Miami Hotel, we like this one!

[Host Sue]

http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com/

Free airport shuttle, free breakfast, plaza across street for liquor runs, burger kings and others close by.

K and Pam, can you include this one in your research for group rates when the time comes?

[kbiggs]

We don't need liquor runs for this one!!! :)

That will be nice, one less suitcase, LOL !!!

[zydecocruiser]

oops...

[Host Sue]

Geez Louise, man, this is gonna take some getting used to!

[kbiggs]

Sooooo funny Susie!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this will be very nice getting use too!:essen8:

I wish all the cruises we take could be Inclusive! :)

Can't wait to :boat: the Destiny now! With no kids! :)

I am excited can you tell???
:Banane45:

[Host Sue]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34438-d224248-Reviews-Hampton_Inn_Suites_Miami_Airport_Blue_Lagoon-Miami_Florida.html

Great reviews at Tripadvisor, #4 hotel out of 132 in Miami!

[PaterHound]

I liked the Holiday Inn where we were for the Liberty. 5 minutes from the port, right across from Bayview Marketplace and the hotel was fine.

[Barryb]

liquor run for booze before the cruise. can i take my beer cooler to pool bar and say"fill er up":essen8:

bubba

[Host Pammy]

I love Miami but really prefer to fly in and out of FLL. Hate Miami airport!! I'm wondering how many others might end up flying into FLL too? Maybe we could look at a hotel for each location and just charter a bus to take us to the pier? Seems FLL hotels are usually a lot cheaper too. Anything down on Biscayne near the Miami pier requires a $25 cab ride and then another $10 to the pier as they downtown / Biscayne hotels do not offer an airport shuttle.

[Host Sue]

I did the FLL thing for a Miami cruise ONCE and would not do it again unless we had chartered transportation. After the cruise was the absolute worst trying to find our one shuttle to take us to the FLL airport, it's the one and only time I've almost missed a flight home after a cruise.

So, unless we got a great deal on airfare and a hotel in FLL, then actually chartered transportation for all of us, I'd just as soon fly right into Miami.

Tons of time to plan, I guess!

I do love Ft. Lauderdale, the beach, Hooters, Howl at the Moon, etc...

[VonnieHound]

I wish all the cruises we take could be Inclusive! :)




After "Fools Gone Wild" Carnival might rethink inclusive packages.

Okay Carnival, be afraid, be very afraid. We're coming back and you will be making us drunk. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[mumsyo]

You know me, I'll just go along with whatever the group is doing--Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, doesn't matter to me. The only good thing about Miami is that I can get non-stop flights with Alaska Airlines--SEA to MIA. But, I can always fly Delta to FLL, too. By the time this cruise comes along, I will have lots of ff miles with Delta (but not enough with Alaska, I don't think) to fly free. I really don't mind the Miami airport--at least it isn't JFK or LAX--those two I really hate.

If I haven't a roomie by the time this cruise comes around (but I think that I will), I will just have to tag along with the rest of you guys.

Marilyn

[MamaHound]

As Petra said, we really liked the Holiday Inn. Our room was huge and right across the street from Bayside Market Place. It was only one mile from the port and the van to take us there cost us $5 each.

[mellyhound]

I loved the Holiday Inn by Bayside. It was really nice. And of course the shopping, Bubba Gump's, drinks will listening to the salsa band....they were all NICE to!!! lol

[PaterHound]

I forgot what a good time we had at Bay View Market. That was fun.

[jfritz]

Hopefully Pammy can get us transportation from Ft Lauderdale to the port. SW doesn't fly to Miami and neither does anyone fly non stop from Baltimore to Miami. Soooooo.......we'll just wait and see what pans out and hope FLL works for us.

[zydecocruiser]

I've used before:
http://www.floridalimo.com/

[trigger467]

I'm game for whatever. Anyone wanna share a cab ride? I'll be coming in from IAD the day before and probably going back on the Monday. Would like to hang out before and after the cruise with any of the fools. You can't get too drunk, right? LOL.

This is going to be AWESOME!!!!!

And, I agree, Carinval may have to reconsider their all-inclusive packages when were done with them.

Gee, can we turn all of the CF cruises into these? :flag_smil


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Read and post cruise reviews (http://www.eCruiseReviews.com)

[mumsyo]

I can get a non stop flight on Alaska Air from Seattle to Miami, which would be very nice. I guess it will all depend on the flight times. Of course, I can fly into Ft. Lauderdale also (but there would be a change of planes). Sandy and I could do either/or. Actually, I don't mind spending the night in Miami.

I have stayed at many Hampton Inns and like them quite a bit. So, I am game to stay where you decide that I should stay.

I would rather fly directly into Miami, however, and then not worry about getting back to FLL for my flight home.

Marilyn

[jrhound]

Im going to have to agree with Sheila and them, I love staying by the port as well so the Hol/Inn will work for us too.
I will probably check out both cities and whatever is the cheaper of the flights i will do. Its usally FLL but it also depends on the airline as well. This will leave out SWA so i guess Airtran will be the one since i want to take off from Rochester.

[jfritz]

I'm hoping that SW will start to fly into Miami before this one!! LOL Otherwise we'll be flying into FLL and taking some kind of shuttle to Miami before the 1/20 cruise.

[MamaHound]

There's a shuttle service right outside of the baggage claim at FLL airport. It's called Go Airport Shuttle. Margie has used them to go from FLL to Miami and they only charged her $20.

[mumsyo]

Has either Pam or Kristi looked into hotels yet for this cruise? I so like to plan ahead of time--but guess this is a bit to far ahead of time, huh? Anyway, updates would be appreciated.

Marilyn

[Host Kristi]

We've got group space held in Fort Lauderdale, still working on Miami. We'll do space in both places as we know people will be flying in to both. We'll have a shuttle to Miami as well. More details to follow.....

[mumsyo]

That sounds like a wonderful plan, Kristi!! You are so good to us!!

[jfritz]

We're booked at the Embassy Suites in Miami. $300 for the nite for 6 of us in a room plus it includes shuttle from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the pier, free drinks for 2 hours and free breakfast. We'll be there for 2 nites before we sail Jan 20.

[mumsyo]

I really haven't thought about this cruise yet--no hotel booked, no air bought, etc. Have to finish paying off my October cruise before I can really start on this one. I'll just make payments when they come due, wait until we have the hotels names--both in FLL and Miami--then see where it is cheaper to fly to (if flying into FLL must add on cost of transportation to MIA).

I will get on it soon, though as I like to have everything in place way ahead of time!!

Marilyn

[jfritz]

We don't have our air yet either and haven't even looked for it!! But I was just searching hotels one nite and came across that deal at the ES. I just figured till you take shuttles both way into consideration plus the room, drinks and food it was a good deal. So....I grabbed it!!! If something better comes along I can always cancel but at least I have it reserved. Besides that since we are sailing the first one before the group I figured there wouldn't be a group hotel.

[sayheyrenee]

Flying into Miami SUCKS! I think their airport is 10 times worse then Chicago O'Hare or Altlanta. I use SW out of Philly to FtLauderdale and dont mind shuttling or taking the train from Ft Lauderdale to Miami. So much better then dealing with Miami airport.

[mumsyo]

I do agree with you about the two airports--FLL is so much easier!! However, being able to take a non-stop flight to Miami rather than having a couple hours stop over flying from SEA to FLL is a PLUS!! I just haven't decided yet which route to take. I'll wait and see which hotels our TA's pick before making a choice. I can do either/or.

I imagine that the air fare for me will be cheaper flying into FLL, however.

I think that I will just do what the majority of people are doing!!

Marilyn

[nughound]

Mumsyo, You can bunk with any of us, anytime!

[mumsyo]

Why, thank you, T!! I really appreciate that thought!! But, you don't have to worry. I do have a roomie already! Just trying to decide whether to book the hotel in FLL or MIA. It will all depend on air fare, I think. Either place is ok with me.

Marilyn

[LtFirefighter/Medic934]

I have really enjoyed staying at the Embassy Suites in both Miami and FLL. Not that any of us really need this but they have an open bar managers reception everynight for 2 hours. I would be game for staying at either Embassy but its not fun without the group so I will follow the masses.

For transportation from FLL to MIA there is a great and realiable buy that I have used down there. It is SAS Trasportation and the most they charge is $13 per person for a ride from anywhere in Ft Lauderdale to Miami port. The more people you have the less the price is per person. The vans I have riden in have been nice and clean and the drivers very nice and always on-time.

There are my two cents worth. Can't wait to see everyone again.

[mumsyo]

Sandy and I are staying at the "group hotel" in FLL. Using whatever shuttle service that the group is using.

Marilyn

[Host Sue]

We will be staying with Pete and Kelly precruise for two night, so don't need a hotel. :)