Post-Cruise Everglades Eco-Adventure Question

[PirateChK24]

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone has any recent experience with this excursion and knows whether this tour includes access to one of the visitor's centers in the national park?

 

My SO and I are looking to book this (as we are national park junkies), but couldn't find a lot of information on this particular excursion. 

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Brianne

[moposh]

I am considering booking this excursion.  Has anyone done it?

 

Embark on an exhilarating guided airboat ride through Miami’s remote “River of Grass” before being conveniently escorted to the airport for your flight. Skim across the brown waters of the Everglades, an expansive network of sawgrass marshes and tropical wetlands, where you might spot wading birds, fish and sunning American alligators during your journey. Spend a dynamic day exploring one of America’s largest national parks before you are transferred to the airport for your flight.

[hmhanel]

Our group of 4 did this excursion after we disembarked from FOS in October. It did not include a trip to the park's visitor center. This is a private airboat tour company and the excursion starts and ends at their tourist center.

 

The airboat ride was fairly short, 45 to 60 minutes if I recall correctly, but enjoyable. The excursion also included a short talk by one of the tour company's staff on the Everglades.

[Norwich Cruiser]

2 hours ago, moposh said:

I am considering booking this excursion.  Has anyone done it?

 

Embark on an exhilarating guided airboat ride through Miami’s remote “River of Grass” before being conveniently escorted to the airport for your flight. Skim across the brown waters of the Everglades, an expansive network of sawgrass marshes and tropical wetlands, where you might spot wading birds, fish and sunning American alligators during your journey. Spend a dynamic day exploring one of America’s largest national parks before you are transferred to the airport for your flight.

The wording is correct.

 

You MIGHT see wading birds fish and alligators.

 

We saw one bird and one alligator on the airboat tour.

 

The captain was more interested in reminding us to give her a gratuity at the end of the ride.

 

In our opinion.

 

Don’t  waste your money.

 

It certainly wasn’t a “dynamic day”..

 

 

[cmsjab]

FYI - it was raining and cold the day we disembarked - Jan 2019. The park was closed and the airboats not running. We were dropped at a local mall for about 2 hours and then taken to the airport. It is a private company and I think we may have gotten back $15 each. 

[Ret MP]

I'd save a few bucks and just take an Uber or other to Holiday Park and just take the Airboat ride/tour from there.  Come and go as you please, don't have to put up with a crowded shuttle bus or whatever.  

 

https://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/

 

OR

 

https://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/airboat-tours/shore-excursions/

[Deeliteful]

I’ve booked this for the end of my cruise. Have done Everglades airboat rides 3 times now and got to see an amazing number of birds, crocs and alligators. Can’t wait to go again.

[Ret MP]

22 minutes ago, Deeliteful said:

I’ve booked this for the end of my cruise. Have done Everglades airboat rides 3 times now and got to see an amazing number of birds, crocs and alligators. Can’t wait to go again.

I grew up in Dania Beach, Fl and as a kid I worked at a Seminole Indian Alligator wrestling tourist trap (the beginnings of the Seminole dynasty in S. FL) on the Dania Beach Cut Off Canal, the original stop for the Jungle Queen and other tourist boats.  I used to clean out the alligator pits, feed them, and move them around.  Even though I have that experience with the gators, I still like going on the airboats and watching the alligator wrestling, it never gets old.

 

 

[moposh]

16 hours ago, Deeliteful said:

I’ve booked this for the end of my cruise. Have done Everglades airboat rides 3 times now and got to see an amazing number of birds, crocs and alligators. Can’t wait to go again.

Have you done this excursion before?  

 

My cruise is in April.  Maybe there will be more things to see at that time.

[Deeliteful]

4 hours ago, moposh said:

Have you done this excursion before?  

 

My cruise is in April.  Maybe there will be more things to see at that time.

Not this one, not yet. Will report back after I take it on 29th Jan

[LeeW]

On 1/3/2023 at 4:27 PM, Ret MP said:

I'd save a few bucks and just take an Uber or other to Holiday Park and just take the Airboat ride/tour from there.  Come and go as you please, don't have to put up with a crowded shuttle bus or whatever.  

 

https://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/

 

OR

 

https://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/airboat-tours/shore-excursions/

 

This is the standard location if you are doing a cruise out of Ft Lauderdale.  We had a chance to meet some of the Gator Boys when we stopped there.  Airport dropoff tour is really too short to do airboat, gator show, pet the gator, shop, eat, ...  Agree that going on your own is better but they don't have a place to store your luggage.  And this location isn't anywhere close to a National Park visitor center.

[Ret MP]

12 hours ago, LeeW said:

 

This is the standard location if you are doing a cruise out of Ft Lauderdale.  We had a chance to meet some of the Gator Boys when we stopped there.  Airport dropoff tour is really too short to do airboat, gator show, pet the gator, shop, eat, ...  Agree that going on your own is better but they don't have a place to store your luggage.  And this location isn't anywhere close to a National Park visitor center.

Your right, luggage is a bit of an issue.  I've heard of people utilizing the many luggage storage facilities around the port/FLL.  Google:  temp luggage storage at FLL

 

Like I said, I grew up in Dania (Beach was not part of the city name when I lived there), FL., and to this date, I haven't been to the Park visitor's center.  I don't feel like I've missed anything, but that's just me.  AND, most tourists see more touristy things than most FL locals do.