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Vacation - Ultimate Cruise Premium Stateroom with Verandah |
Celebrity Cruise Lines- Exceeding Expectations, or "Simply the Best!" Fort Lauderdale, (Port Everglades) Florida, USA
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| Summary | Excellent Western Caribbean Cruise, February 13, 2000. |
| Itinerary | Ft.Lauderdale | Key West | Calica, Mexico | Cozumel,Mexico | Grand Caymen |
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Summary: Departure and arrival comments. |
Summary: Fun historic and legacy island |
Summary: Xcaret! |
Summary: Shopping |
Summary: Mega shopping! |
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Image: My wife Janet at the WaterFront | |
| We had a flawless Flight on Contential (our booking) and after Celebrity greeted us at the arrival gate, our luggage was taken care of. We did not have to go to the baggage area. We simply walked out and grabbed a cab. We asked him to take us to "someplace interesting", and it was the developed "WaterFront" area in Lauderdale. Unfortunately, we should have said, "take us to a restraunt for breakfast". We walked quite a way to get to the next area. Hint: Be specific with cabbie! |
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Image: The Indigo cafe, "main street" or where ever, I forget. | |
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A very pleasent breakfast, outdoors. This is also a hotel, so when it came time to leave, they hailed a cab for us. Note: We realized that we were going to be walking around and the "carry-ons" on our shoulders were getting to be a real bummer (especially after the hike to this restraunt). We asked the driver to head to the Galeria Mall. There we purchased two Samsonite roller carry-ons, legal 22". We dumped the stuff in them, and the rest of the day was a pleasure. |
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Image: On Mercury, looking down at the dock, another ship astern | |
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Embarkation was a breeze, since we are Captains Club (anyone can sign up $35, one time fee). We just walked up to the special booth about 1:30 pm and we were in our cabin 10 minutes later. The non-captains Club folks were in a long line, but it wasn't bad, perhaps 20-30 minutes before getting on-board. |
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Image: Cargo ship being moved backwards past us. | |
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Before you leave port, there is a lot to watch. This was particularly interesting. This container ship was turned around ahead of us then maneuvered via the tugs past us, backwards. It was all VERY slow and deliberate! Although it "appeared" to close, it really wasn't. These guys are real professionals. |
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Image: LifeBoat Drill | |
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I was nervous, I wanted to be through this (scheduled at departure) so I could look at the cast off from my varanda. As it turned out, departure was delayed for a late flight in. Very nice, Celebrity WAITS for passengers! Anyway, the drill is fairly fast at about 30 minutes. It's a pain for people who have done before, but it's required. |
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The Fort Lauerdale
Experience "Welcome back". Depends if you have Celebrity Transfer of if you are on your own. Regardless, the bags were easily found in the group (unless you are Captains Club, then skip the group area and go directly to the curb where your bags will be waiting!) Unfortunately, they forget to tell you this, so you look around and cannot find your bags in the group area! |