Late flight home from Ft. Lauderdale

[lel5344]

Our post Royal Caribbean cruise flight does not leave FLL until 7:30 PM.  What we would like to do is get off the ship as late as possible and kill time until before getting to the airport around 5:30 PM.  I'm pretty sure that the post cruise shore excursions from RCCL would get us back to FLL early to mid-afternoon, and killing 3 or 4 hours at the airport is not our favorite thing.

 

Any suggestions, keeping in mind, of course, that luggage handling is always an issue?.  And Southwest says we can check our bags beginning 4 hours before the flight.

 

Thanks a bunch!

[JohninDC]

www.resortpass.com is one source for hotels offering day passes to their pool, spa and beach facilities (tip them to store your bags).  If you want a day room try www.between9and5.com or www.dayrooms.com and other sites - Roadway Inn is a budget motel near FLL that usually offers day rooms and is popular with some cruisers.

 

You can pay to store your bags at FLL and then you are free to explore - water taxi, boozy lunch, beach, etc.  Or rent a car for the day, put the bags in the trunk and go where you want. www.sunny.org has lots of FLL area tourist info.

[CruiserBruce]

Have you looked to see if your cruise line has a baggage delivery program, like Luggage Direct?

[lel5344]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

Have you looked to see if your cruise line has a baggage delivery program, like Luggage Direct?

Royal Caribbean does have a luggage valet service, but not for Southwest after 6PM.  Thanks for the idea, though.

[Ashland]

Get off the ship early and rent a car for the day....go have breakfast (Lester's Diner) and drive around or go to the 

Sawgrass Mills Mall...that's a destination of it's own.

[cyntil8ing]

My family is renting a car for the day. Pick up at the port via shuttle, drop off at the airport. Cost during Christmas week was about $130 for a full size. 

[cookingmom]

We rented a car, drove to the Everglades, and took a very touristy airboat tour. It was so-so but we have now crossed it off the bucket list. We then had a quick lunch and our group of 5 headed to Flamingo Gardens. This place was really lovely and our eclectic bunch gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up! From there, we headed to FLL and turned in our rental car. 

[lel5344]

Renting a car looks like the best option! Thanks for the great advice.

18 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Have you looked to see if your cruise line has a baggage delivery program, like Luggage Direct?

Royal Caribbean does have a luggage valet service, but not for Southwest after 6PM.  Thanks for the idea, though.

[Crystal04]

My flights leave around the same time.  I typically drop off my luggage at the airport and take an Uber to the beach. Hang out on the beach and then grab lunch and Uber back.

[BlueHerons]

I would drop the luggage off at one of those storage places and hop on the water taxi.  You can shop and dine right off the water taxi and the views are amazing.  Or take the water taxi to Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood and dine there.

 

Either way, it is a great way to see Fort Lauderdale.  It is a city you should see from the water, not from land.

[Paula B]

Hi BlueHerons, we thought about getting a taxi to Margaritaville Resort for a day pass. Do you have any idea what a taxi would cost from the port?

[JohninDC]

www.uberestimate.com 

 

Plug the port and resort address into this site for an estimate. For a taxi rate you can just about double the Uber fare.

3 hours ago, Paula B said:

Hi BlueHerons, we thought about getting a taxi to Margaritaville Resort for a day pass. Do you have any idea what a taxi would cost from the port?

 

[Paula B]

Thank you I will check it out.

[BlueHerons]

6 hours ago, Paula B said:

Hi BlueHerons, we thought about getting a taxi to Margaritaville Resort for a day pass. Do you have any idea what a taxi would cost from the port?

Unfortunately I don't but it is a great place to spend time!

 

I would call and see if they can do a day rate.

[cruiselvr04]

Also try hotels by day or day use.  We can usually find a room with a decent pool for around $100 for the day.  Nice thing about a day room is a shower and or nap is available. Day passes aren’t bad but you have to leave your luggage with a bell hop and you don’t have a way to get ready for a flight except a public restroom.  YMMV.

[illiniwahoo]

What places can you drop your luggage off?

[JohninDC]

55 minutes ago, illiniwahoo said:

What places can you drop your luggage off?

There is luggage storage available at the FLL airport for a fee. Most airlines will not let you check bags until 3-4 hours prior to departure.

[music]

www.bagstogo.net  $8.00 per bag

Edited January 18, 2020 by music