JoAnn, you can buy points for $17 per 500 and it will still come out cheaper than if you reserve at the rack rate! How many points do you need to get to 2800?

We would like to find a hotel that provides free parking for the length of the cruise and a shuttle to pier. I am looking at the Hampton Inn in Plantation for $169. I need to also check out the Hyatt Place (old Amerisuites) next door to the Embassy Suites. Agree with John that we need to be prepared for very high rates and book soon.

Way many Karen, I think Frank only has like 600 or something, not even sure if he has that many.

Marc - I think the Sheraton where Karen is has a cruise package that gives you free parking and a shuttle to the pier. Check under packages. Somene also told me that Embassy Suites has a shuttle, but not sure about the parking.

JoAnn, I don't remember the Sheraton having a shuttle to the pier but I might be mistaken. It's so close, (1.5 miles) so the taxi isn't much.

you may be right, I thought I saw such a package, but I could be thinking of another place.

We'll be in one of these:

The Sheraton FLL Airport & Cruise Hotel is 4000 pts. (No point & cash is offered here.) It has a courtesy shuttle from the airport. It's a 5 to 10 min taxi ride to the pier. (I called & was quoted $21 for 2.) They offer shuttle service to the pier for $9.00. We've stayed there many times - I just reserved a room here this morning.

The Sheraton FLL Beach Hotel doesn't have a courtesy shuttle to the pier but offers shuttle service for $8.00. I was also told that there is no courtesy shuttle service from the airport. They quote the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel to be approx. $20 & taxi to pier $20.00. (I guess the taxi rates are fixed within a zone so both hotels are probably within the same zone.)

Yeah JoAnn and Frank!!!! Everytime I look at this thread there is someone new booked!

Welcome Viv and Greg....this is going to be a cruise to remember for you... your first LCT criuse!!! I am sure JOhn and Tonya told you about their first one and wondering what they had gotten themselves in for!

We are excited to be joining this illustrious group. :D

This will be our 3rd Regent cruise... but I guess our 1st as a LCT 'r!! =) My insane busy season at work is Oct - Dec... so I will be soooo ready for this trip. The fact that it leaves from our backyard is a bonus! We had air credit on top of everything else!!

Well, we just couldn't resist any longer--Jerry couldn't stand to miss all this fun so we'll be in 883. Too many of our good friends on this cruise to not be there, plus there's some folks we've been wanting to meet for a long time. Add us in for Prime 7 and anything else that's going on.

Yippeeeee Peggy!

You and Jerry made my day! :hug: :hug:

Yeah Peggy, so glad you are coming. We are going to get three in a row with you nowas well as several others.

Deck 8! Finally meet you JoAnn!

SOME MORE GOOD NEWS FOR THIS TRIP! VERY PRELIMINARY BUT I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW BEFORE YOU MADE YOUR PLANE RESERVATIONS.

Regent and Brown and Keene are going to do a MINI HO-DOWN and we need a NEW name for this. That will be fun as always.

This will be an event of some kind hosted by Regent the night before sailing January 3, 2011.
The event will offer some specials for booking a 2012 cruise. Not sure about a function for lunch on board the next day that remains to be clarified.

"NEW NAME PLEASE IN PLACE OF HO-DOWN"

This function is only available to Brown and Keene clients.

There will be a maximum number of attendees and preference will be given to those that are booked on the FUN 2 cruise. Every BK client on the 1/4/11 cruise has an automatic invitation to the event and when we get closer we will be in touch to determine if you will or will not be attending.

Any Brown and Keene client that lives close and would like to attend we can clear as long as there is space after the people on the cruise are accommodated.

Send me an email if you want to attend but are not on the cruise and I will do a waitlist and clear as many as I can once all the cruise passengers are confirmed.

For anyone who needs some starpoints, if you apply for the Starwood Amex by July 7th you get 30,000 starpoints if you make $1,000 purchases in two months or something... I do not have the link, I just am not good at that stuff, buts it comes right up on the SPG.com website..

We are booked from NYE til the 4th at the W Hotel FLL ON Cash and points....


FV

Well you know we will be at the SHIN DIG! Holler when you want me to start a name the event poll!

My submission:

REGENT

Revelers Enjoying Great Entertanment 'N Travel

or

PRE FUN

Pre-cruise Regent Entertainment For Us Ngaire (fans)

Carefree and Relaxed In Bars & Beaches Enjoying Another Nightcap

CARIBBEAN

I know, I know, it needs work ;)

One more....

....before I post, I have to say that it was 92 here today and we have no AC, it is now past 1am, and I am on my second bottle of wine. ;)

Pillaging Idyllic Regent After Treasures & Ecstasy

PIRATE

Personally I like SHINDIG, and I cannot think of things to go with it, but I think its cute Karen.

Wow this is amazing Ngaire, and yes we will be there as we are planning to come a day early as I don't trust DC weather in January.

Our friends from CA are on FUN2 and they are on Regent air from LAX, so don't know if Regent will fly them in on a redeye, or the day before. Any way to find out?

So Marc, since you are on your second bottle of wine, is that why you have two submissions? LOL.

Yes Suzie, I am excited to meet you as well. Was so disappointed when you cancelled TUT.

Party time girl.

OMG am I going to be able to keep up with you, much less myself???????????????????

SHIN DIG

Sure Happy I'm Navigating Down Into Guatemala

Peggy and Jerry, it's great to hear that you'll be on this cruise. We look forward to sailing with you again. Tom and Mona.

They will fly everyone in on the RED EYE from the West Coast that is what is done. If they want to come in early they need to do the custom air for $100 pp to arrive on the 3rd or do their own air which may be an even better idea. At $400 plus $100 = $500 per person they can probably buy their own air and have more control over the flights selected.

I started a name the mini HO DOWN post and copied over Marc and Arlene's suggestions so you don't have to post them all over again.

Ngaire - Greg & I look forward to meeting you.

Suggested names for the event:
Fun in the Sun
Ft Lauderdale Fantasy Fest
Caribbean Dreamin'
January Jaunt
Ring a Ding Ding (new years theme)

Thanks Ngaire, answered my question. LOL that our friends would pay to come early, not to mention pay for a hotel. Figured the redeye might be the case. Too bad for them. I'm just hoping they will actually come on this and not cancel.

We booked the Sheraton Beach Hotel for 2 nights-January 2 & 3 using cash and points. I guess this means we'll be at the pre-party as well as the pre-pre-party.

Add Teresa Garcia to FUN2, suite 811 :banana:

Welcome to Suzie's friend Teresa! Any friend of Suzies, we are sure to love!

Clyde and Jean are "on the verge". Will talk to Ngaire tomorrow and see about cancelling Sydney-Australia in November. We are thinking we aren't fit enough for that looong journey and Fll. is so close. Stay tuned.

Jean, I would love to cruise with you and Clyde! And a big welcome to Suzie's friend Teresa.

Apparently this is a Spotlight on Chocolate cruise.

Jean & Clyde, haven't seen you since that fateful FJORDS cruise. Staying tuned :)

Jean & Clyde, sooooooo happy you made the leap ! It's been way too long. Welcome aboard.

Thanks all. I think we are in #831 but won't know until tomorrow when Regent's office is open. I forgot today is a holiday. Susan is pretty sure that cabin is available, though. Clyde and I were going through some of the old "MINT" pictures and what memories!! It will be so nice to see you all again and to meet new faces, also.

Great news Jean! I will mark you down for 831 in the roll call, we can always change if need be.

Marc and I are so excited Jean! It has been way too long since we have seen you both.