JohninDC

resortpass.com and lots of other web sites out there will help you to find day rooms.

Hop on/off bus tours of Miami and Miami Beach - most start/stop at Bayside Market just outside of the port.

When is your cruise? Our last cruise from Tampa the ship returned 12 hours early to avoid any fog delay.

TPA is a 15-20 minute ride from the port - but as the CAPT says, traffic can add more time to your journey. You should be okay.

Taxi on the meter should be about $30-35 between POM and MIA. UberX or Lyft should be a little less unless surge pricing drives up the fare. Never seen that shuttle company mentioned previously on these boards. What does the cruiseline charge for a transfer? Maybe share a ride with someone from your roll call, or cruise friends you make on the sailing.

Was there in Feb and it was still great - food, service, beach, etc.

Check resortpass.com for hotels and resorts offering day passes to their pool, beach and spa facilities. Swim, relax and grab some lunch before heading to FLL.

Typically, if the shuttle is equipped with seat belts, like a 15-18 passenger van, then you will need a car seat. If the shuttle does not have seat belts, like the vans often used by car rental agencies, then you will not need the car seat. The airline will check the car seat for free if you choose not to use it on your flight. Bringing your own car seat will open up many more transportation options. You will not need a car seat if you use the cruise line bus to get to the port.

Hampton Inn Mary Brickell, in downtown offers a shuttle to the port for a fee. Several hotels near the MIA airport also offer shuttles to the port for a fee as well as free shuttles from the airport. 8 adults and a toddler plus bags sounds like two UBER XL cars to me. Does your toddler need a booster seat? If so I would bring your own.

There will be plenty of all transportation options waiting for your business on 12/24. No worries.

Insist that the driver use the meter - and take a photo of the cab number and the driver's info "just in case you forget something in the car." Knowing that you can identify him in a complaint should discourage the driver from trying to cheat you. Too many crooked cab driver experiences was what first pushed me to Uber and Lyft.

In a regular taxi it should be about $30-35 on the meter - van cabs add a 30% surcharge if you need the space for the 4 of you and bags.

We prefer PB over sanchos - better facilities, HUGE pool, and better food IMHO.

Then tip 15-20% of what you pay for the AI Package. If the package is $60 each (last time I checked) then a tip of $12-18 each seems about right for the typical great service we have always had a PB.

We always tip 15-20% of our tab.

If they are large enough to not need a car seat or booster seat you are good to go. Otherwise bring your own booster seats - there are some inflatable ones that do not take up much luggage space.

A lower cost option for those arriving later in the day is Money Bar - no admission fee, pay as you go for food/drinks, good service, good - not great - snorkeling from the shore, rental gear available. No beach - you enter the water via some steps - but lots of loungers and shade options. Closer than the other beach clubs, so the cab ride should be about $12-15 each way.

Luggage Lounge in South Beach is an option.

resortpass.com will link you to hotels/resorts offering day passes to their pool/beach/spa facilities. Tip them to store your bags while you swim, relax, get pampered and enjoy a boozy lunch before heading to the airport.

Pre-pandemic it was good - have not been back since.

Uber and Lyft are good options from POM, or a van taxi. The ride from POM to FLL takes about 45 minutes - off the ship by 8:30 will get you to your flight in plenty of time. For private car service check Larry's Limos

For beach and pool you will need to look at Miami Beach, not Miami. FLL area would be my suggestion. Sunny.org, changed to visit Lauderdale, has lots of area tourist and hotel info.

Stay near MIA. Hampton Inn Blue Lagoon is often suggested on these boards.

If you can handle driving on the "corect" side of the road, a one-way car rental is your best bet, allowing you to go where you want and then return the car to MCO and catch your flight.

visitlauderdale.com has lots of FLL area hotel info. How are you getting to POM? SAS shuttles has a list of hotels they pick up at on thier web site - saving you a trip back to the airport just to get a ride to POM.