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

[twopeasonepod]

I'll call AGAIN tomorrow. Ugh. I really thought that the guy who helped me had called you DCL.
I hope there are no late charges!
Thanks for the heads up.

PS I wanted to get the travel ins before the final payment and I couldn't do that until I talked about it to my husband. All set. Got a good price from Costco.

OMG forgot to do trip insurance! I was planning to use that site everyone says to use haha.

Well I am going to enjoy the last day of our trip and deal with it when I get home! I hope things work out for you. I think you'll have time, as they had told my mom Tues 1/7 as well.

 

[GromMom]

I'll call AGAIN tomorrow. Ugh. I really thought that the guy who helped me had called you DCL.
I hope there are no late charges!
Thanks for the heads up.

PS I wanted to get the travel ins before the final payment and I couldn't do that until I talked about it to my husband. All set. Got a good price from Costco.

If it helps I just Paid in Full (supposedly 1 day late based on the new date I was given) and it did not appear that there were any late fees on the Costco website.


Let's get ready to cruise!!!

 

[GromMom]

I hope this is not a dumb question but before I book hotel and airfare, is the Disney Wonder sailing out of the Port of Miami? Also is there another port in fort Lauderdale? I've been looking at hotels in ft lauderdale that say cruise and people keep saying the taxi fare is under $10 to the port, that makes no sense to me if they are going to the Port of Miami, as it's 26 miles from my checking google maps. I just want to make sure if we book a hotel that I can actually get over the the right place!

Thanks!

 

[bobbiwoz]

There is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and the Port of Miami.

The Wonder is sailing out of Miami.

We have booked airline through RCCL in the past, we were sailing out of Miami, but they flew us into Fort Lauderdale, so at least RCCL ran a shuttle out of both airports.

When we did things on our own, cruising out of Miami on Carnival, it was hard, but we did find a hotel with free port shuttle.

For this cruise, we are renting a car in Orlando, and we are dropping it off at the airport, Miami, and have been told that Alamo runs a shuttle to the port of Miami. We have some nights at Vero Beach before this cruise.

 

[GromMom]

There is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and the Port of Miami.

The Wonder is sailing out of Miami.

We have booked airline through RCCL in the past, we were sailing out of Miami, but they flew us into Fort Lauderdale, so at least RCCL ran a shuttle out of both airports.

When we did things on our own, cruising out of Miami on Carnival, it was hard, but we did find a hotel with free port shuttle.

For this cruise, we are renting a car in Orlando, and we are dropping it off at the airport, Miami, and have been told that Alamo runs a shuttle to the port of Miami. We have some nights at Vero Beach before this cruise.

Thank you! I really wish this was out of Orlando because I hear the transportation is easy from looking at old threads I think it sounds like I could fly into ft Lauderdale, then either find a hotel there with a free shuttle and then arrange for the sas shuttle, or arrange for the sas shuttle from the ft Lauderdale airport to a Miami hotel that hopefully has a free shuttle? I don't know that I want to rent a car add then dh will have to drop it off before the cruise. It may be cheaper though as there will be 5 of us. So many decisions! Anyone have any hotel recommendations? We will just be staying the night so no need for beach or amenities other than a shuttle.
Thanks!

 

[PrincessJasmine21]

Enjoy!!!

 

[Muushka]

The most important business:

Happy Birthday Bobbi!!

I think there might be another thread on the DIS wishing you a happy one!

Thank you! I really wish this was out of Orlando because I hear the transportation is easy from looking at old threads I think it sounds like I could fly into ft Lauderdale, then either find a hotel there with a free shuttle and then arrange for the sas shuttle, or arrange for the sas shuttle from the ft Lauderdale airport to a Miami hotel that hopefully has a free shuttle? I don't know that I want to rent a car add then dh will have to drop it off before the cruise. It may be cheaper though as there will be 5 of us. So many decisions! Anyone have any hotel recommendations? We will just be staying the night so no need for beach or amenities other than a shuttle.
Thanks!

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).

 

[GromMom]

Thank you muushka! Happy birthday Bobbi!

I WA just looking at the Cambria hotel in ft Lauderdale. We should all coordinate our hotel and then arrange for the same shuttle company, then we'll all be headed to the same place and won't have to wait for other hotel pick ups and cruise drop offs, lol! I wish sometime else was planning so I wouldn't have to be responsible for choosing a place with hard beds or no food within walking distance or a stressful trip to port! I'm so glad to be getting insider tips from all of you!

 

[Brixton]

Just paid off the cruise!! So excited to be Platinum and being able to start booking things next week! Now I just need to figure out what!!

For those of you who did the EBPC or WBPC last year with a stop in Columbia, did you guys do an excursion you'd recommend to others? The kids and I did the horse carriage ride booked through DCL. My kids were very uncomfortable with all the vendors being in their faces, not to be mention miserable in the heat. We may just stay on board here.

How about Key West? I've never been here but I do want to take a pic in front of the sign that says you are at the southernmost point of the US. Is that walkable for a 6 year old from the port?

Las Americas, in Colombia, was popular with families in May. Our tablemates went and loved it, along with a few other families we knew. I know there were hotel employees who kept vendors away from guests during the excursion and I heard food was yummy.

Happy New yEAR! Welcome new families! I am impressed so many are PIF with all res made - congrats!

 

[Muushka]

If you are flying into MIA, I would stay at the Cambria Suites there in Miami.

The one in ft Lauderdale is a great hotel and for those who need parking, you can park for up to 14 days for free and shuttle to Port Everglades and back. fingers crossed they do that for Port of Miami with their new hotel.

 

[ImDMous]

We are paid in full today!! Woop Woop!

Also, airline is done and we are staying at the Double Tree Grand Biscayne Bay and taking SAS from FTL to hotel. The hotel says it's only 1 mile to the port so we'll probably just grab a cab.

Now to start deciding on excursions. Yay!

 

[GromMom]

If you are flying into MIA, I would stay at the Cambria Suites there in Miami.

The one in ft Lauderdale is a great hotel and for those who need parking, you can park for up to 14 days for free and shuttle to Port Everglades and back. fingers crossed they do that for Port of Miami with their new hotel.

I think we will fly into ft Lauderdale as we can take south west, dh is tall and dislikes some of the airlines with cramped legroom which are our options if we fly to mia.

I think I'm leaning towards the holiday inn on 17th, it is near Carrabas which dh loves and is not in our neck of the woods, plus free hotel shuttle from fll

 

[twopeasonepod]

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.

 

[Muushka]

I think we will fly into ft Lauderdale as we can take south west, dh is tall and dislikes some of the airlines with cramped legroom which are our options if we fly to mia.

I think I'm leaning towards the holiday inn on 17th, it is near Carrabas which dh loves and is not in our neck of the woods, plus free hotel shuttle from fll

We wanted SWA also, but they didn't have any good flight times for us. But we did get them for the return flight.


I'm looking at La Quinta Inn & Suites Miami Airport East. Free airport transport, Port of MIA shuttle, breakfast $117.01 including tax. We have stayed at their hotels before. Not bad for us since we arrive at 9:30 PM (hopefully!) on Thursday the 1st.

 

[JenDen]

Well maybe we'll see you in Little Italy.

We were surprised at the difference between Fantasy and Magic and Wonder.
Hopefully someone has eaten on all 3 ships!

We have eaten brunch at Palo's on Magic, Wonder and Fantasy. Food was of course, wonderful. However, when we were on The Fantasy 10/13, the portion size of the chicken parmesan, was smaller than usual and there were new offerings. Our server said they were trying out new dishes and decreasing the size of portions because folks requested it.

I almost ordered a second chicken parmesan.
Cheers, Jen

 

[socababy]

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.

I did some research on all the hotels people have been listing and I decided to book the Hampton Inn and Suites Brickell as well. Thank you for the recommendation! It does have great reviews on Trip Advisor. I like that there is a Publix within walking distance too!

 

[GromMom]

I did some research on all the hotels people have been listing and I decided to book the Hampton Inn and Suites Brickell as well. Thank you for the recommendation! It does have great reviews on Trip Advisor. I like that there is a Publix within walking distance too!

Hmm this does sound good too and is cheaper than I thought I saw when I was looking at Miami hotels. Are you flying into MIA or FLL? Is there a shuttle service to the port and how are you getting to the hotel, e.g. are you planning on getting something like a SAS shuttle from FLL if flying from there?

Sorry for the insane amount of questions but since we all have different places we're coming from I want to make sure I book something that's convenient to a store which Publix sounds like it is, and also easy to get to from the airport and to the port. My concern with free shuttles to the cruise ship is that a ton of people will be queueing up and causing stress, vs having something like a pre-arranged SAS shuttle that will be potentially only coming for our party of 5. I'm guessing you're seeing the kind of traveller I am, I can never really relax until I'm on the last leg of transportation to my destination, e.g. once I'm sitting on the shuttle to the Wonder!

 

[socababy]

Hmm this does sound good too and is cheaper than I thought I saw when I was looking at Miami hotels. Are you flying into MIA or FLL? Is there a shuttle service to the port and how are you getting to the hotel, e.g. are you planning on getting something like a SAS shuttle from FLL if flying from there?

Sorry for the insane amount of questions but since we all have different places we're coming from I want to make sure I book something that's convenient to a store which Publix sounds like it is, and also easy to get to from the airport and to the port. My concern with free shuttles to the cruise ship is that a ton of people will be queueing up and causing stress, vs having something like a pre-arranged SAS shuttle that will be potentially only coming for our party of 5. I'm guessing you're seeing the kind of traveller I am, I can never really relax until I'm on the last leg of transportation to my destination, e.g. once I'm sitting on the shuttle to the Wonder!

I am actually flying into MIA. There is no shuttle to the hotel but according to those on Trip Advisor, it is about $25 to take a taxi to the hotel from the airport. Your other option is to take a rail line from the airport that drops you off around the corner from the hotel. This is only $2.50 I believe a person. I did something similar to this when we sailed Alaska this summer. It was kind of insane because there was 3 adults and 6 kids will everyone pulling luggage. It was convenient and less expensive. Since it's just dd and I and I don't plan on having an excessive amount of luggage, I may choose this route. They also do not have a shuttle to the port. A taxi to the port is around $12 according to those on Trip Advisor. Lots of restaurants around too. We don't get in until 6pm I believe so I'm sure I will just grab something quick somewhere instead of eating at a restaurant. I'll go by dd's lead.

 

[GromMom]

Thanks socababy, sounds like it will end up being about the same price to stay there as the place I was looking once you figure in transportation so I will have to do some figuring and will book soon this trip just went from a far off maybe to being REAL!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes, Muusha and GromMom, I missed them yesterday!

We intend to PIF this weekend so I will be able to book Port Excursions on the 17th. Going through the canal is really the draw for us, but still, I do want to try some other things.

Bobbi