Flight arrival/departure times for Port Everglades

[xan51090]

What is the latest flight arrival time pre cruise and the earliest flight departure time post cruise that you would feel comfortable with when sailing out of Port Everglades?

[Steph123]

Arrive the day before the cruise. Last day of cruise,flight not before 1pm. Just my opinion.

[Yellow_Jacket]

The Ft. Lauderdale airport is easy to fly into and out of. And it is only about 5 minutes by cab or bus from the port.

 

I agree with the suggestion to arrive the day before, especially if you will have connecting flights rather than a non-stop. The last thing you will want to do is miss the ship. It might well cost you the full cost of the cruise to fly to the first port and rejoin the ship. Travel insurance is essential, and might help you catch up.

 

Last month, we flew into Ft. Lauderdale and sailed on the Liberty from Port Everglades. Even though we flew non-stop from Atlanta, we went the day before because we wanted to see Ft. Lauderdale by the Water Taxi/Water Bus. We stayed at the Amerisuites 17th Street (about $90 from an Internet travel site) and they gave us free shuttle from the Airport and to the port. (And to and from the hotel to the Water Taxi stop about 1/2 mile away.) There is a Publix supermarket one block from the Amerisuites.

 

Otherwise, plan on going on a flight arriving as early as possible after 10:30 or so, so if they change or cancel the flight, you will be able to change flights and still make the ship. Even though they say 1:30 PM boarding, they start boarding at 11:30. We left the hotel at 11:00 AM on the hotel shuttle bus, and we were checked in and walking up the gangway at 11:50 AM. Food was waiting on the Lido deck. You just have to keep your carry-on luggage with you until they open the doors to the cabins at about 1:30.

 

Returning, we had an 11:15 flight out of Ft. Lauderdale. If you have an early flight, you get early debarking from the ship. We were off the ship by 8:30. Because we debarked early, a porter was waiting, we easily picked up our luggage in the warehouse, and were through immigration and customs in no time. Again, it is only a 5 minute cab ride to the airport. We were through airport security and at the gate by about 10:00. DO NOT take the Carnival shuttle to the airport. It is more expensive AND they want to make you wait for a bus-full before the shuttle leaves. The cab left immediately, and the fare and tip was only $10 total for two people, vs. Carnival's $15 per person.

 

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