travelberlin

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

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

Those are good prices. Unfortunately not for my solo bookings. In my case: For cruise 1) moving to the promotion would increase my price in US 500 just to remain in the same solo category. To upgrade to a Veranda Suite would be additionally US 5300. For cruise 2) moving to the promotion would increase my price in US 1870 just to stay in the same booked category. To upgrade to the lowest price veranda, would be in addition US 5900.

It sounds good just to walk to have some activity. On embarkation day I will take a taxi because of my luggage, but I might walk there one day before. However the pictures you have posted do not make it particularly interesting for a walk. Can you recommend a nice, safe walk from Brickell? 50 minutes is not a problem for me. I do not like Uber, so I prefer to walk if I can. But of course not on embarkation day. Can you recommend a nice seafood restaurant in the area? Ivi

How long did it take you to walk from your hotel to the port? Ivi

Thanks for sharing your impressions. It sounds good 👌. I am glad you are enjoying it. Have you met people on board? How is your experience from the point of view of a solo passenger? Ivi

No I do not think so. How many ships are on port? They are supposed to check in two hours in advance at the airport. Unless their ship docks the previous night, very unlikely to meet an early flight.

You are right, but the porcentaje of people removing gratuities will not increase. Look how many people are defending the custom. And this happens in all threads about this subject. It is amazing.

Your example shows how ridiculous it is. I have read that many stores are requiring self checkout but at the end it comes a tip request at the bill 😳

Yeah. It would be nice to read how things are going on the Symphony also. I have just made my final payment for my cruise on that ship.

Marigot has been replaced by St. Barts for the January 5th cruise.

I am also staying several nights in Miami before my cruise. I usually stay at South Beach. Looking forward to explore a new neighborhood this time: Brickell. By the way at the Mandarin Oriental, there is a good Peruvian restaurant from Gaston Acurio and his wife Astrid. I have enjoyed many times their creations in Lima, Peru. Ivi

I still have my grey/green tote bag and I use it as a hand luggage. I will be using it on my next Crystal cruise also 😎. Is the NC giving those bags again? What are the requirements to receive one? Ivi

Have a nice cruise Keith and Anne Marie. I am interested on your impressions for lunch now that the MDR is closed on port days. Which ports of call are you visiting? Have you been there before? Are you planning any excursion? Ivi

There are other threads about the MTD and most of the posters there are telling from long queues and waiting times even if one has a reservation. Apparently on this thread, some people have never had any negative experience with MTD. Good for them. In my case previous COVID, I also never had a negative impression of MTD, but apparently the organization of this option has changed and it is not anymore what it used to be. I am not willing to risk, so I have changed my previously booked MTD for early seating dining. The times suit me better. And once a table has been allocated, no need to wait on lines.

Good that you had a nice cruise and the weather was good. I am reading from cruise ships cancelling/changing their original itineraries because of bad weather in Florida and the Caribbean. I wonder how the currently Serenity sailing is doing 🤔 Ivi

You are encouraged to make reservations in advance. I would recommend you search in this forum the experiences of fellow cruisers with my time dining. I had originally my time dining for my cruise but I have changed it for early sitting after reading the reviews.

I am not really sure how the awards are given, but we have cruised with Oceania and were very satisfied. Last cruise with them was a 35 days cruise and the food was very good. The menu kept a good variety and we have always enjoyed our meals. The specialty restaurants were excellent, specially the Asian one. Having said so, and judging from the opinions of the guests who have already sailed with Crystal, I guess Crystal will be the winner in the category best dining for the year 2024. Ivi

Great stories Keith👍 I am sure all of us have lots of them to tell. Even though at the moment they create stress and anxiety, later on they make good memories. And we always learn something new… it is a wonderful world indeed🤗 Ivi

Thanks Keith. I will be fine in Miami. You are right that things can happen. I remember that in January this year I traveled to Buenos Aires to take my Azamara cruise to the Beagle Channel and other beautiful places. On embarkation day, I requested a taxi at my hotel at 12.00 to get to the port at around 12.30. The taxi never came. The hotel was helpless. I went out of the hotel to look for a taxi myself with my luggage. Taxis refused to drive to the port. The reason? There was a meeting of South American politicians at the Sheraton hotel in Buenos Aires which is near the port, and people were demonstrating against that meeting. I have walked to the port dragging my luggage! And besides that, I had difficulties finding my small Azamara ship, who was hiding behind several MSC ships 😂 . I was able to embark at 15.30. It was an adventure ☺️. Ivi

Did you pay for the Paxlovid?

After my TA had a look at my bookings, it turned out to be that I would have to pay more than US 5000 per booking to be able to benefit from this offer 😲. Well not hard to decide what to do right? Ivi

Yeah, depending of the size of the ship 😉. The 9th one could be the Royal Clipper, or Seabourn or Windstar 🤭

For my sailing there will be 8 😔

Is this good? Does it mean that having so many ships there on the same day will not be that bad? Ivi