My wife, two daughters ( 16 & 11 ), and myself are cruising with Royal Carribean ( A Western Carribean cruise )leaving March 8, 2007 and returning March 13, 2007. We are arriving in Fort Lauderdale the day before and staying one night the day we arrive back. Im looking for information on nice hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area, in the $150-$170 price range, that people have stayed at and are pleased with their stay. Im also looking for information on " must do's and see's" in Key West and Cozumel area. First time cruisers here, this is my Christmas gift to them this year.

We were satisfied with the Sheraton Yankee Clipper, close to the beach and have booked the other hotel, Sheraton Yankee Trader for the following february.

In Key West you have to make the Trolley Tour, but the one, where you can leave the Trolley at a special attraction and step in another Trolley when you want to go further.

I did not like Cozumel, so I´m not the right person, to tell you, what to do.

Happy Holidays and a wonderul first cruise
Marita

I'm a big fan of the Embassy Suites on the 17th Street Causway. Free full breakfast and a shuttle to the pier. They also offer a shuttle to the airport post cruise.

What they don't offer however is a shuttle fromthe airport to the hotel.

Which RCCL ship are you going on? I went to Key West once, but mostly strolled around, and had a few cocktails. I LOVE Cozumel! I ususally go to the beach/snorkel in the morning then go shopping and have lunch downtown. I haven't been since 2004 ( pre hurricane) we went to Playa San Fransisco. We took a cab, it was a nice beach w/ chairs, umbrella, snacks/drinks and little shops. It was very nice. I was w/ my nephews, 11/9 and they enjoyed it too. Do a bit of research and you'll find lots of good things to do. DON'T be afraid to haggle w/ the vendors.
Have fun!!!

quote:

Originally posted by bchamp:
My wife, two daughters ( 16 & 11 ), and myself are cruising with Royal Carribean ( A Western Carribean cruise )leaving March 8, 2007 and returning March 13, 2007. We are arriving in Fort Lauderdale the day before and staying one night the day we arrive back. Im looking for information on nice hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area, in the $150-$170 price range, that people have stayed at and are pleased with their stay. Im also looking for information on " must do's and see's" in Key West and Cozumel area. First time cruisers here, this is my Christmas gift to them this year.

Hello there!

My suggestion is AmeriSuites (Affiliate of Hyatt Hotel) One thing good about this hotel is the FREE van service - Airport to Hotel & Hotel to Cruise terminal. The rooms are great!!!

Free continental breakfast. Very safe location.
Tel # (954) 763-7670, AmeriSuites

We check-in last Dec. 10.

SDcruiser

quote:

Originally posted by bchamp:
My wife, two daughters ( 16 & 11 ), and myself are cruising with Royal Carribean ( A Western Carribean cruise )leaving March 8, 2007 and returning March 13, 2007. We are arriving in Fort Lauderdale the day before and staying one night the day we arrive back. Im looking for information on nice hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area, in the $150-$170 price range, that people have stayed at and are pleased with their stay. Im also looking for information on " must do's and see's" in Key West and Cozumel area. First time cruisers here, this is my Christmas gift to them this year.

Here is one to avoid for the time being. The old Marriott Hotel on 17th right by the intercoastal is now the Ft. Lauderdale Grand Hotel and Yacht Club. I just stayed there about 3 weeks ago and the hotel is running on minimum staff and with limited services. The hotel sustained severe damage in a hurricane is is under construction with jack hammers, cranes amd everything one would expect for a hotel under construction.

Rather than be honest about the condition of the hotel, the Grand is taking reservations as if there was nothing wrong. I would opt for anywhere else at this time until it has been completely reconstructed and is open for business with full staff and services.

Just my opinion.

Tom

hello,

we are staying at the comfort suites airport&cruiseport. booked thru aaa @139. per night. free shuttle service.

hope this helps.

happy holidays,

ezemoney

We stayed at the Hampton Inn FL Airport North. They provided a friendly, free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise port (Book the cruise shuttle when you check in). The shuttle also took us and picked us up from Las Olas Riverfront, the perfect spot to get into the vacation mindset, dining on an outdoor patio watching yachts go by.

In Key West the Truman museum is worthwhile. Lots and lots of shops for your wife and daughters.

We didn't go into Cozumel proper. Went to Playa del Carmen for the Tulum ruins tour. Big waste as we had a tour guide how told us absolutely nothing about the ruins. Next time, we'll do Cozumel proper. Have friends who rented a jeep for the day and did their own tour.

bchamp-Sleep Inn offers minisuites,breakfast and will pick up at the Airport at Ft. Lauderdale and drop off at the Cruiseport! It is situated next to a minimall with Walgren's,Dollar Store,Banking Services and several inexpensive clean dining options.The neighborhood is clean and troublefree.
Bon Voyage

BillyBuzzy

Thanks for the good info on hotels, I was looking for some also.
As far as Key west: I took the Trolly where you didn't get off, it was OK. We had pelting rain and everyone bonded together on the trip, Didn't care much for the city.

Cozumel is one of my favorites. We had friends who worked on the ship and knew of a great restrant I wish I knew which one. We did take the tour of the Tulum Ruins. I liked it we had a good tour guide so that may make the diffrence I saw someone else did not like it. But seeing the Mayan ruins was great. Remember this is where modern underwear was invented... What you never heard of "Fruit of Tulum!"

I was looking for a Hotels so the info is great thanks! I had the Embassy Suites on my list Tom so thanks for that.

I am another who LOVED Cozumel but also went pre-hurricane. We loved Passion Island! The boat over was nice, the beach was gorgeous and the lunch was SOO good with free drinks. One of my kids LOVES, I mean LOVES monkeys and they take pictures with them. They are not supposed to just let you sit and play with them but the lady did when she realized that my 13year old collects everything monkeys. The only down side was the length. I could have sat there all day. I think it was a 5 hour tour and we booked it through the ship. We did spend the afternoon shopping and this was BY FAR my very favorite shopping stop. DOn't forget you can buy antibiotics and other Rx drugs without scripts right there in the shopping area.

New attraction in Key West - Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. It is a 6400 SqFt center where you can experience the underwater ecosystems without getting wet. Just opened yesterday. Operated by NOAA and the Florida Marine wildlife. Should be interesting.

Google Eco-Discovery Center. This is from the web site:

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live underwater where you could study the marine life on a coral reef? Visit new Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center to step inside the Aquarius exhibit, a model of the underwater laboratory 60 feet below the water’s surface on a coral reef. You will learn how scientists live and study during a mission in this underwater habitat. The Aquarius is only one of the many exhibits featured in this 6,400 square-foot facility.

"The Eco-Discovery Center is a world-class multi-media educational facility," said Kent Edwards, Environmental Administrator for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. "It will virtually transport visitors into the marine and coastal ecosystem."

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center will hold a Grand Opening on Saturday, January 13, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex, 33 East Quay Road in Key West, Florida (part of the Truman Annex property). Admission is free. The Florida Key Eco-Discovery Center will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays. "