OK! Here is our spring break cruise plans

[Trekker]

Please tell me what you think - am I missing anything.

Thursday 3/27/03 Leave home, Drive to Milwaukee – stay one night (free with Starwood points) at the Sheraton.

Friday 3/28/03 – fly out on Midwest express at 8:40 AM arrive MCO at 12:20.
Pick up avis rental car and drive to Port Canaveral – check in at the Raddison (2 king bed suite with whirlpool $99. using the FALL discount code. Some time in here go to grocery store get soda and snacks to take on ship. Maybe explore Cocoa Beach?

Saturday 3/29/03 – Return rental car to Avis at the Radisson. Get to the ship by about 1:00 PM? (Is there any reason to be there sooner?) Set sail

Saturday 4/5/03 – return to port. Get rental car from Avis at the Raddison. Drive to Orlando. Check in at HIFS for 2 nights. Visit Disney parks for Sat, Sun and Monday.

Monday 4/7/03 – Return Avis rental to MCO – catch return flight at 5:10 PM – arrive Milwaukee 6:55 pm – Drive home – start planning next trip…


What do you guys think? What have I missed? Those of you who have done this many times before – do I have everything covered?

 

[cruisnfamily]

We stayed in one of the king suites the night before our cruise and absolutely loved it! Great room, great jacuzzi, great pool area.

For those that have asked about parking there while on the cruise, I wouldn't do it! The parking lot is secured by an "arm" that lowers to prevent you from driving further into the parking lot however this arm was broken when we were there 2 weeks ago. Also, there is no fencing or anything surrounding the area so anybody that wanted to could walk right up to your vehicle, they just couldn't drive to it if the arm was functioning.

About getting there early. We arrived between 10:30 and 11:00 and were pleased with this. We checked in and the check in lines were only about three people deep. People were already lining up to board the ship but we chose not to do this. We just checked out the ships model and the kids watched videos on the TVs while sitting in comfy couches. We also got some pics with Mickey, etc. Boarding started about 12:15pm and we still did not get in line. After the line was gone, maybe about 12:40ish we just walked right onto the ship. We were in plenty of time for lunch and in plenty of time for ressies if we had wanted them.

So, that's our .02$. Hope it helps!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Trekker

Stay one night (free with Starwood points) at the Sheraton.

I really like Starwood's program. It's so much easier to redeem awards with that program than with Hilton HHonors or Marriott Rewards.

Fly out on Midwest express

What a nice, comfortable way to travel. I've only used Midwest Express once... to bad my travels don't take me via Milwaukee more often!

Pick up avis rental car and drive to Port Canaveral – check in at the Raddison... Some time in here go to grocery store get soda and snacks to take on ship. Maybe explore Cocoa Beach?

Sounds good. Maybe you'd like to go see the manatees that Shirley has spoken of?

Saturday... Return rental car to Avis at the Radisson.

Depending on how many people and how much luggage you have, you may find it easier to take most of the people and luggage over to the port in the rental car. Then one person can return the car and return to the ship in the Radisson shuttle or the Avis shuttle. That'll save you from schlepping your bags on and off a shuttle bus.

Get to the ship by about 1:00 PM? (Is there any reason to be there sooner?)

Depends on whether you want to take part in the "Ressies Scramble" to get the best times at Palo or the best appointments at the spa. If you do, you will want to be there sooner. If not, then 1pm would be fine.

Saturday... return to port. Get rental car from Avis at the Raddison. Drive to Orlando. Check in at HIFS for 2 nights. Visit Disney parks for Sat, Sun and Monday.

Sounds like fun.

Monday... Return Avis rental to MCO – catch return flight at 5:10 PM – arrive Milwaukee 6:55 pm – Drive home – start planning next trip…

Planning the next trip... sounds like a good antidote to the post-trip letdown.

I think you've got a good plan here.

 

[Michelle]

I would definitely plan on getting to the terminal BEFORE 1:00 pm, you want to enjoy the nice lunch and get any spa or Palo reservations taken care of. Plus that will give you plenty of time to explore the ship before the 4:00 safety drill.

The rest of your plans look good!

 

[Trekker]

I'm getting the hint we may want to go to the port before 1 PM.

What time can you do check in?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Trekker

What time can you do check in?

Check-in <i>officially</i> starts at 11:00, but it <i>usually</i> starts just a few minutes after the gates open (which is usually around 10:30).

 

[Trekker]

Thanks Dave!