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My wife and I plan to take Holland-America from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to San Diego in January, returning from San Diego via L.A. to Chicago aboard the Southwest Chief. (See, all roads lead to Amtrak eventually.)
Question: We will be flying (grrr) from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale the day before the ship sails. We are looking for a hotel on the waterfront close to the cruise line terminal, preferably within walking distance. Can any of you cruise fans recommend one?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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We generally stay near the airport and use the hotel shuttle to get to the ship.
That said, people on the Cruise Critic Roll Call for our April, 2014 transatlantic from FLL to FCO have been getting the Renaissance for about $100.00 using the online bidding sites. It's not with in walking distance to the ships but I think it is on the water.
You might want to check out the Roll Call for your sailing or go to the "Ports" section of Cruise Critic.
Frank in sunny and warm, for us, SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Off topic, but want to commend you for arriving one day prior. I've seen too many cases of where people foolishly expect every aspect of travel to work perfectly--even air travel!
On one cruise, I met eight passengers from one city alone who missed the ship. They barely made it in time to the next port departure.
At least, they did not have to pay a last-minute fare to the next island because the same airline served it & offered the option. Legally, it didn't have to.
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The Riverside is a favorite place. We stayed in town twice, arrived via Amtrak so we picked hotels not far from the train station. Used Priceline or Hotwire for Dania Beach. Under $100 that way. You can't walk into the port, need to come in by vehicle of some sort. Taxi ride is not expensive from the hotel areas. 17th Street has several good choices too. Most hotels have shuttles, sometimes free.
You will love the Panama Canal, a fascinating trip. Hot, hot, hot.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I agree with Don about giving yourself an extra day if you can. I have had delays with both airlines and Amtrak.
Posts: 229 | From: Long Beach CA | Registered: Jan 2007
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After further consultation with the Mrs., we have decided to do the trip the other way: the Southwest Chief to L.A., then the Surfliner to San Diego and staying overnight, boarding the MV Statendam the following day. Once we are through the Canal and to Fort Lauderdale, we will fly back to Chicago.
We figured that we'd be fresher for the train trip and would enjoy it the more if it were the first leg of our adventure.
Earlier this year we did the same thing, Chief to LA, for our voyage to Hawaii, and Chief back to Chicago.
Since we live in a Chicago burb we are quite familiar with weather delays and always plan on an overnight in case connections are iffy or impossible. It's much easier to relax if we don't have to think about the specter of missed connections.
Besides, an extra day in San Diego is always fun.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Henry: Have you ever visited Balboa Park in San Diego? Specifically, the model train setup that they have in one of the buildings downstairs? With your extra day there, a side-trip to Balboa Park could be well worth it (not just for the train exhibit, but lots of other stuff as well).
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Thanks for the reminder about the train layout. We have a day in San Diego on our next cruise and are planning on visiting the USS Midway in the morning. This could be a nice afternoon outing. I'll need to look it up on the interweb.
Henry--
Smart wife! I think having the cruise to relax after the train is a great idea. I wonder if your Captain on Statendam will be Captain Albert. He has a wonderful blog that I subscribe to. He -- and the ship -- are currently reporting from Alaska.
Be careful going to Balboa Park -- especially the Zoo. My parents went and the next day I was born.
Frank in sunny but still cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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While likely other newssources are offering same, The New York Times is presently offering live video of the Concordia's salvage:
Video withdrawn 9/17/13
The salvage started at 16SEP0700GMT; now as we approach 1400GMT (4PM Local), some progress towards raising the hulk is visible.
Obviously, 'love' has been made on this 'Love Tub' for the last time. No one would seriously consider repairing this vessel. If it ever were to set sail again, as soon as it called at any port, the local constabulary would be quick to post a notice of civil seizure in the name of some dissatisfied claimant.
Finally, I think back to a maritime disaster from my day; namely the 1956 foundering and sinking of the 'Andrea Doria'. Could she have been righted at sea with then existing technology? I'll submit a yes. However, once again, call at any port and she would be seized. Also it has been learned that vessel was less seaworthy than a Staten Island Ferry.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Any idea what that tan contraption is that has been built and connected to the left side of the ship? It's huge---I can't figure out what it is.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by smitty195: Any idea what that tan contraption is that has been built and connected to the left side of the ship? It's huge---I can't figure out what it is.
That'll be the tanks that will be filled with water and used to help pull it upright. Once the ship is upright there will be some attached to the other side too. They'll then both be filled with air to act as a lifejacket to keep the ship buoyant when the ship is towed away.
Fascinating to watch on the various live feeds - though it's obviously very slow going.
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Oh wow, thanks for the explanation. That's pretty cool stuff! I can see in the live video that they are making progress---albeit slowly---as you can start to see the difference in paint between what has been above water and what was underwater. It'll definitely take all day to do this and this pace.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Dawn breaks and she's upright! Very low in the water, as you'd expect, and the starboard side shows the balconies crushed in two vertical streaks. The captain, questionable though his early actions may have been, might just have been sensible in bringing this ship close to shore to lay on the rocks when he knew the inevitable was happening.
So sad, yet also so intriguing to watch. It reminds me of being at infants school (think K-3) and watching the Mary Rose rise to the surface - or what was left of the 16th century warship.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Obviously that hulk is going nowhere other than to the shipbreakers. Prior to this raising, I doubt if 'John Q' was aware of the damages and figured 'they'll pump her out and sail 'er away'.
This New York Times material describes the raising of the s/s Normandie back when every hull was needed to transport troops and when the term environment was 'not exactly' in everyman's vocabulary. In this instance, there was only one minor breach to the hull controlled by watertight compartments; the propulsion machinery was intact.
Our cruise on board Celebrity Solstice continues to be very good. Beautiful ship, excellent food and drink and good companions.
We had two outstanding days in San Francisco. On Sunday we were supposed to go wine tasting in Sonoma but I opted out to watch the two races of the America's Cup. The finish line was directly opposite our balcony.
Yesterday we took some Canadian friends on a walking tour of "our" San Francisco. We were going to ride the cable car but the line at Powell and Market was formidable. Instead we rode the "F" line back to the ship and the Wharf.
Frank in sunny and cool MTY
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Obviously that hulk is going nowhere other than to the shipbreakers. Prior to this raising, I doubt if 'John Q' was aware of the damages and figured 'they'll pump her out and sail 'er away'.
Far from it. It was announced a total loss at least 18 months ago in various media outlets.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: ... Finally, I think back to a maritime disaster from my day; namely the 1956 foundering and sinking of the 'Andrea Doria'. Could she have been righted at sea with then existing technology? I'll submit a yes. However, once again, call at any port and she would be seized. Also it has been learned that vessel was less seaworthy than a Staten Island Ferry.
Mr Norman, I doubt that the Andrea Doria could be raised. It is 250 feet below the surface. That isn't deep for the Atlantic Ocean, of course, but it would be a far more difficult task than raising the Costa Concordia.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
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We are back from our latest cruise. We had a great time all along the coast -- the ride from Ensenada to San Diego after disembarkation took 5 hours with 2 of those being spent in line at the Otay Mesa crossing.
Our new cruise hotel in San Diego is the Hampton Inn. Very nice rooms, a good hot breakfast and both airport and Amtrak transfers.
Our Surfliner trip on 777 yesterday was uneventful and pleasant. Business Class was about 65% occupied with the rest of the coaches having very few occupants.
Our Canadian friends were impressed by their first Amtrak adventure. They are here with us until Saturday so we are still in a vacation mode.
My surgery is still on for next Tuesday and then we can start planning the next adventure.
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Sbalax, what do you know about the Wyndham right across from the cruise terminal in San Diego? It used to be a Holiday Inn. I understand that a lot of refurbishing is going on at the moment.
Last January my wife and I stayed at the Hampton Inn. It was fine. Nothing special, but worth the money.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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We've stayed at what is now the Wyndham and stopped because we felt we weren't getting as good a value as we used to and because the property was becoming a bit shabby. (Perhaps they knew that a change was coming...)
The renaming apparently happened in April and they are now in the process of repainting the exterior of the buildings. We didn't go inside so I can't comment on that.
The Hampton just finished an extensive remodel of the Lobby/Breakfast Room area. It looks great.
We had dinner in Little Italy at Buon Appetito which was very good and is only a couple of blocks from the Hampton. It's part of a group of 18 restaurants all owned by the same group. It was a bit loud inside so I think their sister restaurant La Villa across the street might be our choice next time.
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Too bad you didn't have to stop at LAUS. The new Metropolitan Lounge is open and the pictures look terrific. Best source of pictures, etc. is Flyer Talk Forum AGR site.
Welcome home. I will be thinking of you on Tuesday while waiting for my spouse (you have one too now) to come out of his much shorter surgery.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Can Business Class passengers on the Surfliners use the lounge? That would be an added incentive for springing for the upgrade. After our latest ride we were saying we'd almost rather be in coach since it was much less crowded and quieter there than in BC.
Thanks for the good thoughts. We'll be thinking of Art -- and you!
Frank in cooler and clear SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Where is the Metropolitan lounge at LAUPT? Is that in the same location where the "TRAXX" lounge used to be?
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Rich, the new lounge is upstairs above the current ticket offices. There are stairs and elevator there around the corner, near the car rental counters. Since it is at track level one can go directly to the train but one must use the Red Cap cart as the Gold Line tracks must be crossed.
It has windows with views of working trains, mostly the commuter lines. The TRAXX place is the actual bar for the restaurant and remains as such.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Here is the FB link that was on the Flyer Talk forum, which shows a few pics of the new lounge in Los Angeles. It looks nice, however, I'm trying to picture all of the sleeper passengers from train 14 squeezing into that small space!
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Smitty195 - you're probably right about the potential crowding in the lounge. The Chicago lounge gets very crowded with some people sitting on their luggage and others just going elsewhere around the noon hour due to multiple arrivals & departures. And sometimes, it's ghost town - such as after 4 PM when the LSL travelers haven't yet arrived.
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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