May 2, 2014 - A WONDERous trip through the Locks WBPC

[bobbiwoz]

Is anyone interested in a Post Card exchange? Sending post cards from your hometown, area, with just a few words about yourselves?

Bobbi

 

[JenDen]

We had originally booked a hotel FLL at a Holiday Inn Express, but now are at Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell. I am huge on Trip Advisor, and it is #2 in Miami. Plus very convenient to port and to Marlins Park.

Thanks for the recommendation! We made reservations there too. I was thinking we could have a meet up but our flight doesn't get in til 2300. Maybe breakfast?
Cheers, Jen

 

[PirateBob]

The most important business: Happy Birthday Bobbi!! I think there might be another thread on the DIS wishing you a happy one! We cruised out of Miami last month. I can tell you where NOT to stay, Red Roof Inn. it was awful. But the hotel provided a shuttle to the port and we had to take a cab back. The hotel (if that's what you want to call it) was over by the airport and the cab cost about $22. Not bad. If you get a large enough cab, that is what it will cost for a cab from over by the airport. We are looking at Embassy Suites. They do provide airport transport but no cruise shuttle. I am also going to call Cambria Suites. They were awesome in FLL and this is a new one now in Miami also. They are undecided about the port shuttle so I am going to give them a few weeks to figure out if they're going to provide it or not. Has anyone found a hotel that provides Port and Airport shuttles (besides Red Roof Inn (for obvious reasons!))? And last but not least, Costco final payment due date: I spoke twice on 2 separate occasions to 2 different agents regarding the final payment date. 1/31 and today. Both times they called DCL to verify. DCL final payment date is 2/16/1014. Costco is 2 weeks prior making it 2/2/2014. I think I made enough of an impression that if anyone calls, they should be aware of the problems we have all had and should give you 2/2/14 as the final payment date. I will pay it off in a couple of days just because it has been so irritating, but I did have to book the travel insurance prior to that final payment so I want a buffer. Costco uses Travel Guard. On TG website our insurance was going to be $263. Through Costco website it cost $200. Saved $63. So what insurance does everyone else use? We have one coming up in Dec and I need to get it? (but we didn't book with Costco for this one).

Bano and I are staying at La Quinta Miami Airport east has Port of Miami shuttle as well as airport. We stayed there the last time we left out of PoM and it wasn't bad. Free breakfast but do not eat at the Bennigan's in walking distance. It was terrible we will drop off the rental at the airport then eat there before going back to hotel.

 

[aan1701]

Well we are defiantly flying into FLL. No MIA for us. Not sure were we will stay yet but we will be renting from Alamo at FLL and return at MIA then use the free shuttle to the ship. That's what we did last year so yes I can tell those who are wondering for a fact that Alamo offers a free port shuttle from MIA. Now when we get to San Diego we will probably have a friend pick us up who lives by us and drive us back to LA.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[GromMom]

Well we are defiantly flying into FLL. No MIA for us. Not sure were we will stay yet but we will be renting from Alamo at FLL and return at MIA then use the free shuttle to the ship. That's what we did last year so yes I can tell those who are wondering for a fact that Alamo offers a free port shuttle from MIA. Now when we get to San Diego we will probably have a friend pick us up who lives by us and drive us back to LA.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

Good to know there is a rental with shuttle option, I'm just concerned about having to split up, I know it wasn't too bad when my son wasn't yet walking but I can just see having to chase him through the terminal and dh not being able to find us once he returns the car! Luckily we live in San Diego so I figure I can just send DH home for the car in a cab. We live pretty close to the airport so I figure we can just start walking home and he can pick us up somewhere along the way

 

[twopeasonepod]

Thanks for the recommendation! We made reservations there too. I was thinking we could have a meet up but our flight doesn't get in til 2300. Maybe breakfast? Cheers, Jen

No prob! Our main mission will be to get to the game, and I imagine we will be pretty haggard after traveling so far (can't get farther away and still be in the same country haha). To be honest, I don't think we will make breakfast other than either DH getting it for us or all of us rushing down to grab some stuff on the go. Sorry! But we will be at the meet on embarkation.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[twopeasonepod]

Well we are defiantly flying into FLL. No MIA for us. Not sure were we will stay yet but we will be renting from Alamo at FLL and return at MIA then use the free shuttle to the ship. That's what we did last year so yes I can tell those who are wondering for a fact that Alamo offers a free port shuttle from MIA. Now when we get to San Diego we will probably have a friend pick us up who lives by us and drive us back to LA. Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

We are renting with Budget (so far) FLL to somewhere near PoM. I can't remember if they had a shuttle, but it's so close that DH can take a cab.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Muushka]

Bano and I are staying at La Quinta Miami Airport east has Port of Miami shuttle as well as airport. We stayed there the last time we left out of PoM and it wasn't bad. Free breakfast but do not eat at the Bennigan's in walking distance. It was terrible we will drop off the rental at the airport then eat there before going back to hotel.

We stayed at the Red Roof Inn right by La Quinta. We ate at a restaurant right next door (don't think it was Bennigan's). It was horrible. So we are going to eat at the airport too! We arrive late (9:30) so we need to get to the hotel by 11 (last shuttle). It will be an interesting evening! See you soon!

 

[bobbiwoz]

It does not seem that anyone else will be at Disney's Vero Beach the night before! I'll keep asking...that's where we'll be! Oh yeah, we are PIF as of this afternoon!

 

[twopeasonepod]

OMG I forgot to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOBBI!

 

[bobbiwoz]

OMG I forgot to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOBBI!

Hey, you extended my celebration!YEAH,

Thank you!

 

[Jcmh]

Well we are defiantly flying into FLL. No MIA for us. Not sure were we will stay yet but we will be renting from Alamo at FLL and return at MIA then use the free shuttle to the ship. That's what we did last year so yes I can tell those who are wondering for a fact that Alamo offers a free port shuttle from MIA. Now when we get to San Diego we will probably have a friend pick us up who lives by us and drive us back to LA.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

Hi Alan,
We are considering doing a rental from Alamo for this year's cruise. Do you recall how often the shuttles from MIA left for the port?

 

[aan1701]

Hi Alan, We are considering doing a rental from Alamo for this year's cruise. Do you recall how often the shuttles from MIA left for the port?

I think it was at the top and bottom of every hour. All I remember is we dropped off around 9:50 and we were on our way to the port by 10:30

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[ImDMous]

Hey I have a question for those of you that have done this cruise before. What were the theme nights? Do we have a formal/semi-formal and all that? Does anyone know if Cruiseline Formalwear rents for cruises that don't return to the same place? We like to get dressed up and we usually rent a tux for DH so we don't have to pack it. Do they just throw them all in a big box and ship them back to Miami?

Thanks!!! Getting down to the nitty gritty planning now.

 

[socababy]

On the 2012 EBPC, we had one formal and two semi formal nights if I remember correctly. Sorry I don't know anything about renting tuxes.

 

[aan1701]

On all DCL trips I have taken at either 14 or 15 nights their has been 2 formal and 1 Semi formal nights.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[Jcmh]

I think it was at the top and bottom of every hour. All I remember is we dropped off around 9:50 and we were on our way to the port by 10:30 Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

Thanks!

 

[Jcmh]

Hey I have a question for those of you that have done this cruise before. What were the theme nights? Do we have a formal/semi-formal and all that? Does anyone know if Cruiseline Formalwear rents for cruises that don't return to the same place? We like to get dressed up and we usually rent a tux for DH so we don't have to pack it. Do they just throw them all in a big box and ship them back to Miami? Thanks!!! Getting down to the nitty gritty planning now.

I looked into this for last year's WBPC and they did do rentals. The cost they quoted me was $85 for the Classic Black Tuxedo Package. Shoes were $12.

Now the crazy part is that they wanted the same amount for a kid's tux! I could have bought a new kid's tux for less.

We ended up skipping it last year and just packed my husband and little boy's suit. I'm sure we'll end up discussing it again for this year because we had waaaaay too much luggage last time.

 

[ImDMous]

I looked into this for last year's WBPC and they did do rentals. The cost they quoted me was $85 for the Classic Black Tuxedo Package. Shoes were $12.

Now the crazy part is that they wanted the same amount for a kid's tux! I could have bought a new kid's tux for less.

We ended up skipping it last year and just packed my husband and little boy's suit. I'm sure we'll end up discussing it again for this year because we had waaaaay too much luggage last time.

Oh good, thanks! That's weird that the kid's and adult's where the same price. Both times we've rented from them have worked out well though, so we'll probably do it again.

 

[Muushka]

We have officially paid off our cruise. A tad early, but glad to have it paid.

I was wrong about our gift card from Costco. I guess because the price came down so much with the discounts from DCL, so did the gift card amount. $305. But I am not complaining!