Updated 1/14/2013:
Due to lack of interest, the pre-cruise Group Hotel has been canceled for the 4 night Bahamian cruise.
However, the pre-cruise Group Hotel currently remains available for the 14 night WB Panama Canal Cruise
Pre-cruise hotel information:
Since most of us have various places to stay (pre-cruise) in the Orlando / Port Canaveral area, I thought some of us might be interested in staying at a decent hotel (with possible GROUP RATE DISCOUNT), close to the port ... with a possible pre-cruise meet-n-greet.
Marriott Biscayne Bay and Doubletree Grand are both are located on the 1600 1700 block of North Bayshore Drive, and are connected on the first floor. Some rooms overlook the water, and provide views of the ships in port. There seems to be more to offer (restaurants, shops, bars) at the Marriott Biscayne Bay (versus the Doubletree Grand). Then again & youd be able to walk between the facilities, if you so desire.
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN GROUP DISCOUNT PRICING, WE NEED TO SECURE TEN ROOMS on any given night. If we book fewer rooms for any given night, we would NOT get the group discount for THAT night.
I am posting this information on the 5/2 Bahamian Cruise thread, as well as the 5/6 Panama Canal thread & ideally, seeking people who are looking for discounts on rooms for 5/1, and 5/5. If there is interested in additional nights, we can get a discount on those nights, SO LONG AS WE GET 10 ROOMS RENTED for any given night. I cannot guarantee the rate at this time, as either hotel would require me to sign a contract obligating me to pay for 10 rooms for each night. Of course, thats not possible. *** I do not make any money, and I do not get any additional discount or promotion. ***
GROUP RATE PRICING (as of September 2012):
Marriott Biscayne Bay (3.5 stars), May 1 = $169 plus tax (rack rate $199 and up)
Marriott Biscayne Bay (3.5 stars), May 5 = $159 plus tax (rack rate $199 and up)
Doubletree Grand = $139 plus tax (rack rate $179 and up)
Marriott Biscayne Bay link:
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ay/?ttr=2.18bE
Doubletree Grand link:
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hot...SDT/index.html
Though I am posting information about both hotels, I would like to book rooms ONLY at the Doubletree Grand. The rooms are the best deal (cheapest), and you can always lounge around in the public rooms at the Marriott & to save money for the cruise!
*** IF YOU ARE INTERESTED in staying at the Doubletree Grand prior to either cruise, please post how many rooms you would like, and which dates are of interest to you. I will not be able to confirm ANY reservations, unless and until we have interest in 10 rooms. Once we have interest in 10 rooms for a specific night, I will contact each party to advise as to the booking process (you will be given a password to book through the hotel directly, in order to obtain the group rate). If we do not get enough interest by some point in February, I will have to terminate the program.
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Fort Lauderdale to Miami SHUTTLE service:
http://www.jrshuttle.com/Home_Page.html
Flying into Fort Lauderdale? Don't want to rent a car? Consider a scheduled, or private shuttle from Forth Lauderdale airport!
I spoke with one shuttle service (JR Shuttle) ... they have scheduled service in a shared van, departing 8Am, 8AM, 10AM and 11AM. Price is about $12 - $15 pp. If you have five or more people, they will schedule a private van for about the same cost. Since we will have LUGGAGE, JR will bring a trailer to tow behind the van (for luggage, or unruly guests). In the case of the private shuttle service, it will be door to door service. They will pick us up at the airport, and drop us off at the Miami port, Bayside area hotel(s). I have not asked about multiple stops in Miami area.
If you are interested in flying into Fort Lauderdale, and getting a shuttle to Miami ... PLEASE POST A MESSAGE! Hopefully, we can organize a DIS shuttle!
Steven
so what do I do? look into hotels with free shuttle to port of Miami.
