Cruise Talk: Ft. Lauderdale to Miami

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Ft. Lauderdale to Miami

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Topic: Ft. Lauderdale to Miami

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-21-2000 11:57 AM

Can anyone tell me what the cost for a taxi might be? Or is it better to book the RCI transfer back and forth. Any other reasonable alternatives (rent a car?)

Just booked last minute on Grandeur of the seas on May 13th.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 04-21-2000 12:26 PM

Go with the RCI transfers.....let them
worry about any problems should any arise.
If you were in a cab and got into a traffic
snarl, the ship could leave without you. If
RCI were doing the transfers they would
radio ahead and more than likely the ship
would delay its departure for your arrival.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 04-21-2000 03:39 PM

The cost of a taxi to the airport in Miami was $20, the same as the transfers. If you do the transfers you don't have to mess with claiming your luggage as long as you remember to put your ship tags on before you leave. Also, you don't have to worry about traffic, etc., if you are on the bus, they won't leave without you!

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-21-2000 06:05 PM

jwine - a taxi from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami is a lot more than $20.00 - it is at least a 1/2 hour drive. We had to take a cab from Port Everglades to Miami airport about 15 years ago and it was very expensive. HAL ended up reimbursing us for the cab as it was their fault that we could not get on the bus to the airport.
MHP - you do mean a taxi from Ft. Lauderdale airport to Miami's port? I would go with the ships's transfers.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 04-21-2000 07:37 PM

sympatico - I misread the question, didn't realize they were going from the Ft Lauderdale airport to the Miami pier, by all means take RCI's transfers.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 04-21-2000 09:38 PM

If you find that you are staying a few days before the sailing, and do rent a car, try to use AVIS. They have a drop off and pick up lot adjacent to the NCL pier, and only a block walk to the RCI pier. All other car rental companies have distant lots, and you can wait for some time for a crowded shuttle van to have room for you. Should you be picking up a rental car after your cruise, a prebooking will often mean that you sign the Avis contract and pick up your keys while still aboard, and waiting (and waiting) for that disembarkation process to finally begin! The drive up the coast route between the pier and Fort Lauderdale's airport is about an hour and is very scenic and safe. You can't get lost as the road (Danai)actually ends almost at the entrance to the airport.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-21-2000 10:28 PM

Thanks for all the help. I found out that a limo (taxi)is $48.00 plus to the Port of Miami. An Avis rental for 1 day is $42.00 plus gas. (no win win here) I will check into the RCCL transfer. I had seen so many negative comments from passengers waiting at on the bus for upwards of 90 minutes waiting for other flights to arrive, the cruise line pickup seemed like it could get your holiday off to a bad start. It looks like a $100.00 round trip expense at this point.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

starfish
First Class Passenger
Member # 986

posted 04-21-2000 11:00 PM

MHP We've rented cars at both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and got burned waiting in line for a car.We also used RCI's air and we burned there too. I would still go with RCI transfers,I've been where your going .
Have a great cruise.

Posts: 225 | From: Dallas,PA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-22-2000 12:29 AM

Thanks Starfish...Have you been on the Grandeur of the Seas before? This was a spur of the moment trip. I'm taking my 2 kids and my wife's a little mad at me! She can't get time off work. She thinks I'm nuts because were booked on Voyager at the end of September. We are driving down on that trip so I won't have to go through this airport nonsence. Maybe I will find a female dance hostess...."keep dreaming"....

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

starfish
First Class Passenger
Member # 986

posted 04-22-2000 07:18 AM

MHP Yes,back in 97.She is a beautiful ship,I'm sure you'll enjoy her,too bad your wife will miss her.I would like to do the spur of the moment,we always book months ahead and count down 285,284 I would like to start at 1.
We were on the VOTS in Feb..RCI flew us into Ft. Laud.and we did bus trip.The Voyager is something to experiance,lots for everyone to do.I think I would scratch the dance host,go for one of the show girls. Dream on and have a nice cruise with the kids and try to give your wife a call.

Posts: 225 | From: Dallas,PA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-22-2000 09:13 AM

MPH; Just in case you did not realize that is $48.00 per car. So if you find someone to ride share you can split the cost.

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 04-22-2000 09:45 AM

We did RCI's transfer from Ft Lauderdale in Jan, I can't remember how much it was but they do have a room to wait in till the bus comes so at least you're not just hanging at the airport.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 04-22-2000 04:50 PM

Heck, I say go for the Limo! It's a vacation...treat yourself.

If you were to decide to go with the rental car, make sure that includes dropping the car off at a different place than you picked it up!! They can add on hefty fees for that...even if it is in the same "area." (I was going to be charged $20 for dropping off a car at the South end of DFW airport instead of the North end where I picked it up! I drove on up there, believe me!)

Enjoy your cruise...and your time with your kids!! (And get something pretty for the wife as a peace offering!)

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-22-2000 06:14 PM

Just for those interested...Received a reply from RCI. The round trip transfer cost from Ft. Lauderdale is $30.00 per person with some restictions. Your flight must arrive before 2pm on arrival day and leave after 11am on departure day. So again with tips it's $100.00. It's a toss up on all the transportation options. There all about the same price.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 04-22-2000 06:17 PM

MHP, I am going to be in Ft Lauderdale on May 6th just for the day and I want to go down to visit a couple of ships in Miami. I'm going to rent a car because that will actually cost less than taxi's. My flight leaves out of Ft. Lauderdale at about 5:40 on Saturday evening, so I won't have much time, but it will definitely be cheaper. I made a taxi trip from Ft Lauderdale to Miami then back again in the same cab and it cost me $100 bucks. NOT WORTH IT! Rent a car is better. ( For me anyways )

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-22-2000 06:35 PM

Barryboat...Renting a car is a lot cheaper than a taxi but I don't think it will work in my case. Just for interest, Alamo has a special on a compact car for 25.99 out of Ft. Lauderdale. So with all fees in your looking at $34.00. You can book it on line and they don't ask for a credit card.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

eliz
Just Boarded
Member # 1212

posted 04-22-2000 07:11 PM

This entry caught my eye, as I have a question about getting from the Miami airport to our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. We will arrive in Miami on a Friday morning in January, two days before our cruise on the Millenium out of Ft. Lauderdale. The Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale flights that we wanted were ALREADY booked. So much for planning ahead!! Does anyone know if there is a shuttle between the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports. We could then take a cab to our hotel, I guess. Seems like a cab or two would be very expensive between the two cities. I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks!

Posts: 7 | From: Illinois | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-22-2000 07:39 PM

Eliz...In your case with 2 days to kill I would rent a car and return it in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning. That way your not stuck in your Hotel. In the case of Alamo they don't charge you to drop off a car at another location. I have returned cars to both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale that I rented in Orlando. On Sunday morning you can have your husband drop you and the bags off at the ship to check in while he returns the car. From the Rental drop to the ship is about an $8.00 cab ride. By the time he returns your ready to board.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 04-22-2000 08:16 PM

Some care rental services in Ft Lauderdale have a shuttle to the ship - we did that a few years ago, it may have been Avis. Check around.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 04-22-2000 09:17 PM

I know that Avis, Hertz and Budget do not have a drop fee for an airport pickup and pier or pier area drop, at least never when I've used a rental car. If you are shy of line ups, avoid Alamo as they bus you to the rental car pick up area, and then you wind your way through the chain to actually reach a customer service rep. The other three, have a great many counters right in the airports, with no line ups, and the shuttle bus drops you off right at the trunk of your car. For a few dollars more, I would certainly always opt for a rental company with service- not line ups.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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