Inde is right on with the travel insurance recommendation.  It can cover missed or late connections/flights, lost luggage, sickness, and even cancellation under particular circumstances.  We will be in the tail end of hurricane season down here, so even though we're s fla locals, we added it because we bought so far ahead.  It's not that expensive compared with what it could cost if something went awry.

Wow, has this site changed...much easier to read now, but I noticed the pricing page shows everything as available.  Wonder what's up with that?

For information about the departure port, go to  www.porteverglades.org   This information about the cost of parking I obtained from www.hollandamerica.com/dest/port  Within the port facility there is a parking garage managed by USA Parking.   The rate was $15.00 per day.   Just outside the prot facility is Park N' fly, for $10.00 a day, and it offers a complimentary shuttle from the lot to the ship's terminal.  Their number is (954)-779-1776.   Check for price updates, for I gathered this information back on 1/2/2008.

Also Holland Americas commonly used terminals are 21, 26, and 29.  Holland America Line Shore Operations has an office at Terminal 26, and for terminal questions one may call (954)- 760-9687. Or just go to the above website and read the information on Holland Americas site.

I hope this information I have provided will assist you with your travel needs.

Let me know if I may be of further assistance.

See you soon!!

Inde

Buy the travel insurance, and one must do w/i 21 days of booking the trip with Olivia, or else several things may be excluded.  Well worth the extra cash, and it does come in handy if problems occur.  Take for instance on my Hawaii trip, one couple got so sea sick they got off at the first stop, had no travel insurance and it cost them big time.  Disembarking fees, motel, flights, it was sad.   Another couple got off  much later, due to a medical problem, bad tooth infection, they had insurance and all was covered.    It is very affordable, I use the company Olivia recommends, Travelex  at 1-800-228-9792.or go to the website, www.travelexinsurance.com

Good luck.

Inde

This is our first Olivia cruise...Finally! We were booked in 2003 and the ship was seized on the preceeding trip, so the cruise was cancelled. Luckily, we had just booked it and were able to get a full refund through our credit card.... Flash forward to 2008. We just booked and are wondering what the consensus is on travel insurance? Pass? Don't leave home without it? Has anyone had experience with it? Our flights are both non-stop and we are arriving early Sat. morning, so I hope that will eliminate some risks. Any input would be appreciated.

Buddy, the name of the cruise port is Port Everglades.  The last time we cruised out of there, (we're south florida locals, so we drive to whichever of the 5 ports we're sailing from), I think it was $12 per day, but their website should confirm that.  Check the web for off site/satellite lots that will shuttle you.  Of course reading your other post about your GF loving to to do dress up thing, you may be schlepping a lot of luggage.

Pack light, I promise you still won't wear it all, plus you have all that duty free shopping!!

Karen

Ok, we are driving to Ft. Lauderdale. Will pull in on Saturday, November 22 by check-in time at the Marriot Harbour Beach; pricey but we are splurging on this much needed vacation! We were feeling a bit iffy about the airlines and their flights and changes due to the rotten economy, plus we thought we would tour the sites south of Louisville, KY where we moved just a bit over a year ago from the frigid north (Michigan)!!

Does anyone know if there is a place to park our car at Port Everglades and if so what might the cost be?

The hotel will charge $21 a day!! The airport is about $60 for the time we are gone, but we are not flying in, so we would have to take a cab from airport to the Marriot and then another to the Port and then agan when we hit port on the 30th to start the drive home.

We really want to drive to the Marriot, attend the pre-cruise party and then drive to the Port and park our car and wheel our bags to the ship and hit the open sea. No hassles with airlines and all the price and schedule changes; we just have to figure out where to park the car while we are on the cruise and then we are set and ready to go.

 Look forward to meeting many women from all over the USA and beyond and just relaxing and chilling with the sun and the warm sea breezes - can't wait!!

Buddy Bear

Note to all!

Check your airline reservations!!

Check your hotel reservations!!

Keep checking the airline tickets, many things are changing due to the economy.

Inde

hi inde

this is so helpful, thanks we just booked our first trip with olivia for the bash b-day and looking forward.  this meeting and greeting party the first day is a great idea, keep up the good work. your new friend from Brockton, Ma

Many have asked for this, my sought after travel tips, so here ya go!! 

                                                                    INDE'S TRAVEL TIPS 

SUIT CASE TIPS

A.  Buy heavy duty luggage name tags. 

B.  Put name, cell phone and email only on name tag.  If you feel the need to put an address on, use a work address, not your home. May help in stopping a thief visit your home while you are away.

C.  Inside your luggage: name, phone, email, address information, make sure this is taped onto the inside of luggage.  That way, if, and it will be, opened the paper does not fall out.  I like to laminate the info..  This way if your outside tag comes off, there is info inside.

D.  I also like to put a copy of my flight info. inside the bag, thus if opened they know where I was coming from and going to.  Another thought is to laminate trip plans and attach to outside of bag. I use the itinerary and the airport codes, like Destination to FLL on 11/23/2008.    Not sure, but it may help.     

E.  Of course we all know this one, so it is just a reminder, do not put anything in bags that is valuable, best to carry it with you.

F.  We all know this one, so just a reminder, carry on with extra clothing, etc. in case your bags do get lost, at least you have a change of clothing, then it is off to shop.

G.  I do not use locks, I use bread twist ties to keep zippers from being opened, this way if they want to get into bag they can just undo and hopefully tie back.  Cable ties work, but cannot be retied.

H.  Most bags are black, so grab a colorful ribbon and wrap it around the handle, this way it is easy to ID your bag.  Try not to leave any loose ends, may get caught on conveyer belts.

  Another idea, it to make a template of something, say, LIPS, and put template on luggage and use hot pink, lime green or red spray paint and mark that bag.  Can't miss that bag!!

I.  My luggage, carry on or if it is being checked, I bag all my clothing and other items in zip lock bags.  There are several sizes you can buy at the food stores, like say, Safeway.   We are talking some big bags, medium and small bags.  They are clear and I like to put say, socks, undies, bras, etc. in one bag, shorts, t-tops in another, etc. This way it is easy to find things, esp. on short trips and one is not unpacking, easy to find what one wants without tearing apart the bag.  Putting labels on the top of the bags really help in searches.

Now this is really grand when your bag gets ckd, esp. checked bags, for we cannot control what gets left out as they pilfer thru our stuff.  Know several people that said they had their bag opened and something fell out and did not get put back in.  I find this really helpful when you get pulled for the inspection/pat down.    The agents, open your bag and rip thru it, then say ok, you can put everything back now.  There you are, with a pile of stuff and you're stuffing it all back in, well it was organized.  If your stuff is in clear zip lock bags, they can lift out, feel, see and if need to they can x-ray bag, they do not have to open it, if they do, heck easy to push air out and seal.  Yet, I have never had them open my zip locks, they just take them out, feel them and say ok, done, you can pack up and go.  Many agents really like my system, makes it easy for everyone.   Labeling what is in the bags, many like that too.

J.  I know this sounds funny, but it works.  Take two pictures of your luggage and carry them with you.  One for you and one for the lost luggage people, this can speed up the process, sometimes, in finding your bag.  Photograph each bag separately.

K.  If traveling with someone, and taking different suitcases, then mix the clothing into the bags.  That way if one of the bags gets lost, each of you will have something to wear.   Don’t put all your eggs into one basket.

                           O' Kay, I hope this helps all of you.  If anyone else has any tips, please post!

                                 THINGS NOT TO FORGET

1. Address book (leave original at home) and stamps
2. Excursion backpack
3. Dry bag
4. Waterproof watch
5. DEET bug repellant
6. Hats
7. Sunglasses
8. Sunscreen
9. Binoculars
10. Camera, film, extra memory cards, batteries, power cords
11. Underwater camera
12. Alarm clock
13. Power stripe
14. Rolaids
15. Immodium
16. Pepto Bismol
17. Eye drops
18. Anti bacterial wipes
19. Aloe Vera
20. Micro fiber towel
21. Sticky notes
22. Pens
23. Duct tape
24. Sewing kit
25. Extra pair of glasses
26. Business cards/ Contact cards to hand out
27. White board for door messages
28. Small dollar bills
29. First Aid kit
30. Sandals, walking shoes and a dress shoe
31. Bathing suit
32. Shorts
33. Tank tops
34. T-shirts
35. Comfy pants, I like the zip off leg pants
36. Levis or like pants
37. Dressy slacks
38. Dressy shirts
39. Dress jacket
40. The Beotch bag, ya know, the one with the toothbrush, hair brush, nail clippers, file and tweezers, shampoo, condtioner, etc.
41. Copies of all paper work: passport, driver license, emergency contacts, Olivia paper work, airline paper work   Make a copy of these, leave one at home, and one in your carry on. 
42. Feminine products
43.  Plastic zip lock bag to show at airport and this must be a 1 quart bag for your liquids/gels/spray items as per FAA regulations.
44. Rain jacket or light weight windbreaker
45. Ginger tabs or your sea sick meds or wrist bands, if you need this stuff.
46. ID badge necklace, this is useful to put ship key, id, credit card on the ring, thus it is always near your heart.  Easy to find and not to lose when on shore trips.  Plus I carry a copy of my passport with me when I go on shore in a foreign country.
47. Plastic travel mug

1. THE GROUP GIFTS – I always like to organize a meet and greet with everyone that is on the thread, we all meet somewhere on the ship, usually at the outside on deck bar, the first day.  I ask everyone to bring some kind of gifts to put out on the table and people can pick what they want.   If every person brings at least 4 items each, more if you want, there is usually enough to go around, and may be some to share with the late comers. 

 Ideas of gifts: shot glasses, bandannas, playing cards, pens, pins, note pads, eye glass strings, glow in the dark necklaces, blinky rings, ankle bracelets, mini travel games, etc, etc, etc.  See there are tons of inexpensive gifts on can find to bring along, so get thinking about what you will be bringing!!!!!  I already have mine and they are in the suitcase!

Also Olivia will do theme nights, a formal dress up night, white party night, pajama night and some kind of cruise theme attire night.

Ok, hope this helps out some or all of you gals!!  Looking forward to the meet and greet!!

INDE J