Side by side Miami - moving between ships

[Aaron3]

We’re doing Freedom 4 night straight into Explorer 9 night in april

Based on previous threads, we aren’t expecting a royal transfer between ships (but will ask and if we get something it’s a bonus)

 

is there a way to know which terminals each ship will be in to determine if it’s walkable ? 
or would taxi/uber/Lyft be the only option? 
will they be happy with such a short trip (I’m assuming ok as they’ll get another trip from that terminal)

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Aaron3 said:

is there a way to know which terminals each ship will be in to determine if it’s walkable ? 

About a week out the port web site may list that. It’s likely going to be Terminals A and G (the ones RCI usually uses). Walkability between those seems to be a bit subjective. 

[PhillyFan33579]

Assuming Terminal A to G, that is a pretty long walk. 

[Hoopster95]

Just went from G to A in November. Yes shuttle was provided by Royal. The concierge lined it up. 

 

I met up with someone onboard who tried to walk it. Too much construction and closure to walk per that person... you'd end up walking on the actual lanes of traffic.

 

edit: It's now 4 months later, may answer above is probably wrong.... different ship, different concierge, maybe less road works, maybe less closures, maybe different shuttle company, maybe different everything... who knows what answer you'll get

• RCI = Really Consistently Inconsistent

Edited March 4 by Hoopster95

[Rhody135]

Not sure which date in April you're doing the switch.  Freedom and Explorer are both in port in Miami on April 5th and again on April 19th.

 

On both of those dates, Freedom is scheduled for Terminal A and Explorer is scheduled for Terminal G.

 

The walk between Terminals A and G is about 1 mile.  Probably 5 minutes in a taxi or ride share.

[didicruiser]

I just did a side to side at Fort Lauderdale last month. Shuttle was provide…but I took a ride to the airport first.

 

 

[ddr1948]

We went from Explorer to Oasis 2 weeks ago.

RCCL provided the transportation but it was a bit confusing to find the pick up location.

Got off Explorer about 9:45 a.m. (we were about the last group to disembark) - retrieved our luggage by about 10:15 a.m. - then found the pick up point (along with 8 others making the same transfer) after about 5 minutes of searching (pickup point was to the far right as you exit the terminal) - waited on the shuttle for about 20 minutes.  By the time we got down to the Oasis, they allowed us to check in and board immediately.  We were on board by 11 a.m.  I will also say that you do not want to attempt to walk, it is quite a distance and there is some construction.

 

[sandebeach]

We just went from Indy at Terminal D (which is actually a Carnival terminal) to Terminal A. Not as smooth as we were assured it would be. We got a porter to help us with our luggage and he brought us over to the complimentary Port shuttle. Except this shuttle does not go to Terminal A. He took us over to Parking Garage K (which is over by Terminal J) and helped us get our luggage off the shuttle. The shuttle that then came was actually an employee shuttle but since there were no employees waiting to be picked up, he agreed to take us to Terminal A.  It took over 40 minutes to get to Terminal A with all the traffic!! But the next time we might just take a taxi from terminal to terminal.  

[LobsterStalker]

17 hours ago, Aaron3 said:

We’re doing Freedom 4 night straight into Explorer 9 night in april

Based on previous threads, we aren’t expecting a royal transfer between ships (but will ask and if we get something it’s a bonus)

 

is there a way to know which terminals each ship will be in to determine if it’s walkable ? 
or would taxi/uber/Lyft be the only option? 
will they be happy with such a short trip (I’m assuming ok as they’ll get another trip from that terminal)

They will provide a shuttle for you . 

They will also promise a seemless transition and early access to board Explorer immediately when you get there etc. Don't buy any of the B.S. though  , as when we did the same it seemed everyone we approached for help and instruction just passed us down the line . 

Starting with customer service pre cruise telling us GS would look after it once on board . Then GS telling us terminal agents will guide us . Then terminal agents telling us roadside agent will line us up . ...Handed off through 5 different agents roadside , before someone finally got us to the right place ( where shuttle had already left). But they did return and get us there eventually , where the new ship agents treated us like any other new passenger !

EASY ? NO

SIMPLE? NO

ACCOMMODATING? NO... but we got there 

 

Cheers

[bonsai3s]

If you can easily lift your luggage and going from Terminal A to Terminal G...another option is taking the free Miami trolley.

 

The trolley stops near each terminal.

 

If you are going from Terminal G to Terminal A...it will be a much longer ride. After Terminal G, the trolley goes over the bridge and heads to downtown Miami. It then turns around and goes back to the Port of Miami...first stop is Terminal A.

Happy sailing!