april_4_us

Would like to know places to eat while in port?

Springhill Suites is just across from a Burger King, and then across the street are a taco bell and other restaurants. As well as some other stores, I think there is a ross and some other places for last minute needs. 

thanks everyone, I am a marriott fan myself so I may utilize this. Honestly we have sailed out of FLL the lass few cruises it has been a while sine we cruised out of Miami. Probably a good 10 years . I like to stay close to the Biscayne shopping area since there are so many shops and cvs/rite aid for things we forgot. I appreciate you all for your advice

How far is the Hampton to biscayne bay? Walking distance?  

Does Royal have any type of Halloween activities just prior to the holiday? 

Thank you after some research I have read Embassy Suites has gone down hill as well at the courtyard and Holiday inn near Biscayne bay. Looks like Hampton INN has recently been renovated, I may try them. Intercontinental is beyond my price point. Just looking for a clean nice place to stay. I can work around the transportation. we are travelling dec 9-10th pre cruise.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

april

I have searched the forums and found that much of the information seems pre covid. Are there Hotels that provide a shuttle from MIA to their hotel and then to the port of MIA?

I am looking for a pre-cruise stay, I haven't gone out of Port of Miami since before covid. Not sure how much has changed. 

Thanks in advance.

April

23 hours ago, njhorseman said:

You didn't specify it, but I assume your ship sails from Vancouver because you mention the need for 2 ArriveCANs. If so, yes, you have to do a second ArriveCAN for the cruise :

 

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise

 

Entering Canada by land or air before embarking on a cruise

You must complete your ArriveCAN submission before entering Canada, no more than 72 hours of boarding your flight or before entering Canada by land.

If you’re flying in to join a cruise immediately, enter the address of your terminal.

If you’re not joining the cruise immediately, enter the address of your hotel.

You must also submit a second ArriveCAN submission no more than 72 hours before boarding the cruise. This applies even if your second ArriveCAN submission is within 72 hours of the first submission.

 

You mention that you'll be doing a PCR test 24 hours prior to boarding the ship. Are you certain you'll get the results back in time ? Wouldn't it be preferable to do a proctored antigen test that will provide you with immediate results ? 

we will be doing a proctored test on the 19th as our flight doesnt arrive until 20:41 and thats if there are no delays or cancellations. Thanks for the clarification on the ArrivCaN

On 6/28/2022 at 11:15 PM, YVRteacher said:

Don’t take a taxi from the airport to Canada Place.  Take CanadaLine.  It’s waaaay cheaper and waaaay faster.

what is canada line?

We are arriving by air on 8-18-22 and leaving on HAL on 8-20-22. It is my understanding I have to do 2 ArrivCan check in's. ! for the air arrival and the 2nd for the cruise, we won't be doing our PCR testing until 24 hours prior to boarding the ship as we will be flying off and on all day on Thursday.  Can anyone make sure this is correct. I also have to do Verifly!

april

On 8/5/2022 at 5:41 PM, bill0021 said:

You may have done the trip already.

 

No smoking anywhere in either airport.  Those days are long gone.   You would have to go outside which is easy enough to do.  You will go through customs when you arrive so you can leave but will have to go back through security but you have lots of time.  Montreal is a beautiful city.  You do not indicate the time you are arriving?  If during daytime, grab a cab/uber to Old Montreal for a few hours.  If at night book the airport hotel, a Marriott or hit a lounge, you can pay a one time fee.

 

Toronto, book the hotel at Terminal 3.  I am pretty sure it is a Sheraton.

We are actually arriving around 1050 am and we aren't supposed to fly to vancouver until1830. we have plenty of time if the flights are on time and or we dont have a huge delay.

Thanks for the information. I can guarantee my mom will be going out to smoke for sure!

april

3 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

I guess you've already booked your flights?  If not, you may want to look at Westjet for the DTW to YVR trip; they work with Delta and the connection through Toronto is pretty seamless.

yes we have already booked flights that have already changed once, but from what I hear westjet thru delta is having cancellations as well. were flying in a 2 days early to hopefully miss any type of issues. 

20 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

I would be very weary of connecting through Montreal right now-- hundreds of flights being cancelled daily and baggage workers unable to keep up. It has been a total nightmare. 

I know but I am limited in ways to get to vancouver from detroit. But pretty much all of the flights in canada are subject to delays or cancellations. 

So we are coming into Vancouver from Detroit, we have about a 7 hr layover. My mom smokes, are there any bars in the Montreal and or Toronto airports that she can smoke without leaving the building? Also our flight going home we arrive in Toronto at 1:20am. does the hotel attached to the airport do day passes so we don't have to sleep in the airport from 120a to approx 6am?

Thanks in advance 

April

3 hours ago, Noxequifans said:

Possibly, but we find it simpler to just get transport as needed. Never seems to be a shortage of vehicles. 

very true, just looking for the option if available. 

thanks

april

looking to see if any hotels offer shuttles  from airport to hotel and from hotel to port of miami?

april

On 3/12/2022 at 6:49 AM, jean87510 said:

When I was on the Adventure in the fall, there was a number of children with Autism and there were 2 service dogs for 2 of the children.  They were very well behaved and sat under the table in the Windjammer where their owners were.  One woman saw the quiet dogs and actually got an officer to complain about her dog allergy.  The officer directed her to sit elsewhere.  I think people need to make sure their service/emotional support animal is actually that and on the other end, if the animal is quiet and behaved, mind your business and enjoy yourself.  You are on vacation.  

Service animals will never be anywhere other than under the table, they are taught to be as discrete as possible, same with bathroom. they are taught to only go when they are told to go. So many people who do not have trained service animals take advantage of the emotional support but they should NOT be eating from a table at all. 

10 minutes ago, topher4519 said:

I got my upgrade from Balcony to JS about 6 week before sailing.  Cost $200 total $100 per person.

 

Nice, mine is currently at 400 p/p to upgrade to the js. Too much for me!

2 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

Oasis class ships are so large that you cannot be close to everything; any room is far from something or another.  So, my favorite location may not be your in the end.

That said, I find the balconies on lower decks on Oasis class to be convenient; I think you will find many who agree with me.  I particularly like deck 8 (Central Park is a nice pass through rather than down the passenger hallway, plus there are restaurants and bars) as well as deck 6 (Boardwalk and bars).  There are people who practically live on the pool deck, so they might go with 12 and some even say 14.

For Central Park balconies, I tend to select the lower decks (10 or 11, though I’ll accept 12) rather than the higher ones, as they get a bit less noise carried down from pool deck and are closer to the trees and night time music in the park)

 

Yes, with a RoyalUp full suite you’d get the zoom, CK, suite lounge perks.  Unless you are already in a JS, you would not get the bonus C&Apoint.

Thanks for the info.  We are the ones who love the pool deck.  Fun in the sun! I figure either way,  we still have a good room.  

On 2/18/2022 at 11:59 AM, greydog said:

I just emailed Sonesta Maho Bch resort/casino for details about a day pass (hoping the direct approach is more "horse's mouth" than 3rd party vendor).  The day pass description says 9am-5pm with

• Complimentary beach and pool lounge chairs & towels
• Unlimited dining at on-site restaurants for freshly prepared meals and snacks
• Unlimited alcoholic beverages, cocktails, sodas and juices
• Fitness center
• Non Motorized water sports
• Casino (open from 1pm-4am)
• Bathroom and changing facilities
• WiFi in Lobby & public areas - touch base with family and friends back home for FREE!

Greydog, thanks for this information. I do believe this is a great option for us. 

1 minute ago, etravel said:

So if we are on the April 30th sailing of the Symphony of the Seas, about when does the Royal Up offer potentially happen? Thanks...

you can look on the website now just type in royal up, in a google search bar and enter your last name and booking number. It will tell you if they have that option at this time. I personally got an email. 

2 minutes ago, jrapps said:

Just curious, why did you bid 250pp on the Ultra Spacious but 400pp on the JS? On the Oasis class ship, it appears (at least to me) that the Ultra Spacious are just as big (if not bigger) than the JS, especially if you have kids the bunk beds would be awesome. I am in a similar situation, bidding on upgrades on the Oasis and trying to decide if it was worth upping my JS bid (which is at $150, but I bid $250pp for the Ultra Spacious room). Just curious as to another perspective on why the JS is worth so much more of a bid to you? Is there a specific perk you think makes it worth it to you?

I haven't bid yet this is the starting bids on my royal up page.  I also am going with just my daughter so I really don't need bunk beds. We also anticipate that we will not be in the room a ton either. I am basically just thinking it might be a nice experience. We have generally had balconies on a higher floor and that is what makes me nervous about bidding and getting like a floor 7 vs the central park on 12 we currently have. I wanted to see if the experience people had by having the central park vs the balconies were swayed one way or another. 

april

2 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

April, people’s opinion of Central Park balconies is a bit peripheral to this (wonderful but already long) thread.  If multiple people sharing such opinions here will send this thread off on a tangent.  I suggest you do a search of this Royal Caribbean forum.  You should find old threads with opinions  and photos of Central Park Cabins.  If not, start a new thread with the question.  Some people, like my DH, really like CP balconies; others really dislike them…you may as well read both.

Thank you for your advice, I too would love to have the JS, I just dont think I can justify the price. Thats a great down payment on another cruise in my eyes. Plus its just my daughter and I. 

 I am on March 18th Wonder of the Seas. I got the Royal up, were currently in a Central Park View Balcony. I did get the following:

JS- $400.00 p/p

Ultra spacious OV w/ large balcony $250.00 p/p

Spacious Ocean view balcony $200.00 p/p

Ocean view Balcony $80.00 p/p

I went in to see what was available and  currently only 3 JS available; 4 ultra spacious OV w/large balcony.  

Can anyone advise on how the Central Park Balconies are. We generally do a regular balcony but in the middle and higher up.  I appreciate everyone's advice and opinions on this. 

April 

Thank you D4, the pricing is just too good to not take advantage of. But I have the choice of straight b2b or have 1 day in between but I dont want to spend 200.00 per person for testing. I will look into this. Thaks again.

april