Ft. Lauderdale Q&A/FAQ

[Jimbo]

Cruising from Port Everglades? Flying in at least one day early? You have lots of options.

 

Palm Beach (PBI) is just up the road, and Miami (MIA) is just south - although there are some shuttle options, renting a car will be your best bet (cheaper and more convenient).

 

Farther out, but still possible are Orlando (MCO) - about a 3.5 hour drive, and Tampa (TPA) - about a 5 hour drive.

 

Good luck! :)

 

We will be renting a car the day before our cruise in Orlando and driving to Port Everglades the next day to catch our ship.. Rather then returning the car to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport is there a Car rental agency outside the airport near the port that would take us to the ship that is close to the port?

 

We are doing 4 or 5 day pre-cruise in Disney, plus the air fare is less $$$ flying into Orlando rather then Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Jimbo:)

Edited May 31, 2011 by Jimbo

[melligene]

Could some of you florida specialist help me out.

 

I have been looking up the prices of FLL arrivals and they are very expensive :eek:and not all that great for time. Would we be better off going to another city and, if so is there some sort of shuttle that could take us there. Not sure we would save anythin, but was just thinking.

 

Nancy

 

Read this 3 times. Maybe just me but,....what EXACTLY is the question?

[royalcruz]

Read this 3 times. Maybe just me but,....what EXACTLY is the question?

 

Melligene, NancyFancy's question was: "Would we be better off going to another city and, if so is there some sort of shuttle that could take us there"? regarding flights into FLL expense and times.

 

JohninDC answered the question 3 posts back. My opinion is that you would need to get shuttle quotes and rental car quotes before deciding upon the best airport by cost, but FLL is certainly the most convenient as far as distance, as it is 5 minutes from the port entrance. MIA is the second closest, about 40 minutes further than FLL. PBI is over an hour away.

[SandyW]

Sandy, I dont think I would consider FLL. For one thing you could possibly make the 1005am flight but it would be risky. Also if you did make it, that means that revenue passengers who booked the later flight would make it also and decide to stand by for the earlier flight. This has happened to us several times when we have tried to leave FLL on the day our cruise arrived. Most of the time we now stay over until the next day and try for the first flight out. Personally I would just take a cab to FLL for $12 or $15 and then take GO Shuttle or one of the others to MIA for about $20 pp. Also you could check when you get off of the ship since there are always some shuttles that might take you from the pier for about the same price. Since there are more flights out of MIA to DFW I think your chances would be better. We used to go the day before our cruises but now have started going at least 2 and most of the times 3 days prior and then staying over one night. I mentioned that in Nov we made the mistake of trying to get out on a Sunday a.m. and really had a problem. Again, good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Thank you! I appreciate your "talking" me through this one! Plus I'm not very familiar with all the shuttle companies and where it's best to "catch" them. Since we will probably skip FLL, I can probably make some sort of reservation. Thanks again!

[Puffinater]

Back from our Oasis cruise. There are in fact many vans/shuttles at the port that provide transportation to MIA. No need to pre arrange transportation. Negotiate the price, we saw several folks doing this while we waited for our trans. to FLL.

[tdk1938]

Hi,

 

We'll be staying three nights before our cruise in January 2012. We haven't book the hotel yet (thinking about staying at Hyatt Summerfield Suite) because we need room/suite that fit seven people.

 

What can we do for two days in Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale without a car? Also we'll fly out from FLL at 5:00 pm. Is there a day room hotel that we can rent half day?

 

Thanks :)

[royalcruz]

Hi,

 

We'll be staying three nights before our cruise in January 2012. We haven't book the hotel yet (thinking about staying at Hyatt Summerfield Suite) because we need room/suite that fit seven people.

 

What can we do for two days in Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale without a car? Also we'll fly out from FLL at 5:00 pm. Is there a day room hotel that we can rent half day?

 

Thanks :)

 

I wouldn't stay at Summerfield for 2 days without a car. I would stay at the beach. Most hotels have suites (Marriott Beach Place, Ritz Carlton, W, etc) or maybe you could get everyone in 2 rooms of an inexpensive hotel at the beach, Bahia Mar. If you do stay at Summerfield you can walk to Kmart and discount stores, chain and fast food restaurants, movies, and an arcade, so it's not too bad. I just don't see the point of going on vacation to do exactly the same thing you could do if you were home.

[Jyllie63]

Does anyone know the cab fare from Dania (Cambria Suites to be exact) to Port Everglades? They offer a free shuttle, but I'm still interested in a cab if the price is right.

[royalcruz]

Does anyone know the cab fare from Dania (Cambria Suites to be exact) to Port Everglades? They offer a free shuttle, but I'm still interested in a cab if the price is right.

 

About $20 plus tip.

[Jyllie63]

Thanks!

[kingsnake57]

We are flying in from California Dec. 1, a couple days pre cruise. Our flight doesn't arrive until 10pm. Staying at the Sheraton at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Any advice where to pick up a light bite to eat?

[royalcruz]

We are flying in from California Dec. 1, a couple days pre cruise. Our flight doesn't arrive until 10pm. Staying at the Sheraton at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Any advice where to pick up a light bite to eat?

 

The Bahia Cabana across the street serves until midnight but it looks like you are getting in on a Thursday. They might serve until 11 but even that is cutting it close for you and it is completely outdoors which could be really chhilly on the water in December. You could take a cab to Lester's 24 hr diner near the airport, then take another cab to the hotel afterwards.

[kingsnake57]

The Bahia Cabana across the street serves until midnight but it looks like you are getting in on a Thursday. They might serve until 11 but even that is cutting it close for you and it is completely outdoors which could be really chhilly on the water in December. You could take a cab to Lester's 24 hr diner near the airport, then take another cab to the hotel afterwards.

 

Thanks so much!

[royalcruz]

There is also a Denny's along the way at US1 and 17th St, but Lester's is more interesting and is less than a mile out of the way on state rd 84.

[twinkletoes4445]

Royalcruz...

 

Do you know if there is a liquor store near the Courtyard Marriott Beach? We're undecided if we're going to rent a car this time. This is our first time at the Courtyard. Not sure what's close enough to walk to ... or we could take a cab (if we don't rent a car). We've stayed at the ES and had a car and drove over to liquor store that was behind the ES. I am not sure how far this is from the Courtyard Marriott.

 

Thank you!

[lobob85]

What is the cheapest way for two person to get from Miami airport to port everglades? (besides walking)

[TOMMYCRUISER]

The folks living down there might know better but shared rides seem to be cheap I think so something like

 

http://www.SupersShuttle.com

 

 

or

 

http://www.fortlauderdale-airportshuttle.com/

 

but as I said I'm sure the local folks on here might have a idea

 

Tom

Edited August 9, 2011 by TOMMYCRUISER

[royalcruz]

Royalcruz...

 

Do you know if there is a liquor store near the Courtyard Marriott Beach? We're undecided if we're going to rent a car this time. This is our first time at the Courtyard. Not sure what's close enough to walk to ... or we could take a cab (if we don't rent a car). We've stayed at the ES and had a car and drove over to liquor store that was behind the ES. I am not sure how far this is from the Courtyard Marriott.

 

Thank you!

 

Yes! There is a small liquor store on Las Olas Blvd about 2 blocks west of the beach on the north side. This is only about 3 blocks from the hotel. There is also a 7-11 on the same block as the hotel.

[royalcruz]

What is the cheapest way for two person to get from Miami airport to port everglades? (besides walking)

 

Larry's Limos 1-800-611-6631 charges about $80 including tip for a private towncar.

 

Supershuttle charges about $55 plus tip for 2 people 1-305-811-2000.

 

This is based on quotes that I got last yr.

[twinkletoes4445]

Yes! There is a small liquor store on Las Olas Blvd about 2 blocks west of the beach on the north side. This is only about 3 blocks from the hotel. There is also a 7-11 on the same block as the hotel.

 

Thank you!! I googled this info but couldn't find anything close. I so appreciate you taking the time to answer this question for me. It's been a couple of years since we've been to FLL so I am going to check out all your answers to the other questions. It's so nice of you to take the time and answer all these questions for us. :)

[royalcruz]

Thank you!! I googled this info but couldn't find anything close. I so appreciate you taking the time to answer this question for me. It's been a couple of years since we've been to FLL so I am going to check out all your answers to the other questions. It's so nice of you to take the time and answer all these questions for us. :)

 

You are very welcome...it keeps me from getting bored.:)

[Yvonne]

Just booked Cambria Suites for 2 nights before our January 28th cruise, and I have a question about the shuttle service they provide. I couldn't find the information on their web site, does anyone know if they charge for their shuttle service? Do they only run it from the airport to the hotel, or can we take their shuttle to the cruise port the morning of our cruise? Also, we're trying to decide how long we will want the rental car. I'm wondering if we could just take the hotel's shuttle from the airport (we're not arriving until 8:45 p.m.) to the hotel and then have DH take their shuttle back to the airport in the morning to rent the car just for the day and return it that evening, and all of us (there will be 4 of us) just take the hotel's shuttle to the cruise that morning or if we should just go ahead and rent the car at the airport when we get it and return it the morning of the cruise. Just not sure which would be the best to do, if anyone could help that would be great. :)

[aarep]

The shuttle was free to and from the airport and also to the port.

[Reader0108598]

Yes! There is a small liquor store on Las Olas Blvd about 2 blocks west of the beach on the north side. This is only about 3 blocks from the hotel. There is also a 7-11 on the same block as the hotel.

 

You can also take the trolley you will see running right by your Hotel.

It will take you the Harbor shops,big liquor store grocery store and more.

The trolley is a tourist bus so to speak cheap and easy!

 

Reader

Edited August 10, 2011 by Reader0108598

[twinkletoes4445]

You are very welcome...it keeps me from getting bored.:)

 

With as many questions that pop up you'll never get bored! It's just a very sweet thing to do for all of us cruisers. It makes it so much easier for us if we know these things prior to arriving. :)