FloridaKevin

We had the premium plan on the victory and it was very disappointing compared to the Breeze or Vista.... Never again!

Depends what you are into. My wife and I usually do Nacho Cocum which is a all inclusive beach day. There is another popular place, Mr. Sancho's. Both of these are easy to get to by cab.

Otherwise, pay carnivals inflated prices and do the usual :D

We are huge fans of the Chefs Table. Our next cruise is only a 4 day out of Miami with day 2 in Key West, day three in Cozumel which is from 12 to 10 at night, day 4 is fun day at sea then back to Miami. Question is, when do you suppose they hold the Chefs Table dinner? My concern is the Cozumel day when we are in port pretty much all day where I would hate to cut the day short just for the Chefs Table. Our last cruise the dinner was on the elegant night so Im thinking chances are it would be held again on elegant night considering the itinerary. Thought?

Thanks in advance for your input.

When I booked back in August this was on their website right above the "BOOK NOW" button :

"We accept US cash and credit cards with an additional fee of 15% Honduran Tax.Kids under 11 receive 50% discount. We also offer 10% discount for group of ten or larger."

For that do not know, if you have been to LFK let them know and you get a 10% discount for returning. They had a record of our previous visit and we got a confirmation of the discount.

starting at $1800 per person . Seems a little steep but I guarantee the ship will sail full!

Here is what we had for lunch that was in the package. I have to say it was really good!

I would love to get the Cheers but my DW only has 1 to 2 drinks a day. We also do not drink soda so its better for us to just pay as you go.

All these things you have to consider when purchasing the Cheers program. I really wish they would tweak the rules on the "everyone over 21 must buy Cheers in the cabin" but I understand from a business aspect it would be impossible to keep people from cheating the system.

The tongs used in the buffet by the passengers have been proven to be the site of the highest bacteria count.

 

It would make sense to wash and/or sanitize one's hands both before and after using them.

On every cruise I see people walking with their tray of food and sucking their fingers clean as they walk back to their table then see the same people right back in line getting ready to fondle the tongs.... It makes me gag. We try to avoid the buffets if possible also.

I guess having the option to have access the antibacterial gel is better than nothing. But, good old fashion hand washing is always best.

We always do anytime dining! We don't want to be told we have to eat a specific time and then feel obligated to participate in small talk. Don't get me wrong, there is times we have been asked if we didn't mind sitting with others and we did just that. But, we find ourselves asking for a table for two more times than not.

The best way to answer the original posters question is, Are you comfortable carrying on a conversation with strangers, are you willing to eat at the same time daily with the same people or do you want a more flexible dining experience where you can have dinner at a table for 1, 2 or the choice to eat with strangers at "any time" you choose ?

Thanks for the off site parking advice to save costs but I do have a Florida Toll Permit which allows for free parking at cruise terminals and airports so cost isn't my main concern. Are there some sort of signs at the port that show you where your particular boat is located? I've never been there before and I'm sure to get lost or go the wrong way or even enter some place I'm not supposed to be. I'm also looking for an address to put in my GPS to help find the place.

Are you talking about the Sun Pass or E-pass? I know you can park at the airport with those passes but Im almost positive the Port does not accept those passes.

As far as getting there, there are digital signs as you drive towards the Port on 528 that tell you exactly where to go.

FTTF was sold out for the time being on our up coming cruise and just so happened we were talking to our carnival PVP and we asked him when he thought they would release more FTTF. To our surprise he said he would make a call and put us on hold. Few minutes go by and he gets back on the line and asks for our credit card # because he was able to get FTTF for us.

Sometimes it works out having a good PVP:):)

Back from our cruise and wanted to give a short report about a parking lot we used in Miami. We used a lot called "safe cruise parking."

It could be considered a bad area. The lot is under the Dolphin expressway so your car is covered. The lot is gated but I did notice a person walking through that did not belong. There is a attendant at the gate checking your reservation, tells you where to park and was very friendly.

We waited about 5 minutes for the shuttle and were on our way to the port.

Return to the lot was easy. You put a sticker on your shirt (given by lot attendant at lot) so you are recognized by a guy outside of the building at the port. He holds a sign with the cruise company name on it. He then calls a shuttle to pick you up.

Only issue we had was the driver told us to get inside and our luggage at curbside would get loaded. When we returned to the lot one of our bags was missing. We asked the guy to call the guy back at the port to try and locate it while we drive back. This driver had attitude and said we never gave him the bag and was not going to call. I told the guy to move the van so I could leave and I sped back to the port to luckily find our bag sitting curbside.

The guy with the sign was there and we told him about how the driver handled it and he immediately got on his phone and was yelling in spanish..... assuming it was directed at the driver.

Over all it was a good experience using this lot. There were a lot of new cars parked there such as BMW, Mercedes, lexus etc.

Would I use the lot again? Yes. Next time I will not get in the van until I see our bags go inside.

For the price of $42.95 it was worth it.

Subjecting my family to a bad section of Miami???? The Port is only a 1/4 mile away, Bayside strip mall is less than that and lets not forget the arena that was holding a children's event the last time we parked there . So if I use your analogy every family that goes to Bayside, the Port of Miami and the arena are "subjecting their family to that kind of risk."

I dropped my family off at the port, drove to the lot, parked my car, walked a block to Biscayne Blvd, hailed a cab and was at the port with my family in under 20 minutes all in the daylight.

When we left the port we got in line for a cab and then was driven

back to the lot and the nice cab drive helped put the luggage in our car . We paid him the fare and tip and went on our way. Oh and yes we drove right between a crowd of homeless folks getting fed by the Miami Homeless Coalition.

It is what it is.... its a parking lot with a fence. Yes its a "shady" section of town. No, not all homeless are looking to jack your car. Vandalism, theft and other crime will and can happen anywhere....even on a cruise ship!

I will continue to park at this lot as long as it is available and will enjoy the savings. Would I let my wife park here by herself, NO!

Do I care if my car gets broken into, glass smashed or whatever, NO! It all can be replaced or fixed.

On a side note, Miamiyogi why are you on every site there is complaining about this parking lot? You park near it at a office close by but you have never parked in this lot correct? Just curious...:cool:

parked at the "150 NE 7th Street" a few times with a 2012 vehicle and the most that happened to my vehicle was that it was dusty.

A lot of newer cars parked in the lot when I was there and I along with the others there enjoyed the savings.

I keep nothing of value in my car and understand the risk of getting my car broken into... just the same as i understand the risk of parking at a Hotel, mall, and even the driveway of my gated community.