1st time cruiser diving into the deep end.

[woodyren]

Recently semi retired and have never been on a cruise before but have had plenty of encouragement from friends or colleagues to take one. So we are not only taking one but have strung 4 of them almost back to back. Add a few connecting flights, a couple of weeks in China and we will end up going around the globe.

 

Would really appreciate any good or bad issues with this and handy hints along the way.

 

Nov 1-Nov 16 Rome to Miami on Celebrity Reflection (inside) need to save some cash. Berthing at Miami scheduled for 6am.

Nov 16 -Nov 23 Miami -Miami Bahamas-Caribbean Oasis of the Sea (park view balcony ) outside too expensive inside not that much cheaper

Nov 24-Dec 1 Miami - Miami Carnival Glory Mexico, Columbia Belize etc Balcony.

Dec 8-Dec 23 Miami LA Norwegian Star Balcony.

 

Biggest issue before we finally pull the trigger on this is the connection between Reflection in Miami and Oasis in Ft Lauderdale. Travel agent says little risk. Both lines owned by same company. How often are ships late.

 

Love to hear from others who may be traveling on any of the ships. Experienced cruisers very welcome to provide advice. Also happy to talk about potential sharing of shore excursion or transfer costs.

 

We are Australian citizens, live in Sydney. Late 50's me, late 40's my better half.

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[Scrapnana]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

You really are jumping in with both feet. Sounds like a great plan so you can try different ships and lines. Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are only about 28 miles (45km) apart. Other than a major storm, ships are very seldom late getting back to disembark (turnaround day is hectic so they do all they can to dock first thing in a.m.). More than likely, even if you were among the last to leave the ship in Miami you would get to Fort Lauderdale before boarding starts on that ship.

 

You need to check the roll calls for your cruises so you can "meet" fellow cruisers and discuss your cruise. This is also the place to discuss sharing excursions, etc.

 

Reflection - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1609044 really active roll call

 

Oasis - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1761436

 

Glory - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1780680

 

Star - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1685393

 

I think you planned a fabulous trip around the world (retirement is wonderful) and I hope you both enjoy yourselves immensely.

[NoobCruise]

Congratulations! It sounds wonderful! I hope you have a fabulous trip!

[woodyren]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

You really are jumping in with both feet. Sounds like a great plan so you can try different ships and lines. Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are only about 28 miles (45km) apart. Other than a major storm, ships are very seldom late getting back to disembark (turnaround day is hectic so they do all they can to dock first thing in a.m.). More than likely, even if you were among the last to leave the ship in Miami you would get to Fort Lauderdale before boarding starts on that ship.

 

You need to check the roll calls for your cruises so you can "meet" fellow cruisers and discuss your cruise. This is also the place to discuss sharing excursions, etc.

 

Reflection - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1609044 really active roll call

 

Oasis - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1761436

 

Glory - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1780680

 

Star - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1685393

 

I think you planned a fabulous trip around the world (retirement is wonderful) and I hope you both enjoy yourselves immensely.

 

Thanks so much. I've not retired. I love what I do and after years of work and giving up on things as we all do to raise a family it's just very fortunate that I can now work less and take time whenever I want to travel. Within my financial limits that is.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sounds like you have a wonderful plan in place.

There are shuttle buses in Miami that go to Ft Lauderdale.

Check them out.

[sparky-elpaso]

Wow, what a fantastic trip. :D

 

Are you planning on flying in a day or 2 ahead? Gives you a chance to get with the new time zone before you board the ship.

 

Hope you have as good a time here as we did when we visited your wonderful country last year.

[woodyren]

Wow, what a fantastic trip. :D

 

Are you planning on flying in a day or 2 ahead? Gives you a chance to get with the new time zone before you board the ship.

 

Hope you have as good a time here as we did when we visited your wonderful country last year.

 

Glad you enjoyed the trip to Australia.

 

Yes. We fly Sydney- Beijing 13th October then Beijing-Rome 27th October. Will book a hotel in Rome at a later date. Suggestions for a reasonably priced hotel that is central and close to the train to the port would be appreciated.

 

John & Danni

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Sounds like a great plan. It is only about 30 miles from the Port of Miami to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

[cruiserking]

Welcome to Cruise Critic Woodyren.

 

Wow, what a fabulous idea. You will most certainly be hooked on cruising after the first few days aboard the Celebrity Reflection and how awesome to know that you'll have three more cruises lined up.

 

Definitely join the roll calls and chat with your fellow passengers, there are often special Meet and Greets planned for people on the roll calls, plus Cabin Crawl (perusing the variety of cabins on board) and Slot Pulls in the casino.

 

Keep us posted on your travels or post a live cruise thread, those are always popular with us landlubbers counting the days and hours till we stroll up the gangway ourselves.

 

Happy Cruising.

 

Jonathan

[Sauer-kraut]

Glad you enjoyed the trip to Australia.

 

Yes. We fly Sydney- Beijing 13th October then Beijing-Rome 27th October. Will book a hotel in Rome at a later date. Suggestions for a reasonably priced hotel that is central and close to the train to the port would be appreciated.

 

John & Danni

 

Enjoy your cruises!

For PORT INFORMATION please please visit the PORTS OF CALL boards. You will find these if you go out to the main page and scroll about 3/4 of the way down you'll find them. Once there just find the countries/continents you'll be visiting. On the Europe-Italy board you can find hotel recommendations as well as all kinds of information on DYI port excursions.

 

Get to know your way around Cruise Critic and you'll be armed with all the information you could want before you step foot on the ships! :D

[NMLady]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Sounds like a great plan. It is only about 30 miles from the Port of Miami to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

 

Delete. I misread and thought Oasis was leaving from Miami.