Fll transfer...need advice

[Doughnut Dolly]

We are flying into Ft Lauderdale for a cruise in April. I am trying to decide which way to get to ship and back to the airport later. If you had a choice would you take a taxi both ways or get one of HAL's transfer to and from the ship? Also if you know, what would be the cost of each? Thanks in advance for you help.

[donh1]

The cruise terminal is really close to the airport. Should be less than $20 for the cab. The ship transfers are a real pain and over priced.

[iflyrc5]

I would suggest that a Taxi is the way to go unless there are lots of ships in port that day including the mega ships as it may make getting a taxi a little more difficult. It is a short trip of about 10 minutes and the cab will be about $15. Normally plenty of cabs. Using a HAL transfer you have to wait until they fill the bus before you leave. One thing about the FLL airport - you can not check in your luggage with the airline or go through security until 2 hours before your flight so if you have a late flight you will be having to waiting in the terminal which is not very large.

[Vince1980]

We are flying into Ft Lauderdale for a cruise in April. I am trying to decide which way to get to ship and back to the airport later. If you had a choice would you take a taxi both ways or get one of HAL's transfer to and from the ship? Also if you know, what would be the cost of each? Thanks in advance for you help.

We have opted for a hotel with transfer booked through HAL. We arrive one day before the cruise in Miami Airport, which is quite a distance from Ft. Lauderdale and we believed it would be quite costly to have to pay one cab from Miami Airport to the hotel, followed by a cab from the hotel to the port the next day.

Now we will have a HAL transfer from Miami Airport to FLL hotel, and a transfer the next day from the hotel to the airport.

After comparing we found that the HAL-booked hotel night including transfer was similar in price to booking just the hotel ourselves (still having to add taxi-costs).

The hotel assigned would not be our first choice (Westin Fort Lauderdale, near the airport) but it´s just for one night and we will be sleeping most of the time anyway due to jetlag (coming from Europe).

All together it was a combination of price + ease of mind, as HAL is responsible for our transport. So if there are any issues HAL is responsible.

When we arrive back with the cruiseship to Fort Lauderdale one week later we are staying 2 more nights in a hotel in Miami Beach (self-booked) and we will take a normal taxi.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Vincent

[Randyk47]

Another vote for using the taxi. We've tried just about every combination of shuttle, transfer, and taxi over the years and find the taxi the best. We fly in the day before and use a taxi to get to the hotel. A couple of times we've used HAL transfers to get from the hotel to the ship the next morning, in the couple of cases where we've used HAL hotels, and it's kind of a zoo. I think out of the three times we've used HAL hotels and transfers we've had everything from a small bus with about 20 passengers with a separate truck to transfer the luggage to three full tour buses which was the worst experience. Obviously loading three large buses with luggage and passengers in front of the hotel is a real challenge and probably not the best way to start a cruise. For our upcoming cruise we'll take a taxi from the airport to the hotel and we'll see about the next morning. We signed up for a "cruise package" with the hotel, actually free for us because Mrs. K is an advanced member of the hotel chain's rewards program, and they offer a hotel shuttle to the terminal. Never used a hotel shuttle in Ft Lauderdale but did in Tampa and it actually went pretty smoothly. We may or may not take it depending on how it seems to be going that morning.

[Cathy-CA]

If you are flying in the day before, a number of hotels offer free shuttles from the airport and then to the cruise terminal. We stayed at the Hampton Inn for our October 2010 cruise and it worked out great. For our return to the airport, we booked the ship's Everglades shore excursion. As another poster pointed out, you can't check luggage more than a few hours in advance at FLL. We didn't want to risk booking a mid-morning flight in case there were issues getting off the ship, but we also didn't want to spend all day sitting around the airport. The Everglades tour was around $50 each and gave us something to do in the morning. They dropped us at the airport around 12:30 which was perfect for our afternoon flight.

[mudscraper]

We have opted for a hotel with transfer booked through HAL. We arrive one day before the cruise in Miami Airport, which is quite a distance from Ft. Lauderdale and we believed it would be quite costly to have to pay one cab from Miami Airport to the hotel, followed by a cab from the hotel to the port the next day.

Now we will have a HAL transfer from Miami Airport to FLL hotel, and a transfer the next day from the hotel to the airport.

After comparing we found that the HAL-booked hotel night including transfer was similar in price to booking just the hotel ourselves (still having to add taxi-costs).

The hotel assigned would not be our first choice (Westin Fort Lauderdale, near the airport) but it´s just for one night and we will be sleeping most of the time anyway due to jetlag (coming from Europe).

All together it was a combination of price + ease of mind, as HAL is responsible for our transport. So if there are any issues HAL is responsible.

When we arrive back with the cruiseship to Fort Lauderdale one week later we are staying 2 more nights in a hotel in Miami Beach (self-booked) and we will take a normal taxi.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Vincent
SAS Transportation provides inexpensive transportation between Fll and MIA. Check them out.

[RuthC]

Pretty much always I use the HAL transfers. As a solo traveler, they are less expensive than a taxi, and reliable.
In Ft. Lauderdale, however, I would rather take a cab. The cab costs about the same amount for a single as the HAL transfer would. So, for a couple there's a real savings there.

Also, the HAL transfer lets you off between terminals, and there's a walk (slightly uphill for my airline) back. A cab will let you off right in front of the terminal. For those of us with mobility problems, that's another real advantage.

[jtl513]

Another vote for a taxi both ways. IIRC the HAL transfers are around $18 per person, while two can get a taxi for the same amount or less. And the taxi is much more convenient than waiting for a bus to fill up.

(Sorry Ruth - yours hadn't posted yet when I started answering.)

[DeepWaterMariner]

We hate cruise line transfers and almost always go with a taxi, especially in FLL. We've never had a problem getting a taxi, even when the port has been jammed with cruise ships including the Oasis. A very nice advantage of taking a taxi is being dropped exactly where you want to go and not having to deal with a bus load of people scrambling for their luggage.

[Seavoyage]

We are flying into Ft Lauderdale for a cruise in April. I am trying to decide which way to get to ship and back to the airport later. If you had a choice would you take a taxi both ways or get one of HAL's transfer to and from the ship? Also if you know, what would be the cost of each? Thanks in advance for you help.

Hi Doughnut Dolly -

We were fortunate in December 2010 to find Jean at the airport. He is great guy that charged our party of four (with way too much luggage) a flat rate of only $25 to the Nieuw Amsterdam dock. Jean must know the porters because he pulled right up in front of the doors and the porters took our luggage immediately!

When we returned we called him and paid the same rate to go back to the airport. Jean has a comfortable van and he was very kind. I have his contact info but I am unsure if I am allowed to post it on the board. If you have an e-mail I will send you his contact info.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Taxi for sure. You don't have to wait for the HAL bus to leave. Get off the ship, collect your baggage, walk a fews steps and get the taxi.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I also vote for the taxi -- that's all we use in Ft Lauderdale.

[bepsf]

Another vote for taxi.

With two persons in the car, you're paying roughly half the rate of the HAL transfer and getting twice the service.

[stao]

Transportation from FLL to Port Everglades ---- IMHO definetely taxi for the reasons already stated

[Doughnut Dolly]

To all you lovely people thank you. I listened to what you had to say, made believe I was listening to my husbands opinion and went with all of ya'll. We'll take the taxi. Problem solved thanks so much