Cruise Talk: Miami Port

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Author

Topic: Miami Port

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 02-06-2000 04:10 PM

How far of a drive is it to the Miami pier from the airport? We just got our cruise documents and air assignments, and are scheduled to land in Miami at 3:16pm. The ship is scheduled to leave at 5:00pm. I'm a little concerned! I asked my travel agent about it, and she said that because RCCL assigns the air, that they won't leave without us if our plane is delayed. (within reason, of course...)

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 02-06-2000 05:21 PM

The Miami airport is very close, 10 - 15 minutes. Depending on which airline you are coming in on, it can be a long walk to baggage. I think your travel agent is correct about the ship waiting, but I do not know what is within reason.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 02-10-2000 01:14 PM

Laura,
If there is a problem with the air connection, it will not be in Miami. Even though you book your air travel through the Cruise Line, they do not take responsibility for missed connections or delayed flights.On our last cruise the airline canceled the commuter flight to New York 10 minutes before it was to take off. Seven out of 18 passengers on the flight were making connections for cruises. We all "Missed the Boat". For our cruise in March we are leaving three days early.

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 02-10-2000 01:30 PM

Nothing stresses me out more than flying on the same day of embarkation, especially if you're connecting somewhere in the midwest(U.S.A) during the winter. I'm telling yah, my stomach is in knots worrying about who will miss the connection, ME or my BAGS.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-10-2000 01:46 PM

One year when we were on a cruise out of Tampa we went down a day early, met a group at the hotel who also were sailing with us and one young couple (their first cruise) had their luggage either stolen, misplaced or lost at the hotel. They saw it sitting with the rest of the group's luggage outside the hotel on arrival and that was it. Needless to say they were very upset. Either the hotel or the cruise line sent them in a limo to a nearby mall and they did a great job shopping for the cruise. Don't know whether they ever found their luggage.
We always go down a day early no matter what time of year it is. We have had snow in April and November in Toronto, so never take a chance. I'm like you MagnmPI, my stomach is in knots, until I see that luggage coming off the carousel and at the hotel we never left it outside the room to be picked up by hotel staff to be put on a bus, we took a cab. Even then, on one cruise, my husband's garment bag did not arrive until after we sailed - more knots.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 02-10-2000 03:51 PM

Thanks for the info, eveybody! I am pretty concerned...we're flying out of the Midwest, and snow is certainly a possibility! YIKES! I wish we would've planned to go a day early...I wonder if it's too late now...we leave on Feb. 27th. Maybe I'll call my travel agent!

By the way...it's driving me crazy to keep seeing the abbrevation "LOL" on these boards! WHAT DOES LOL MEAN??????? Somebody PLEASE tell me before I die of curiosity! Thanks!

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 02-10-2000 04:09 PM

One meaning for "LOL" is 'Little Old Lady'

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 02-10-2000 05:00 PM

...and the other meaning is Laughing Out Loud.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 02-10-2000 05:16 PM

Another is "Lots Of Luv"

Choose what you think fits

Haveagreatcruise

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

corinne at travelpage
First Class Passenger
Member # 537

posted 02-10-2000 08:36 PM

FYI (for your information), LOL means "laugh on-line".

I also agree with arriving at departure city at least one day before sailing. I've heard too many horror stories. Plus, it's usually fun to spend time in port. We like hanging out in South Beach when departing from Miami.

Corinne

Posts: 48 | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 02-10-2000 09:31 PM

"LOL" generally means "Laughing Out Loud." Internet junkies are bad about that sort of thing. The worst I have heard is "ROFLMAOASTC." Turns out it was used on a pet forum, and it meant "Rolling On Floor Laughing My A** Off And Scaring The Cat."

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 02-11-2000 02:56 PM

Laura:
RCL will hold the ship for late flights. Somehow they keep track of those ones who have allowed them to buy the airline tickets and paid for their transfers. If you have made your own flight arrangements and transfer arrangements, RCL has no way of knowing when you arrive and you are screwed.
Always better to go the day before, but the next best thing is to allow the cruise line to buy the plane tickets and handle your transfers. The thing I absolutely cannot stand is when people don't tag their luggage before they fly. The transfer may only be 10 15 minutes from the pier (barring good traffic), but if you have to wait for these idiots to tag their luggage the bus will wait for them to do so. It's not fair at all. If you cannot read your ticket book pior to leaving, then you need to get your own taxi to the pier.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-11-2000 03:43 PM

It is a good thing to have your tags on your bags if you are flying down the day of the cruise, as sometimes the baggage will be pulled and sent directly to the ship. On one of our recent cruises with a small group, we went down the night before and HAL staff were at the carousel and when we got down there they had all the luggage lined up and we just had to identify it. They then had the red cap take it directly to the bus. This was great as we didn't have to lug it out to the bus. And Ascendency is right. If you buy your flight and transfers from the cruise line they will hold the ship for delayed flights. They seem to know these things. Many times we have been delayed sailing waiting for a group from a flight that has been delayed. If you live in a snowbelt, go the day before or if you can manage it 2 days before.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 02-12-2000 10:06 PM

I have done both. Fly the day before and fly the same day. I live in Atlanta GA. so the flight is under 2 hrs. We do are own air since the number of flights out of Atlanta to Florida are numerous. We always get a very early morning flight then rent a car in Miami and go to South Beach for breakfast. There are numerous places to eat and all the art neco is interesting. We then drive over to Bay Side to kill some time before boarding. There are lots of tourist shops, bars, and restraunts. There is an Avis car rental return right on Dodge pier which is very convient. (When renting the car we always make sure the trunk is large enough to hold all the luggage.)
No matter when I leave I always worry about the luggage coming off the plane. I have already started driving my husband crazy on this subject and have 3 weeks to go before we leave. At least I am not watching the weather channel checking on hurricanes!

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 02-14-2000 09:07 AM

When the Cruise Line provide Airline tickets for a cruise, they will make an effort to wait for delayed passengers. But Time and Tide wait for no man or woman. We finally arrived in Miami two and a half hours late. Of the seven I mentioned earlier, four were to sail on Carnival. We lost the first two days of our vacation. The other three, bought their package, including Air, through RCL. Their ship waited two hours and sailed without them. They lost three day of a seven day cruise. The cruise line will not guarantee that connections will be made. They may, as a curtesy, offer a discount on the next cruise but will do nothing about the flight arrangements. If it was the airlines fault don't expect anything other than discounted or free domestic flights.

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 02-14-2000 03:02 PM

JDCASEY, your's must of been special circumstances. We've had it where the ship waited four hours for a late flight. The Captain announced it over the ship intercom. The only reason I can see for the ship to leave would be the Captain wanted to do the Mustering at a decent hour.
Always better to go the day before. I see that clearly now!

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 02-15-2000 08:27 AM

There were no special circumstances that I know. Our Commuter hop to New York was cancelled. When we arrived at JFK the Airline Rep called both ships and talked to the Captains. Our ship would wait until 05:30 PM the other involved would wait until 06:00 PM.
Both were gone when we arrived in Miami at 06:30. In San Jaun, the first port of call on our cruise, there were about forty people from all over the country waiting at the quay. But that is another story in itself.

We are using the Discount they gave us in March. We are going to Miami 3 days before sailing.

[This message has been edited by JDCasey (edited 02-15-2000).]

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

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