Cruiser Who Knows Nothing

Weigh out the cost of resort for day vs actually getting a room.  For my family of four, its just a little more to get a room.  

We go every year at that time, if you want beach time, go anywhere north of the Marriott (where hooters is) its crazy how its an invisible divider line for the college kids and the grown ups.  

Our absolute favorite Marriott property in Miami Beach is the Stanton. Hands down.  We love the resort feel, the location (away from the hustle and bustle of SoBe, but close enough to be in it)  All the Prime restaurants (Steak, Italian and Fish) are there and Big Pink for breakfast.  LOVE

6 hours ago, reeinaz said:

yes. when it asks the number of people, you select 4. Cagney's is an a la cart restaurant. It's not fixed fee. You either use a dining credit or pay based on what you ordered. They will ask for everyone's cards to use the dining credit or pay the a la carte prices.  It doesn't require payment upfront when you make your reservation.

Thank you so much. Years ago I would have have been the one supplying the answers. I’m like a fish out of water for this cruise. Again. Thank you. 

thanks @Rick&Jeannie  I"ll head right over there.  🙂

I'm 100% overwhelmed - back when the kids were young we would cruise yearly - now they're both out of college and we decided to do the Sky in 89 days.  I feel that I'm so far behind in planning.  Can someone please point me in the directions of the dailies?  We are doing the 4 night with stops in Nassau and Grand Bahama.  I want to make reservations at Cagneys - we have two cabins - Can I book all four of us on one reservation or is it 2 and 2?  I'll be using the free speciality dining for this.  I did a mock booking for 4 on the ncl page - and it says "ala carte"  I feel its not supposed to say that - but the cart has a zero balance.  Any little tip is so much appreicated.

My son is headed to FLL for spring break in 2 weeks, He is currently at the Embassy Suite and he doesn't care how far it is from the action - they are four football players and they can walk.  I also told him about the free shuttle/trolley thingy that goes right to his hotel and the beach.  I think I want to move him over to the Hilton Marina because its so pretty - BUT how do you walk to the beach - A1A is above the hotel so  do you have to back track to 17th street anyway and then they're right back where they started from?  I don't even  think what I said makes any sense.  Please help.  🙂

On 6/5/2021 at 3:26 PM, rkacruiser said:

Thank you for posting this information!  

 

In the last paragraph of the story, this statement attracted my attention.

 

According to the State...."Floridians' medical privacy is protected by Florida law...."  

 

As a citizen of Ohio, does such a Florida law apply to me as a visitor to Florida?  

 

 

I've seen that quote in many press releases and its very oddly worded.  Thanks Gov DeSantis, but I have my own governor looking out for me....I'm good.  

On 5/29/2021 at 2:02 PM, scottca075 said:

The Renaissance is fine for a one night stay before a cruise, but for a week I'd start by looking at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach, then the W, Westin, Marriott's BeachPlace Towers and Courtyard, in that order.

we posted the same exact thing, but you added the BeachPlace.  The thing I don't like about beach place is their pool area.  I know, the ocean is across the street, but I do enjoy a nice pool and deck area.  

Do the W Hotel - without a doubt and since you're there for a week - its the place and location to be.  Or the Westin a couple blocks south of the W.  If you want a more resorty place, the Marriott Harbor Beach is awesome too.  

To us, the Renaissance is nice for the night prior to departure, but its in such a congested area and it feels like if you were to stay in a business district of a larger city.  Nice property, but way too commercial.  

We rent - you can go to dinner, hit the store for some last minute goodies, especially if you're limited on luggage weight - we buy our toiletries in Florida.  

16 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Are you positive about that? I once asked an Uber driver about this because my destination was a good 30 miles away. He said that he lived close to where I was headed and it was the end of his day, so at that time he would only accept ride requests from people headed to the general vicinity of his home. That makes me think that Uber drivers can see destinations before accepting a rider. 

No, that's their whole claim to fame is that they will take you where ever you want to go and pick up people in underserved areas where taxis won't go.  Now maybe they can set a radius or whatever.  I do remember an Uber driver telling me how they've figured out ways to outsmart the system, but I was a bit ummm "under the weather"  to remember  lol.  I've taken Ubers as far as 50 miles in Florida and never had an issue.  

On 10/7/2019 at 2:50 PM, elmojessi said:

Has anyone actually Ubered from the MCO area to Port Canaveral?

 

Trying to weigh our options for our first trip out of Port Canaveral in a couple of weeks and I'm intrigued by just taking an Uber.  I would be willing to pay extra to have the ease of someone picking us up directly from our MCO area hotel and taking us straight to our ship on our time frame.  I understand that Cortrans has shuttles that will do this, but don't really want to have to stop at other ships or wait for other passengers at other hotels.  Plus, we are *finally* platinum and want to get there nice and early to maximize our time on the ship. 

 

My concern would be whether it is difficult to get an Uber driver to go all the way out to the port.  I imagine that it may be harder to pick up a return fare from there given that most passengers from the previous cruises would have left the area already, so drivers may not want to go out to the coast?  I don't want to count on an Uber and then have to wait 30 minutes to find a driver willing to take us.  

 

If anyone is willing to share their experience with this, I'd appreciate it!

The Uber drive finds out where they're headed AFTER they accept the ride.  They know they take a chance of driving far.  

7 hours ago, JohninDC said:

Take the hotel shuttle to the airport Hilton or Marriott, tip them to watch your bags, and then enjoy breakfast and a couple of mimosas!  When you are ready grab an Uber or Lyft to POM. 

 

Or book a cheap room for the night of your flight near the MIA airport, let them know you will be checking in late (about 6:15), and then ask for late check out (about 1:00 or so).  You have time for a nap, shower, maybe a dip in the pool, and breakfast before checking out and heading to the port.  La Quinta East is a budget option near MIA popular with cruisers and okay for a few hours.  There is also a hotel inside of the MIA airport, cleverly called the Miami Airport Hotel, where you can grab breakfast or even a room for  a few hours of nap time and a shower - but no pool.

THIS^^^^^  OP is going to be up for hours at that point.  If not a nap, just a quiet place to hang your hat and chill.  I hate sitting in that terminal, we board around 2p, its so less hectic then.  

I like to be more in the "action", for the places we like to walk to, the Pelican is a little isolated (to us)   If the Marriott Beach Tower wasn't so icky, we'd stay there, IMO they have the absolute location.  We stay that either the Hilton and the W, we love their pool areas.  

I call the hotel as soon as I get a phone signal in Miami.  Even though its noted on my reservation, I ask for an early checkin, I also tell them that since its only the for the night (sometimes even just for the day and we're hanging out for a late flight) that I don't really care about the location/view/bed sizes in the room.  We just want a room to put our stuff down and shower before we leave.  That call usually works.  Either way, we have our swimsuits and cover ups on (cover ups that look like clothes), we get to hotel, give the bellman our bags, check in and hit the pool  

So what do the other 80% of the reviews say??

It’s a Hilton property, the rate is reasonable, you’ll be there less than 24 hours to sleep and shower only and it’s a PRIME location.

 

 

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I wouldn't call this PRIME location, I'd call it a good location. tons of construction over there, a couple blocks of funkyness and just a tad north of PRIME location.

9th to 17th is the heart of SoBe and a little too much for us, we like anything below 9th or above 40th.

We booked the TownPlace Suites Miami Airport for a pre-cruise stay. They offer suites with two bedrooms (both with queen size beds). I found it to be cheaper than getting two separate rooms at any other decent hotel

If its only for the day right before the cruise, I would stay at the airport, but OP is looking at a couple days prior and I would never want to be out there for more than 12 hours (including sleep). Sometimes the cheap is expensive.

I would drop my car off in the Ft. Lauderdale and Uber in. Driving in Miami on 95 is not for the faint hearted and driving to the cruise terminal isn't either. I'm a damn good driver, go to SoFlo, 5 times a year (I live in Chicago, the traffic capital of the US), and driving from Lauderdale to SoBe is tough.

How old are the nieces? Young enough to fit on a pull out couch? If I recall, the pull outs at Embassy are not full beds, more like big twin. Probably a two bedroom suite is what you'll need.

Are there car rental shuttles for all major car rentals? Thanks thinking it would be the easiest

 

 

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Where you headed to that you're wanting a car, and for how long? Sometimes are car for a couple of days in a city situation is a pain. Hotel parking, gas, returning it. Sometimes, its truly cheaper to Uber around for a few days.

Miami Beach is a good option. But if its just for food no reason to go over there. Plenty of good options in Downtown Miami and Brickell.

 

Though the ambience of Miami Beach and especially Lincoln Road is fantastic.

I would think your last sentence would be reason enough. LOL. Miami Beach is exciting at any age, I'mve been walking my kids on Ocean Dr since they were 3 years old. They're 18 now. they love it!

Unless you live somewhere that doesn't have all the chain eateries that Bayside has, why not uber on over to Miami Beach and try something there. Even slices of pizza at Rustico are better than chain dining on vacation. (or even non-vacation), but like I said, if you don't have them at home, then go for it.

For breakfast in Lauderdale we love Primanti Brothers. We usually stay at the W, or Hilton - its a five block walk north up A1A. The food is good greasy spoon diner style and so cheap its laughable, We eat at the counter, because that's what you do in those places. I think our eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee breakfast cost as much as a poolside drink at the hotel. LOL.