snelsonbrown

Shirley, YIPPEE:.) a Conch Party Have a wonderful time

The Conch block party was great and relaxing - the block party was set up on about 4 or 5 blocks with food that we grew up with everywhere - the music was typical of the conchs and seeing old friends and family was even better also there is over a thousand or so that get together once a year in Clearwater - our oldest conch that attends is about 96 years old now and makes it a point to chat about when Key West was really a true paradise to live in - we were 150 miles from the mainland so news was always slow getting to us and all of our food came from the ocean. Thanks for the input - it was great to get away if only for a few days.

Hugssssss

I'm hoping and praying that KW is "oil free" from the disaster in the Gulf. I heard on the news that some was beginning to come in. Enjoy your trip home and give us a report when you get back!

Marsha

Hello Marsha,

Believe it or not so far as good - we have always had problems with tar/oil balls ever since I could remember. I too am hoping that it doesn't get to the curve of the keys for then it will be in the position to affect the whole Southeast coast and it is bad enough for those already affected by it. Key West was great although I did find cost had gone up sky high.

Still had a great time checking everything out :-)).

as always

me

shirlely and preston, thanks for all your hard work over the years, you will be missed. you were the ones that got us thru our first encounters with the port and hotels, we will always be thankfull for you help... retirement is great every day a new adventure enjoy

Preston is retiring but I don't believe that has happened yet and he does stop in and says hello - Preston is one of the good guys and he is the one responsible for beginning the help for everyone - I am here to fill in and help when I can - glad that we could help when you were planning your cruise here - its so good to have a safe zone and safe zone information.

I really believe if this was done for every port, cruisers would have less problems and less concern of getting lost etc - I am really very thankful that CC does allow this thread to continue - my wish though would be to allow editing so updates wouldn't have to be posted. Maybe they will read my wish for it sure would make things so much easier.

Am leaving for my hometown of Key West today - Norm and I are going to a Conch Block party which will be starting tomorrow - nothing like it - where we all get to meet, talk about old times when KW really was a paradise, watch all the dancing, eat food we grew up on - yep its conga time - see ya when we get back and hold the fort down for us ok?

Hugssssssss

Shirley

Hi Shirley- we just returned from the FOS yesterday, the cruise was amazing!!

We used Mike from VIP limo. Thanks so much for the info. He picked us up a few minutes after we cleared customs and took the three of us to Orlando Airport in a towncar for our return flight home. We will use him again!! He was a super nice guy!! Thanks again. Jill

Glad it all worked out for you and hope your cruise was amazing ;-))

Come back and see us ok?

So, the format I must have set up is that page 1 is actually the last page! DUH!!!! anyway, did find the awesome post and have it safely filed away! and thanks again SOOOO much for being kind to me! and using a smiley face, too!!! maybe i'll get this fabulous tool figured out eventually!

If and when you have time or maybe do a search, you will find updates since post can not be edited on this board - will try to update the old up and post it as soon as I can.

The information can help you in most aspects and you won't feel so lost in a strange town.

Anyhow enjoy and welcome aboard

UPDATE MAY 14, 2010 ----PLEASE NOTE NEW HOURS PLUS AN ADDED BONUS IF YOU MENTION THIS BOARD

The Surf Bar & Grill located at 2 South Atlantic Avenue (A1A), Cocoa Beach, Fla

phone number 321-783-2401

This was another favorite places of the original 7 astronauts and they have a number of collector items displayed from the Space Center Launches.

they have fine casual dining and they open at 11 Am

Happy hour from 11AM TO 7:00PM. They also have a private banquet room.

If you mention that you saw this information on this board, you will receive a free dessert. REMEMBER YOU MUST MENTION THIS BOARD ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY ASK FOR GENE KOLSCH THE GM

http://www.surfbarandgrill.com

Hello,

 

This thread really seems to know the PC area well, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to answer my question. Next week I'm taking a Carnival cruise from Baltimore, stopping in Port Canaveral. I really want to go to the Kennedy Space Center but the $90 Carnival excursion fee seems pricey. I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way to do it. I've read about car rentals, but the problem is that my boyfriend and I are both under 25 and the companies mention an "under 25 fee" but don't say how much it is. Does anyone know what they might charge? Or else any other good, cheaper way to get to KSC? Paying $50 per person for the 10 mile transportation just seems a bit extreme.

 

Thank you for any answers you may be able to provide!

Hello Becky,

Check the post #5 for I believe I have added the email addresses for a few of the car rental places and they can give you direct help as what to do or you can contact a couple of the taxi places also by email and explain your situation to them all.

Post #5 does takes a long time to really get all the material and knowledge you will and can use while here but really worth it all - Now I realize some of the information on there has expired and I can not go back to edit it so I may have to post an updated one, but I can't do that for a couple of weeks.

I know folks also with a lot of experience will chime in and help you.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Shirley, just wanted to say that we're going to be PC day after tomorrow for our Sunday cruise......YIPPEE!!!

 

Thanks so much for all the great advice you have given us, it really has meant a lot.

 

Thanks for sharing your "little piece of paradise"......

Hello Dianne,

Glad that all the information that has been posted by so many that it will put your mind at a better CRUISING TIME MIND ;-))

The weather has been great so enjoy and hurry back.

Do they have a website or an email address so I can contact them for the limo service from the airport to the port....

Their website is in progress but here is their email address - make sure you let them know you got their infor from here.

good luck

limosvip@hotmail.com

is that per person? if it is then i wont need to call for further info...THANKS

yes Starfish this is them - they have only one fare and one family riding in this limo with all the drinks, snacks, uniform driver etc - if it were me, yep I would treat myself to this pleasure simply because if I am traveling, I want to go at my speed and not have to stop 2500 times for something or someone else - guess I would want to spoil myself a little bit -

Michael is a nice young man and it is a family owned business.

Do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable regardless who you go with ok?

ENJOY!!!!!!!!

shirley what can you tell me about the cocoa beach shuttle? i will be cruising into port canaveral and understand that you can get a shuttle from the port to cocoa beach? thanks for any info.

 

bob

Hello Bob,

I would suggest going to search on the different shuttles here for all the pros and cons.

There is all types of transportation to get you anywhere and most of them are reliable.

You have Travelynx, Beachbound and this is to name a few.

Good luck

We have sailed out of PC a number of times and we have decided that it will always be our favorite cruise port. We just love the area!!

 

We will be coming down a week from this Saturday for our Sunday May 9th cruise.......YIPPEE!!!!!

 

I just wanted to say thanks so much Shirley for all the great help you give!!!

So many folks offer so much to this thread and it really has been my sincere pleasure to help in any way that I can - it is always good to have a place where you can find the answers you need than rather come into unknown waters and feel like a fish out of water as to what to do, what to see etc - there is always so many choices not only in post #5 BUT Preston's thread that was such a huge success and also had a wealth of info. I believe I did a sticky either in post #6 or 7.

It is always a pleasure to help when I can and of course so many add to what I can not answer

ENJOY your crusing time for the weather is going to be perfect

I just wanted to tell any and all that those coming down for either a visit or cruising that we have the most awesome weather - cool in the evenings and beach weather during the day - walked the beach the other afternoon and it all felt so great and what a relief from such a bitter winter for us Floridians - come on down my friends and take time to relax and have a great time.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

just me

Shirley - I love Port Canaveral! I researched these boards (love this thread) thoroughly before our cruise a few weeks ago out of PC. My husband & I both loved the area and thought it is probably the best area to cruise out of!! For that reason, I have again booked a cruise out of PC for September & cannot wait!!

 

I am really thinking of trying a car service for our transportation from airport to hotel and back from cruise port to airport. We have a 12:15 outbound flight... so I am a little nervous about getting there on time when we get off the ship. I am just a little worried about reliability. Any recommendation from you would be appreciated!!

Believe me you will make it without a hitch - we are only 46 miles from the airport and its a straight shot - make sure you follow the speed limits etc and you shouldn't have any concern ok?

If you decide to rent a car, call the rental company here directly and make your reservations - if you decide to go with a shuttle service, make sure there won't be 100 stops before you get to the airport - you will be fine honest - keep me posted OK?

Just thought I would say hello! Hope the new thread is doing well! I just went to China and it was amazing!

PRESTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! welcome home (here) you have been missed and most of all your sense of humor and knowledge--please keep coming back and please share your trip to China - I have always wanted to go there

Take care my friend

Hi Shirley thanks for the info about Michael and Melanie VIP limo service, We just booked with him last night for our return off the FOS May 16. Thanks these boards are great!!!

You are most welcomed - I really believe that mom and pop business really try their darnest to take extra time to do everything possible to make their guest comfortable - I know that Michael charges $50.00 to pick up folks at the Melbourne Airport with uniform chauffeur driving a new Lincoln Town car and to the Orlando airport same thing but for $75.00 with no hidden fees - please post and let us all know how it goes ok?

Thanks and its really my pleasure to watch out for those that come here - its like a safe zone feeling - been wrong sometimes, but its common

take care and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

With sincere pleasure

Hi, I see everyone has a great thread going. Can anyone tell me which airport your prefer to fly in and out of: Orlando or melbourne? I have a group of 11 and am trying to figure out logistics to get to and from the port. thanks,

In my true feelings and I have tried both honest - I loved the idea of flying in and out of Melbourne cause only of convenience - at one time when there wasn't so much traffic on A1A or US 1 or even I-95, I could be home lickly split - now?? I would take Orlando for it would take almost the same amount of time to get here - rent a car, rent a shuttle, rent a bus - now Orlando airport is much busier than Melbourne so really it is up to you for the final choice - whatever you decide to do, it will be a good one.

GOOD LUCK

just me

PS post number 5 will help you with decisions

APRIL 22, 2010 --UPDATE ON THE SAND ART CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA

OK just spoke to one of the sand art dealer and his art is called Nature for the Soul and his name is Michael Bodrogi - he is selling wares pretaining to the sand art - IF YOU WILL MENTION that you are off the CC board, he will give you 10% off - sounds pretty good to me - I am going this weekend and will post thoughts on the sand art - will be fun to see all the art

Hello...We are also cruising on the Freedom in August and are using "Beachline Transportation" We are taking them from the Orlando Airport to the Doubletree Hotel on Cocoa Beach the day prior to the cruise, then back to the airport from the port when the cruise is over.

 

From what I have read, Beachline has received many positive reviews, including people that live in Orlando and are familiar with them. Their website is:

 

http://www.beachlinetransportation.net

 

I want to stress that we have never used them before. This will be our first time. We are going by what other people have said. For those cruising after August 29th, you can read my post after our cruise and I can describe our experience with them.

 

Dave

Hello Dave,

Did you tell them you got their information off this board? You are suppose to get a discount per Glenn if you do. Just curious

Thank you. We definitely are going to the Space Center and are hoping to book lunch with an astronaut for them. Would you recommend either of the add-on tours - Then & Now or Today & Tomorrow? Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

My best suggestions is for you to go to the first page and look at post #5 - it will take a while to look at all the suggestions - one of them for sure is the new Dinosaur Store in Cocoa Beach - Cocoa Beach Pier or even going to eat at Grill's and watch the ships, birds, fishing boats etc. You will enjoy all the suggestions on that one post - It took a long time to put together but well worth the help you will get

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Voted best overall discount code that include LDW. Anyone can use it.

Combine it with any other coupon code you want. It also includes wavied

underage fee, unlimited miles and free extra driver fee. MOST

IMPORTANTLY, IT'S THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN USE TO GET FREE INSURANCE & LDW.

From car & driver magazine. I used over 20 times and saved me over

$1000 so far.

 

It's been discussed many times already. The best discount code for

National car or Enterprise rental is XVC1006, car and driver magazine.

This code includes unlimited miles, extra driver fee and wavies underage

fee(21-24). Anyone can use this code.

 

https://www.nationalcar.com/index.do?action=resRentalInfo.do&contractId=XVC1006

http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=002&cust=XVC1006

PIN number=car

 

If you are looking one that include all the insurance, use code XVC1034,

it's from car and driver magazine as well. This code includes unlimited

miles, full insurance, extra driver fee and wavies underage fee. Anyone

can use this code.

 

https://www.nationalcar.com/index.do?action=resRentalInfo.do&contractId=XVC1034

http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=002&cust=XVC1034

PIN number=car

Thank you so much for your input - one of the things I do have to mention and that is we no longer have a national car rental here - they moved their office to the Melbourne airport so please take that into consideration if you do rent National ok?

Thanks a bunch

We are planning on taking our two granddaughters, ages 9 and 11, to Kennedy Space Center before embarking on the cruise. We are not sure if adding one of the tours to what is normally included in the admission ticket would be too much for this age or if one of them is a not to be missed tour? Thank you.

With our Shuttles coming to a close and it will be at least 5 years or more before we have anymore manned ones going to KSC would be a "must not miss" tour - and no the kids are not too young - mine started going at a very young age and still talk about it today in their memory recalls of wonderful - this is my own thoughts and feelings so the choices are up to you.

Hi Shirley...After checking with several companies that provide both shuttle service in a mini bus/limo or town car, I finally chose a local company for when we arrive in Fort Lauderdale this Friday.

 

We chose John's Limousine Service. The website indicated it was a local company in business for many years. When I spoke with John, he was very helpful. He explained everything in a straight forward way and provided me with all of the details we needed.

 

Just wondering if you have heard about this company good or bad. I will report back to everyone once we return on May 1st.

Dave

Hello Dave - gosh I don't know anything about Ft Lauderdale or John's limo - I have found that searching or goggling most of the time brings me answers, but I also know of places and folks who have been misjudged wrong and posted in anger but then the same things has happened the other way around - I try to go as far as I can to learn everything I can about a business etc before I suggest anyone or anything but I also always try to put in choices for the decision has to be made by the person using any of the service and I don't want anyone to stay anywhere, go anywhere and that person have a lousy experience. I know been there and done that :-))

Keep in touch and please always share your experience with the whole board - folks always can always use a helping hand

SHIRLEY, what do you recommend (port stop)-actually doing B2B so we will be back to Port Canaveral for our second leg-Dec 11 '10...in port from 8a-4p...do not want to rent a car....THANKS for any advice;)

might add that we plan to do Kennedy Space center post cruise:)

OMG Star - remember that is not a whole bunch of time - go to post number 5 for it gives a whole bunch of suggestions - also all depends on the weather - you will love KSC - I started taking my kids there many many years ago when there was really not much and free, but still loved the excitement of it all/

Whatever you do ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks shirley;)

You are always most welcomed :-))

PS remember there is so much traffic here anymore so stay alert and careful :-))