Audrey V.

We are on the same cruise.  I found a few on the site Costco Travel uses, but did not book.  Husband was concerned about canceling excursion if COVID-19 restrictions get nasty. 

We are the type who generally walk around (except if we are getting a rental car, but not for this trip). Found a website called visitsites.com, that was helpful for Cherbourg and Le Havre.  

I like Bayside too. So close to the port. Take a waterboat tour and see the bay.

If you are renting a car anyway to deal with your luggage (hidden in the trunk to avoid temptation), you may want to see what excursions are offered and be a DYI. I would suggest the Seaquarium on Key Biscayne or Jungle Gardens on Watson Island, both relatively close to the Port ofMiami. 

Anthem??? 

I don't think it will be canceled because Ulraine and Russia are both far away,  but if fuel prices continue to increase, there may be a fuel surcharge.

Department of State posts alerts when they think US citizens should not go to a country.  You can get emails from them. 

Western Europe should be safe.

On 1/20/2022 at 12:32 PM, bobroo said:

Boarding Anthem today. Anthem, the Tear Drip Memorial, Manhattan skyline, and a diminutive Lady Liberty.

 

Amount of people at the park? Only me

Total cost? $0

 

Awesome!!!

Fort Lauderdale has very convenient port parking and it's the cheapest I know. Felt the car was safe.

If you have an extra day and looking for an economical solution,  why don't you book lodging in Cocoa Beach and rent a car, going one way from MCO to the Port. I think some of the lodging may have shuttles, and if so,  you can drop the car off early. 

Obviously,  the big attraction in Cape Canaveral is NASA, but of educational science is not your thing while on vacation,  Cocoa Beach has a nice beach. I believe the very first Ron Jon's surf shop is there. 

PS- check Groupon 

I haven't done the excursion,  but I am originally from Miami. You probably do not have time to go to the National Park, but if you rent a car, it is literally a straight drive to "Four Corners", which is where 8th Srreet (aka Calle Ocho-- historic Little Havana) meets up with Krome Avenue. From 8th you go straight west. 

There are a lot of air boat vendors.  I think the closest is Cooperstown, which has been there before I was born. They have airboat rides and alligator shows. Don't forget to look for birds.

You should have plenty of time to drop off your rental car at MIA. If you are driving on 8th Street to the airport instead of the expressways, I recommend getting Cuban Food. There are other Caribbean choices,  but you can go classic like Versailles,  but my favorite is La Carreta (the wagon wheel). 

Any luck with a 4 inch solar fan that plugs into an USB port? Helps circulate air for drying clothes.

11 minutes ago, Geoff P said:

The wait staff in the main dinning rooms…have never had a bad experience.  Our last cruise our waiter was Elvis from India, he and my wife were talking about how much she likes Indian food and he said he would take care of her, brought out off menu Indian food for her to try, she loved it.  Just a little extra that really makes the cruise that much better, we really enjoyed all the staff on that cruise though.

So I probably need to change to the dining section, but there is an Indian food menu in the MDR. What other menus are available?

I read it to mean you can charge before the trip or reconcile later, but if you want to go above the suggested gratuity, bring cash and envelopes, and distribute accordingly.  

I think the term Friends of Bill W. is used on all cruises.  My DH has been sober for about 15 years,  and usually after a meeting or two, we meet similar couples where one maintains sobriety.  

So while we have taken cruises from other brands, this is our first RCL since 2008. Back then, I paid for our gratuities as we embarked, and on the last day they gave me vouchers to put in the envelope.  Extra cash could be discreetly added. At our table was another couple who had to go to the ATM to get cash to hand out tips. 

Since 2008, other cruises allow the prepay,  but no vouchers. If there is no proof of payment,  the affected family had to go to the office to pay up and could not disembark.

I am assuming that paper is long gone, and they know electronically if you paid out. 

Hmmm.  Florida and the Caribbean in midAugust is prime hurricane season.  Still, it is a good time to visit after the afternoon rains, letting the area cool down. 

You may want to go to some of the beaches for your extra time.  I suggest the west coast beaches. Sanibel,  Captiva and the Lee Island Coast have shelling and really good sunsets. Sarasota's Siesta Key has the best sugar sand. For quirkiness,  I think Venice with its shark teeth is really cool, and it had a mid-century vibe usually only replicated at amusement parks.  

We have been to London before. Since we are planning a six month trip and being in the British Isles for a few months to meet Schengan rules, I meant that we could start somewhere where socially distancing is really easy in the event we need to isolate and then go to London later into the summer. 

Good info. We are currently nomadic, and had postponed Europe during Covid. I think I will speak to my husband about changing our first stay in Britain to someplace quiet, in the event we have to isolate post cruise. We are both vaccinated and bolstered, so not sure what we will have to do by May 13th, but perhaps a quiet stay for our first week out, instead of London. For some reason,  Bristol is still in my thoughts.  

Any suggestions of a small town to consider?

So as a US citizen planning to go on the Anthem transatlantic,  we booked a hotel for the first 7 nights in London which we can cancel by May 10th or so. Assuming all is well, we will figure it out from there. But, if we test positive, can we quarantine in Bristol or Southhampton? 

If you don't mind a long walk (or take a jitney), I love conch salad and conch fritters at Potters Cay. They make it while you watch, straight from the shell.