Suggestions for trip from Tampa to Miami cruiseport on a Friday in early June

[tbmrt]

In the past we drove to Miami and stayed at a Park and Ride Hotel the day before our cruise departs.  Every time it's a complete nightmare trafficwise.  Tried flying from Tampa to Miami also and too much waiting around for flights.

 

We are thinking of driving to Naples, staying there overnight and then driving to Miami port after "rush hour" (ha ha).  OR

Driving to Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise and taking some type of shuttle to Miami port the next day.

 

Suggestions as to best way to do this appreciated!

 

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

12 hours ago, tbmrt said:

In the past we drove to Miami and stayed at a Park and Ride Hotel the day before our cruise departs.  Every time it's a complete nightmare trafficwise.  Tried flying from Tampa to Miami also and too much waiting around for flights.We are thinking of driving to Naples, staying there overnight and then driving to Miami port after "rush hour" (ha ha).  OR

Driving to Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise and taking some type of shuttle to Miami port the next day. Suggestions as to best way to do this appreciated!

 

 

 

If you're willing to drive as far as Fort Lauderdale the day prior to your cruise, why not drive as far as Miami and then you'll already be there? Not sure what the complete nightmare is traffic wise if you're at a Miami hotel and traveling to the port. The further away from Miami you are when you wake up cruise morning, the more hassle its going to be. Boarding doesn't begin until Noonish so this is well after Miami rush hour.

Edited February 27, 2023 by KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

[bajathree]

One of the reason I don't often sail out of Miami....why not sail out of FLL instead.

[SteerageJoe]

Amtrak Silver Star from Tampa arrives in Miami at 6:35 pm daily. Then overnight in a hotel near the Port? 

 

The return train departs at 11:40 am which is doable from the Port if you disembark early.

 

And the Brightline train from Orlando Airport may be available too in June I believe but not sure..

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by SteerageJoe

[ecs66]

There's a bus system that serves the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale ports.  It picks up passengers all along the way, and I think Naples is one location. We often pass it when we're headed to FLL, and it looks like the party starts there, judging by the happy faces in the windows!  Cruise Connection:

 

https://www.cruiseconnection.travel/

 

[crewsweeper]

On 2/26/2023 at 6:43 AM, tbmrt said:

In the past we drove to Miami and stayed at a Park and Ride Hotel the day before our cruise departs.  Every time it's a complete nightmare trafficwise.  Tried flying from Tampa to Miami also and too much waiting around for flights.

 

We are thinking of driving to Naples, staying there overnight and then driving to Miami port after "rush hour" (ha ha).  OR

Driving to Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise and taking some type of shuttle to Miami port the next day.

 

Suggestions as to best way to do this appreciated!

 

 

By the time you pay for the shuttle or Uber/Lyft  to and from and parking at the hotel or FLL long term parking, you're probably getting close to the cost of just parking at the port.

 

When we drive down to FLL or Miami, we usually just stay overnight in Fort Pierce, drive down the next morning (zero traffic) and park at the port..   You can get good rates on hotels near I-75 in Fort Pierce.

 

 

[Cienfuegos]

That would be I-95 in Fort Pierce. There's also a cluster of hotels just north at exit 147 in Vero Beach.  And a few near exit 101 in Stuart / Kanner Highway.

 

Just be aware Fort Pierce is about a two hour drive, give or take, to Miami. Vero is a little longer.