Just Back , random thoughts

duchy · 17 Sep 19, 07:43 AM

We booked a week away when Carnival slashed prices for a few days due to Trump's Cuba shenanigans .
Were due to fly BA LGW to FLL but when I checked in at 24 hours there was a note on the booking to say the flight was delayed ... but no details beyond that . Checked back a couple of hours later and it showed as a three hour delay due to late incoming craft.
Usually I'd have just left it and taken EU261 but as we were only going for a week I really didn't want a delay I changed it. Had we booked direct with BA we would have been at "check in as usual and suck it up Buttercup" however I'd booked it under the AA code share so their rules applied . Three hour delay (at ten hours prior) meant we could change with no charge so we moved to BA at the same time LHR MIA. Something to consider when booking in future.

We were due to leave an hour earlier as Heathrow is a little further for us but our usually prompt car service sent us a driver having a bad day who was late and a horrible driver ... the late bit wasn't too bad as we overslept though!

We took the Tri rail from Miami to West Palm Beach to meet friends for the day. Even on a Sunday it was punctual and clean and a bargain at a weekend day return fare of $5 pp. A couple of the stations had Sunday markets or Farmers Markets in the station car parks which looked busy and quite fun .

Carnival was fab again , we tried an Ocean view cabin rather than a balcony cabin this time and agreed whilst a balcony is nice we can manage perfectly well in an ocean view provided it's well situated.

We had to be off the ship by 9.30am and our flight wasn't until 7pm so we booked a day use hotel at Sunny Isles from 10am to 5pm Lyft from the cruiseport was $30 and the hotel was an older one (four stories high dwarfed by the surrounding skyscrapers) clean, lovely courtyard room right by the pool with the beach having direct access , Publix right opposite too and a nice on site restaurant. Well worth $100 including tax .

All in all for a cheeky cheap week (cruise was a ridiculous $200 pp including taxes and flights were �315 pp both booked at 99 days) it was well worth it despite pre travel worries about the hurricane , BA strikes etc. We used hand baggage only and it was plenty adequate even with a dressier wardrobe for the cruise and bringing back some extra bits and pieces . Packing cubes were a must though.

**Jaspercat10** · 17 Sep 19, 07:58 AM

Sounds a lovely week x

Mr Tom Morrow · 17 Sep 19, 08:21 AM

My goodness what a bargain. Well done finding that cruise.
Sounds like a brilliant time was had as well.

**Labboy** · 17 Sep 19, 08:57 AM

Great report Duchy, sounds like you had a great time. 😁😁

duchy · 17 Sep 19, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

My goodness what a bargain. Well done finding that cruise.
Sounds like a brilliant time was had as well.

It really was. We'd planned a few days in Greece to celebrate our anniversary but when I saw the cruise offer I grabbed it

3disneykids · 17 Sep 19, 10:01 AM

Great bargain

ashc13 · 17 Sep 19, 10:12 AM

Great bargain!

Def agree with packing cubes!

Squidgyness · 17 Sep 19, 02:16 PM

I don't care how I feel about cruises, for $200 I'd have jumped on the ship in a shot. Sounds like a good week!

duchy · 17 Sep 19, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Squidgyness

I don't care how I feel about cruises, for $200 I'd have jumped on the ship in a shot. Sounds like a good week!

Well exactly (a very comfy) bed and all meals and snacks for five nights for $400 for five nights for us both is hard not to love cruising

I was so relaxed I feel like I've had two weeks away not one.

17 Sep 19, 07:43 AM	#1
	17 Sep 19, 07:43 AM duchy Imagineer
duchy Imagineer Join Date: May 04 Location: Kent	Just Back , random thoughts We booked a week away when Carnival slashed prices for a few days due to Trump's Cuba shenanigans . Were due to fly BA LGW to FLL but when I checked in at 24 hours there was a note on the booking to say the flight was delayed ... but no details beyond that . Checked back a couple of hours later and it showed as a three hour delay due to late incoming craft. Usually I'd have just left it and taken EU261 but as we were only going for a week I really didn't want a delay I changed it. Had we booked direct with BA we would have been at "check in as usual and suck it up Buttercup" however I'd booked it under the AA code share so their rules applied . Three hour delay (at ten hours prior) meant we could change with no charge so we moved to BA at the same time LHR MIA. Something to consider when booking in future. We were due to leave an hour earlier as Heathrow is a little further for us but our usually prompt car service sent us a driver having a bad day who was late and a horrible driver ... the late bit wasn't too bad as we overslept though! We took the Tri rail from Miami to West Palm Beach to meet friends for the day. Even on a Sunday it was punctual and clean and a bargain at a weekend day return fare of $5 pp. A couple of the stations had Sunday markets or Farmers Markets in the station car parks which looked busy and quite fun . Carnival was fab again , we tried an Ocean view cabin rather than a balcony cabin this time and agreed whilst a balcony is nice we can manage perfectly well in an ocean view provided it's well situated. We had to be off the ship by 9.30am and our flight wasn't until 7pm so we booked a day use hotel at Sunny Isles from 10am to 5pm Lyft from the cruiseport was $30 and the hotel was an older one (four stories high dwarfed by the surrounding skyscrapers) clean, lovely courtyard room right by the pool with the beach having direct access , Publix right opposite too and a nice on site restaurant. Well worth $100 including tax . All in all for a cheeky cheap week (cruise was a ridiculous $200 pp including taxes and flights were �315 pp both booked at 99 days) it was well worth it despite pre travel worries about the hurricane , BA strikes etc. We used hand baggage only and it was plenty adequate even with a dressier wardrobe for the cruise and bringing back some extra bits and pieces . Packing cubes were a must though. Edited at 07:52 AM.

17 Sep 19, 08:21 AM	#3
	17 Sep 19, 08:21 AM Mr Tom Morrow Imagineer
Mr Tom Morrow Imagineer Join Date: Jul 14 Location: The Tiki Room. theDIBB Guidebook Pages Created: 3	My goodness what a bargain. Well done finding that cruise. Sounds like a brilliant time was had as well. __________________ "PAGING MR MORROW, MR TOM MORROW..." ''I drink Wine and know things'' DVC Owners at SSR since 2003. Multiple annual visits to America since 1976

17 Sep 19, 08:57 AM	#4
	17 Sep 19, 08:57 AM Labboy VIP Dibber ✓Premium Member
Labboy VIP Dibber Join Date: Jan 19 Location: UK	Great report Duchy, sounds like you had a great time. 😁😁

17 Sep 19, 10:01 AM	#6
	17 Sep 19, 10:01 AM 3disneykids Imagineer
3disneykids Imagineer Join Date: Jun 18 Location: Yorkshire	Great bargain __________________ 21 Night QSDP Food Report - Mar/Apr 2019

17 Sep 19, 10:12 AM	#7
	17 Sep 19, 10:12 AM ashc13 Serious Dibber
ashc13 Serious Dibber Join Date: Mar 05	Great bargain! Def agree with packing cubes!