hawkinsh

On 5/18/2024 at 11:43 AM, nc762shooter said:

Years ago wife and I did an 8 day cruise for our anniversary out of Miami over July 4th and drove down from NC. Cruise sailed on a Saturday and we decided to leave around 8-9 pm Thursday and drive through the night to avoid traffic, especially because there were races at Daytona Friday and Saturday. We booked a hotel room in Port St. Lucie for Thursday night and Friday night even though we wouldn't be getting there until 5-6 am just to ensure we had a room ready for us to crash in whenever we got there. Just let the hotel know you will be checking in very late so they don't think you're a no show and cancel your booking. We took turns driving and napping and overall it wasn't a bad drive. Got to the hotel a bit after 6 am checked in and slept until about noon, then got up and went to grab some food, a couple things from the store we forgot to pack and caught a movie later that afternoon. Had a pizza delivered for dinner and went to bed early around 9 pm. Got up the next morning about 7 and checked out, on the road before 8 for the ~2 hour drive to Miami. Traffic was heavy but not bad until getting close to Miami but we didn't hit any major snags and were at the port before our check in time which I think was 11 am. We just parked at the port, yes, it's more expensive than some of the offsite lots but for we felt the security was worth it. I've seen enough accounts of people using cheap parking to save $50-60 only to come back and find that savings erased from having their car broken into. If I were to drive to a cruise from Miami I would seriously consider doing it this way again.

 

Coming home for some reason we thought it would be a good idea to make it all the way to around Savannah before stopping at a hotel, I think we thought we might do some things there on the way home. After doing it, I would NOT plan to drive that far after getting off the ship again, we were tired and traffic was not fun. Of course it might have been better had we not stayed up until 2 am the last night and gotten 5 hours of sleep LOL. Depending on how tired you think you will be getting off the ship you may not want to drive for more than 2-3 hours tops. Now with internet working better on phones while on the road I probably wouldn't even book a hotel on the way home ahead of time, just start driving and find one when we start getting tired of driving.

 

Our drive was roughly 780 miles and 11 hours total for reference so not quite as long as what you would have. Anyway this was our experience driving to and from Miami, it was definitely cheaper than flying and overall not bad. The drive down was definitely better and easier than the return with how we did it. If we were to do this drive again I would be fine doing the same thing going down but would definitely change how we do the return portion.

This is really good info, and a lot to take in.  I still think we are leaning to the drive.  Means more fun on the the ship and in ports.  Maybe even an adventure along the way to the ship.

21 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Check out rates to Lauderdale.  You can get shuttles at airport to Port Miami for about $25pp on a big shared bus (like a Greyhound bus).  

 

We are flying into FLL in July for a cruise out of Miami.  we have done this many times.  We vastly prefer direct flights morning of cruise or to arrive the day before and just chill at a hotel in south florida.   

I think the flights are into FLL, but I could be wrong.  I am concerned about "day of" flights.  Too many factors at play, but I will look for hotels that do provide a shuttle to the hotel, we we do decide to go this route.

17 hours ago, mikayla73 said:

I would always rather drive than fly just for the dealing with the airport factor, but the 16 hour drive time would definitely have me thinking. It basically becomes a two week trip for a 8 day cruise. 

 

So it would depend on vacation time available and if there were any fun things to stop and see along the way to break up the drive.

The time is not the biggest factor.  I am a school teacher and a pastor.  School doesn't start from a couple weeks after, and as long as I am back by Wednesday night, I will be fin at church.  It is more of a balancing the $$ or travel.  I want to do things the most affordable way I am able.  With 5 in our travel part, $50 becomes $250 instantly, so it add up fast.

21 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

i must admit i like Frontier but dislike Allegiant.  To the point i wont fly them UNLESS its an absolute necessity.  

 

that said, they have upgraded their planes since my "ban" and that would probably eliminate my concerns.  their old machines were substandard at best.  

 

20 hours ago, pcvtmom said:

That's funny, because I'm just the opposite! We've only had positive experiences with Allegiant, but horrible trips with Frontier. I'm sure much depends on where you're flying to and from.🙂

 

I will echo the advice to check flights into FLL, as opposed to Miami. It's always cheaper for us!

We have flown on both.  Allegiant to Orlando 20 years ago, one one frontier to Phoenix 15 years ago.  Both experiences were "okay" i would say.  As it has been so long, I am interested in more recent experiences.  

Frontier, oddly enough has flights to Miami area, but it does not show any seats available on the returning flights.  So I do not think Frontier will be an option, but I may check back.

21 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Check out rates to Lauderdale.  You can get shuttles at airport to Port Miami for about $25pp on a big shared bus (like a Greyhound bus).  

 

We are flying into FLL in July for a cruise out of Miami.  we have done this many times.  We vastly prefer direct flights morning of cruise or to arrive the day before and just chill at a hotel in south florida.   

If I am not mistaken the Allegiant flight was in to FLL, but I will check.  

17 hours ago, PrincessPatti said:

There are some off-site parking areas.  Also, there are some hotels in Miami that offer “Stay and Cruise” rates, and I found a lot of them reasonable.  I don’t know if I can post a link here to the site I found the info; just do a google search for “Miami hotels that offer cruise parking” and it should pop-up.

I did not know about this option.  Have you found their parting to be secure?  Is it still less expensive when you factor in a shuttle to and from the port?  I am interested.

Our next issue, not really, came with figuring out how to get to Miami. We live in Northeast Arkansas, so the travel time will certainly be substantial.  The obvious choice would be to fly out of Memphis, TN, which is about 1 hour away.  However, I quickly discovered how expensive that would be.

So this is where I need some advice, as I am making final decisions this weekend.  I would love your thoughts.  Regardless of choice, there will 1-2 night hotel before and after the cruise.

1.  DRIVE - 16 hours.  So we would leave a couple nights before, but would cost less than 400 round trip.  However, there would be parking at the port.

2.  FLY Southwest - Would still have couple day of hotel to get best rates.  Flight cost about $1700.

3. FLY Allegiant - Would still have hotel because of flight schedule, but would cost only $700.  We would of course have transportation cost in Miami.

What are your honest thoughts and opinions.  We did fly Allegiant once, and as were never fly it was okay for us.  But have heard some have not had great experiences.  

To be continued . . .

22 hours ago, tha sista said:

Congrats on both occasions!

Thank you so much.

20 hours ago, mamiamjo said:

Congratulations! You have lots to celebrate! I’m sure you’ll have a great cruise and create lots of memories with your family 😎

We do, ad I am excited to make those memories.

I have trolled for the last year and wanted to start a trip report, but felt like it is just to soon.  After all, we do not cruise until the end of July 2024.  However, as I am still planning and needing advise, I decided to get started and maybe get some advise along the journey.

I will start today with some of the preliminary details about out cruise . . .

• We are on the Carnival Celebration on a 7 Days Eastern Caribbean from Miami, FL (July 21-28, 2024)
• Room #1 - Cove Balcony (Room # 5305) -- Me, wife and daughter will share.
• Room #2 - Inside Cabin (Room #5308) -- Two teenage sons will share
• Sailing out of Miami with stops in Grand Turk, Amber Cove/DR, & Nassau

Other info about our trip . . . 

#1 - This is the real reason that we are cruising --- We will be on the ship for our 25 wedding anniversary. My wife and I have taken a big anniversary trip every 5-years all by ourselves, but this year we decided to bring the whole family with us to celebrate.  We will actually be on she ship for our anniversary, on July 24.

#2 - Our oldest son graduated from high school last night, and will be off to college at the University of Central Arkansas in a few months.  So in a way, this is also a celebration of his accomplishment as well.  He graduated with high honors and we are pretty proud.

We will be traveling with other family & friends on this cruise as well, and for some of them this will be their very frit cruise.  I am excited.  My family cruised first on Carnival Triumph about 10 years ago, the last spring break it was called the Triumph.  I am not sure what it is call now.  Then my wife and I spent a week on the RC Allure for our 20th Anniversary, so we are not exactly "experienced," but we are excited.  

I will come back and add to this planning blog and I know I will have lots of questions.  I hope some of you will come along with us and offer advice.

To be continued . . .

My wife and I will celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary in July on the Celebration.  We will have our 3 teenage kids and few other family members with us.  What are your ideas on special ways to celebrate without breaking the bank.  Our actual date will be the 2nd formal night on the ship.  I have a couples massage book already.  Any ideas would be helpful.  Our only other time on a Carnival ship was on the Triumph MANY years ago.

My wife and I will celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary in July on the Celebration.  We will have our 3 teenage kids and few other family members with us.  What are your ideas on special ways to celebrate without breaking the bank.  Our actual date will be the 2nd formal night on the ship.  I have a couples massage book already.  Any ideas would be helpful.  Our only other time on a Carnival ship was on the Triumph MANY years ago.

What about minors?  What do they need besides a birth certificate?  Can't find it on the Carnival site.

What about the Soda package.  Does the whole room have to pay, or just those who want it?

1 minute ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

@hawkinsh Dear Future Husband, Celestial Strings and Soul Bound were all in the Jubilee Theater on Jubilee.  The Rio show, the Variety Show, World Works Here, etc. were at Center Stage.  They do the Rio show on 2 nights so everyone gets a chance to see it.

We will be on the Celebration in July and wondered about that ship.

On 3/9/2024 at 6:49 PM, TravelBluebird said:

After dinner, we RACED off and just made it to the 7:15 Celestial Strings.

 

I did not know they did the Center Stage show in the smaller theatre.  Do they do them all there?

I had planned to catch the bus with the family and go to Love Beach, but this walking tour also sounds fun.  I am interested in the safety aspect of it all though.  There will be a group of us, but I don't want anyone to feel unsafe.  We will be going in July 2024, how could I check into the safety aspect of a self guided walking tour outside the port.

13 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Answers to your questions:

 

1. Guests that have a specialty dining can go to their assigned MDR also.  They can leave the dining room at any time.

 

2. You can order whatever you want in the MDR it is part of what you paid for.  I personally would not order a meal if I was not going to or planning to eat it, but that is me.  You can still check in and go to CHi Bang.

 

3.  If your bookings are linked for dining purposes, they should put you all together (multiple tables).  Not being judgmental here, but it sounds like you booked these yourself, if you use a PVP or TA, they could assist and manage all of this for you.  Just a thought.

 2.  If we ordered something, we would eat it, it would not be for show.

3.  Part of our group did use a travel agent, part did online.  Everyone in our group is part of the party listed in the picture as either "managed guests" or "additional cruise companions".  I just did not know if we would all be automatically be seated together at dinner in the MDR.

I will be on the Celebration in July and traveling with a group.  There will be 12 in our dining group, so I chose early dining to make sure we all have a base to all meet and catch up on our day.  However, I am sure that part of the group will occasionally want to do other dining options over the course of our week long cruise.  As I understand if from other posts on the boards, if you are on a set dinner time, but choose to do specialty, you can't check-in until 8:00'ish? I do not know if I have that exactly correct, but that is not really my question.  

My question is this . . .

(1) If a part of the group plans to go to something like Cha-Bang, can they still go to dinner with the rest of the group to catch up with everyone at the early time, and then still check in and go to ChaBang later?  

(2) Hopefully this is a NO-Judgment Zone, what if at "said" early dinner you did eat apps, dessert, maybe even a full meal?  Could you still check in an go to ChaBang?  

(3) In the Carnival site in my account it lists "Your Managed Guests" and also "Additional Cruise Companions."  We are all planning to eat together daily.  Will we all be assigned a table together, or do I need to contact the cruise line to make sure we are all seated together.  If the later it the case, how do I do that?

On 2/21/2024 at 10:31 AM, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi

 

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

I think one of the questions you ask first is, are you expecting to eat as a group everyday?

 

The main benefit of the set time dining is that after your first evening you just show up at your table every night at the same time. If you don't make it, you have the buffet.

The main benefit is YTD is that you can go whenever you want. (as a group, or individuals/couples)

 

If some of your tablemate aren't going to join you any given day, then they would not have another option for dining in the MDR that day. 

 

If you don't want the flexibility of YTD the opt for set time. If all you want is to go with your friends every night and you have YTD, then at some time during the day, you just have to ask, when do you want to go for dinner, and one of your group signs you all in about 15 mins. beforehand. 

 

hope this helps

 

I am newer to this and your post raised questions for me.  I will be part of a group of 12 spread across 4 cabins.  I had planned to, and we are currently signed up for Early Dining, to use this as a daily "catch-up time" where all would gather. 

However, I know that on some nights part of the group will do something like ChaBang.  I just assumed they could still come at 5:30 and hang out, maybe end do apps or something, then just que up for specialty at 7:30 then it opens up.  Am I wrong about this ability?

On 2/29/2024 at 10:24 AM, TravelBluebird said:

1. 3. My Platinum cruise! Yep, I’m just now Platinum, as I sail with many cruise lines. But for Fun in the Sun, Carnival is my favorite. FREE LAUNDRY! 😀
2.  

What do you mean by FREE LAUNDRY?

24 minutes ago, mitsugirly said:

 

Sorry I do not. It's been several years since we have been there and not sure if they have upgraded with any restaurants or has chair rentals now. 

 

Hmmm, I don't remember having a cooler. What part did you read that in?

You mentioned having sodas with you.  Maybe I just made an assumption.

What are your thoughts if you are part of a large group.  We will be cruising with a total of 11 people.  We hope to be able to dine together most nights.  So can we will do YTD or should be pick a setting?

We are planning to do Ocean World on our Amber Cove stop.  Wo has been?  Thoughts?  We will be there with our teen children.  How do you suggest we get there from the port.  Some places say that the lunch buffet is included in the admission, can anyone confirm?

On 2/25/2024 at 10:23 AM, staceyglow said:

I don't mean to be harsh, but if I were the OP, I would have never booked this cruise given the issues they would have to deal with. 

 

Crowds are everywhere on all mass market cruise ships - and you can even encounter them unexpectedly, so I am not sure you can adequately prepare for every potential situation. 

 

And as far as the person with limited mobility is concerned, not getting a wheelchair or scooter would be a deal breaker for me. It isn't fair for that person to seriously hinder everyone else's enjoyment of the vacation because they are stubborn about this. 

I understand.  However, the cruse is for my family.  They were invited to go if they wanted.  I just wanted them to have as much info as I can.  I I can do is let them know, and hope they make the best decision for them.

1 hour ago, mitsugirly said:

We rented a golf cart in the past (not recently) and explored all over the island. It's super easy to navigate and not very big at all. We just took the main road up to the lighthouse and explored some areas, then stopped at some beaches. HERE is my review when we did it. We felt very safe.

Thank you.  I had already found your link in someone else's post.  I enjoyed reading it and it was informative and helpful.  Do you have any idea if Governor's Beach is still as quiet?  I have read in some places that they the chair rentals, but we are planning a day similar to your . . . knock around then finish the day at Governor's Beach.  

One other question.  You mentioned a cooler with drinks.  How did you have that?  Did you bring all of it off the boat, or bring an empty cooler and fill with drinks and ice along the way?  I am trying to decide if it would be worth bringing along a small collapsible cooler.