Miami for a day??

[Elf70]

I’m looking for some advice/suggestions please. Next Friday S and I start our cruise adventure. We fly into Miami early on Friday and have almost the entire day to explore. Does anyone know Miami and have any ideas for our day?

[zeus]

I am not an expert on Miami, but I would suggest South Beach. Beautiful beach and architecture, and lots of restaurants.

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[Elf70]

I am not an expert on Miami, but I would suggest South Beach. Beautiful beach and architecture, and lots of restaurants.

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I was thinking of that. I’ll have to do some research and see if Ubering is possible. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Nhcris]

I was thinking of that. I’ll have to do some research and see if Ubering is possible. Thanks for the suggestion.

Where are you staying? I use Uber and Lyft down there and they have been fine. I have also rented a car for a day to cruise around and check things out. South Beach is the big tourist attraction, and Little Havana is also pretty interesting if you like Cuban food. Gulfstream is about 40 minutes north of the Port, and is a beautiful racetrack with a small casino. If that interests you, you might want to check and see if they are running. Have a blast!

[Elf70]

Where are you staying? I use Uber and Lyft down there and they have been fine. I have also rented a car for a day to cruise around and check things out. South Beach is the big tourist attraction, and Little Havana is also pretty interesting if you like Cuban food. Gulfstream is about 40 minutes north of the Port, and is a beautiful racetrack with a small casino. If that interests you, you might want to check and see if they are running. Have a blast!

We’re staying at Aloft Miami - Brickell. Lots from our group are staying there so that’s how I came up with it. I’ll look at Google Maps and see where the heck it is. I’ll see if the racetrack is running for sure. Thanks for the suggestions. We are so excited for this adventure!

[dvandentop]

Perfect thread timing I think the cruise we are looking at is going to be going out of Miami to so interested as well although I don't think our flight well get in until 5 p.m. so probably eat around hotel and then we will see

Any suggested hotels by Cruise ports at all

[dvandentop]

What ship are you going on elf?

[zeus]

Perfect thread timing I think the cruise we are looking at is going to be going out of Miami to so interested as well although I don't think our flight well get in until 5 p.m. so probably eat around hotel and then we will see

Any suggested hotels by Cruise ports at allWe have stayed a couple of times at the Marriott Biscayne Bay. It is right at the port where you can see the ships.

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[dvandentop]

We have stayed a couple of times at the Marriott Biscayne Bay. It is right at the port where you can see the ships.

Sent from my SM-G955U using TapatalkTons of great hotels in that area thanks.

Weekend rates suck at em all like 270 a night or so

[Elf70]

What ship are you going on elf?

We’re on the MSC Seaside. 7 day Western Caribbean. The hotel we are in is a Marriott affiliate. (this is a Cosmo cruise). It’s 7 miles from the port. I used google maps and found lots to do within walking distance or short Uber. There’s a “marketplace” within a block that looks like it has lots of shops/bars/restaurants.

[Nhcris]

Derek, I have also stayed at Marriott Biscayne Bay a few times and we were very pleased. Last couple of times it has been out of our price range and we have stayed at the Intercontinental which is also nice. Both are convenient to the Bayside Mall which has a bunch of bars and restaurants. We also tend to arrive in the early evening, so that gives us just enough to keep us content until we head to the port the next morning.

[Nhcris]

Elf, I loved the Seaside! I can't wait to hear what you think.

[Elf70]

Elf, I loved the Seaside! I can't wait to hear what you think.

You’ve been on the Seaside???? How was the food? Reviews are all over the place but many say the food’s bad. I may have a chance to upgrade to Yacht Club. I have a pretty nice suite booked already. It’s an angled suite all the way aft. (Look at me using cruise words!) I don’t know if upgrading would be worth it. Did you like the casino?

[Elf70]

Just found your TR. I’m reading it now!

[Nhcris]

You’ve been on the Seaside???? How was the food? Reviews are all over the place but many say the food’s bad. I may have a chance to upgrade to Yacht Club. I have a pretty nice suite booked already. It’s an angled suite all the way aft. (Look at me using cruise words!) I don’t know if upgrading would be worth it. Did you like the casino?

The casino was pretty typical cruise chip casino. I did like that it was easy to grab comped drinks from the casino bar. I actually liked the food. One of the big complaints from people is that because it is European service, it is a very unhurried pace.

I was with myself sister (and survived - who knew that was possible?) and we just had an ocean view room. It was small but fine, and I never felt that I wished I was in Yacht Club. That said, YC does seem to get rave reviews, so it might be worth it to you. However, I LOVE Aft staterooms because sitting on the balcony watching the wake is amazingly peaceful.

I am getting excited about going back on her, so ask as many questions as you can think of!! It makes me happy :)

[Elf70]

The casino was pretty typical cruise chip casino. I did like that it was easy to grab comped drinks from the casino bar. I actually liked the food. One of the big complaints from people is that because it is European service, it is a very unhurried pace.

I was with myself sister (and survived - who knew that was possible?) and we just had an ocean view room. It was small but fine, and I never felt that I wished I was in Yacht Club. That said, YC does seem to get rave reviews, so it might be worth it to you. However, I LOVE Aft staterooms because sitting on the balcony watching the wake is amazingly peaceful.

I am getting excited about going back on her, so ask as many questions as you can think of!! It makes me happy :)

Your TR gave me peace. Lol. The reviews of the ship are so vastly different. I told Stephen that I wasn’t sure what I had gotten us into! We made a pact that good or bad we were going to enjoy ourselves and just go with the flow. Now I’m sure we’ll have a great time.

I got Stephen a balcony room on deck 9 which allegedly has the biggest balconies. (My cruise is free so I splurged for him. Got to keep him happy so I’ll always have a travel buddy!) I’m very happy with the cabin I ended up with so I’m not sure a Yacht Club upgrade would be worth it. We both have the Aurea experience which comes with 2 free massages. I’m going to get over my irrational fear of spas and make myself go and enjoy it. I’m also looking forward to seeing some shows. I’ve read that they’re excellent. Of course that will mean I actually have to leave the casino. We’ll see how that goes.

We’re also doing an excursion to the Atlantis water park. It sounds like tons of fun. Our group is doing a beach/barbecue get together in St Marten. Puerto Rico and St Thomas Stephen and I are just going to explore on foot. I have one of the upgraded drink packages which is kind of a waste since I mostly drink beer. Who knows? Maybe I’ll develop a taste for tropical drinks with rum. We both have internet packages but from your TR it sounds like that may have been a waste of money.

We’re going to try to board early so we can make spa, show, dinner reservations right away. Did you do any specialty dining? Your food looked pretty darn good. Was it all from the main dining room?

[dvandentop]

Link to the trip report? Need some cruise porn

[tee2green]

Link to the trip report? Need some cruise pornHere you go Derek.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjokerswildforum%2Ecom%2Fsho wthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D4446&share_tid=4446&share_fid=1380427&share_type=t

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[dvandentop]

Here you go Derek.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjokerswildforum%2Ecom%2Fsho wthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D4446&share_tid=4446&share_fid=1380427&share_type=t

Sent from my SM-G900V using TapatalkThanks Ida

[Nhcris]

Your TR gave me peace. Lol. The reviews of the ship are so vastly different. I told Stephen that I wasn’t sure what I had gotten us into! We made a pact that good or bad we were going to enjoy ourselves and just go with the flow. Now I’m sure we’ll have a great time.

I got Stephen a balcony room on deck 9 which allegedly has the biggest balconies. (My cruise is free so I splurged for him. Got to keep him happy so I’ll always have a travel buddy!) I’m very happy with the cabin I ended up with so I’m not sure a Yacht Club upgrade would be worth it. We both have the Aurea experience which comes with 2 free massages. I’m going to get over my irrational fear of spas and make myself go and enjoy it. I’m also looking forward to seeing some shows. I’ve read that they’re excellent. Of course that will mean I actually have to leave the casino. We’ll see how that goes.

We’re also doing an excursion to the Atlantis water park. It sounds like tons of fun. Our group is doing a beach/barbecue get together in St Marten. Puerto Rico and St Thomas Stephen and I are just going to explore on foot. I have one of the upgraded drink packages which is kind of a waste since I mostly drink beer. Who knows? Maybe I’ll develop a taste for tropical drinks with rum. We both have internet packages but from your TR it sounds like that may have been a waste of money.

We’re going to try to board early so we can make spa, show, dinner reservations right away. Did you do any specialty dining? Your food looked pretty darn good. Was it all from the main dining room?

The only specialty dinner I remember going to was Butcher's Cut because we were loving our servers and the food in the Main Dining room. I honestly don't remember too much about it, so I am guessing it was a very good experience because if it wasn't, then I would remember! I am not a bg fan os Asian food, but they say Roy Yamaguchi's places are excellent. Ocean Cay's menu was a little too foo foo for us, so likely for you as well - HHH

One thing you MUST visit on your first day is the Venchi Chocolate Bar and Gelato and Creperie. With your sweet tooth, it will rock your world and be a daily stop!!

Usually pizza on ships is lousy, but the pizza on the buffet is very good on Seaside. One complaint people have about the ship is that the buffet doesn't change much, but that was not an issue for us at all. We found plenty of choices (and I was full on Keto most days) and it was fresh and delicious. There are 2 buffets, but we preferred the larger one on Deck 8. They have nice outside seating there.

I confess that I almost never make it to a show because I make the same mistake every night. I enter the casino for a cigarette, and don't come out.

Be sure and check out all the little rooms in the Spa. It was all brand new to me, so I may have been overly impressed, but I loved it!

So many things you are reminding me of! Thank you :)

[Nhcris]

Also Elf, you said angled balcony. Did you actually mean one of the wrap arounds on the aft corner? If so, that is my absolute favorite type staterooms on any ship!! Great score!

[Elf70]

Also Elf, you said angled balcony. Did you actually mean one of the wrap arounds on the aft corner? If so, that is my absolute favorite type staterooms on any ship!! Great score!

Yes! That’s exactly what I have. There’s a video of it on YouTube. I’m very excited about it. It has a large bathroom, picture window, and sliders to the balcony. The balcony wraps around to the back of the ship. It’s “partially obstructed” by window washing equipment but when I looked on YouTube it wasn’t a big obstruction at all. I’m so happy with the room I’m really thinking that “upgrading” to the Yacht Club really won’t be worth it. As nice as it would be to have a butler/concierge make reservations etc for me, the app looks easy enough to use. The Yacht Club cabin may be slightly bigger but the balcony would be much smaller.

Butcher Cut and the Japanese place were the specialty dining we were considering. We’ll probably pass unless we’re joining a group of fellow cruisers. Your food porn from the main dining room looked delish.

And yes, as you guessed, I’m already planning on a night gelato run!

[Nhcris]

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2694307-seaside-review-31-august-2019/
Elf70, this Seaside review just popped up on Cruise Critic. I thought it was pretty fair and balanced, and it's a quick read.

[Elf70]

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2694307-seaside-review-31-august-2019/
Elf70, this Seaside review just popped up on Cruise Critic. I thought it was pretty fair and balanced, and it's a quick read.

Thanks! Good quick read. I had heard that the elevator situation is quite bad especially when disembarking. Someone in another review said the aft elevators are rarely used (and right outside my cabin) so I’m planning on checking those out right away and hopefully won’t have an issue. Hopefully S will be patient (not one of his strengths) and we’ll just go with the flow. We are so looking forward to the experience!