Patterzone

So a little update how it went. We left around the middle of the 3rd quarter and there was still zero traffic. Arrived to the port at 15:45 already. Asked the guys what could have been the limit, one of them told me 17:30, other 18:00. Anyways when we left we were winning 28-14, at the end we lost 31-37 to THE DOLPHINS, so it was might be the best thing to leave. 😄

So a little update how it went. We left around the middle of the 3rd quarter and there was still zero traffic. Arrived to the port at 15:45 already. Asked the guys what could have been the limit, one of them told me 17:30, other 18:00. Anyways when we left we were winning 28-14, at the end we lost 31-37 to THE DOLPHINS, so it was might be the best thing to leave. 😄

Dear All,

Thanks for all the inputs! Obviously my question rather look foolish but let me explain:

We are actually Hungarian Eagles Fans so we somewhat came for this game as well. 🙂 I only been to cruising from Dubai where I could board the ship in the morning. So I originally thought when I saw the ship’s schedule that I check in before the game and with the cruise card in hand we go to the game and then we can boadd it only 1 hour before departure. Any chance of this?

Dear All,

Thanks for all the inputs! Obviously my question rather look foolish but let me explain:

We are actually Hungarian Eagles Fans so we somewhat came for this game as well. 🙂 I only been to cruising from Dubai where I could board the ship in the morning. So I originally thought when I saw the ship’s schedule that I check in before the game and with the cruise card in hand we go to the game and then we can boadd it only 1 hour before departure. Any chance of this?

Hi All,

We made a sonewhat risky move as on Sunday we embark our ship but before that we watch Dolphins game at Hard Rock stadium. Game begins at 13:00 and ship leaves at 19:00. Game ends around 16:05 Originally I thought we will check in to the ship in the morning and just board it around 17:30. (MSC Meraviglia)
However I just recieved my cruise ticket and it says boarding is from 16:15 to 17:00. Now I am a little scared as the journey from the stadium is only 20 minutes normally but after the game it might be hard to find a taxi + roads night be closed, traffic can be bad...

Anyone had experience with traffic in Miami after football game? How to get to the port as fast possible?
Also: is this check in time that strict? For me it is hard to believe you could not board a ship which leaves at 19:00 until at least 18:00.

Thanks for the inputs.

Hi All,

We made a sonewhat risky move as on Sunday we embark our ship but before that we watch Dolphins game at Hard Rock stadium. Game begins at 13:00 and ship leaves at 19:00. Game ends around 16:05 Originally I thought we will check in to the ship in the morning and just board it around 17:30. (MSC Meraviglia)
However I just recieved my cruise ticket and it says boarding is from 16:15 to 17:00. Now I am a little scared as the journey from the stadium is only 20 minutes normally but after the game it might be hard to find a taxi + roads night be closed, traffic can be bad.

Anyone had experience with traffic in Miami after football game? How to get to the port as fast possible?
Also: is this check in time that strict? For me it is hard to believe you could not board a ship which leaves at 19:00 until at least 18:00.

Thanks for the inputs.

52 minutes ago, eroller said:

I've got a cruise booked for December and it will be my first time onboard.  I'm just curious if there is any way to tell by looking at the deck plan what the bed arrangement is (bed by the balcony door or sofa by the balcony door).  I think this ship has the interlocking cabin design like so many new builds, where the bed placement alternates between every other cabin.  Thanks to anyone that has the inside scoop!  

Would really interested me as well. Which one would you prefer btw and why? 

I am also hesitant. I booked Fantastica Balcony Canin (11234 - really good position - middle ship and the "outside part") for 548$ for a week PP (by the way not it is only 365$ PP on Expedia which gives me a headache). I can upgrade for 225 YC inside and 555 YC Balcony suite. I am hesitant because I might get upgraded anway as there are clearly having problems selling this cruise (I am really not sure why). I have back to back weeks, I thought I would go for YC Balcony for the second week with 570$ bid so I can see the difference between the 2 weeks. What do you think should I do?

Also: Is there anyway MSC compensates me for lowering their prices with some upgrade if I call them?

I am also hesitant. I booked Fantastica Balcony Canin (11234 - really good position - middle ship and the "outside part") for 548$ for a week PP (by the way not it is only 365$ PP on Expedia which gives me a headache). I can upgrade for 225 YC inside and 555 YC Balcony suite. I am hesitant because I might get upgraded anway as there are clearly having problems selling this cruise (I am really not sure why). I have back to back weeks, I thought I would go for YC Balcony for the second week with 570$ bid so I can see the difference between the 2 weeks. What do you think should I do?

Also: Is there anyway MSC compensates me for lowering their prices with some upgrade if I call them?

They delayed the openning to December 5th. I would be on the island Dec 7th and Dec 14th. Do you thing there is any chance we will actually go there? It is funny because Ken Mustak (MSC USA) was asked on Twitter by some guys about docking Thanksgivin and he gave them any absolutely yes answer (which obviously did not come through.) so this gives me a little hope there will only some operational issues left and they can hold this deadline.

Here is their full article: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/About-MSC/News/Ocean-Cay-MSC-Marine-Reserve-December-2019.aspx

Thanks all the input. Here is how it lined up:

Ocho Rios: Blue Hole, Dunn's River Falls, Magic Mountain (Bobsleigh): 150$PP (Coopa Tours)
Grand Cayman: Stingray + Snorkellin Starfish Island 55$PP (Acquarius Sea Tours)
Cozumel: Plancar Beach + San Miguel downtown I think around 30$PP? (By Taxi?!) 
I was thinking about renting a scooter/jeep and then we can include Tequila tasting and/or Cacao factory. Any experience with that?
Ocean Cay: We will see...
Miami: Speedboat ride: 39$PP (Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures)
Costa Maya: Chacchoben Extreme tour (Ruins+Lagoon): 85$PP (Native Choice)
Belize: Cave tubing (possibly ATV and Zipline): 35$PP (100 if atv and zipline included) (Cavetubing.com)
Roatan: Jungle Top zipline+King Kong zipline+West Bay beach: 110$PP (Roatan Fun Tours)
Ocean Cay: We will see...
Miami: Everglades --> Airport: 65$PP (MSC Cruises)

Looking forward to any feedback!

On 11/19/2019 at 7:23 PM, CntPAcruiser said:

Can't help you on Belize, but I would do a beach day in Cozumel. You can go to the Tulum ruins from that port, but it is a long and tiring journey with relatively little time actually spent at the ruins, and an awful ferry ride to the mainland. 

 

Costa Maya is definitely the place to do the ruins. We used Native Choice to go to the Chacchoben ruins. Our group of around 20 went in two vans with a driver and at least one guide. On the drive there, the guide explained local culture and history and gave us a background for the ruins tour. At the ruins themselves, we avoided the crowds coming off the buses and had each location nearly to ourselves, along with a trained guide from Chacchoben. It was still a fairly long day, but we felt we'd gotten to really see something (even if it's not as extensive a complex as Tulum), and we didn't have to take the ferry to the mainland at Cozumel (aka the "Vomit Comet").  

Thank you! I actually made a reservation with them for the Extreme tour.

Belize is booked cave tubin with possible zipline and ATV.

Which beach or resort would you recommend at Cozumel? I looked at Playa Palancar. I thought we should go to beach and then spend some time in downtown San Miguel and we can have a rather cheap day then.

Dear All,

We will be a 14 night cruise on MSC Meraviglia from Dec 1st. We have twice Bahamas Ocean Cay (if it will be ready..), Ocho Rios (Blue Hole, Dunn's Falls, Bobsleigh), Grand Cayman (Stingray, Starfish Beach, Snorkelling), Roatan (Zip line, West Bay Beach) plus Cozumel - Belize - Costa Maya. As you can see I have a pretty good idea what to do on the first 3 places but rather shaky about the 3 I mentioned on the top.

I would go one place chillin at the beach/ one place ruins/ one place other fun activity but I am not sure how do I decide. I would also take into consederation that the beaches have seaweed issue at these places. If anyone has experiences of the past or ideas how to pick and choose for these places, let me know.