RCCL Cruise docks in Fort Lauderdale... How to get to Miami Airport?

Question

I am considering a RCCL Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. When the cruise returns... it is suppose to arrive back at Port Everglades at 7:00am... there is a flight out of Miami International at 11:30am that would be ideal if I can get on it.

Here are my questions.. 1) Is an 11:30am flight realistic... how rushed would I have to be to make it. 2) What is the best way to get from Port Everglades to Miami International.. anything is considered (Shuttle, Taxi, Rental Car, Limo, etc).

Answer 1

just because the ship arrives at 7 doesnt mean u can leave at 7. customes has to ok dismissal and sometimes that can delay people getting off the ship. it usually takes 20-30 min to get to miami but if there is traffic then you are in trouble. i would allow time to eat breakfast on the ship and not rush

Answer 2

I've heard of it happening and people making it but I wouldn't do it and you'd be very very rushed.  Of course you never know.  The departure is done by section so you may be in lucky section number one and they ask everyone who has early flights to let them know so you can depart early.

But realistically you have to be at the airport at 10:30 to check in.  That's cutting it really close but that is as late as possible.  It's roughly a 20 min cab ride from the FL port to the MIA airport.  So leaving the port at 10 at the latest.

A taxi or a limo are equally good options--not a rental car.  Returning that would add far more time.  

People start departing between 8 and 830 am so you have basically an hour and a half-two hours to be one of those first that departs.  On my cruises I don't think I've ever gotten off the boat and through customs prior to 11am but I also have never been one of the first called, nor told them I had a flight to catch.

But while you would be very rushed, it could be done.  Though make sure you take all the steps to inform the cruise ship and make sure there is a later flight home just in case you miss the first one you aren't stranded.

Answer 3

you will need to cab it / if you are going to take the 1130 am flight.   sometimes your ship gets cleared by customs and inspected and everyone gets off in time other times there are hold ups.   in spring, it was 10 AM before we got cleared and disembarkation process started then !    luckily we were not flying home that day.    it's about an hour by cab / traffic can be really bad in Miami.     you do not have enough time to get a shuttle or use a transfer service the cruise has.   rental car / same thing .  really do not think you have enough time.    just come out of the cruise pier and get the cabs. there are plenty of them / no advance reservation is needed.   have him go to the FLL airport.    if you had more time / you could rent a car at the pier and drive to the FLL airport.  no drop off charges in the state of FL.     TRI RAIL is a cheap method to get from FLL to MIA and vice versa.   have a great cruise.

Answer 4

You can get answers to this question from people who have done it by going to CruiseCritic.com, clicking on "Boards", then "East Coast Departure Cities".  If you have several people it might be cheaper to get a rental car, but you have to check where it could be picked up/returned easily.

I think making an 11:30 flight would be very iffy, if you have to transfer from Miami to FLL - I wouldn't try it.

Is FLL not a cheaper flight from where you are than MIA?  That's usually the case where I'm coming from.  You don't have to use the cruiseline's air - in fact, I wouldn't.  They give you the worst flights and don't allow you to fly in the day before [unless you're coming from the West Coast, sometimes].  Getting from FLL to the port and vice-versa is extremely easy [again, don't use cruiseline transport].

Hope you have a great trip!

Answer 5

If you let the Cruise line know in advance, they will expedite your leaving the ship (prioritize) and can help you arrange a shuttle to take you to the airport.  You can also fly out of  Ft. Lauderdale.  If the Cruise lines know your travel itinerary, they will do everything in their power to help you make connections. However, if it's a particularly big ship (which they all seem to be these days) it may be problematic to get to Miami in a timely fashion.  I would check with the cruise lines agent, and see what they recommend.

Answer 6

I wouldn't do the 11:30 flight, you never know what might happen the day of disembarkation that would delay your getting off the ship.

I was on a cruise ship for 14 days; on the middle Saturday, when some people were getting off, there was some kind of odd snafu about where the ship would be berthed....it was literally over an hour delay for those trying to get off the ship.  If they had been cutting departing flights close, it would be a bit stressful!