Has anyone ever done this?

[ScottC4746]

My family of 6 is flying in and out of Miami but cruising out of Fort Lauderdale. Our flight after the cruise does not leave until 7:40 PM. We will be getting off the ship with all our luggage and really no where to go for several hours! I would hate to waste a day down in Florida just sitting in the airport when we could be hanging out at the pool or doing something else fun. Are there any hotels near the Miami airport that allow you book a room just for the daytime hours (approximately 10AM - 5PM)?

 

Check the shore excursions for your cruise. I have something similar so we booked the Tampa City Cruise for after the cruise. They pick us up in a nice coach with luggage underneath for a 3 1/2 hour tour with a couple of stops that we can get off while they hold our luggage. Then they whisk us to the airport. For $54 per person it was worth it to us.

[xpcdoojk]

I believe American is part of the Luggage Valet program-- you get the form on board and fill it out and for 25 $ a bag they take direct to the plane and you pick up your luggage at bag claim when you arrive

 

Key west is about an hour and 1/2 drive from Miami I believe but there are great places to swim and snorkel well before key west. Day passes are OK at hotels but they can easily cost upwards of 75-95 pp and for 6 seems rather steep.

 

We have a late afternoon return when we cruise in November and will be spending the day at FT lauderdales beach area of which there are several listed on the FLL Beach website (and may places to eat as well) and best of all the beach is free!!

 

I haven't driven from Miami to Key West for well over a decade, but it sure as heck is not 1-1/2 drive. Key Largo maybe. Key West no.

 

JC

[reedl]

We are flying American. How does that program work? I like the idea of it a lot!

Would love to see the Keys - ever since I started watching Bloodline!

 

You will not be able to go too far into the Keys before you have to turn around.

 

If you were going to want to see the Keys, I would instead stay the night in the area.

[reedl]

I haven't driven from Miami to Key West for well over a decade, but it sure as heck is not 1-1/2 drive. Key Largo maybe. Key West no.

 

JC

 

Miami Airport to Key West is at least a four hour drive with any traffic. You would never do both directions in a day.

[crosby99]

My family of 6 is flying in and out of Miami but cruising out of Fort Lauderdale. Our flight after the cruise does not leave until 7:40 PM. We will be getting off the ship with all our luggage and really no where to go for several hours! I would hate to waste a day down in Florida just sitting in the airport when we could be hanging out at the pool or doing something else fun. Are there any hotels near the Miami airport that allow you book a room just for the daytime hours (approximately 10AM - 5PM)?

 

If you have a look at my blog the is a review of a private tour we did in the same situation. We visited Everglades and had a Miami City Tour finishing at the airport. The was 7 of us and it worked out quite good value for the whole day(about same as RCL charge for /12 day and airport transfer).

My blog does name the company we used but the are several others which seem reputable which you can find through usual sources.

It is certainly something I would consider doing again

[Cruise Raider]

1. 
   

 

I was actually looking at the tours they do after the cruise and saw a fun one in the Everglades. Then I started doing the math on it (multiplying it by 6 to include everyone) and realized a day pass at a hotel might be a better option for us.

 

I think you are right ... it would be a pricey option. I have always wanted to do that tour but we live clear across the country and cannot imagine spending half a day in the Everglades only to have to get on a plane all stinky for hours and hours. It wasn't a real well thought out plan when I mentioned it. ;)

[MommaBear55]

It's always expensive when a mall is involved! We stayed next door to the Galleria Mall last time we were there and on one of our rainy days we spent way too much money at the mall!

 

My DD had to buy a suitcase to hold all her purchases!

[Charles4515]

Also if you are flying an airline that participate in royals luggage valet program you will not have to deal with your luggage all day and can rent a car and/or Uber it to various beaches/locals to enjoy lovely south florida (renting a car you can drive to the keys)

 

Does Royal still have the luggage valet program? I ask because it has been discontinued on Celebrity.

[Terre]

We rented a car in FLL once and spent the day on the beach and driving around FLL. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to MIA airport and get checked in. You never know what can happen on the interstate. We flew into MIA once and took a taxi to FLL. On the way traffic began backing up and we finally got to the accident -- a tractor trailor had run into a small car pushing it up against the concrete wall.

 

There must be some tours in MIA you could do while waiting for your flight.

[mjjden]

Rodeway Inn and suites does in Fort Lauderdale, they pick up at Miami airport if you are staying there, not sure if would do for a day pass!

[Clarea]

Does Royal still have the luggage valet program? I ask because it has been discontinued on Celebrity.

Yes, but only at Port Everglades and Port Canaveral.

[riclop]

My family of 6 is flying in and out of Miami but cruising out of Fort Lauderdale. Our flight after the cruise does not leave until 7:40 PM. We will be getting off the ship with all our luggage and really no where to go for several hours! I would hate to waste a day down in Florida just sitting in the airport when we could be hanging out at the pool or doing something else fun. Are there any hotels near the Miami airport that allow you book a room just for the daytime hours (approximately 10AM - 5PM)?

Just google it.

[ronandannette]

Would you be interested in taking a tour that drops you at the airport late in the afternoon? They usually have something available and they handle all your luggage for you as well. Just thought I would mention it.

 

We always take a departure excursion that includes an airport transfer. They're often not much more expensive that just the transfer alone and you get to spend 3 or 4 hours seeing some sights. We did a really cool one out of Ft. Lauderdale that included an airboat ride through the Everglades and a visit to a wildlife preserve. This was an RCCL excursion but all cruiselines have something similar. Added benefits are that you're assembled and escorted off the ship before the hordes and that you don't have to handle your luggage from the time it's loaded on the tour bus until you are delivered at the airport.

[kassimer1]

http://www.dayuse.com/usa/state/florida/city/fort-lauderdale

this site has day passes

[jewel825]

Check the shore excursions for your cruise. I have something similar so we booked the Tampa City Cruise for after the cruise. They pick us up in a nice coach with luggage underneath for a 3 1/2 hour tour with a couple of stops that we can get off while they hold our luggage. Then they whisk us to the airport. For $54 per person it was worth it to us.

 

I think the ones that I saw offered for our cruise are $69 per person and it's not quite long enough. 3 1/2 hours is only about a third of the time we need. We still have many more hours to fill!

[jewel825]

[quote name='Redrobo']The last time we flew out of Miami we used the Sheraton Miami airport hotel, they run a shuttle to the airport, the Poole and food are very good, they gave us a room for the four of us to share.
[url]http://www.sheratonmiamiairport.com[/url][/QUOTE]

I love how close this hotel is with a free shuttle to the airport. Bonus!