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Last minute questions before cruise


TAK2019

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We are sailing next Sunday out of Miami on the Oasis, and I have some last minute questions which I haven’t been able to find the answers to online. I‘m hoping someone here can help answer them.

1) Husband and I are booked in Sky class while our teenagers are in regular rooms. We booked the Key for them. Will we be able to check in together as a family or are there separate lines and waiting areas for Suites and the Key? If separate, can someone suggest a meeting point on the ship or do we all end up in the same place once on board?

2) I have the Set Sail Passes on the app but our travel agent also sent us all these paper documents (which are the same electronic documents on our account). Do I need to fill out all these documents as well and turn them in to board or is it enough to have the set sail pass and our passports? Agent is already on holiday and I didn’t look into this til now.

3) Any suggestions for Cozumel that is not a Beach Break? The underground River excursion or amazing race? From what I’ve read, the Mayan ruins are not worth it because it’s such a long drive to get there and back. Any comments would be helpful!

4) When disembarking in Miami a week later, is it easy to get an Uber/Lyft/Taxi at the Pier or should we book transportation ahead of time? I can imagine it’s pretty chaotic with so many people leaving and we are a family of six.

5) We have several hours before our flight back to Europe. Any suggestions as to what we can do before heading home? Do we have to drag all the luggage with us or does anyone have suggestions for storage?

 

Thank you for any help you can provide!!

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1) You might be able to get away with this. There is a dedicated suites elevator as you walk into the terminal, so if you go first with the kids in tow, you might have decent luck. As always, YMMV. Regardless, boarding at POM is pretty quick, so even if you are separated it won’t be for long, especially if you arrive after boarding has already started. As far as a meeting place, just pick a spot on the Royal promenade, like the rising tide bar, or the car. 
 

2) Set sail passes on the app are adequate.

3) I have no suggestions here.

4) Very easy to book Uber etc. just be prepared for crazy congestion outside the terminal, so it may take some time for them to get to you. You will have a driver accept the fare quickly though. With a family of 6 though it may not be a bad idea to look into a car service especially if you take into consideration your question #5 and want to plan an activity prior to flights. I believe you would have to take your luggage with you wherever you go. I don’t believe luggage valet is available at POM. Depending on how many hours you have before your flight u can always rent a car for the day. There are many locations right near the port, so your activities and drop off at the airport. There are airboat rides in the Everglades to see alligators not too far from the port. There is always shopping, museums, checking out the Art Deco buildings in Miami Beach area. 
 

im sure others will come up with suggestions. Enjoy your cruise!

 

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In theory the Key and the Suites terminal area are separate.  

You could just approach the Suite elevator with your set sail passes while the kids keep theirs in their pockets.  They'll likely assume you are all in the same suite.  Once upstairs in the suite terminal area they check you in on a tablet.  Generally speaking they have you find a seat then follow you to your seat to check you in with their tablet.  They might say something about the kid's Key boarding passes at that point but probably not. 

They have every right to escort your kids next door to the general area where Key will be allowed to board right after suites but I'm guessing they won't.  If they do then you can go with them.  The difference in boarding will only be a few minutes at most.

If you have your set sail pass in app you are done.  No need to do the TA paperwork.  It never hurts to have a paper copy of your set sail pass which I prefer anyways.  Until you get your cards on board if you want a drink you have to hand over your set sail pass to a bartender.  It's a lot easier to give them a paper pass rather than your phone.  Plus if your phone dies or your drop it having a paper set sail can be a stress saver.

This morning coming off Oasis I joined the self-assist line at 6:15am.   They started letting us off at 6:42am.  I was outside hailing my ride share at 6:48am.  I was through security at the Fort Lauderdale airport with bags checked by 7:31am.  Ride share cost was $35 plus tip but that service wouldn't fit six people.  I assume you are flying from the Miami airport which is closer and will be cheaper.  A private transfer for six will probably work out a lot better.

The beauty of getting off the ship early is that the terminal traffic is very light.  By 8:00am it's busy.  By 9:30am it's chaos.  Even the bus transfer vehicles get caught in the grid lock.  It can take 30 minutes for a vehicle to go halfway around the terminal road right in front of terminal A.

I'd suggest using the first suite escort off the ship on the final morning to beat the crowds.  

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In our last experience at Terminal A, the area for Lyft/Uber was an absolute cluster. And it's really difficult to use Lyft/Uber in Miami in any crowded area because Florida doesn't require front license plates, so you can't confirm you are looking at the right car until it's passed you. So in the throngs of hundreds of people looking for their rides, and the tons of cars trying to find space to park to find you in the space that isn't big enough, we just gave up and took a shuttle (Koala Transportation - large Sprinter vans - ended up being cheaper than a ride share).  Just my opinion.

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We did the Amazing Secret River excursion in Cozumel and we loved it. Be aware that it requires you to take the ferry to the mainland, and many people got sick (we didn't). It was also much more slippery and uneven footing in the cave than I was expecting, so if you have any mobility or balance issues I wouldn't recommend it. We thought it was beautiful and fascinating.

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11 hours ago, TAK2019 said:

2) I have the Set Sail Passes on the app but our travel agent also sent us all these paper documents (which are the same electronic documents on our account). Do I need to fill out all these documents as well and turn them in to board or is it enough to have the set sail pass and our passports? Agent is already on holiday and I didn’t look into this til now.

I can't get my Set Sail Pass on the app, why is that??

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15 hours ago, TAK2019 said:

.

3) Any suggestions for Cozumel that is not a Beach Break? The underground River excursion or amazing race? From what I’ve read, the Mayan ruins are not worth it because it’s such a long drive to get there and back. Any comments would be helpful!

 

 

Thank you for any help you can provide!!

The Amazing Secret River is amazing, if you can tolerate the shuttle ride to Playa Del Carmen.  You are guided in a cave system, and you swim/walk/hike/bend/stoop through the stalactites and stalagmites.   We enjoyed it, but it is physically demanding.  If you don't want to leave Cozumel, we have also tried horseback riding, which was OK and interesting if you don't have much riding experience.  Have a great cruise!

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As for Miami, we took the Big Red Bus tours. They secure your luggage and you ride a hop on/hop off bus on two different routes around Miami. Then they transport to the airport. I guess it depends how much time you have to kill. We walked South Beach and watched them film Bab Boys 3 for awhile. Took bus go airport at 1pm for 330 flight.

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