TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail

We stopped off in GC in May on Horizon.  Didn’t have status NOR a Carnival excursion.  But we did ask the excursion desk the day before where the tender tickets were located since we had an early non-Carnival excursion.  Really nice agent just said show up in the theatre at a certain time and they would let you board with the Carnival excursions.  Was a very easy process & they were very nice with no tickets needed to show.

Adding that the metro mover stop os a few city blocks from Bayside Marketplace.  We found it better to walk there than use transportation.

We just got back from 2 nights precruise and 1 1 post cruise in Brickell.  Did use the metro mover a couple of times. the trolley once (to Little Havana).  Both of these are free but locating the trolley was a bit confusing.  Booked the city bus but did not use; did not realize the “clock” starts once purchased online.  The Miami transit system is great but you need to know beforehand where stops are located and whether it’s worth using over Uber.  For example, had to walk 10 blocks to the Little Havana trolley and it had maybe 15 stops to get to Little Havana.  An Uber would have taken 1/4 the time and costs maybe $10 from Brickell.  
 

Versailles restaurant is great for cheap Cuban food and ideal to order several small dishes to see what you prefer.  Almost always a wait outside for seating but worth it.

We started looking for our 3 nights a few months in advance of our cruise.  You have much more time so you have the benefit of booking & canceling refundable rooms as prices change.  Include Airbnb/VRBO in your search if you are comfortable with that.  One of our nights needed was Memorial Day weekend where prices were much higher than the prior/pre-cruise weekend.  Found a 1-night Airbnb next door to Holiday Inn-POM for about $300 total with a nice Bayside Market view.

I’m just trying to figure out which port has a prettier sail away:

OR….

We will have a few extra days around that time & will take advantage of attractions around Brickell: Bayside Marketplace, Brickell City Center and Bayfront Park.  All of which are accessible for free on the Metro Mover a block or so from your hotel.
 

Also really want to try Versailles Restaurant (Cuban cuisine).  We may either do an Everglades tour or Key Biscayne.  Would love to go to Key West but it seems such a waste to spend half a day on a bus/driving.

On 4/18/2022 at 11:55 AM, joestein514 said:

Sounds like it will be tight based upon the responses.  I don't want to have to rush or worry about getting home.

 

Currently it is $1400 for 4 people to fly from JFK to Mia and back with the return flight at 11:20.

 

The next flight leaves at 3:30 but the price goes up to $2000.  I could stay to 7:50 and get the next flight which would bring the price back to $1400 - but then I get home pretty late.

 

If I am gonna spend $2000, I can just fly from EWR which I prefer.  EWR is 45mins - 1hr closer to my house.

I thought my rebooked flight was painful (paying almost $400 more than the original).  Flying is getting ridiculous.  I did change from FLL to MIA the night before to save on additional hotel costs.

What can’t miss “bargains” have folks found in Coz?  Obviously unique items that are not hard to lug around.  Never been to Mexico but assume you can find items much cheaper there than in the U.S.

2 hours ago, Tryingtocruise said:

Hi!  Has anyone stayed at the ALoft in Brickell?  Looking for 1 night next February and I'm a little shocked at the rates everywhere.  This seemed to be the best I could find that wasn't near the airport.  

 

Thanks.

Keep checking rates and (maybe) consider options such as AirBNB/VRBO.  I also suggest making sure you sign up for several loyalty accounts with the major hotel chains.  I had to book 4 total nights for our May cruise & 2 of those we chose Brickell.  Got 25% off Hyatt thru a (now expired) member deal at Hyatt Regency & spent $236 including taxes.  The after-cruise night was a little trickier since it is Memorial Day weekend.  Settled on an AirBNB that cost $303; area hotels were much higher.  Staying near the airport means you have to Uber to beach or port.  The Metro Mover is close to most Brickell hotels so it avoids additional transportation costs.

We are flying into/out of FLL for our Horizon trip next month.  Someone on Cruise Critic mentioned Marco Polo Resort in Sunny Isles Beach (between Ft Lauderdale and Miami).   I like the idea of a beachfront hotel in a less densely populated area so that is where we are staying the 1st night.  King ocean view balcony usually goes for $199 + taxes/fees so not much more than your average name-brand airport hotel.

I hope Horizon returns it’s 6 day cruises to a Western Caribbean route next year even with this news.  We canceled our Sep-21 cruise & rebooked for May-22.  Nothing exciting about Bimini or Amber Cove and have never been to Ocho Rios or Cozumel.  

I was very fortunate that this promo came up now.  My Sep-20 cruise was Covid canceled, replaced by Sep-21 that we canceled due to health issues.  I rescheduled to Sep-22 without thinking.  Found out it conflicted with a co-workers cruise yesterday.  Found the May-22 rate for the same ship (Horizon) to be slightly less than my original booking.  My TA even got the change fees waived and am getting a slight refund.  So happy to afford a May cruise.

Same thing happened to my wife in 2019 with AT&T.  She bought a 1-day roaming package while on a Caribbean island.  Forgot to turn off data when back on the ship.  She got a text notification later that evening indicating her roaming usage was going over $100.  We immediately turned off data.  Had to call AT&T twice to get the charges removed.  I think they retroactively put us on a cheaper roaming package but there was some cost.  I am now responsible for reminding her 😂

38 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

That solves it - I'll take up smoking for the week...generics cigs will be fine I suppose.

I realize your post is probably in jest but if you have a relative that vapes and are not a germophobe you can go that route.  Can even use nicotine free.

@KmomChicago

i wonder if Carnival gets their hideous carpet from the movie set of The Shining?

6 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection

I’ll have to look into the self test sold by Sam’s Club to see if it has this included.  Their test only costs $20.

Edited to say it probably doesn’t qualify.  No mention of observation.

@wgeddings

Thank you for your detailed experience with Horizon and especially the tender situation.  I’m pretending to work so I can’t comment much but you’ve said some things I was not aware of or prepared for.  

1 minute ago, bobbismith said:

I am fine with whatever ports we go to. I am just anxious and excited.  I want to book excursions.  We have 4 ports on a 7 day cruise with 4 adults. That is alot of planning.  Bobbi

As explained above, you will not be sailing to Grand Cayman due to the island’s (not Carnival’s) restrictions thru 2021.

My best personal guess is you WILL be going to Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel.  You

MAY either be picking up a Central America port such Progresso or only get 3 ports.  
 

My recommendation is to research the 3 ports you are fairly certain won’t be canceled and book excursions there.  DON’T book anything at Grand Cayman

I hope things go as expected for you.  Bring a positive attitude and let things flow.

4 minutes ago, bobbismith said:

If Cayman is closed then where are the ships going?

 

Bobbi

The port changes vary.  If you were scheduled GC, Jamaica and Cozumel on Horizon….your Western Caribbean will likely become an Eastern Caribbean.

Let us know your ship & date in order to help.

42 minutes ago, tap_out said:

There was very little mask being worn on the ship. I would say maybe 1 out of 20 passengers decided to wear a mask

So you’re saying the 95/5 ratio thing is working as expected? 😜

@SNJCruisers

I don’t know if you are ignoring the fact that the antigen home test I am mentioning is likely identical to the one Carnival IS administering to non-vaxxed or just like to argue.  Carnival certainly could have found an easier way to ensure pax health than depend on various local testing sites (that you clearly have no personal knowledge of availability other than your own experience).
 

You are right about one thing-it is their ship and we have to live by their ever changing rules to board.  I’ve said it before this is my final cruise until Carnival makes it easier or the pandemic subsides.

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

It's been reported that the rapid test at CVS Minute Clinic, the comparable test at Walgreens and tests at labs such as Quest are all covered and free.  People need to do their own research and check out pharmacies, walk in clinics and labs in their own area to see which of the three options fit their own needs.  If they are in an extreme rural area, then they have to make the decision as to whether the lengthy

You are trying to speak like you know everyone’s personal experience.  I live in the ‘burbs.  My closest rapid testing facility is 25+ miles away.  I’ve done the research.  I’m getting 2 appointments (1 Walgreens, 1 CVS) to ensure I can get test results before my flight.  I pray I test negative (already had covid & already vaxxed)…..Then I get on a plane & will be more subjected to more exposure than I do day-to-day….but at least I’m done testing at that point.

I won’t even go into your comment about fully refundable.  We did everything Carnival asked & there is no way we are kept whole canceling at this point.  There’s a heck of a lot more cost & inconvenience involved that the cruise fare this close.

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

Moot point since take home tests are not acceptable for Carnival

The point is not moot since me and many other vaxxed cruisers are willing to pay Carnival their cost to test us.  
 

No.  They would rather we be inconvenienced right before we sail to go find rapid testing on our own.  Heck I’m almost willing to pay the $150 x 2 that unvaxxed pax incur to not have to pray that rapid test is available.  This is ridiculous.  

15 minutes ago, teknoge3k said:

Cashing out OBC is not against any rules and people have been doing that, for a long time. That's something that's very common to do.

Just to clarify: I’m talking about promotional OBC, not purchased cruise cash OBC.  While people have been able to cash out at times even promotional OBC per-covid at the casino there has been much discussion on these boards of it at least being frowned upon or doing 1 slot pull & cashing out. I’ll let others more experienced in that respond but I wouldn’t expect it to work indefinitely; Carnival is smart enough to prevent you from taking $600 OBC from a canceled cruise just to spend it somewhere else.

Loving the almost empty lounge chairs and pool…on a sea day no less.  If there was an affordable concept for such when life gets back to normal.  No way I’d go on the Mardi Gras at full capacity (even their scaled down Havana).  But the dining options blow my mind.