Live From Miami & Then Crystal Serenity - A New Crystal Adventure Begins

[nancygp]

1 hour ago, travelberlin said:

Did you take a taxi from the Airport to your hotel in Brickell? I usually request for pick up services from the hotel but the airline I am flying with has often delays. I do not use Uber or similar. I am planning to take a taxi at the airport.

 

Ivi

Taxis are plentiful at the airport

 

nancy

[ctjon]

Miami and area are real tourist cities and so I've found plenty of transportation and all drivers seem to know about the port and where to go. 

[Keith1010]

10 hours ago, travelberlin said:

Did you take a taxi from the Airport to your hotel in Brickell? I usually request for pick up services from the hotel but the airline I am flying with has often delays. I do not use Uber or similar. I am planning to take a taxi at the airport.

 

Ivi

Ivi, I arranged transfers for Anne Marie and myself rather than taxis. While there are many at the airports, I prefer to use a private transfer even though I pay more than a taxi.  You will not have a problem with a taxi at the airport. By the way the same goes at the port. There are tons of taxis at the port.  

 

For those who do take taxis they are metered. They used to have some rates that were flat rates such as between port and airport but that was eliminated.  Be sure when you get into the taxi to that it is metered so that someone doesn't try to make up the rate.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

9 hours ago, USC Adventurer said:

UPDATE

Keith,

i'm watching setrenity leave the pier right now. she was supposed to leave at 6pm and did away at 6:30.   she is lit up with every conceivable light on the ship turned on and looks beautiful.  next stop will be miami to embark you and anne marie.  now you know the ship is on it's way there.

Thank you so much.  We're getting closer to launch day.

Keith

[Keith1010]

Ivi, another nice walk is to walk on Brickell and go over the bridge that takes you to the man-made Island where the Mandarin Oriental is located.  You can walk around the island and view Biscayne Bay and read the signage and see the port from the distance.  There is a slight detour as you are towards the back of the Mandarin for about a few minutes of your walk. From there clear sailing.  

 

I can't remember if you are staying downtown or in South Beach. South Beach is always fun to walk around.  In our case we have them drop us off by the Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive and walk with the beach/ocean on our right continuing on the board walk and then go as far as we want before heading back.

 

We were discussing Miami with some people yesterday and how much we enjoy it. It's vibrant and we like the diversity of the locals and the visitors.  Just fun for us to walk around.

 

Only issue is watching the sidewalks closely as the locals are not always good about their dog droppings. Ouch.

 

Keith

[rafinmd]

Keith, can I make a request if it is compatible with your plans.  If your walks take you past 400 Biscayne Boulevard can you snap a photo or 2,  It was a long time Methodist Church where I worshipped several times before cruises.  The building was ending it's life and they redeveloped it into a mixed use property with a church above the ground floor as well as retail, residental units and I think even a hotel.

 

Roy

[Keith1010]

3 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Keith, can I make a request if it is compatible with your plans.  If your walks take you past 400 Biscayne Boulevard can you snap a photo or 2,  It was a long time Methodist Church where I worshipped several times before cruises.  The building was ending it's life and they redeveloped it into a mixed use property with a church above the ground floor as well as retail, residental units and I think even a hotel.

 

Roy

Roy if we go in that direction tomorrow I will take a photo. We would have been there earlier today but I just saw your post.

 

Keith

[travelberlin]

9 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Ivi, another nice walk is to walk on Brickell and go over the bridge that takes you to the man-made Island where the Mandarin Oriental is located.  You can walk around the island and view Biscayne Bay and read the signage and see the port from the distance.  There is a slight detour as you are towards the back of the Mandarin for about a few minutes of your walk. From there clear sailing.  

 

I can't remember if you are staying downtown or in South Beach. South Beach is always fun to walk around.  In our case we have them drop us off by the Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive and walk with the beach/ocean on our right continuing on the board walk and then go as far as we want before heading back.

 

We were discussing Miami with some people yesterday and how much we enjoy it. It's vibrant and we like the diversity of the locals and the visitors.  Just fun for us to walk around.

 

Only issue is watching the sidewalks closely as the locals are not always good about their dog droppings. Ouch.

 

Keith

Thanks Keith for all your advise. I will be staying this time in Brickell. I have usually stayed in South Beach, which I used to like a lot. Somehow South Beach makes the impression of being the Capital from Latin America with all this latin music and food. I like that. However my last stay in Miami was in 2012 😲. I am afraid that I am not any more willing to be on the party scene of Miami at night. For this reason, now I am staying in Brickell. I also want to know new neighborhoods.

 

I will walk for sure to the Brickell center because I want to go the Apple Store. I have tried to make a shopping appointment online with this Apple Store but they seem not to be taking any. I hope I will be able to buy the product I wish just by going to the store.

Also the island around the Mandarin is on my plans. Maybe Viscaya Museum and gardens also?

 

I do not have very good memories of the Taxis in Miami unfortunately. About 14 years ago a taxi driver just made us step out of the taxi in the middle of nowhere because my husband had a cold and he said he could not to afford to get that cold. Understandable but a bad memory anyhow. And it was not even the time of COVID 😔.

 

But taxi will be this time from the Airport to Brickell. Unless I decide to go by public transportation. Apparently there is a good connection from the Airport to Brickell by train. Trains in Germany are very easy to ride and I am very familiar with this type of public transportation. It will depend if I manage to pack light. We will see.

Looking very much to continue reading about your experiences.

Ivi

[Keith1010]

6 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Keith, can I make a request if it is compatible with your plans.  If your walks take you past 400 Biscayne Boulevard can you snap a photo or 2,  It was a long time Methodist Church where I worshipped several times before cruises.  The building was ending it's life and they redeveloped it into a mixed use property with a church above the ground floor as well as retail, residental units and I think even a hotel.

 

Roy

Roy, I took a run over there and took these photos.

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Keith1010]

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we went out for another walk.  After one quick stop, we headed over to Bayside Marketplace.  Unlike Brickell Centre, which we visited yesterday, with its high-end stores, Bayside has many stores and restaurants oriented to the many tourists that visit Miami each year. In fact, from end of October 2022 thru end of September 2023 the port welcomed 7 million plus guests.  

On past visits we usually spend part of a day in South Beach but decided not to visit this week. Also, we normally go to one or two Miami Heat games during our stay, but the home schedule was limited, and we didn't want to go to a game tomorrow evening the night before we board Serenity.  We would have made an exception for the Dallas Mavericks or the Boston Celtics though.  LOL.

Continuing with yesterday's weather patterns, it was windy for portions of the walk but still a delight to be outside and to take in everything around us. We even had a few minutes of rain.

 

In the afternoon, I took another walk to take some photos for Roy and then I stopped by to take a photo at the JFK memorial.  A little later, we both enjoyed one final walk for the day.

 

It's been another great day in Miami.

 

And I took two photos of another area marked with the name of my former company; MCI.   

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

 

 

[seasack]

A couple of more views for Roy. 

[rafinmd]

Thanks @Keith1010 and @seasack.

 

Roy

[May B]

I see those MCI marks on the sidewalks, Keith, and I wonder: are they actually about “your” MCI or something else?

[May B]

And to Ivi: I have walked into my local Apple Store numerous times. Purchasing what you want will be cinchy. When you walk in, an employee will come ask you how you can be helped. Then they’ll walk you to the correct display and get a salesperson. Or, they themselves will be the salesperson. If you’re going from an old device to a new, don’t blink or you may miss the data transfer! Well, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much.

 

The employees are also very good at answering questions that perplex us but are a piece of cake for them!

 

The appts. are generally to sit at the Genius Bar for help with a more complex problem, I think. If they do even have them any more.

 

Have fun!

 

 

[Keith1010]

7 hours ago, May B said:

I see those MCI marks on the sidewalks, Keith, and I wonder: are they actually about “your” MCI or something else?

Muriel,

 

Yes the MCI I know.

 

We still see them when works is getting ready to be done or has done in certain cities so that contractor knows to call and have someone on site before work commences.

This is where the fiber runs as part of local services MCI provided and now are provided by Verizon. Even though Version has their own extensive local services they still record these facilities as being MCI. 

 

Keith

[Cancun01]

We disembark tomorrow.  We have absolutely all positive things to say.   The new lounge area would not be our first choice but we can live without our nightly $20 casino deposit!!! We were last on board in Dec 2021 and found everything better than ever.   Happy holidays and safe travels to you and Anne Marie. 

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, Cancun01 said:

We disembark tomorrow.  We have absolutely all positive things to say.   The new lounge area would not be our first choice but we can live without our nightly $20 casino deposit!!! We were last on board in Dec 2021 and found everything better than ever.   Happy holidays and safe travels to you and Anne Marie. 

Thank you so much for the kind wishes. I am glad you have had a great time. Safe travels to you and Happy Holidays.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

 

 

Yesterday, we enjoyed our final day in Miami until next time. A few observations.

Prior to 2007, our prior cruises in and out of Southern Florida involved sailing Port Everglades and staying in Fort Lauderdale.  We had driven into Miami a couple of times on vacations but never stayed in the city. In 2007, we stayed downtown as this is where Serenity was sailing for the World Cruise and the pre-cruise hotel was the Four Seasons.  

We couldn't get over the volume of construction which was well underway.  Many buildings were torn down and replaced with high rise condominiums, apartments, and office buildings.  Often, we would have to cross back and foth on Brickell Road as sidewalks were closed due to construction projects.  We never saw more cranes in a city until we visited Dubai for the first time in 2007.  A couple years later when we returned several of the buildings were complete, some vacant, and other construction projects were on-hold due to the financial impacts of the "great recession".  Over the next few years as the economic outlook improved, vacancies turned to occupancies, construction restarted to complete buildings that were in various stages of work, and some new projects were started.  Even today, there is some new construction, but far less than in years past as so many projects are complete.  On our last visit in November of 2021 sailing Crystal Serenity construction was taking place on many of the Brickell sidewalks forcing pedestrians to detour. This work is now complete.

Compared to 2007 there are so many more venues including restaurants, hotels, condominiums, apartments, offices, and shopping. The downtown area is vibrant day and night.

Another change we have seen over the years in this area is a far greater number of motorists who yield to pedestrians crossing the street. In 2007, you crossed at your own risk.  

The one item that has not changed is when you walk one wants to look closely at the sidewalk. Why you ask? Well, some owners of dogs do not clean up after their dog. Enough said.  LOL.

One of the things we enjoy about cities is walking and taking it all in and that is what we do when we visit Miami.  In our younger years, we would go to the beach, but this is something we have less interest in.  

Yesterday morning, we walked along a path from our hotel towards Brickell Key Island with beautiful views of Biscayne Bay  We crossed the bridge over to the Island.  From there we could see many of the cruise ships in port. They had nine passenger cruise ships in port which I believe is their max.

For those who want to stay at the Mandarin Oriental we learned about the plans for the property. The reason that there is a detour as you walk around the island behind the hotel is the construction of a sales office for the eventual sail of residences. The plan is to construct a second tower which will have residences.  Sometime in 2025 they plan to demolish the existing hotel and build a new hotel.  We suppose all of this will take several years to complete.  

Weather was nice with moderate temperature and a little less breezy.  I took advantage of the weather running over to Bayside Centre to pick up something and then walking back to the hotel.

 

Today we return to Crystal Serenity to begin another adventure and create memories which will last a lifetime.

 

Some photos follow.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I posted this on the Bistro Thread. A few restaurants deliver meal orders this way as we've seen in another city we recently visited.

 

 

 

 

 

[DaisyUK]

An exciting day! Looking forward to reading about your adventures...

[kool kruiser]

Embarkation Day !!

Have a wonderful time, Season's Greetings and smooth sailings

Colin

[CabinBoy2020]

Keith, I just walked through the Lounge area on Serenity.  It’s all set up for embarkation. The ship looks immaculate.  Have a wonderful time!

 

Bill

[Keith1010]

Thank you Jill, Colin and Bill.  I see Serenity on the Port Of Miami Webcam.

 

Keith

 

[rafinmd]

Bon Voyage Keith.  One suggestion.  When you take a picture from the webcam try to include the little "PTZ" copyright piece on the bottom right corner of the view, like so:

 

 

Not a big deal since you have attributed it to the source but still I like to see that on webcam views.

 

By the way, one of the PTZ founders sadly passed away earlier this month.

 

Rpu

[USCAdventurer]

keith and anne marie,

i'm very excited for you to begin a new Serenity adventure.  I'm sure it will be fabulous and lots of fun for you both.  I'll be reading your blog every day and looking forward to your wonderful comments.  Stay Safe!

BON VOYAGE!

[Bronxchihuahua]

Do you tip the robot?  🙂