dread_pirate

OK, I'm pretty sure I saw it in this thread, but search isn't finding it for me! Please forgive me if it's been asked & answered umpteen times!

How is the hotel La Casa del Mar on Grenada Street? I can get a really good price there in February. I think I remember people liking it, but since I can't find the post, I'm afraid I've confused it with something else!

Thanks.

They will likely not give you the auto-tip money in cash for you to distribute. The tips may be shared with people you don't see but who work behind the scenes.

If you get excellent service, you ar welcome to give those individuals extra tips, which they may not have to share.

The Pelican Grand is a very nice boutique hotel on the beach. It's not a close walk to anything but with a car that doesn't matter. The beach there is very narrow, especially since Hurricane Sandy, but they are working on it.

 

Also check out Delray Beach Marriott and the new Residence Inn Marrriott in Pompano, close to Deerfield.

Thanks! I booked it provisionally since I could get it for just under $200, but it's a cancellable fee, so I'll keep looking. :)

OK, to add onto my own question - I just found the Noble House Pelican Grand Beach Resort. It looks fabulous - does anyone know anything about it? Is it as nice as it looks?

Thanks!

I'm trying to book a hotel on or very near the beach for Feb. 1-3, before our cruise. We'll have a car, and I don't need a grocery or wine store. I know about the "big names" in Lauderdale, but can't really afford them. Any recommendations a bit further afield, like Delray, Deerfield, or Boca? We'll be visiting relativess in those places. Hoping to stay under $200/night.

Thanks.

...but eventually to cash in on all the goodies I may just have to. Oh well...

 

The good news is that several hours of sustained research has resulted in a successful search:

 

A midprice policy that included primary medical, a substantial amount of evacuation coverage, a cancel for work reasons, only a 60 day look back for pre-existing and from a reputable firm that appears to address consumer issues posted on various websites satisfactorily.

 

Whose policy is this? Sounds good!

SAS is the most popular low-fee shuttle company mentioned here, to Port Miami. They should be able to pick you up from the airport area hotels late morning of your cruise for $15pp if you book in advance by reserving through their website. If you book private car service or a taxi it will cost about 3 times this fee. Ft. Lauderdale hotels are usually less expensive than Miami hotels, so a lot of people do this.

Does SAS consider the La Quinta Hollywood an airport hotel at which they'll pick us up?

I'm sorry if this has already been answered, but I couldn't find it - is there a charge for the Retreat Pool? Is it part of the Sanctuary, or is it open to all?

Thanks.

For me the ship is the destination. My next cruise is a B2B on the new Royal Princess that repeats the exact same itinerary, and the same one I did last year on Ruby Princess. The Western Caribbean cruise I did last year on Allure of the Seas was a near replica of the one I did the year before on a B2B on Celebrity Millennium. And before that is was a cruise out of Baltimore down the east coast and back on a ship I still consider one of my all time favorites, the Celebrity Mercury (now with TUI Cruises).

 

Don't really care about the islands and I spent 12 years in the Navy, and 12 years as a Travel Agent, seeing the world. Or at least the parts that interested me.

 

I cruise out of the US to keep from paying some of the expensive international airfares which can cost more than the cruise itself. And since I travel solo I can get really good deals on cruises from Florida or NY in December, which is when I always cruise.

Except for being in the Navy (thank you for your service!) and the travel agent, you pegged me exactly. I love the activities and entertainment on the ship. When I cruise solo, I never feel awkward entering the theater alone. It's also easy to meet people on a cruise.

The port stops on most mainline ships are too short to really get a feel for a place (except maybe Bermuda with its overnights). If I want to visit somewhere, I'll take a land vacation and really see it.

This brings up an interesting situation I discovered on our last cruise. What in God's name do these photographers think when they put a "fake" magazine with your picture on it with the magazine title spelled wrong! ie: Vague for Vogue or Rolling Stoned for Rolling Stone. They are stupid and I don't know many of our group that bought them.

 

I really liked one picture of my husband and I at the railing on the top deck watching the concert. It was on a magazine cover spelled wrong. I went to the desk and asked the Rep to please reprint it with the "Monsters of Rock" logo on it and I'll buy it, he did and it's a very nice souvenir. He would made a killing with the "Monsters of Rock" logo or even the ship on it, but not a fake magazine cover, they are losing thousands of $$$ in sales.

They're not stupid. If they used the real name, they'd have to 1) ask permission of the real magazine (and often be turned down), and 2) if they get permission, pay royalties or licensing fees. By spelling the name wrong, they don't have to do either of those things. It's by design and it saves them a fortune.

Check out the link below to a thread that has great pics of the brunch. Edit....check out post 3, picture one, background.....white chocolate fountain.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1611134

Oh my! :eek: I am one who can take or leave real chocolate, but I LOVE white! I don't think I've ever seen a white chocolate fountain!

Now I HAVE to get to that brunch! :D

In the good old days, your dining room waiter would advise you about the brunch the night before. Alas, those days are no more. Training and service are very iffy in the MDR.

 

So, this is how you find out about the brunch. It is listed in the Daily, but not in a place where any normal person would think to look for it. It's listed under the hours section for the MDR. So you need to check that every day if you want to go to the brunch. It will be on a sea day.

OK, I haven't read the other thread - what is this brunch, and why would I want to bring a camera? Is it in the MDR or elsewhere? What's so wonderful about it?

We're booked into an AQ balcony under the Aquaspa Cafe. Hoping that it's quiet!

I was in Alaska in August. We got sunburned kayaking in Ketchikan in our t-shirts, and sat in the outdoor pool & hot tub watching the glaciers as we exited Glacier Bay. It was surreal. But wonderful!

As noted, Island Princess and Coral Princess both have indoor pools. There seemed to be a fair number of kids on the Coral when we were there.

Any experience with Celebrity Constellation cabin 9063? It's under the aquaspa cafe, so I'm hoping it won't be too loud.

YIf you are staying in Orlando the day before, take the Mears shuttle from the airport to your hotel, then RCI will pick you up at the hotel the next day.

That's great to know! Does it matter which hotel? I usually stay at the Country Inn near the airport, which has its own shuttle.

Small hijack, but - what's the Wine Package? And how much is it? I can't find it on Royal's website.

A secret that every one knew but me was the answer to the question " why is the Lift ( elevator, I'm a brit you see ) called Saturday ". Come about Tuesday I realised how stupid I really was.:)

OK, I'm the newbie - splain, please!

Does RCI offer a transfer from MCO to Port Canaveral? If so, how much is it? I couldn't find anything on their website.

Thanks.

Email from RCCL to me regarding the drink package, hope this helps....

 

Packages are available for purchase prior to cruise either online at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/cruiseEnhancements.do, or by calling our pre-cruise planning specialists at 1-800-398-9819.

Do you have to buy it in advance, or can you buy it on board the ship?

A slight detour if no one minds - the "classic package" says it includes non-alcoholic cocktails. Does that include frozen non-alcoholic, like virgin pina coladas?

Is there another option for guaranteed shade on GSC, other than the clamshell? On Princess Cays, we rented a bungalow - pricey, but it guaranteed shade. I can't tolerate the sun for long periods so this worked for me.

Does NCL have anything similar?

Please note that iPhones running the latest version of iOS has two settings concerning data traffic.

 

The first setting is mobile data that has a switch for on and off.

If this is turned off the phone won't send or receive data at all. Not even in your own carriers net.

 

The second setting is data roaming that also has a switch for on and off.

If data roaming is off your phone will send and receive data in your own carriers net where you probably have a data traffic plan.

Your phone will NOT send or receive data when you are connected to another carriers net.

 

The default setting for the phone is to have data roaming off.

OK, I'm still confused. To make it as simple as possible:

If I want to send SMS messages, I turn Data Roaming off and leave Mobile Data on? And then I won't get any data/download charges?

Biggest waste of money. In each port there are stores. Stores sell soda. Bring soda back on board with you. Drink soda to your hearts content. Save yourself lots of money. Nuff said.

If you want to run back to your cabin every time you want a soda, or schlep cans around with you, more power to you. For me, the Ultimate Soda Package & More on Princess saved us a fortune. It includes mocktails, so I didn't even feel the need to buy alcohol at all. We did buy a bottle of wine.

DAIN-ya!:D

Thanks! I'm from MA, and everyone knows how we butcher names up here!