My Husband, 15 year old daughter, 12 year old twin boys, and I, traveled on the Carnival's Triumph Western Caribbean, November 29, 2003. We did the air ourselves through the internet. I saved about $1,000. I used the savings to fly down a day early. I figured if I went through Carnival, the air delay would be covered. So I better get down there a little early so I won't miss the ship. I read over 800-1000 reviews in the two months before departing. My family calls me the vacation Nazi. I believe that a good vacation is a well-researched vacation. I guess so do you, as you wouldn't be reading this right now! One word of advice here is to NOT limit yourself, to one ship, or one cruise line for that matter. I was going to the Western Caribbean and I found great tips on Alaska's cruises that worked for me. Read every thing you can. Especially on the ships that go into the same ports as you are going to. Ok enough about that, let's get on to them carpet stains.
Our plane arrived early into Miami. We flew from Philadelphia and stayed the night before at a Philly hotel. That way they held the car for free, and shuttled us over in the morning. Saving us the $8.00 storage per day for the car. We arrived early at The Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, so we went to the pool. They were so nice. They stored our luggage and even gave us a large safety deposit box for my laptop, so I wouldn't have to take it to the pool with me. I brought it because every night I uploaded my digital camera into it. Clearing my disk for the next day. I did bring two 256 Disks and needed both. I also brought a 35mm camera, which I like better on real sunny days. Also a video camera with 6 tapes and three under water cameras. We stayed at the Sheraton because we had read that the cruise lines do the pre-registrations the morning of the cruise. All Lines but Carnival showed up. We ended up having to go over to the port and wait in the lines anyway. They went pretty smoothly, and everyone in line was talkative and excited about the trip. The hotel was great though. They upgraded us from a balcony to a suite, because our room wasn't ready when they said it was. Then later they gave us five free breakfast buffet coupons for the next day, cause they weren't able to get us more pillows till midnight. I would stay there again just because of how nice the people were. Although friends stayed at the Holiday Inn, and this was more centrally located across from the market place. Which is a cool outside market place that resembles a carnival or shore boardwalk.
Speaking of friends we met some great ones! We met on the Roll Call Board of cruise critics. It's a great place to find out messages, questions, and friends. We had at least 6 couples and a few singles and two families of 5. Some met up the night before in Miami for dinner. Others met in Fort Lauderdale, or at the Airport. We had talked for a month and even exchanged cell numbers so we could figure out where each of us was, at the start of our trip. We planned on an 11 o'clock Sunday morning get-together but all found each other on Saturday night. As a 6' 2" Blonde, married to a 6'7" man we were easily found.