Back to Back Cruise.... Sorta, departing in Port Canaveral and Embarking from Miami

[11madmic]

I have a question. In December I have coordinated a family Christmas cruise that leaves from Miami on a Friday. This cruise is booked by everyone and ready to go. I often receive comped cruises from Casino Royal but usually they are inconvenient times or not worth the flight for but recently I noticed a comped cruise that leaves from Port Canaveral but it arrives back the same day our Navigator cruise leaves Miami. I did notice google maps said its a 3 hour drive. So my question is, is this a feasible task, to disembark, rent a car, drive, return car and make the other cruise without issue or is this too risky time wise?

I couldn't find similar situations from my searches. Thanks for any input!!

[Merion_Mom]

I have a question. In December I have coordinated a family Christmas cruise that leaves from Miami on a Friday. This cruise is booked by everyone and ready to go. I often receive comped cruises from Casino Royal but usually they are inconvenient times or not worth the flight for but recently I noticed a comped cruise that leaves from Port Canaveral but it arrives back the same day our Navigator cruise leaves Miami. I did notice google maps said its a 3 hour drive. So my question is, is this a feasible task, to disembark, rent a car, drive, return car and make the other cruise without issue or is this too risky time wise?

I couldn't find similar situations from my searches. Thanks for any input!!

Although we were coming from Disney World, not a cruise, we did that.

 

It is doable.

[lazydayz]

Very easy. Hop on the turnpike. Make sure to get a Sunpass for the tolls.

[LizzyDragon]

That's doable, even if you arrive in PC a couple of hours late. From PC, it would be a 3-4 hour drive down to Miami.

[Clarea]

I'd choose self-assist disembarkation to get an early start and get to the car rental office early. There can be a wait at the rental office.

[time4u2go]

Very easy. Hop on the turnpike. Make sure to get a Sunpass for the tolls.

Of course don't "hop on the turnpike" until you get to where it meets up with I-95, like near Ft. Pierce.

[paper1122]

Very doable. Plus you will be missing rush hour in Miami and traffic is usually not too bad on 95 until you get around Jupiter.

[island lady]

I live just north of Port Canaveral, and will drive down the day of a cruise in Ft. Lauderdale. It's about 3 hours, we leave around 8 am and still have had to wait to board after check in.

 

It's totally doable going from one to the other. Even if you don't hit the road until 10:00...you will still be there in time.

[LeeW]

Very easy. Hop on the turnpike. Make sure to get a Sunpass for the tolls.

 

Rental cars have the toll pass, but you will pay a day fee plus the tolls. Generally no rental car dropoff charge in Florida, either. Fairly easy drive. You will still need some kind of transportation from where you drop the car to the port.

[Clarea]

Rental cars have the toll pass, but you will pay a day fee plus the tolls. Generally no rental car dropoff charge in Florida, either. Fairly easy drive. You will still need some kind of transportation from where you drop the car to the port.

The OP should check the Florida Departure forum. There may be a downtown Miami location for drop off that has a shuttle to the cruise port.

[Biker19]

Of course don't "hop on the turnpike" until you get to where it meets up with I-95, like near Ft. Pierce.

You don't need the turnpike at all - just stay on I95 all the way.

[LMaxwell]

95 into Miami midday Friday can be a real crapshoot. My territory runs from Fort Pierce to Pompano Beach on east and Sawgrass on west, w one day a week in a Fort Laud office. 95 sucks out loud. Turnpike whenever I can and THAT sucks sometimes.

 

Turnpike not needed but definitely recommended. The chances of the turnpike flowing from Jupiter down to Hallandale are much greater than 95. Canaveral to Miami should be about 4 hours driving time. OP if you hit highway around 8am you should be pretty good.

[island lady]

You don't need the turnpike at all - just stay on I95 all the way.

 

I also prefer to hop off I-95 and then onto the turnpike at Ft. Pierce. Have gotten into too many traffic tie ups doing the I-95 run and swore I would not do it again. Of course that does not mean that the turnpike can't have it's share of traffic nightmares also, but my odds have been better on the turnpike.

 

Once a year we drive the motor home, trailing the Jeep (making us a 50 foot long train) down to the Florida Keys, and would never, ever consider doing I-95 on that route! :o

[Biker19]

Of course that does not mean that the turnpike can't have it's share of traffic nightmares also, but my odds have been better on the turnpike.

The best way to do it is to rely on Google Maps, which will tell you the best way. Even then it might be iffy since sometimes it relies on you taking the toll lanes of I95 south of FLL.