Getting from ship to miami airport after cruise

[LOVEMYSAMOYED]

We are returning on april 24 from destiny cruise. What is the best way to get from port to miami airport. Is it better to book with carnival or are there taxis or shuttle busses waiting that don't need to be booked in advance?

[Gonzo70]

Plenty of taxis. It will be faster, more comfortable and a lot cheaper to use a taxi than to book transportation with the cruise line.

[Fattony]

Assuming you're flying out the same day, one advantage of the cruise-arranged transfer is being more assured of being one of the early groups off the ship. You might still be in an early group if you let them know you're flying the same day, but I don't know if it's as guaranteed. Needless to say, you want to allow plenty of time between your docking and your flight out. You don't want to get off a relaxing cruise and then get stressed out wondering if you'll make it to your flight in time (what is the ship is late? what if you don't get in the early groups to disembark?). Allow plenty of time until your flight, and if you end up with more time than you anticipated, have a meal at the airport and/or splurge for a day pass at one of the airline clubs.

[cb at sea]

Totally a taxi...no waiting on a shuttle bus to fill and be loaded with bags. A cab is $24 from the port of Miami to MIA...

[DANIEBONNER]

Red Roof Inn: Clean and definitely tolerable for an overnight stay (they offer a free shuttle to/from MIA Airport AND free shuttle to Port of Miami): http://www.redroof.com/reservations/property-detail.aspx?pid=00255#tab

 

ParkSleepFly.com: which offers travelers real-time park and fly reservations at hundreds of airport hotels worldwide: http://www.parksleepfly.com/index.php?referredBy=5800&source=pjn&subid=48741

[cruisealot]

Cabs are always fastest. Walk off the ship, get your luggage and they are lined up waiting to take you to the airport.

[FreezingInMichigan]

We did a post-cruise excursion - tour of South Beach. Only low-light of our entire cruise. The bellinis at Bellini's helped. :D

 

Next time we're grabbing one of the plentiful cabs. Also plan on self debarkation and staying on ship but not wearing out our welcome.

[pris993]

Taxi. Just did it yesterday.

[IMDORY]

We did a post-cruise excursion - tour of South Beach. Only low-light of our entire cruise. The bellinis at Bellini's helped. :D

 

Next time we're grabbing one of the plentiful cabs. Also plan on self debarkation and staying on ship but not wearing out our welcome.

 

 

Good to know-we were considering this tour and just a few days made our final decision to skip it!

 

We decided on doing self debarkation too. How late do you think we can stay on the ship without "wearing out our welcome?"

[FreezingInMichigan]

Hard to say. Our friends stayed on until 9:30'ish. I know the crew is on a tight schedule to get the ship turned over for the next week of guests and I don't want to mess up their schedule. We're shooting for being one of the last debarkments without being asked to leave... lol

[IMDORY]

I was thinking that 9:30 was about the time myself