Debark Glory in Miami, fly FLL at 3pm...what to do?

[ballinafad]

We are a couple in our 50's and will have a few hours to kill. We are using SAS transportation to pick us up at POM, and take us to FLL. Are there any hotels near FLL that might allow us to hang by the pool for a few hours? Any other suggestions?

[kelkel2]

instead of SAS can you look at your booking and see if there are any post cruse excursions you can book that would then offer transportation to the airport as well?

I know what you're getting at though FLL sucks to wait at because there is nothing before security and they do not allow you to check your bags early.

[nayr30]

I'm in the exact same situation. I'm departing the Glory, have a 3pm flight out of FLL and have no idea what to do. There's no way I'm waiting at the airport for 5 hours bored out of my mind but also don't want to carry around my luggage all day. The excursions don't appeal to me, hoping for other suggestions.

Edited September 8, 2014 by nayr30

[firemanbobswife]

No ideas as far as killing time, but you can do the luggage express service where Carnival takes your luggage from you the night before and gets it checked in at the airport for you. Solves the problem of lugging it around all that time.

[nayr30]

No ideas as far as killing time, but you can do the luggage express service where Carnival takes your luggage from you the night before and gets it checked in at the airport for you. Solves the problem of lugging it around all that time.

 

That sounds great but do you have to use their shuttle service to do luggage express?

[firemanbobswife]

That sounds great but do you have to use their shuttle service to do luggage express?

 

No you don't.

[misguidedangel]

It is wise to cancel your transfer and do a post cruise excursion. You will be off the ship after the Luggage Express tags. The luggage and anything you leave on the bus will be safe as the driver stays with the bus while your off having some more fun.

 

You can go to Jungle Island, Sea World, South Beach, Everglades, and I doubt you'd want to do the children's museum.......I have done a few post cruise excursions and it is a good way to kill time!

[Buffettfan 225]

We are a couple in our 50's and will have a few hours to kill. We are using SAS transportation to pick us up at POM, and take us to FLL. Are there any hotels near FLL that might allow us to hang by the pool for a few hours? Any other suggestions?

 

My first suggestion is purchasing the luggage express program. I think it is $30 per person, but so worth it, it takes care of checking you in for flight,printing out boarding passes, and once you leave luggage to be checked out in hallway before midnight, you will not see it again until home airport luggage carousel.

This eliminates transferring it, and avoiding wait period of 4 hours before flight to check it in at airport. (This is assuming you have a major airline that participates in program.) I know it works at all ports except San Juan.

[firemanbobswife]

It is wise to cancel your transfer and do a post cruise excursion. You will be off the ship after the Luggage Express tags. The luggage and anything you leave on the bus will be safe as the driver stays with the bus while your off having some more fun.

 

You can go to Jungle Island, Sea World, South Beach, Everglades, and I doubt you'd want to do the children's museum.......I have done a few post cruise excursions and it is a good way to kill time!

 

Ummmmm, isn't Sea World in Orlando? They would never make it there and back in time. They are leaving out of FLL not MCO.

[Bunkie103]

Ummmmm, isn't Sea World in Orlando? They would never make it there and back in time. They are leaving out of FLL not MCO.

 

 

Years ago there was a Sea World in Miami, but I have no idea if it's still there.

[firemanbobswife]

Years ago there was a Sea World in Miami, but I have no idea if it's still there.

 

There's a Miami Seaquarium. Maybe that's what they meant. Never heard of Sea World in Miami.

[ffmikey]

Had the same issue on our last cruise out of POM too. We flew Southwest out of FFL. We did the luggage express, got off early, rented a car in downtown MIA and drove north. Stopped for lunch, looked around and then dropped the car off at the airport. Fuel was close by so not an issue. It was less money than (4) people doing a shuttle. Way better than sitting around.

[kona_wahine]

We have a flight about 6:00. We decided to rent a car post trip. Picking up at POM and returning to FLL. It was pretty reasonable for the day. Also, have FTTF so we can get off ASAP. Plan to either hit the Everglades or miami beach. Haven't decided yet.

[jgmuff89]

Just had the same issue getting off the conquest on Sunday , flight to Mi didn't leave till 6 outta FLL so we rented. Room at quality inn &suites for half a day. They charged 39.95 with free shuttle to airport . They had a nice pool area we hung out by as well

[ballinafad]

We have a flight about 6:00. We decided to rent a car post trip. Picking up at POM and returning to FLL. It was pretty reasonable for the day. Also, have FTTF so we can get off ASAP. Plan to either hit the Everglades or miami beach. Haven't decided yet.

 

Which car rental has a port of miami location? Do they also shuttle you there?

[ballinafad]

My first suggestion is purchasing the luggage express program. I think it is $30 per person, but so worth it, it takes care of checking you in for flight,printing out boarding passes, and once you leave luggage to be checked out in hallway before midnight, you will not see it again until home airport luggage carousel.

This eliminates transferring it, and avoiding wait period of 4 hours before flight to check it in at airport. (This is assuming you have a major airline that participates in program.) I know it works at all ports except San Juan.

 

Do you know where I can find the list of participating airlines? We are flying westjet from Fort Lauderdale but docking in Miami. Would they still offer luggage express from Miami to FLL?

[jwalk03]

Rent a car at POM instead of doing a shuttle. Then you can drive around a visit whatever you want in the area, grab lunch, etc. Then drop the car off at FLL when its time to fly home.

 

Its very easy to do, I did it after an Imagination cruise a couple of years ago. We went to South Beach, Bayside, and to the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood before heading to FLL to go home.

[jwalk03]

Which car rental has a port of miami location? Do they also shuttle you there?

 

I dont think there are any AT the port of Miami, but they have shuttles that will pick you up and take you to their nearby offices to get your car. I think we used Hertz last time, but I dont remember for sure.

Edited September 9, 2014 by jwalk03

[Nic6318]

If you do have some free time and a car to get around, Fort Lauderdale has a great beach.

The last time I was waiting for a late flight I went to the Hugh Taylor Birch Park in Fort Lauderdale. A very nice small park setting in the city with lots of things to do ( check out their web site ). For me it was great in that there is one area of the park where you have access to the Fort Lauderdale beach (across the street), with washrooms, snack bar. In the park itself you can rent canoes, kayaks (there is a river), bicycle rental , Segway. You could just sit under a tree and have a picnic ( a lot of locals do just that ).

I'll do the same the next time I'm in the same situation and look forward to the downtime.

 

Have a great cruise

 

p.s. it's about a 10-15 minute drive from the park to the airport rental car drop off with lots of gas stations on the way to fill up before you return the car

 

Also I used Thrifty...their shuttle picks you up at the port and brings you to Miami airport to pick up the car

Edited September 9, 2014 by Nic6318
forgot one thing

[Nic6318]

Just had the same issue getting off the conquest on Sunday , flight to Mi didn't leave till 6 outta FLL so we rented. Room at quality inn &suites for half a day. They charged 39.95 with free shuttle to airport . They had a nice pool area we hung out by as well

 

Wondering about this hotel, did you book directly with the hotel or the corporate website. Is this something that is advertised or just occasional availability.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

[ballinafad]

Thanks all for your help. I cancelled my shuttle and booked a rental car with pick up at Intercontinental hotel in Miami. Not much more than cost of shuttle and now can keep luggage in car and hit a beach.

[Reneeaz1982]

How do you go about booking this luggage express? Is it thru the cruiseline or airlines?

 

We don't have a flight out until 5pm, however already purchased the airport transfer to FLL thru Carnival?!?

[firemanbobswife]

How do you go about booking this luggage express? Is it thru the cruiseline or airlines?

 

We don't have a flight out until 5pm, however already purchased the airport transfer to FLL thru Carnival?!?

 

 

They will have the info in your room with the Fun Times. It's through Carnival.

[Reneeaz1982]

Oh ok! Thanks a bunch!