jefft5301

Ciao and benvenuto!  This will be our first cruise out of NYC (had one end there), our first trip to Bermuda, but our 20th Carnival cruise!  Really looking forward to this!  We've been to Halifax several times and love the city and history!  We plan on re-taking an excursion we first took back in 2018 with Halifax Titanic Tour.  Paul is a fantastic tour guide, knows the history of the city and is so passionate we fell in love as well!  Having never been to Bermuda before, and looking on these boards, we reached out to Heidi with Bermuda Byways.  Heidi needs at least 4, but no more than 10 before she will confirm.

Looking forward to seeing everyone onboard!

2 hours ago, d9704011 said:

Where is your hotel?  Presumably in the ‘tourist’ area in which case you ought not worry about being unable to speak/read French.... you’ll get all the help you need!

We're at the Marriott Downtown...it looks like a good location with a decent price....looking at Google maps there seem to be a number of places to chose from.

Thanks!  I could always try Rosetta Stone to learn how to order dinner 🙂

We'll be sailing out of Quebec City on Princess and we're looking for recommendations for places to eat. We're flying in the night before, so breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations will be appreciated.  My greatest fear is neither of us speak a word of French, so we'll need menus that are in English.

Thanks!

Jeff & Lanett

Used Sonny twice and loved every minute.  I'm sure he'll get back to you.

Past four cruises were out of Port Canaveral and each time, we've stayed here. Most recently August 4, 2017. Absolutely LOVE this hotel. The Longboards Tiki bar isn't terribly over priced. You can walk to a Publix easily for anything supplies you may need. Also, there's a restaurant in that same shopping center, Florida Fresh Grill (check TripAdvisor) which is where we grab dinner whenever we're in town (ask for Terri - she's fantastic!). Since the Hilton doesn't offer free breakfast, we walk south to Denny's. I love this location and the beach is beautiful!

Exact dates are March 23, 2018 for a night...sailing on March 24.

I'll look into staying at FLL. Any advice on who can get me to POM from FLL? We like the Embassy Suites on 17th.

Thanks for the replies!

We've sailed several times out of Miami and typically stay at the Comfort Inn and Suites Miami Airport North. It's close to the airport, they offer a free shuttle to the POM, and there are a couple of retaurants within walking distance. We just booked a cruise out of Miami for next March, some 320+ days away. I checked prices at the Comfort Inn and was stunned that the prices were more than twice what we've paid in the past (as in last year). Is it because I'm checking prices so far out? Or is it possible the price I found is accurate and is inflated for the cruise (which I would have a hard time believing, having stayed here in the past.).

Any thoughts?

I read through the threads and checked the rates for other Miami hotels in the same date range, and I was, again, stunned to see a Hampton Inn going for $340 a night.

#ConfusedinVirginia:eek:

Thanks, Lisa! Appreciate the feedback. Not sure why I even asked, I mean, the cruise is paid for, right? And, if need be, I can sleep in the Serenity area up front :D We'll be on Deck 6, Mid ship, so I don't think we'll have any problems!

Jeff

Thanks for kindly answering all our questions! We're booked on the Glory in August and have read some comments about a pretty bad vibration in the aft portion of the ship caused by the engines. Can you confirm? Or was it not noticeable enough? I ask because one reviewer from a cruise in April said it was so bad one night, glassware was vibrating off the tables in the MDR and hitting the floor :eek:!

Nice review! We're on the Glory (first time ever on the Glory) and have read some reviews from cruises in March and April. They all say the vibration in the aft section of the ship is more than we're used to. Did you notice anything?

Thanks again!

I've done this before with 6. ridesas.com is $13 from FLL to hotels in Miami.

Once you're done seeing all the sights of Miami, I can recommend the Comfort Inn near the Miami airport. I know, a Comfort Inn? I was very impressed when I last stayed there in 2012/2013. Also, they have a free shuttle taking you to POM. Prices are reasonable. Nice people. Might be worth a shot.

We stayed in this cabin in 2012 and didn't have any issues at all. Like you, we are typically in bed around 10 PM and while I will typically fall fast asleep, my wife is more sensitive to sounds. We didn't hear anything. That part of the ship tends to get no real business after the sun goes down, only hosting the Pizza station.

I think you'll be fine.:)

Thanks all! Looks like Almaplena for us!

And from Mitsugirly's review of Almaplena, we're booked for our August cruise. Can't wait! But, it's been a few years since we've cruised the Western side of the Caribbean and was wondering what the difference is between local and Ship's time. We're sailing with Carnival out of Port Canaveral, so, I'm thinking the ship will stay on Eastern Time...pretty sure Costa Maya is on Central...which is inconvenient since our ship docks at 0700 SHIP's time and Almaplena doesn't open til 0800 MEXICO time....

thoughts? Should we cancel and spend the day walking around? Or is Almaplena that good, go for a few hours and be pampered?

Thanks,

Jeff & Lanett:confused:

I've used Island Marketing several times and have never had a problem. My experience has been you save money, but the accomodations aren't always as nice as those you book through the cruise line. However, we used either IM or Viator at BVI 2 years ago...we were met at the dock, taken to the far side of the island, put in a Zodiac and whisked over to Jost Van Dyke beach...about 45 minutes later the cruise line guys were ferried in - looked like cattle car! They were on the same beach with similar accomodations. They left before us. So, for less money, we got there sooner, left later, and enjoyed the same waters. We did have to pay for our own lunch. :D

Thank-you Jeff :), I hope you enjoy Princess as much as we do!

 

Well I can give you my opinion, but of course that is subjective....

4. The most important part let loose and have fun :).

Ken,

Thanks for getting back to me...really helps some of the anxiety of 'not doing it right' on a new ship...I guess that's my fault for sailing with Carnival 4 years in a row, 3 times on the same ship (same stateroom :eek: ).

Jeff

Ken - Thanks for taking time delivering a wonderful review! We're loving the pics of the food! We sail on the Caribbean Princess in March...this will be our first foray with Princess...any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Little things like should we make our way to the MDR for lunch after embarkation? Or, take a shot at the Horizon Court or Cafe Caribe? What about seating at HC? On some of the Carnival ships we've sailed on finding a seat can be challenging.

I've heard the mattresses leave something to be desired and what a lot of seasoned Princess cruisers recommend is after dropping your luggage, find your room steward and ask for a mattress topper? What are your thoughts?

Thanks again for the review! We can't wait for ours to start!

Jeff