Princess Fort Lauderdale Waiting Room???

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

We are cruising on the Sea Princess leaving Port Everglades on February 3, flying to FLL from the west coast on February 2, and have found that due to the Superbowl there are NO ROOMS available anywhere. We have been trying the surrounding area for two months now, but nothing is available. My DH called Princess and they told him there is a Waiting Room above the pier in Fort Lauderdale. I have not heard of this, can it be true? The last time we cruised from Fort Lauderdale we arrived by hotel shuttle at the port area and waited in a long line before being processed. Have you heard of the waiting room, or do you have any suggestions for spending 18 hours before embarkation in Fort Lauderdale without a hotel room? Maybe spend the time at the airport or in a casino? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[chrysalis]

The terminal that we used to board the Sea earlier this year, did have a waiting room on the second level (and one with chairs on the first level, also)...but I would not be sure that this is the same terminal that you might be using.

 

(it might be more convenient, given the amentities and facilities available to wait at the airport)

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Thank you. I wasn't sure what it would be like in FLL after getting our luggage. Once you have your luggage at our home airport (ONT) there is just a little space to sit, no facilities.

[Toto2Kansas]

The waiting room at the port in Fort Lauderdale is just that, a sitting area while you are waiting to board the ship. They won't open it up until late in the morning so that won't be a lot of help to you I am afraid. :(

 

If nothing else, how about renting a car? That way you would have somewhere to put your luggage and at least not be stuck in the same place? You might even be able to check hotels that aren't in the direct area and drive there, then drive back to the rental car agency the day you board the ship. Better than just sitting in the airport all that time.

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Thanks, Toto, we have thought about renting a car. Just not sure where to go then, we want to avoid areas that are not so good. I am planning to take a list of local hotels that I can check for cancellations after the plane lands since we only need one night, Friday. I will also be checking hotels from home up to our flight time.

 

Thanks again

[ToplessPony]

Probably no rooms open but since you mentioned a casino there is always the Hard Rock casino....

 

http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/

[Toto2Kansas]

Thanks, Toto, we have thought about renting a car. Just not sure where to go then, we want to avoid areas that are not so good. I am planning to take a list of local hotels that I can check for cancellations after the plane lands since we only need one night, Friday. I will also be checking hotels from home up to our flight time.

 

Thanks again

 

This might be a bit of a strange suggestion, but....................

How about joining your roll call for this cruise? Then see if anyone that is staying pre-cruise might be willing to store your luggage for you at their hotel room while you do whatever? The luggage storage will be your main problem. Finding things to do to stay busy in Fort Lauderdale isn't that difficult, but impossible when lugging all the luggage with you. Just an idea.

 

You also never know, one of them might have a hotel idea for you. Your roll call is located here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=251887

[Seagarr]

I'm afraid if Hotel rooms are not available the same will hold true for Rental cars... or at the very least expensive. If you do get a car Miami of course is only an hour away.... you would probably be better off going North to find a room.

Have you thought about checking with the Airlines, they sometimes will let you pay a 1 day fee to use there Frequent Flyer Lounge.

 

Good Luck

 

Seagarr

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did check the Hard Rock Casino--no rooms, of course we could just stay up and gamble all night. (I think I will save that for the Sea Princess). We were trying to rest up from the time change and get ready for our cruise.

 

I didn't see a roll call for our cruise. It's 02-03-07 on the Sea Princess for 14 days.

[SingerEsq]

Have you thought about checking with the Airlines, they sometimes will let you pay a 1 day fee to use there Frequent Flyer Lounge.

 

This is a good idea. Most airlines will allow you to do this, or you can sometimes use miles / points to buy the day pass.

[SailAways]

I didn't see a roll call for our cruise. It's 02-03-07 on the Sea Princess for 14 days.

 

If you click on the link which ToTo has provided, it takes you to your roll call.

Good Luck with the room search.

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Thanks to all of you. I hadn't thought of the airline one-day frequent flyer pass. We are flying American Airlines so I will check with them. That probably would be most convenient. Then we can take a taxi to the port the next day. I am sure you are correct about the rental cars also, they will probably all be booked.

 

Next time before I book a cruise in February, I will know where the Superbowl is; I didn't know in 10-05!

[bh2359]

I was caught once with a cruise from Tampa during Superbowl weekend. We went north with our car and stopped at every exit lookng for a motel/hotel. We didn't find one until we got to Ocala, and they wanted $215.00 per night for theirs. We took it as there was absolutely nothing else.

 

I'm afraid you'll find the same thing at Fort Lauderdale.

[okbowler]

We are on the same cruise. I dont know what time you will be arriving on the 2nd but can board as late as 6:oopm on the 3rd I think. If rental cars are available you could probably find something an hour or so north of Ft Lauderdale airport which is right off of I-95. Bill

[mek]

I was just on Expedia and they show rooms available in Ft Lauderdale for the night of the 2nd. A little pricy for the class of hotel, ($266 for 2 stars) but better than not having a room. They also show a wide selection of cars available, so you could get a car and have a place for your bags and a place to catch some zzzzzzz's.

 

Not a bad idea about going north. It looks like hotels are available in W Palm Beach - probably other surounding areas also. A lot of people won't be checking in until Sat night.

[vmom]

There is a bus service that I read about on one of these forums which picks up passengers from all over Florida and takes them to the port in FLL or Miami on the day of the cruise. How about flying into a city further north like Orlando and then catching this bus the next morning to FLL. I think I may have read about this bus service on the RCCL boards earlier in the week. The service is not just for RCCL passengers. I checked out the web site and they pick up for any cruise passengers going to these 2 ports. I thought the prices were pretty reasonable.

[jennew]

I just did a search on Sidestep and found that there are some rooms on FLL. However, they are over $200. I would look into West Palm Beach (I found a few cheaper on that) and maybe into Miami.

[DesrtDrmr]

Try cheaptickets.com for hotels. There are several in FLL for that date.......they are not cheap, but they ARE available. You might plug in some other towns around too...........Good luck!

[okbowler]

I checked on hotels.com and found rooms north of West Palm from $80.00 up depending on ratings. There are cars available for rent at this time. If your arrival time allows I would book a room at maybe the Stuart area, about 1 to 11/2 hrs north, Get up in the morning have a good breakfast and drive back to Ft lauderdale on Rte. A1A a beautiful drive.This would allow you to turn in car and have plenty of to to get on board. I think this would work and you would get to see a little of Florida. Bill

[tango55]

Since it is Superbowl weekend, a lot of people may have reserved a hotel a long time ago, hoping their team would be in the game. If they are not, they may cancel their hotel reservation. I know that would mean putting yourself on a waiting list, but it might be worth a shot. The rooms would still be expensive, but there.

 

Terry

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Thanks for your suggestions about Internet sites for hotels. I will check them again, but when they showed available space for February 2, then when I got further into the site they were not available for only that day. They wanted three-day minimums or more. I will check again with the hotels in January '07 as several of them told me to check back for possible cancellations. I have found that for this Superbowl weekend sometimes the Internet sites do not have the same information as when you call the hotel directly.