Derbie

First time leaving out of Port Canaveral and haven't been to Orlando in many many years so need some help from anyone that has been through this before

We are flying in from Toronto Canada the day before (Oct 3rd) and booked the fly, snooze cruise package at Comfort Inn & Suites Cocoa Beach, Florida which includes transfer from airport to hotel, from hotel to pier and from pier to airport all for $228.00. Is this a good idea, hubby does not want to deal with renting a car even though I think we should....

Arrival time in Orlando is 1:19pm so we have the day to explore

If we stay in Cocoa Beach with no transportation, what can we do and how will we get there?

Is there any shopping near by? Are there any local buses?

How much will it cost for a taxi to get to and from? We were thinking of checking out fishlips for a bite to eat but hear we would need a cab, anyone know approx how much a cab would be from the hotel?

OR would you suggest we switch hotels and stay someplace more local to Orlando making getting around more easy?

If yes, what about transfers as these hotels I am sure will not include....

 

Any suggestions? Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Is the rate for a group or one person? I tried to get a quote today, but the lady who handles it, is off until Tuesday. We are leaving the same day as you. Carnival Sunshine? Also, do you have to spend the night when you return to port, to get the transportation back to the airport? Thanks!

Thanks you both. I appreciate the help.

I promise, I am not trying to start any type of disagreement in regards to purchasing medicine outside of the U.S. I have been using Latisse for several years. I would like to purchase a bottle while I am in one of my ports, if it can be purchased without a prescription. I purchased a bottle when St. Marteen, so I was hoping to purchase again; possibly in the Carribean. Does anyone know? I am not interested in any other meds! I will be posting this on two other boards. Thanks!

I promise, I am not trying to start any type of disagreement in regards to purchasing medicine outside of the U.S. I have been using Latisse for several years. I would like to purchase a bottle while I am in one of my ports, if it can be purchased without a prescription. I purchased a bottle when St. Marteen, so I was hoping to purchase again; possibly in the Carribean. Does anyone know? I am not interested in any other meds! I will be posting this on two other boards. Thanks!

I will have 27 days cruised at the end of this upcoming journey. Will I be invited to the past passenger party? I thought I read that if you made gold during your cruise, you would be invited. Just curious. Thanks so much.

Highly recommend you consider Spice Beach Club!

Very nice and comfortable ... and there's also a pool. :)

LuLu

Thanks! Is it very far from the port? What kind of cost?

It is Camp Carnival right now (switching to Camp Ocean though....not sure of schedule of roll out). She will be in the 2-5 year old group and you will get a phone checked out to you from the Camp when you go to the registration the first evening (usually in the main show lounge around 5 p.m.). Camp closes for FREE stay at 10 p.m. each evening (I believe...). After that you can leave her there for an hourly fee until 3 a.m. if you so desire (Believe it is around $6-8 an hour). On certain nights they will have "Owl Jams" party that goes from 10-midnight and cost extra....my daughter (4 now) has been on several cruises and LOVES the party!!

Can you tell me about the next group up in age? I am sailing with my nieces they are 9 and 11. I have heard it is a great program.

Aruba has all the name brand designer handbags but not at outlet prices.

There are some very poor imitations in sidewalk stalls but they are not authentic.

 

When in Aurba, the one handbag I always seek out is Alviero Martini as they are not sold in U.S. I have bought them in Curacao in the past but Gandleman's is no longer present in Curacao. That is the only store I know of in Aruba that sells them but there are two locations, at least. I first bought them in Italy and Netherlands (Rotterdam) and years ago found them in St. Maarten.

 

The patterns I love are the Geo Collections, sienna in color with various maps printed on various handbag styles.

They are well made, stand up well and I get so many compliments on them.

 

This is what they look like:

 

http://www.alvieromartini.it/us/

 

It is only recently they have become available for purchase on line so far as I could find.

 

Those are great looking purses! I might try to look for one in Aruba. I noticed quite a few of the purses I was interested in were on sale. Did you find a good price on them, when you were in port?

Thanks

How many cruises does one need to take, before they are invited to the captain's/return passenger party? This will be my third cruise (7-day). Thanks!

This will be our first time on the Sunshine in October. If you can recommend anything, and everything that is special, insiders secret, etc., we would greatly appreciate it. Also, DH and I are traveling with our 9 and 11 year old nieces. Any information for them would be appreciated as well. I look forward to your expertise!

Derbie

It was in January. It was metered. I don't recall exactly, but I think the meter was around $112.

 

It was 7am on a Saturday morning, so traffic was light.

Have you ever rented a car to-and-from the Orlando airport? There are four of us, and I hate the thought of $250 for a round trip ride. I was going to use Uber, but they have stopped them from running Orlando for the meantime.

Thanks,

My husband and I are taking our two nieces on a cruise. Can anyone recommend the best place to take them while in port? I know they love to swim! Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

My husband and I are taking our two nieces on a cruise. Can anyone recommend the best place to take them while in port? I know they love to swim! Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

My husband and I are taking our two nieces on a cruise. Can anyone recommend the best place to take them while in port? I know they love to swim! Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

My husband and I are taking our two nieces on a cruise. Can anyone recommend the best place to take them while in port? I know they love to swim! Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

I cannot recommend Jiffy Jeff enough for transportation from FL to Miami. They pick you up in a really nice BMW van. It should hold all of your family. Very reasonable prices. We have used them twice. We are cruising out Port Canaveral next time, and I really wished they were there.

I want to go from LeOTS To MoOts on feb 16

I have used Jiffy Jeff on two different occasions. The service was great, and it is very reasonable. They pick you up in a BMW van. Very nice!

We rented a car both ways. We were off the ship by 7:30 and the shuttle came soon after. I think the office opened at 7am that day.

Which rental company did you use? Thanks!

Last questions; anyone rented a car from the airport to the port and then did the same on returning to the airport? If so, does the rental companies have fairly early hours.

Thanks again

We usually use a shuttle service when cruising; however this is the first time out of Cape Canaveral in many years. Can we turn in the car at the dock? Also, can we rent a car at the dock and return it at the airport? If this can be done, please recommend a good rental company. Thanks ever so much!

Thanks to one and all. I have been through the airport more than once, and I do know how it can move! I guess those girls will have to nap on the plane. :)

Have to agree with everyone else, we have been there at least 4 times and I have never gotten further than the cruise port. Between Margaritaville, the shopping & the beach there really isn't any need to go further. We going to be there in Jan. and I rented a cabana at Margaritaville, you really don't need it but its a nice place to store your stuff, get quick service on food & drink and works as a meeting place.

How much is it to rent a cabana? I would like to stay out of the sun if possible. One skin cancer removal is enough to curtail my tanning. Thanks!

We are considering purchasing a flight; rather, than driving from our home in Nashville. There is a flight leaving at 10:50 AM (out of Orlando) headed to Nashville. Do you think we can make this flight? We are traveling on the Carnival Sunshine. We have two young girls that have to go to school in the morning. Any help, would be greatly appreciated!

No big deal...we sailed on the Big Red Boat as well...It was our first cruise...got us hooked...

As to age, my daughters sailed on the Big Red Boat (with us, of course)...and they are now only 28 and 30!!...It was only 25 years ago...

Yikes-you sailed around time as DH and myself. We went on the BRB and got us hooked as well. My son was in the second grade, and he is now 31!

Thanks to all of you! What a great wealth of information! I think we are going to hold off until 2/16. We have friends who want to sail with us. What a great way to start them off, as they have never been on a cruise before.

You all are a great bunch of people!