3rd Time Lucky! - Miami, Celebrity Reflection 2nd April & Miami Trip Report

[Pluto_fan]

Bon voyage! Have a wonderful trip! :)

[upwarduk]

We plan to be over at the airport for about 9.30am ish. We're expecting security to be very tight indeed so allowing for additional time.

 

Hope the security was OK and you are now through.

Have a good flight.

[kikki21]

We set up from the hotel via taxi - same price as the Hotel Hoppa service, 5 minutes later at Terminal 3.

I quickly checked in online on my phone before we left the hotel so dropped our bags off. No security queues at all. Straight through, duty free shopping done & just waiting for the plane so chilling out before we find out what gate we're at! [emoji4]

 

I'm sure it was busier flying from Terminal 5 last time we were here!

[vickykay]

We were on the Reflection this past May. Great ship! Have a wonderful time.

[kikki21]

 

So we're now on the plane - at least I booked us extra leg room seats for the 9 hours onboard!

 

Here's to a smooth flight to Miami!

[MR_T]

Fingers crossed for a good flight [emoji4] looking forward to your updates

[Dnasax]

We will also be on the same cruise. I look forward to reading another persons view on everything. Have a safe flight. :)

[kikki21]

Evening all!

We arrived safely in Miami after a bit of a "bumpy" flight in places!

It was miles to walk from where the plane landed to get to US Customs!

 

It took 55 minutes to get through customs where you do the same procedure twice! I thought the machines would speed up check in through customs - er no!

 

Our suitcases were waiting for us in & despite some traffic, we got to South Beach in about 20 minutes or so!

 

Our chic boutique small hotel is very stylish although my husband is choking a bit at the prices ( yes he's a tight git!) [emoji23]

We freshened up & ate dinner at an Italian restaurant nearby called Pappa i Ciccia!

We had a yummy pasta ravioli dish, went across the road to Walgreen's to get some more toiletries ( open 24 hour) & a breakfast yoghurt & we're going to be asleep in record time!

I don't think I'll be suffering with insomnia tonight!

[kikki21]

Morning all!

JUST ONE MORE DAY till cruisetime! [emoji924][emoji93][emoji898][emoji322]

Was so tired last night that we went to sleep very quickly but the good old time difference has woke me up early & unlike my husband who sleeps anytime, anywhere, I am wide awake now as according to my body clock GMT time is 11.24AM & my belly is thinking er why haven't you put food in me! [emoji23]

 

We have a food & Art Deco Walking Tour booked today which will count as our lunch. We will start off with a much needed by then Cuban coffee!

 

When the tour finishes, we're planning to see off the cruise ships leaving port at South Pointe Park for their weekend cruises!

[kikki21]

Evening all!

It's getting closer!

We had a relatively chilled out start to the day with some yummy yoghurt & granola & Tassimo coffee at our hotel as I knew we would be eating a bit of food later on our South Beach Food & Art Deco walking tour.

We walked up to the meeting place a bit early which is where the tour started with Cuban coffee & a pastry!

 

We went along to 4 other places & had a delicious bite to eat at all of them.

 

Argentinian Beef Empanadas.

 

 

Cashew Nut Juice

 

 

And in the same place some Amazing Brazilian potato & chicken croquettes!

[kikki21]

The tour guide was excellent and we only had 1 other person on the tour with us so it was definitely like a private tour! This Brazilian place was on Espanola Way in South Beach which is stuffed with Latin Anerican restaurants of all kinds.

 

We then walked across to Ocean Drive to the fabulous Tides Hotel to sample some Floribbean cuisine with a steamed crab salad.

 

 

We finished off at Washington Avenue at a small Italian restaurant which makes their own ice cream! Wow it was amazing & stored in a very expensive round freezer!

 

The pistachio ice cream was amazing - that concluded our tour which we really enjoyed as our guide Farouk was very informative.

[kikki21]

After a quick pit stop at our hotel, we went to South Pointe Park for one of my favourite things to do, watch the cruise ships leaving the Port of Miami!

 

 

First off was the Carnival Fantasy!

 

 

Followed by the Norwegian Sky and then the cruise ship that started it all off for me, the Majesty of the Seas.

 

 

We've walked nearly SEVEN miles today so I think we're going to a/ sleep very well tonight and b/ I think I can have a decent dinner!

 

We got excited seeing those cruise ships because it's our turn TOMORROW!!!

[MR_T]

Loving the blog, looking forward to cruise day [emoji4]

[nevertolate]

Can you please tell me how long will it take me to go though customs and imigration. ,our flight comes in at 06.30am on Friday from USA ,as we want to book our train to Peterborough .

We arrive T3.

Thanks have a lovely time,we will be on the Reflection doing the Greek island and the Transatlantic .

Christine

[Keith1010]

Enjoying your report.

 

Keith

[swigso]

Fabulous Reort, really enjoying your posts,

The walking tour sounds great could you post

a link

Enjoy your sail away today,👍🏻🎉🎉🍷🍸

[upwarduk]

Can you please tell me how long will it take me to go though customs and imigration. ,our flight comes in at 06.30am on Friday from USA ,as we want to book our train to Peterborough .

We arrive T3.

Thanks have a lovely time,we will be on the Reflection doing the Greek island and the Transatlantic .

Christine

 

How long is a piece of string?

Seriously, it's never taken us very long, but we have British passports, so join the EU line. Other nationalities, the queues can be longer.

I remember being told my sister once that there was a strike on and the queues were taking 2-3 hrs. We landed about the same time as you at T3 and walked straight through!!

[kikki21]

Fabulous Reort, really enjoying your posts,

 

The walking tour sounds great could you post

 

a link

 

Enjoy your sail away today,[emoji106]🏻[emoji322][emoji322][emoji485][emoji483]

 

 

Thank you! It was Miami Food Tours, I booked it through Viator. Here is a photo of the TripAdvisor review page. Tours take place at either 12 or 5pm & Farouk is a great guide! All the food we had on the tour was excellent quality & he takes you to all the family owned restaurants!

[kikki21]

Can you please tell me how long will it take me to go though customs and imigration. ,our flight comes in at 06.30am on Friday from USA ,as we want to book our train to Peterborough .

 

We arrive T3.

 

Thanks have a lovely time,we will be on the Reflection doing the Greek island and the Transatlantic .

 

Christine

 

 

I know it took us about an hour to come through Heathrow 2 years ago but that was Terminal 5. It really depends on how many flights are coming through at that time but I would allow at least an hour!

The Greek Island Reflection itinerary is lovely, you will have a great time! [emoji4]

[kikki21]

So last night we wanted to eat out quite local to us as we'd done a LOT of walking!

I struggled a bit with the heat in the morning but by the time we were on our tour & later, I was fine! Drink lots of water to keep hydrated!

 

We had asked our guide any recommendations for a fish restaurant & he did say Joe's Stone Crab - although this is my 4th visit to Miami, I've never been. They don't take reservations although of course when you get there, they will take your name but as we had already guessed when we arrived there, it was mega busy & an approximately 1.5 hrs wait for a table!

 

It was already quite late so we decided to try elsewhere!

 

Trusty TripAdvisor came in very handy again & we decided to try a Brazilian steak house, definitely influenced by our food on the tour! [emoji4]

 

We went to Fogo de Chao Steakhouse ( currently no 49 on TripAdvisor) there is a row of some really top class restaurants there which were all packed!

 

 

We managed to get in without a reservation & it was a typical Brazilian restaurant experience. You get your bread cheese buns first which are HIGHLY addictive!

 

Then you go to the salad bar!

 

Then you start getting your meats going round on skewers. I have to say that the meat quality was super! Lots of different steaks, lamb chops, pork, chicken, sausages! You simply indicate whether you want more meat with flicking your indicator to green or red to stop!

 

 

You also get sides to go with your meat of garlic mash, fried banana & polenta chips.

 

We left a bit of room for dessert & shared a rather nice Key Lime Pie!

 

All in all it was a great meal! Definitely not cheap but now we have an understanding why restaurant prices are quite high in South Beach as the rent prices are enormous.

 

You would never believe my husband used to be a vegetarian! [emoji23]

[kikki21]

What day is it today??!!

 

I'll tell you that finally it's here, it's CRUISE DAY!!! [emoji898][emoji106]🏻[emoji322][emoji483][emoji512][emoji572]️[emoji924]

 

And our beautiful ship is already in the Port of Miami waiting for us!

 

 

We are aiming to get to the port around 11.30/12.30 ish!

[MR_T]

Enjoy, have fun, eat loads & drink more... Drinks I'd recommend by the pool! Miami Vice, strawberries daiquiri, BBC [emoji39][emoji4]

[jabrown40]

Loved those bbc's!

[kikki21]

Enjoy, have fun, eat loads & drink more... Drinks I'd recommend by the pool! Miami Vice, strawberries daiquiri, BBC [emoji39][emoji4]

 

 

I'm looking forward to the cocktails a LOT! Even my husband likes them hehe! [emoji39]

 

Cruise luggage tags are ON! We are going to have breakfast just opposite to where we are staying & then we will be completing the final packing & getting to the Port!

 

Mmm strawberry daiquiri sounds like a great plan Mr T! [emoji483]

[MR_T]

Loved those bbc's!

 

 

First time I had heard of or tried it was on our last cruise... It won't be the last that's for sure! [emoji39]