tonyfsu21

17 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

How is the Fairfield Inn & Suites near the port?  Our friends agreed to cancel the Ramada Inn.  This is their next choice.

Which one? There’s one downtown and one that they call “airport/cruise port”. 

43 minutes ago, EmptyNestTravels said:

@Pooch The reviews on Yelp don't seem to be very good.  https://www.yelp.com/biz/springhill-suites-fort-lauderdale-airport-and-cruise-port-dania

At the end of the day it’s a Springhill Suites so I would imagine there would not be glorious reviews of a mid tier travelers hotel. I can only confirm location is good in regards to proximity to many dining options. This place is also far enough away from the higher end and more desirable locations ($$$$) yet still close (less then 10 min) from the port. I don’t think you can go wrong here. 

2 hours ago, EmptyNestTravels said:

Has anyone stayed at the Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale Downtown (315 NW 1st Avenue)?  Any review/feedback to share?

It’s new & location is ok pre cruise. Lots of great spots to eat & drink near by. Flagler Village is a very artsy and up & coming Fort Lauderdale neighborhood. I recommend Sistrunk Marketplace to grab a bite to eat close by. 

34 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Ok since you are offering opinions, we are booked at the Springhill Suites in Dania Beach, Southwest 18th Court? Yes? No?

Good location for anything you need pre cruise. Dania Pointe adjacent to this hotel offering plenty of dining options. As for the hotel, I believe it’s somewhat new so you should be ok. 

Margaritaville day pass is where it’s at. Check it out. 

On 6/29/2022 at 10:31 AM, AshleyDillo said:

I would suggest Paradise Beach in Cozumel. You pay a small fee per person (was $3 the last time I visited) and then they expect you to spend a $10 minimum on food/drinks. They have a beach and pool and the kids always seem to have a good time. You can add pay extra for access to the inflatable water park if the older kids would want to participate in that.  You should be able to get a taxi easily from the port..prices will be posted. Paradise Beach will have taxis there waiting to take you back.

I second Paradise Beach. This is a good family beach day. I’ve done it many times with my younger children and it’s always been great. 

I’ve seen this envelope on every sailing and it’s normally placed on the bed that last evening of the cruise. I usually toss it in the trash because I “tip tip Hooray” on the first day when I’m flush with cash. By the final night I’m broke and one keyboard click away from re-mortgaging my house. I don’t think the prepaid gratuities are enough for these hard working crew members and I tend to excessively tip everyone. To each his own.

1 hour ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I'm gonna stick with 6216 on deck 6. Keep an open mind and go with the flow. We have a view of the ocean on one of the grandest ships on the ocean. How bad can it really be?

It will be perfect. I’m jealous, enjoy. 

3 hours ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I'm not sure this is technically a lateral movie, a Central Park balcony is technically an inside room and this is now an ocean view balcony. 

I kinda think we might like this now after looking at the deck plans. I mean it could be worse. 

I did look for YouTube videos but not much at all on Oasis deck 6 balcony vids. Just one short one really which surprised me. 

They are still kinda one in the same depending on whether someone prefers the tranquility of a park or the ocean….. Personally I use RU as a means to get to star class so a win is always a huge surprise and very exciting. I don’t think I would be comfortable taking the chance on RU dictating my room location in the OV balcony category which spans basically every deck. Hopefully everything works out for you. A win is a win so congrats.  

1 hour ago, RCIfan1912 said:

First time trying Royal Up and we won but maybe not. Oasis August 14th we had a Central park inside balcony deck 12 and we won Royal Up to a Ocean view balcony to 6216. Not a fan of being low in ships but we have never sailed Oasis. What are your expert thoughts? I'm a but iffy and learned my first lesson in this program. 

We are on Adventure next week and have 3 bids in for 2 bedroom Grand suite, regular grand suite and I think owners suite but can't remember. Really would LOVE to win the 2 Bedroom Grand suite. 

But overall what do you think of the one we did win? Does deck 6 suck? I don't use elevators so this will certainly add to my steps going up the stairs.  Thanks for any info you may have. 

Best bet for Royal up is to try not and bid on a lateral move which may seem enticing but gives RU discretion to move you to what technically is an upgrade yet not a desirable upgrade in your full control (location wise). IMHO only bid for something out of the ballpark like a JS or above so that at least if you have to sacrifice your deck choice you are gaining a large stateroom an undoubtably great view and possibly some suite perks.  

Anyone have recommendations for RC sponsored excursions in Cabo? Thanks

On 7/16/2022 at 9:44 PM, Laurie Lewis said:

If your bid gets accepted on Royalup and then you need to cancel the cruise is the Royalup portion refundable. Let’s assume the cruise is refundable. People on Royalup Facebook are telling me no, I can’t get my Royalup money back if I cancel a refundable cruise. That makes no sense that my Royalup money is lost forever. Why would anyone Royalup then?

So it’s a really great program when you are moving from a loft to Star class or maybe a balcony to a junior suite but I would not attempt a lateral move or anything approaching a single category change (ex: Central Park balcony to “ocean view balcony”) as you may not get the preferred location that you selected when booking original cabin. 

1 hour ago, Spang1974 said:

In my opinion Royal UP is only good if you want to upgrade your already booked room for a higher category at a price you set. For any reason you get assigned a cabin by Royal Up you don't like, you are pretty much stuck. 

100% agree. Royal Up is nonsense unless you are moving “up” which is the intended point. Also, important to note the near impossibility of recouping any money that was charged in error through the program since the RC representatives have no skin in the Royal Up game. 

Bottom line is that you can always find a bar on an oasis class ship where you can get a quick drink. There’s more then enough bars to make everyone happy at all times. Also, it’s important to note if you hand a nice cash tip to one of the bartenders it’s a sure bet your drink order always gets expedited. 

I can’t think of any negatives other then the massive hangovers from the readily accessible free booze in the suite lounge! In all seriousness there’s really nothing better then deck 17 and the lofts unless we’re talking Star class then it’s next level. Go for it!

3 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

The Ramada on SR84 is a real dump. There are better options a bit farther away and much nicer if you prefer not to pay a premium. Do not let proximity to the port be your deciding factor as everything is well connected by highways and little to no traffic on the weekends. I suggest you look at the suburb of Plantation or Sunrise where they have plenty of mid tier (new hotels) at normal prices for this time of year. I would personally rather sleep in my car then at the Ramada. 

3 hours ago, Moby Dick said:

One thing I forgot to mention:  Again, as I remember it, there was a great German Restaurant approximately across the street (on the other side of 84).  I just looked for it on Google Earth and couldn't find it, so it may not exist anymore because of the expansion to 84.  I love German beer and I used to stop in every now and then.  

I lived in the area when 84 was just a two lane road, no I-595 and the City of Weston was nothing but Everglades, no Alligator Alley (which meant, no toll, just 2 lane SR-84 to the west coast), no I-95 or I-75, the airport only had a small surface parking lot and one L shaped terminal with NO security.  It's amazing to me, the changes.  I still love Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor in Dania (not Dania Beach when I lived there).  

84 & 9th: Old Heidelberg. Excellent place and highly recommended. 

23 minutes ago, Moby Dick said:

State Road 84/Marina Mile used (it may still be, I just don't know anymore) to be a fairly swanky in that immediate area (albeit a lot of Boat/Yacht commerce (repairs).  My wife's Lawyer has his office there.  I've never stayed in that particular hotel.  I don't think it was there when I used to live in the area.  If you are driving, it's a straight shot east into Port Everglades.  

Operative term is “used to be”. SR-84 is a bit run down and more commercial (yacht business) now then it was unfortunately. As you know SoFL is hit or miss with millionaires & billionaires living just streets away from run down neighborhoods so it’s sometimes difficult to get a good location pinpointed w/o boots on the ground. 

1 hour ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

We had a reservation for the Embassy Suites at a very decent price (I had booked as soon as I booked the cruise).  This is for our September cruise on Allure.  The couple traveling with us waited to book the hotel and the price at Embassy had gone way up!  So going against my better judgement (and keeping us staying at same hotel) I cancelled the Embassy and booked the hotel they chose.  It is the Ramada by Wyndham Ft Lauderdale/Cruise Port on State Rd.  This one is way cheaper so I am not expecting much…I guess I will find out exactly 2 months from now!  

The Ramada on SR84 is a real dump. There are better options a bit farther away and much nicer if you prefer not to pay a premium. Do not let proximity to the port be your deciding factor as everything is well connected by highways and little to no traffic on the weekends. I suggest you look at the suburb of Plantation or Sunrise where they have plenty of mid tier (new hotels) at normal prices for this time of year. I would personally rather sleep in my car then at the Ramada. 

1 hour ago, ScooterScott22 said:

I’ll be following this since we will be bringing my parents down from the Midwest for our September cruise.  We have not stayed in the area for a cruise but I have been at a number of the hotels for work stays.  
 

Since it was mentioned so just adding that I have been to the restaurant at Bass Pro on a couple of occasions.  It was decent, more of a convenient thing on the second and third times.  If you are in the area or shopping there it is an acceptable option but there are some better options if you want a fancier meal.  It seems to be on par with a little bit nicer chain restaurant.  There was a dish or two, I think it was a smoked fish dip app that was pretty tasty, but don’t quote me on that.

edit:  Yes to the Rustic Inn.  If I recall the food was good but parking seemed to be an issue around there.

Uber to the rustic inn. 

8 hours ago, CALFROM said:

I’ve been trying to consider whether it makes more sense to stay at hotel that is very close to the port, or if we should stay more downtown on Las Olas Blvd.  It’s all still very close and I imagine not that much for an Uber to the port.  We won’t go to the beach so we don’t need to stay by that. I like the idea of having options of being able to walk to things rather than have to take an Uber everywhere but it’s not a dealbreaker for the right hotel.

 

Any recommendations for which area to stay and any hotel recommendations?

 

thanks in advance 

Check out the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas which might be perfect for you. Anywhere in DT Fort Lauderdale is basically 15 min or less to the port. I am local so please let me know if you have any other questions regarding dining suggestions exc. 

20 minutes ago, mpdahmer said:

While I don't buy into the separate bottles under the counter story I do believe the drinks aren't as strong as they are off the ship. We were on the Anthem OTS (pre-covid) and had the drink package. While I'm not a professional drinker but I am no amateur. I had my share of drinks daily and never felt I was getting close to that line or had any kind of hangover. Thinking my tolerance was at an all time high I had two drinks in Bermuda and almost fell off the chair. 

I am in no way complaining, I mean I had the drink package so if it took me 20 drinks to get where 10 does at home, who cares. My wife enjoys Michelob Ultra and she said they seemed to be the same as far as effect. I have also seen them open bottles in front of me so if they are weakening the alcohol it might be some magic trick. Possibly just smaller shot glasses...  

The fact that they would take any considerations whatsoever is hard to believe. I would expect this at a dive bar in Guadalajara but certainly not standard operating procedure from a large corporation with massive ramifications. You can’t exactly charge premium money for a beverage package and get away with watered down drinks and “special bottles under the counter”. 

So a multi billion dollar corporation is watering customers drinks down as part of a standard operating procedure? This is quite a stretch to think that RC would waste their time on nonsense like this. Come on! Is this necessary when you charge $9 for a beer and $15 for a mixed drink????? 

The points don’t go away, they accrue until the next annual review. 

7 hours ago, KLA said:

After Symphony in May we both realized the benefits of the Diamond lounge (having hit Diamond just before the start of the pandemic) and spent a good amount of time there before dinner or for a quick coffee before disembarking to a port. However, it doesn't look like Allure has a Diamond lounge on the deck plans and I recall there was a move to start rolling these out in favor of drink tickets, etc. Was the Diamond Lounge completely eliminated on Allure?

It’s actually the best diamond lounge currently in existence. 2 stories overlooking aft of ship. 

5 hours ago, Jersey Judie said:

You get 10 points roughly for playing at any table for an hour at $10 a bet. Im working on my status now. LOL! When me and my boyfriend play, we start off with Minimum tables, and as we win, we start increasing our bets to $25 a hand. Last cruise he accumulated 280 points on a 3 night cruise playing black jack for 2 hours a night. All in all did not lose any $.

Something seems off with this calculation. You are going to get far more then 10 points in an hour at $10/hand.