Park and Cruise in Miami

[cruiseluver323]

We will be driving down from Maryland, cruising out of the Port of Miami in mid July. Does anyone have any suggestions for hotels with Park and Cruise packages in Miami? We got a listing from our AAA Travel Agent but I wanted to check with all of you on Cruise Critic.

[Marie51]

The downtown Hilton usually has park & cruise packages.

[JohninDC]

Check www.parksleepfly.com for hotels offering cruise parking deals.

 

As downtown and Miami Beach hotels charge $25-30+/day for parking :eek: just about all of the hotels offering these deals will be out near the MIA airport. If a shuttle is not offered both ways plan on paying just under $30 (including tip) for a cab to POM and/or back to your car.

 

Hotels in the Blue Lagoon area near MIA are often suggested on these boards - including the Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites which offer cruise parking deals. Shopping and diniing options are across the street. Also suggested is the Embassy Suites near MIA - free happy hour :D, big rooms, and wonderful breakfast.

 

Security of your car is an issue in many parts of Miami :( - parking at POM costs $20/day but is convenient, covered and secure. You might be better off getting a $50 hotel a couple of hours north of Miami off of I-95 (Orlando is only a 3.5 hour drive away!) and then driving to POM the day of your cruise and parking there. :cool:

 

Good luck! :)

[MilVet]

Not sure if you have a handicap placard but if you do parking at the port of Miami is free. You would need the placard, placard registration or letter from your issuing state, handicap persons ID, proof of sailing (sign & sail card), and the parking ticket from the lot's automated machine.

 

Go into the parking lot entrance, get the parking ticket and park wherever you want. You do not have to park in a handicap spot. When departing after your cruise show the attendant the documents listed above and you're good to go.

 

Don't worry about the automated pay machines you will see. There is always and attendant there when the ships are in. $20 a day savings :)

[cruiseluver323]

Ok. I keep hearing about the bad parking situations at the Miami hotels. Has anyone done a park and cruise at a Ft. Lauderdale hotel and taken SAS transportation to POM? We flew into Fort Lauderdale last October and used SAS to take us to POM. They were great! Is the parking situation better at the Fort Lauderdale hotels? We have done a park and cruise in Cocoa Beach when we cruised from Port Canveral and have also done one in Jacksonville. Jacksonville worked out well, Cocoa Beach, not so much! $140 for parking on top of the hotel charge is a bit much.

[JohninDC]

You can use the same web site to search for cruise parking deals. :cool: Several Dania Beach area hotels have been mentioned for cruise parking deals. Compare to Miami hotels after you calculate the transportation costs - taxi or SAS. Good luck! :)

[cruiseluver323]

JohninDC-I guess what I was asking was if the parking at the Fort Lauderdale hotels was more secure and safer? I don't want to come back from our cruise and find that our van has been vandalized, stolen, or damaged. That would end up costing us alot more than the $140 we would save by not parking at the port!

[JohninDC]

In general FLL area hotels are cheaper and safer than Miami and 99% of the time you will not have problems; but no hotel parking lot will be as safe and secure as the covered and secure parking at POM. You need to decide if the savings and hassel of shuttles are worth it. Good luck! :)