Elite Cruise

[nol4am]

Sorry if this has been discussed I searched and didn’t see a post. We are booked on my first elite cruise out of Miami. We are flying into Miami.  I think we get complimentary shuttle to and from the airport.  How does this work?  Do I just book n pay for the shuttle or is there a process? Also we have never flew into Miami before. Any recommendations on a nice safe place to stay one night before departure ? Does the complimentary shuttle also apply from hotel to port?  Thanks In advance.  
 

Patricia 

Edited March 4, 2023 by nol4am

[May1cruiser]

my understanding is that you will get an email a few weeks before to ask for your choices for 

transportation as well as drinks for your room. 

[grimpil]

• #25  

Posted December 21, 2022 (edited)

  On 12/21/2022 at 9:04 AM, grimpil said:

Quick question about transfer provided. We are considering flying in a day early to Barcelona prior to our first elite cruise in Oct. Will the transfer pick us up at any hotel or does it have to be an airport? Also cruise ends in port Canaveral , I expect it would cover transport to MCO, would it be the regular carnival transfer?

The transfers provided on an Elite cruise are always a private vehicle exclusively just for you. Whatsmore there's no stipulations on which segment you use each transfer for, in other words it doesn't have to be to/from the ship pier. Therefore it's in you best interests to use them for your most expensive transfers. In your case it would be BCN to your Barcelona hotel, then Port Canaveral to MCO. The taxi fare from your Barcelona hotel to the ship pier will be less money than the airport transfer. 

You'll get the initial email around 3-4 weeks before embarkation, then when you indicate you're taking the transfer a few days after you respond to the initial email you'll receive another email directly from the transfer company. They are an excellent company, and we had no issues with them in Barcelona.

Helpful hint: make sure whoever is the Elite member has their name registered as a guest in the hotel. The driver will confirm with the front desk of your hotel that they have arrived and are waiting for you. If there's no one registered at the hotel under the name, it will cause confusion and possibly a cancelled transfer.

Also remember gratuities are already included, but you're always welcome to tip extra for excellent service. Tbh I don't necessarily think it is necessary to do that in Barcelona, but if there is a special circumstance that you feel warrants extra gratuities, go right ahead. 

Edited December 21, 2022 by kwokpot

[kwokpot]

On 3/4/2023 at 2:07 PM, nol4am said:

Any recommendations on a nice safe place to stay one night before departure ?

What is your price range? People as for recommendations but without a price range what I would want to pay vs what you want to pay may be two different things.  What time do you get into Miami? The reason for that question if you're getting in late in doesn't matter as much whether the hotel you choose is in walking distance to things to see and do. 

[cruisinqt]

On 3/4/2023 at 1:07 PM, nol4am said:

Sorry if this has been discussed I searched and didn’t see a post. We are booked on my first elite cruise out of Miami. We are flying into Miami.  I think we get complimentary shuttle to and from the airport.  How does this work?  Do I just book n pay for the shuttle or is there a process? Also we have never flew into Miami before. Any recommendations on a nice safe place to stay one night before departure ? Does the complimentary shuttle also apply from hotel to port?  Thanks In advance.  
 

Patricia 

As mentioned above you will get an email before the cruise detailing your Elite perks. For me it has always come 21 days before the cruise. They will have you choose what alcohol, juices, and sodas you want waiting for you in your room. Then you can book your free transportation. There will be a link in your email showing you how to book it and it’s already prepaid for you. You get two rides and you can choose where and when. It can be from the airport or hotel or Airbnb or whatever. It’s always a private ride in a high end vehicle which is very nice. Don’t forget that you get free room service. So you can order steak dinners, pizza, a 12 pack of sodas, or even a bottle of wine and it’s all free. They will send the $50 fruit basket midweek (there’s a picture of it in the online food delivery section on Carnival). They’ll also send a plate of cookies and a bottle of wine too. You should get a free Elite gift like a suncare kit and one other nicer item like a large beach towel, shower speaker, or on our last cruise it was a nice tumbler that said Elite on it. They will give you a free excursion (there are several to choose from) or you can spend $150 pp in the spa instead if you choose. 
 

As for Miami hotels we like to stay in the Blue Lagoon area. There are several decently priced hotels there and they all face a very pretty lake. Since I’m a Hilton rewards member and often have points I can use I usually stay at the Homewood Suites, the Hampton Inn & Suites, or Tru by Hilton. It’s close to the port, it’s in a safe neighborhood, and there are grocery stores and shopping nearby. 

 

[dallasdan]

Don't forget they have special drawings in the casino most nights for elite cruisers only.  I am always amazed at how many names are called and they are not in the casino to claim the prize.  

[mz-s]

11 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

Don't forget they have special drawings in the casino most nights for elite cruisers only.  I am always amazed at how many names are called and they are not in the casino to claim the prize.  

 

My understanding is you don't even need to be playing to win, they don't filter the list of names by who is actively playing.

[kwokpot]

21 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

My understanding is you don't even need to be playing to win, they don't filter the list of names by who is actively playing.

You are correct. 

[dallasdan]

That is why it is so crazy to me the amount of elite players that are not present for the drawings.  

[Old Fart Cruisers]

7 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

My understanding is you don't even need to be playing to win, they don't filter the list of names by who is actively playing.

 

I believe your name is entered into the computer one time for every 100 points earned up to that point and they stay for the duration of the cruise, so when you watch the names spinning you will see some names come up a lot.  So while they have a higher chance of having their name called, they don't win if they don't hear there name called (even if they are actually in the casino).

[dallasdan]

That is for the standard drawings for all casino players, it is called the Fireball drawing.  I am referring to the special drawings they have at night for Elite players only.  

[nol4am]

On 3/5/2023 at 7:35 PM, kwokpot said:

What is your price range? People as for recommendations but without a price range what I would want to pay vs what you want to pay may be two different things.  What time do you get into Miami? The reason for that question if you're getting in late in doesn't matter as much whether the hotel you choose is in walking distance to things to see and do. 

Thanks!  I’m hoping to find a safe area with a room around $200 or less.  We’d be getting to Miami around 5 pm.  

[nol4am]

On 3/5/2023 at 9:20 PM, cruisinqt said:

As mentioned above you will get an email before the cruise detailing your Elite perks. For me it has always come 21 days before the cruise. They will have you choose what alcohol, juices, and sodas you want waiting for you in your room. Then you can book your free transportation. There will be a link in your email showing you how to book it and it’s already prepaid for you. You get two rides and you can choose where and when. It can be from the airport or hotel or Airbnb or whatever. It’s always a private ride in a high end vehicle which is very nice. Don’t forget that you get free room service. So you can order steak dinners, pizza, a 12 pack of sodas, or even a bottle of wine and it’s all free. They will send the $50 fruit basket midweek (there’s a picture of it in the online food delivery section on Carnival). They’ll also send a plate of cookies and a bottle of wine too. You should get a free Elite gift like a suncare kit and one other nicer item like a large beach towel, shower speaker, or on our last cruise it was a nice tumbler that said Elite on it. They will give you a free excursion (there are several to choose from) or you can spend $150 pp in the spa instead if you choose. 
 

As for Miami hotels we like to stay in the Blue Lagoon area. There are several decently priced hotels there and they all face a very pretty lake. Since I’m a Hilton rewards member and often have points I can use I usually stay at the Homewood Suites, the Hampton Inn & Suites, or Tru by Hilton. It’s close to the port, it’s in a safe neighborhood, and there are grocery stores and shopping nearby. 

 

Thank you!  Great information. I’ll look up the Blue Lagoon area now.