to substitute items on the included lunch with the all-inclusive package? I'd much rather have a plate of nachos and chips and salsa than the fajitas, and I figured since the fajitas are more expensive, it shouldn't be a big deal? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!

Here are some pictures from the two formal nights on our Adventure of the Seas cruise on 8/5/07, two weeks ago. This is my first time putting pictures in a reply, so I don't know if they will work. The first one (DSC1090) is me trying to take a picture of myself(!); the second (DSC1086) is an upclose of my top; and the third (DSC1125) is of myself and my friend the second formal night. Our cabin steward took the pic, and it's a little blurry.

Can anyone fill me in on driving in Curacao...

Do they drive on the right or the left? If the left, how hard it is for someone like me, who has ONLY driven in the U.S., to figure it out?

We want to spend the day beach-hopping/snorkeling and stopping at any interesting sights we might see along the way. Is the traffic bad once we get out of the pier area? (Hope not...)

Here are two of mine from the Diamond Princess in March 2005...please forgive the not-so-great pics, but at least it will give you an idea of our dresses...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5da22b3127cce90a9b6098a7d00000016108CZtHDdwybU

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5da22b3127cce90a9b6580b1c00000015108CZtHDdwybU

Cracker Ken,

I just wanted to thank you for all your assistance with Tampa hotels--such a big help when we start planning our trip next year. Also, I have to throw this in - the LeRoy Selmon of the BBQ restaurant you mentioned grew up right in my hometown of Eufaula, Oklahoma! :) He, and his two equally-talented football-playing brothers all played right here at the University of Oklahoma before going on to pro fame. Their father has operated a very delicious BBQ restaurant in Eufaula for many, many years. Just had to throw that tidbit in! Thanks again for all your help!