Normal 1

Yes you can. We were on the top floor facing port with our room under the M of Marriott. We could see some but not all of the ships. The building of condos next door blocked part of the view. closer to the T's would provide a better view. Watch in the water in front of the Marriott for manatees and Tarpon.

Quick easy cab ride to port the next morning.

There is a neat deli type restaurant north on Biscayne Blved called The

Daily. excellent breakfasts and pastries. Just a 10 minute stroll from the hotel.

It could be the Pride does not accommodate 5 in a room. I know the Dream Class ships have Deluxe Ocean Views that will hold 5.

You may have to get connecting cabins. Best to call Carnival and get a Vacation Planner to help you.

Good Luck.

Just keep checking as it seems there is a different sale every week.

Seems like there is a different sale every week or two. Some offer on board credit or reduced deposits. If you are sure of your plans, you can book early saver for the price protection. If the price goes down, you submit a form for a reduction of your fare or on board credit if you are paid in full.

You have plenty of time so do some research about the different fares. Early Saver is typically cheapest but carries some risk (no name changes, etc.). Also, not all reductions can be used to match for lower rate. For instance, closer to sailing they may offer Pack and Go rates that are not eligible for price matching.

Good luck, December is a great time to cruise.

It is my understanding that a change has been implemented just in the last week or so that FTTF will open up for purchase 3 months prior to the cruise.

I will be purchasing for my March, 2016 cruise and will be watching regularly in case it becomes available sooner.

If you complete online check in, are you able to still price match for ES price drops?

 

How early does everyone else complete online check in?

You can do your on-line check anytime but will not be able to print documents until paid in full.

If you are booked ES, you may apply for price drops up to 2 days prior to the cruise. If you are booked many other rates (excludes guarantee rates where you do NOT get to pick your cabin) you can apply for price drops up until final payment due date.

I would suggest a Deluxe Oceanview if any are available. these are larger than a balcony cabin and have an extra bathroom with a sink and junior tub/shower.

Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

Hope you are not booked Early Saver as there are no name changes allowed.

Would suggest you look at the Deluxe Ocean View Cabins. They sleep up to 5 (2 pullmans and a convertable couch). But, they also have a 2nd bathroom with a sink and junior tub/shower. Very nice to allow 2 to shower at the same time.

Believe you must be checked in 90 minutes prior to sailing. With the late departure, many check in then go back off the Ship to enjoy the city.

Assuming the cruise for 3/15 in your signature is the one you are asking about.....That is peak spring break season so you may find that many hotels in the area are already sold out if they offer park and cruise deals. Sites like stay123.com are a good resource for checking out hotels that offer free parking.

Parking at the Port is safe, secure, convenient and is $15/day. A quick check on stay123 showed some hotels already sold out of park/stay options for 3/14. A quick check on Hotwire for 3/14 in a couple areas near the port showed premium pricing for that night.

You may consider staying outside the FLL area and parking at the port. The end result may be about the same as any park/cruise deal you find.

Good luck!!

My wife and I will be visiting Miami for the first time in February 2015.

We will be flying from the UK and arriving in the afternoon of Feb 12. We are staying at the Hilton Miami Airport for two nights before our Celebrity Cruise from Miami Port on Saturday 14th Feb (using their Sailaway Pre-Cruise package).

This means that we will have the Friday to explore Miami and we would be very grateful for any advice and tips on how to make the most of our day – we are both in our ‘seventies’, so nothing too strenuous please! I think we would like to have a nice Lunch somewhere...

Thanking you in anticipation.

David

You may consider visiting the Holocaust Memorial. It is free and located just a couple blocks from the Lincoln Road shopping and dining area of South Beach. My College age daughter and I visited this a couple years ago. We are not Jewish but my daughter has read a number of biographies of survivors and has an interest in this subject. Here is a link to some information:

http://holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org/visit/info/

Enjoy your vacation.

Look at CaptainMarvins.com. We have used them with good results and will use them again in March.

Dolphin excursions are expensive everywhere.

Good luck!

Just one more tidbit regarding room service..... There will be a door hanger tag on the wall with breakfast items. Your room steward will keep you supplied with more. You can fill this out the night before and put a time for delivery of your breakfast items then hang on your door. Only Continental type items are available.

For snack and sandwich offerings, one of the papers in your cabin will have general information on it. On the back is the room service menu with all the items that are available. Keep this handy for those late night calls for snacks.

Enjoy!!

Does Publix happen to serve breakfast as well? While I'd be fine with just a pastry, the guys will need more substance...bacon, eggs, omelets, etc. If not, could you recommend someplace close by that offers a reasonable breakfast?

 

Thanks.

Not sure of the proximity to your hotel but just a 10 minute stroll north on Biscayne from the Marriott and Doubletree location is a deli/bakery type place we found to be very good. Here is a link to their site. Perhaps one of the locals would provide further input on this

http://www.thedailycreativefoodco.com

_____

Karen

My experience last year was it depended on the date. June and July prices were higher and stayed a bit higher. In part due to school being out and in part due to longer days. We did a back to back the last 2 cruises of the season last year.

I was happy at the price ibooked at (more than a year out). By the time we sailed, I had $400 OBC for one week and over $300 for the other. I was very happy.

We were lucky to be able to experience both Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Bay. both were fabulous in different ways.

Typically, prices are more reasonable when kids are back in school and there are no holidays.

Good luck. Alaksa is fabulous!!

I was on the Valor in May and they do not have a future cruise desk. I had to wait to book our next cruise after I got home. No incentives booking this way. But, my PVP tells me I can book while on board then transfer booking to her after we return. Assuming the next ship has a future cruise desk.

How in the heck do you guys get all these points? I just opened mine so I got the 10,000 bonus for signing up. But have you guys had your cards a long time?

 

Also-Normal 1, I just had to laugh, I live in Bloomington so it was fun to see someone from Normal on here :)

I too use my card for most purchases and pay it off each month. I am hoping to have 100,000 next year to use for statement credit. Still working on it. I think I got more than 10,000 for my first purchase but not sure.

Kelkel2 - cruised from San Juan in May and there was a family from Eureka on our roll call. It really is a small world.

Just a quick note that the same 100,000 points that get you $1,000 off will also get you $1,500 off. Read that tip here on CC. Try it in the awards area of your on line Barclay account.

You could do this on one of the Elegant nights when your GF is all dressed up. Each night the photographers will have different back drops set up on deck 5, etc. taking pictures. Could even make a big deal of getting some pics taken each night on your way to dinner.

You would have to make contact with the photo shop early in the cruise (maybe while fiance is showering??) to set up details/scope out backdrops, etc. After a picture or two... you could drop to bended knee and pledge your love...

Before the cruise.... treat your fiance to a manicure with either acrylic nails or shellac polish. This way her hands will be photo ready after she says yes and puts the ring on.

Good luck and best wishes for a long and happy marriage!

We stayed 2 nights precruise in 2012 at Hyatt near 17th. Used the sun trolley during the day with success. the Hyatt had a free shuttle that we used to go to 15th street fisheries for dinner.

We did not need a car as there was plenty to do within walking/trolley/shuttle distance.

Enjoy your trip.

You might consider a Deluxe Ocean View on the Magic. These are 220 Sq. ft with a window on main deck and deck 2. You get the extra room to move around in plus an extra bathroom. They have the standard bathroom with sink, stool, shower. The 2nd bathroom contains a sink and junior tub/shower. We really enjoyed our Deluxe OV on the Dream last year. (these cabins are only on the Dream, Magic, Breeze).

Enjoy whatever you decide.

Considering the 8 day itinerary to ABC islands. Have aft ext balcony 6476 on hold. Any thoughts on this cabin? How big is the balcony?

The balcony will be the standard width but about twice as deep as a standard balcony. Checked on the cruise deck plans site and there is a note for Deck 6 aft that cabins are located directly above the speakers for the comedy club lounge below on deck 5 and may experience noise until late at night. Also, Deck 5/Promenade goes all the way around the back of the ship and extends beyond deck 6 meaning anyone walking around the back of Deck 5 will have a pretty clear view of your balcony.

If you are okay with that, then you should be good to go. If this is a deal breaker, you may want to pick a deck with cabins above and below you.

Enjoy your cruise whatever you decide.

You are only 2 cabins away from what is considered mid-ship. I looked at the deck plans and your cabin is slightly forward of the forward elevator hallway. Most foot traffice to the elevators will be thru the more mid-ship hallway between the forward elevators and the glass atrium elevators. You are several cabins away from this potentially nosier area. I would keep that cabin.

Your cabin seems to be in a good location and unless the seas are very rough, you should be fine motion wise. As far as what is better port or starboard..... Grand Cayman is a tender port so does not matter which side you have. Ocho Rios and Cozumel, there is a 50/50 chance you will be on the actual port side. Depends on which berths are available and the whim of the captain on the given day as to how he chooses to park the ship.

The Lido Deck and Panorama Deck are my favorites. Just steps to the Main pool area and food options.

Enjoy your cruise.

In March 2012, we sailed from Miami and were friendly with a Canadian family who used FLL for their flights. We got into port of Miami and debarkation began about 7 a.m. They did self debark and made flights at 10:45 out of FLL. they used SAS Transport who was well aware of their need for no delays.

Here is what Carnival suggests:

What is the earliest I can book my return flight?

Recommended times for outbound

Ft. Lauderdale - earliest return flight after 11:30 AM for Ft. Lauderdale; 12:00 PM for Miami International

Miami - earliest return flight after 11:30 AM for Miami; 12:00 PM for Ft. Lauderdale

Good luck!

We did the last 2 sailings of the season last year. Weather was unusually warm and dry. That said... Glacier bay and Tracy arm fjord days were quite chilly. I tend to run warm so enjoy cooler temps.

Layers is the solution. Short and long sleeve t shirts with polar fleece sweatshirts and a waterproof jacket should work for most days. Remember gloves and a hat. I made my very casual husband put on dockers and a polo for dinner each night and he pointed out all the jeans and logo t shirts in the dining room each night. Attire is much more relaxed on Alaskan itineries.

We did the Laughton glacier hike in Skagway and early in the hike I was in jeans and short sleeve t shirt and was warm and up on the glacier I added fleece sweatshirt, jacket, hat and gloves. Once off the glacier I shed the layers again.

I second the suggestion for Chihuly Glass Gardens. Fabulous place. You can get a combo ticket for that and the space needle.

Seattle is lots of fun. enjoy your cruise.