Sheri :hug: your Mom too

Ok, we have all made final payment!

I have added Sunnybythesea to our rollcall. Anyone missing?

Who beside me wants to learn how to play Pooch??

I'll try, but I'm not good at cards!

Olivia, believe me--you don't have to be good at cards to play pooch :) It's more of a fun game than a card game...

I want to learn to play pooch.

Pre and Post TAP hotels

I know that several folks have already posted where they are staying but I thought I would get this thread going again....

Where are folks staying pre- and post TAP?

No place pre-TAP yet...going to try Priceline again for the Hyatt

Post-TAP in Barcelona, The Majestic, one of the Regent allocated hotels.

my mentor Suzanne keeps telling me is too early to bid on priceline for the hotel I want (Pier 66 very close to the port). I keep trying, but have not been successful yet, but am not worried. Will just try later.

I think it is too early as well for Priceline. We are undecided about where to stay post-cruise. The Majestic looks great but Regent pricing is a bit on the high side although it does include transfers. We have booked the Hilton which is a fair bit away from the Ramblas area and also booked the Palace at a great rate through AMEX but it does not receive high scores on Tripadvisor. With the conventions going on at that time, rooms are pricey as well as scarce.

OK, I am the dummy of the group. What is Pooch? I assume I am game for it, but what is it?
As to pre and post...I have a good friend I am staying with Pre and since I am staying only for the firsrt leg, Regent is putting me up in Funchal.
Can't wait to meet everyone.
Lynn

Lynn,

It is the very addictive card game that Leslie and Brad introduced to the POOPers. Link to POOP scoop

Ngaire is going to teach us. <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Attention everyone on TAP. At Olivia's suggestion, I will be happy to host a coctail party in my cabin since I will have a huge balcony. Now, the only problem is that I have no idea how or when to set it up. If someone else will plan it, I will host it. I was thinking perhaps right after we sail. Will take any suggestions.
Lynn

Lynn, I don't know who the staff will be while you're on but I'm happy to talk to Franck about it before I disembark.

Hi Lynn and Marcie -

I was also wondering who was onboard for the Crossing. I know that John and Lynsay will be on but was wondering about Tobias....

Lynn - I am happy to help once onboard but unsure how to help you ahead of time. Let me know though and I'll pitch in.

Tina

One more query -

Has anyone had any luck with Priceline for pre-cruise hotel as yet?

The best I've seen is about $197 AAA rate at the Hyatt. I'll leave it to the priceline experts to chime in on the correct bidding strategy and what price to expect.

Thanks for the invitation, Lynn. We will be there.

Since we're on the subject of cocktail parties, get your ascots and best hats ready for Saturday May 5th. The mint juleps will be flowing in our cabin for a Kentucky Derby party!! I'm guessing we won't be able to see the race live (the race is secondary to the parties anyway!), but we'll have to set aside some time to celebrate in true Kentucky style (ascots & hats optional!).

I just checked biddingfortravel and don't see any recent Hyatt bids. Your best bet would be to wait for the 30 day mark and bid in the $90-100 range. I did see the Fort Lauderdale Grande going for around $70-85. I have never stayed there but the pictures look nice and was going to try it for my Dec. Carib cruise.

The Grande is considered "3 star downtown" by Priceline and the other hotel in that catagoy that you might get is the Embassy suites.

Fort Lauderdale Grande website

Karen, I just tried $90 for 4 star beach and was rejected. So, you recommend doing 3 star downtown as well? That would get either Ft. Lauderdale Grande or Embassy? Any losers in that mix?

I noticed some folks got Rennaisance...do we take a risk trying to get that?

My latest try at $125 was rejected for Pier 66. Maybe they no longer participate since no one has gotten a bid accepted in a year? I'm going to wait until the 30 day mark and try again a bit lower and go from there. Karen, are there only 2 hotels at 3*? Looks good from the website!

John, thanks for the invitation to the party! I don't think I've ever had a mint julep.

Back to the party on the balcony. It seems a better idea to wait until a few days later. We can make it a BYOB casual get together. Tina, thanks for your offer. Let's see how it goes. I wasn't planning any big thing, just a chance for everyone to see the balcony. We'll just wing it.
Lynn

Here is the list from biddingfortravel. I see only 2 hotels in the three star downtown (which is where the Hyatt is but the Hyatt is classified as beach instead of a downtown) Both the Hyatt and the Grande are on the intercoastal on 17th St. So if you want the Hyatt, you would use Fort Lauderdale Beach area, 4 star class. If you wanted the Grande or perhaps the Embassy Suites, you would use 3 star downtown area. there IS a chance that you would end up with the 4 star Renaissance but it's not the norm.


FORT LAUDERDALE AREA

Downtown Fort Lauderdale

4 Star
Renaissance LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

3 Star
Fort Lauderdale Grande (formerly Marriott Fort Lauderdale Marina)
Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale

2.5 Star

Amerisuites Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Resort
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort

4 Star
Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six

3 Star
Sheraton Yankee Clipper Resort
Doubletree Suites Galleria
The Oceanfront Hotel (formerly Doubletree Oceanfront)
Sheraton Yankee Trader
Bahia Mar Beach Resort (formerly Radisson)

All you Starwood Fans note that we stayed at the Yankee Trader and it's quite old and need of refurbishing and it was not a bargain either. The only thing I could say good about it was Shula's was delicious, they have a little quickie market on premises for water, snacks and coffee, or sundries, and the Sweet Sleeper bed. Carpet and upholstery was dirty and old. Would not stay there again.

Ah...we stayed at the Marina. It was just fine. Would stay there again. Have also stayed at the Renaissance which is very convenient. Thanks, Karen, for the clarification.

Isn't it a risk to also choose beach area/resort...couldn't you end up further away? Thanks, for the head's up re the Yankee Trader.

I have some Hilton points. How is the Embassy Suites? The Doubletree looks nice, but is it too far away?

Ooops, I should of said that the Hyatt was beach area 4 star...not resort!!
I will fix my post.

I'm fine with Embassy Suites. I think that's where those w/ Regent Air are staying.

They have a pre-paid rate of $186 per night, and a cruise special for $206 which includes a free shuttle to Port Everglades. I have no idea how much a taxi would cost, but I wouldn't think it would cost more than $20.

John,
It looks like you could walk to Port Everglades (assuming you have a sherpa for the luggage) and it is about 7 or 8 blocks to IHop.

Ok...I am now lost in TAP threads -

There is dinner the evening before but I can't find the details - where/when

Thanks,

Getting excited now.....

bIMINI bOAT HOUSE...TIME NOT SET..TAKING NAMES ON THE OTHER THREAD...WHAT TIME FOLKS? EXCITED TOO.....

Is dinner on Saturday or Sunday?

Tina, it's on the 29th, Sunday night before we board the ship. IHOP on Monday morning.

Thanks. I had a couple of other questions -

Has anyone done a crossing before? What are likely temps on the ship? Just trying to figure out packing, etc.

We're going to get a sneak preview of the weather from the world cruisers as they make their way from Funchal to FLL. From what I've read, the average highs are in the high 80's close to Florida and drop to average highs in the mid 70's the closer the ship gets to Funchal.

Thanks. Just what I wanted to hear....

Olivia, I just realized that on FJORDS you'll be here in our cabin #645!! At the rate we're packing, there may still be things here come June! :D

All along I thought I was in 645, but turns out I am not! I just found out this week that I am on the other side of the ship!

We've got 645 for Cross. Marcie, leave us the Sambuca!

Marcie, any goodies you want to leave, just slip into 643 and hide them in the closet for me. I'll enjoy them on FJORDS!

We're in 644 on Monday, so we'll ransack Marcie's room first!!!

Hi Andi,

We are in 644 for CROSS. Pls. let me know if the cabin has any "quirks". Feel free to leave behind (well hidden) any unused liquor

Have a great cruise!!

I buy you and gift and leave it for you! Liquor is now all inclusive, so I don't think we get a bar set-up in the non-butler rooms, but we'll let you know!! We'll take good care of the room.