Celebrity pre cruise hotel and transportation to pier

[Treacher1]

Has anyone used the Celebrity one night hotel pre cruise that includes transportation to the pier?  Please advise how it went  - I like having it all prepaid and part of Celebrity package.  My concern is the time of transportation to pier?  Must you sign up when you get to hotel?  Is it hard to get the time you wish?  Just curious how the transportation to pier really works.  Is it a bus and pick up others for other ships?  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  This would be at the Embassy Suites 17th St. in Ft. Lauderdale.  Thanks for your help!

[yorky]

3 minutes ago, Treacher1 said:

Has anyone used the Celebrity one night hotel pre cruise that includes transportation to the pier?  Please advise how it went  - I like having it all prepaid and part of Celebrity package.  My concern is the time of transportation to pier?  Must you sign up when you get to hotel?  Is it hard to get the time you wish?  Just curious how the transportation to pier really works.  Is it a bus and pick up others for other ships?  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  This would be at the Embassy Suites 17th St. in Ft. Lauderdale.  Thanks for your help!

I can’t advice on what a Celebrity offer but we cruised out of Ft Lauderdale in September, booked our own hotels and just used an Uber, we had a car available within 5/10 minutes every time, we were based in a Miami and took an Uber to the port in Ft Lauderdale, very good value and probably a lot cheaper than paying Celebrity. On top of that you can make your own decision on when you arrive at the pier.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

I think we used it once years ago.  You will leave the hotel as a group on a motor coach, so you cannot select a time. It is less expensive to book the hotel on your own. Embassy suites offers a shuttle service to the port for about $15 pp.  You sign up at the hotel and can select a time.  It is a small van and usually goes right from the hotel to the Celebrity ship.  The only time we were with someone from another ship was when there were only a few of us going to Celebrity and another couple heading for a different cruise line.

[lovescarborough]

18 minutes ago, Treacher1 said:

Has anyone used the Celebrity one night hotel pre cruise that includes transportation to the pier?  Please advise how it went  - I like having it all prepaid and part of Celebrity package.  My concern is the time of transportation to pier?  Must you sign up when you get to hotel?  Is it hard to get the time you wish?  Just curious how the transportation to pier really works.  Is it a bus and pick up others for other ships?  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  This would be at the Embassy Suites 17th St. in Ft. Lauderdale.  Thanks for your help!

It must be about five years since we did this but the last time we sat on the coach for almost an hour at the hotel while they tried to track down two missing passengers. Eventually we left without them. They probably just took a cab, which is what we have done ever since ! 

[awhfy]

We usually stay at a Embassy Suites on 17th in Ft Lauderdale (last time was this past February). We opted not to use the shuttle service (when the desk person told us that the time of departure would be between 1 & 1:30!  We were concierge & the concierge lunch stops at 1:30 (must get that first “free” lunch). We opted to take a taxi instead, great choice!  $10 total, we were picked up at 10 am, at port & checked in waiting to board at 1015. On board ship at 1030. I’ll never use the shuttles again in Ft Lauderdale

[Ozzmund]

Another vote for either a taxi or Uber.

Leave when you want.

Go straight to the ship.

Less expensive.

We have stayed pre-cruise at both Embasy Suites and Hyatt Place when departing from Ft. Lauderdale. Great location, close to some very good restaurants and shopping.

[phabric]

When you book hotel and transportation with the cruise line, you are paying PER PERSON.  You can book a hotel yourself and pay per room, taxi from airport under $20, taxi under $20 to the port.

 

Check out Port of Call - Florida many threads on hotels in the Ft Lauderdale area.

[bikerunner]

Uber/Lyft are the easiest and fastest from hotels in Ft Lauderdale.  Did it last year from the Renaissance in Ft Lauderdale.  Shuttle would have been 5 per person (4 of us) and Uber was 9 and was not jammed back in a shuttle etc.  Also much cheaper to use Uber/lyft from the airport.  

 

Edited July 17, 2020 by bikerunner

[39august]

So simple to take a taxi to the port from any hotel around 17th St. I surely wouldn't pay for X's transportation. As said above, leave when you want and pay less with a taxi or Uber. The hotel staff will call a taxi for you, or you may find several just hanging around in front of the hotel. 

[yorky]

We always use the Uber app these days, it really is quick and simple, pay on the app and the service in the states is amazing, great drivers and clean cars, never had an issue.

[1025cruise]

Skip the package. You'll end up paying more for less.

Its easy enough to book the Embassy Suites yourself. Then its easy enough to Uber to the pier. 

[George C]

We always book embassy suite on 17st for all our cruises , we take a Uber or taxi which is cheaper than there shuttle, we will be booking this very soon for our April cruise on the Edge.

[Fouremco]

Another vote for DIY. If you like to have things prepaid, the hotel will be happy to take your money when you make your booking.

[bouhunter]

7 hours ago, yorky said:

I can’t advice on what a Celebrity offer but we cruised out of Ft Lauderdale in September, booked our own hotels and just used an Uber, we had a car available within 5/10 minutes every time, we were based in a Miami and took an Uber to the port in Ft Lauderdale, very good value and probably a lot cheaper than paying Celebrity. On top of that you can make your own decision on when you arrive at the pier.

Yep.  Book hotel on your own and use uber.  Whenever cruises start sailing.............

[Lady Arwen]

Just to agree with everyone....do it yourself.  Celebrity charges more than double the cost of the hotel and transfer and the transfer can be very slooooow.  So easy to do it online before you leave.

[chemmo]

We also booked the Embassy suites independently. We could prearrange a premium suite, high floor that comes with some sodas and snacks. We could also request (not guaranteed) early check in for our post cruise overnight stay.

 

To and from the ship we used Uber requesting a larger car. 10 minute wait, no problems.

 

We have had transfers through cruise lines before, as someone else said there can be long waits. For example, we arrived in Rome only to sit on a coach for nearly an hour waiting for another plane to arrive. In your scenario you could be collected from your hotel at midday and then call at a couple more hotels before heading to the ship.

[dkjretired]

In FLL everything is just so close, take either UBER or Taxi    The problem with taking transfer is you may ride all over the city to pick up other people at hotels before you go to the pier, you just never know.  Also,  the Embassy suites has their own coach to transfer you to the pier if you would feel better about that.   

[hcat]

Cheaper and much more efficient to book Embassy  on your own. The Cruise Line package will cost you more time and money..not worth it at this port.

 

When you arrive at the hotel,  you can  sign up for shared Van service to the pier but we usually just  ask them to call a taxi on morning of the cruise...never a long wait!

 

ES has a nice pool, awesome breakfast buffet and  nightly cocktails included!  Hotel is dated but clean and great Hilton  service .  Many restaurant choices  in walking distance.

[yorky]

30 minutes ago, hcat said:

Cheaper and much more efficient to book Embassy  on your own. The Cruise Line package will cost you more time and money..not worth it at this port.

 

When you arrive at the hotel,  you can  sign up for shared Van service to the pier but we usually just  ask them to call a taxi on morning of the cruise...never a long wait!

 

ES has a nice pool, awesome breakfast buffet and  nightly cocktails included!  Hotel is dated but clean and great Hilton  service .  Many restaurant choices  in walking distance.

The Embassy Suites seem very popular on here yet don’t receive great overall reviews online.

[bouhunter]

4 minutes ago, yorky said:

The Embassy Suites seem very popular on here yet don’t receive great overall reviews online.

We've stayed there many times.  It's not new, but clean and maintained.  Great location and pool.

[chemmo]

18 minutes ago, yorky said:

The Embassy Suites seem very popular on here yet don’t receive great overall reviews online.

 

We were so concerned about some of the reviews that in 2018 we tried something else...made us really appreciate what the Embassy Suites do offer...Great location, large rooms with fridge and microwave, decent pool area and the included breakfast and evening cocktails. As a package it is hard to beat. 

 

I think the snag comes when guests fail to read read reviews that comment about the suites being ‘dated’. They are dated in style, even the ones that have been updated. Bathrooms are functional rather than chic. It all depends on what the visitor prioritises. Over the years we have paid more for rooms that were modern and chic but lacked the basics we wanted...

[yorky]

11 minutes ago, chemmo said:

 

We were so concerned about some of the reviews that in 2018 we tried something else...made us really appreciate what the Embassy Suites do offer...Great location, large rooms with fridge and microwave, decent pool area and the included breakfast and evening cocktails. As a package it is hard to beat. 

 

I think the snag comes when guests fail to read read reviews that comment about the suites being ‘dated’. They are dated in style, even the ones that have been updated. Bathrooms are functional rather than chic. It all depends on what the visitor prioritises. Over the years we have paid more for rooms that were modern and chic but lacked the basics we wanted...

Yes  the dated word is used quite a bit in many if the less favourable reviews. I must admit I’m guilty of rarely looking below a hotel that’s outside the top 15 in any city we visit and tend to filter out anything under 4 star, it would not even come up in my search as a 3 star hotel. But it appears to meet the expectations of many and that’s all that matters really.

[1025cruise]

I love Embassy Suites as a brand (or at least before the pandemic). The hot breakfast is wonderful. The issue with the one in Ft. Lauderdale is that everyone stays there precruise. So its mobbed. I wanted a late check out (didn't need to leave to the port by the time we left the room), and they wanted money. So I sat in the lobby 🙂

 

[m8zenblue]

I just wanted to afirm what everyone else has posted.

Our last cruise we also stayed at Embassy Suites/

It was wonderful, excellent breakfast prior to going to port, staff was good, room was excellent.

It's much better to arrange your own transportation to port rather than using hotel shuttle, it's a lot less hectic and crowded if you use Uber/Lyft, car arrived 5 min after calling and was at the port in 10 min.

[chemmo]

2 hours ago, yorky said:

Yes  the dated word is used quite a bit in many if the less favourable reviews. I must admit I’m guilty of rarely looking below a hotel that’s outside the top 15 in any city we visit and tend to filter out anything under 4 star, it would not even come up in my search as a 3 star hotel. But it appears to meet the expectations of many and that’s all that matters really.

 

After many years of looking at hotels based on star ratings we realised that they really mean little to us. To us the view and facilities are what matter. We don’t care about casinos, on site dining, spa options...

 

Examples...

 

We booked the Park Shore in Hawaii...big 2 room suite with kitchenette,  two balconies and fabulous sea view to say nothing for the sounds of the elephants and monkeys in the adjacent zoo.  Low star rating as few on site facilities but high on trip advisor.

 

Then there is the Pullman Quay in Sydney Harbour, cheaper than the Intercontinental we had stayed at on a previous visit (which was great) with self catering and laundry options and a wonderful harbour view...fantastic for pre and post cruise stays. 

 

I could go on but it is all about what matters to you...We find many 3* hotels have basics like a fridge and microwave that many 5* hotels don’t...not saying that one or the other is best just what is important for you at the time.