MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 #1 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . Background info: Mike (57), occupation- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Mountie), Tracy (40) Formerly a Paramedic now a Mountie, originally from Wales, UK. Arielle (17), Mitchel (16). Like most cruise critic members I start counting the days from the time I booked this cruise on March 25th, 2012. I love to research and plan everything from the restaurants along the way and back, the shopping malls we will be visiting, our itinerary, things to do on the ship and in ports. I do run most things through Tracy before finalizing anything. Tracy on the other hand started getting excited about a month before the cruise. She started asking questions such as what ship are we going on again, where are we going, etc. I downloaded the Shipmate app on her iPhone and iPad so that she would have the info readily available, especially when talking with family and friends. Arielle has matured a lot in the past 6 months; she will be turning 18 a couple of weeks after the cruise. She started getting excited a few weeks prior to our departure. She now has a boyfriend and said she wanted to hang out with us. She never got up early enough to go to the gym but to our surprise she did spent a lot of time with us. Mitchel is different from the rest of us; if he got excited he never showed it. However, two days before leaving he was on Facebook with friends and asked me what ship were we going on. Warning, to those who have followed my reviews know that this will be a long one with lots of photos (over a thousand). Pre-cruise: Departed on Wednesday, Oct 3rd, 2012. Two days before departure. New York is 630 miles (10 hrs.) from where we live. When the kids were young Tracy and I used to drive non-stop to Florida (24 hour drive) but now 5 hours a day is enough. Plus taking two days to get there would give us plenty of time to get some shopping done and visit our favorite restaurants. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelkel2 Posted October 25, 2012 #2 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Yay another Mike and Tracy Review!! CAN NOT WAIT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFunInTheSun Posted October 25, 2012 #3 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Wahoo!! Your reviews and pictures are always a lot of fun! Thank you for sharing your adventures with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froufie Posted October 25, 2012 #4 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Can't wait to hear all about it! :D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #5 Share Posted October 25, 2012 The first night we stayed at the Andover Inn, in Andover, MA. The Andover Inn is a New England country inn registered with the National Register of Historic Inns and located about 25 miles north of Boston on the 500-acre campus of Phillips Academy, one of the oldest private secondary boarding schools in the United States. We got it through Priceline for $80.59, taxes included. However, one of the disadvantages of booking through Priceline, which save you a lot of money, is that you are only guaranteed one bed and for the first time in 4 years of using Priceline, that’s all they had available. We always carry an air mattress with us just in case and that’s what Arielle and Mitchel slept on. Built in 1930, the room was small by today’s standards. It had a double bed and shower only. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #6 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerCruiser Posted October 25, 2012 #7 Share Posted October 25, 2012 YAY!!! Looking forward to your review!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richstowe Posted October 25, 2012 #8 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Welcome back.:) Looking forward to reading about your latest adventure. BTW, the picture you took of Helene and me on the Pride is our favorite "couple" picture. Thanx again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyGirlJen Posted October 25, 2012 #9 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Yay another review from Mike and Tracy, I love reading about your adventures!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #10 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . The next day, we travelled to Elizabeth, New Jersey, (only 2 miles from the Newark Airport and 18 miles from the cruise terminal) and stayed at the Country Inns & Suites. We used Stay123.com, which included free parking for 14 days, complimentary breakfast buffet and free internet. Price $150 taxes included. They have free shuttles to and from the airport but not to the cruise ports. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerryman50 Posted October 25, 2012 #11 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Hey Mike... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #12 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . Tracy enjoying her cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivavegas Posted October 25, 2012 #13 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Looking forward to reading your review and all the great photos!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccersharon Posted October 25, 2012 #14 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Woo hoo! Another Mike and fam review :) Welcome home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBren Posted October 25, 2012 #15 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Woo hoo!! Another Mike and Tracy adventure!!! The only problem is I found it at the beginning! LOL, I usually find these when you're 3/4 done with the review!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #16 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . Friday, Oct 5th, 2012- Embarkation We got up at 7:30 am and enjoyed our free continental breakfast. ‘Dial 7 Car & Limousine Service’ was scheduled to pick us up at 9:45 am but actually arrived at 9:30 am. We had our luggage in the trunk and we were on our way to the Manhattan cruise terminal at 9:45 am, ahead of scheduled. Our rate for a Lincoln Town Car was $56, plus Lincoln Tunnel toll $14 and tip $15 for a total of $85. Dark blue Lincoln Town Car If you add up the hotel, car service both ways ($150 + $85 + $85 = $320) and compare it to hotel, toll and terminal parking at $35 a day times 8 days ($150 + $14 + $14 + $280 = $458), it’s an extra $138 in your pocket and you have an experienced driver getting you to your location. It was our first time in New York City; we were all excited taking in the sights and sounds. We arrived at the cruise terminal at 10:15 am. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #17 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . We gave our luggage to the porters, tipped them and proceeded through security. I had a cooler filled with flavored carbonated water which I opened and showed security, he took a quick glance at it and motioned me to go ahead, he never checked them out individually like they do at other departure ports. We had two bottles of wine in a bag and they never checked them out. Check in was not open yet. Carnival Miracle . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennesseeTater Posted October 25, 2012 #18 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I'm excited to read another one of your reviews. They are always fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #19 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . We waited about 10 minutes before it opened and proceeded immediately to check in, no line. We received a zone 1 boarding placard. Waiting to board. Still not busy Busier \ . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizaMM Posted October 25, 2012 #20 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Looking forward to your review and all the wonderful photos!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulsistah007 Posted October 25, 2012 #21 Share Posted October 25, 2012 (edited) Yay!! I agree with everyone else...your reviews are terrific! Can't wait to read all about this trip! :-) Edited October 25, 2012 by soulsistah007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #22 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . Arielle’s new hats and sneakers . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenatorsFan Posted October 25, 2012 #23 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Can't wait to read another of your terrific reviews! That's a great picture of you and Tracy waiting to board.:) Her happiness is very evident. Heather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniella1279 Posted October 25, 2012 #24 Share Posted October 25, 2012 YAY!!! I'm so excited that you started this before we left for our miracle cruise! Danielle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyA53 Posted October 25, 2012 Author #25 Share Posted October 25, 2012 . At 11:15 they started calling out the zones, beginning with zone 1. Boarding Metropolis Lobby Tracy and I each occupied a room with the one child so that we could use two future cruise credits and it was now time to put the adults together in the balcony cabin and the kids in the inside cabin. Yet another advantage of being one of the first to board, only one person ahead of us at guest services. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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