Anyone ever fly into Miami for a Ft. Lauderdale sailing?

[noblepa]

We're booked on the April 7 sailing of the Zuiderdam out of Ft. Lauderdale. I booked our air travel from Cleveland to FLL through HAL. When I booked the cruise in September, I checked out Orbitz and Travelocity. All the good flights and low fares were already sold out. The best I could do was going to cost about $950 per person, so I decided to let HAL worry about it.

I called Friday evening to make the final payment. I asked the rep if flights had been assigned. She gave me flights from Cleveland to Miami, through Atlanta!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I called HAL's Air/Sea department, but the rep who answered the phone said she was only there on Saturday to handle sailing-day emergencies. She also told me that they DO provide transfers from Miami to FLL pier. Its an hour and a half ride.

Has anyone ever done this? Or has HAL made a serious error.

[stungazed]

This is VERY common. Depending on where people are flying in from Miami can be a better option due to price and flight options.

Miami is only about 30 miles from Fort Lauderdale though & I don't understand the rep telling you it's only an hour and a half drive. Even during rush hour during the week when I-95 is jammed it doesn't take that long.

In any even, don't sweat it. Everything will be fine.

[Robinsilver]

I agree, but would more realistically say 45 minutes. My son is sailing out of Miami in March, but I am booking him round-trip to Fort Lauderdale. They have a better deal on Airtran, and I know he will get a transfer from the ship (RCCL) to the airport without a problem. If he ends up on a late flight, which I may do because of price, I will have my Mother-in-law meet him at the airport and take him for lunch. It's really not a big deal at all. The Ft. Lauderdale port is right near the airport, so its really the same thing.

[seaisme]

We're booked on the April 7 sailing of the Zuiderdam out of Ft. Lauderdale. I booked our air travel from Cleveland to FLL through HAL. When I booked the cruise in September, I checked out Orbitz and Travelocity. All the good flights and low fares were already sold out. The best I could do was going to cost about $950 per person, so I decided to let HAL worry about it.

I called Friday evening to make the final payment. I asked the rep if flights had been assigned. She gave me flights from Cleveland to Miami, through Atlanta!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I called HAL's Air/Sea department, but the rep who answered the phone said she was only there on Saturday to handle sailing-day emergencies. She also told me that they DO provide transfers from Miami to FLL pier. Its an hour and a half ride.

Has anyone ever done this? Or has HAL made a serious error.
Hi! we're doing the same...flying into Miami and sailing on the same date! (please join our roll-call board). Since your flight is being arranged by HAL...you don't have to worry about transfer. We're flying independent (and flying in the day before) and was able to arrange limo service from Miami to our FLL hotel very reasonably.
Welcome to the April 7th sailing!

[noblepa]

Thanks for all the replies. I thought Miami was further away than it really is. I should have thought of this before, but I did a Mapquest check. It showed the distance from Miami Int'l Airport to Port Everglades as about 23 miles and 37 minutes.

I should have remembered, Google and Mapquest are your friends.

Its not even as far as the trip from Orlando to Port Canaveral, which we've done in the past. No problem.

[hammybee]

Given Easter is on the 8th this year, flights to most FLorida airports from anywhere are overbooked. Flying into MIA is the best option as there are more flights to MIA than FLL.

As much as many posters will tell you not to use cruise line air arrangements, they are often substantially less during peak travel times, such as Spring break- Easter.

So go and enjoy your cruise at a wonderful time of year.

[seaisme]

We're booked on the April 7 sailing of the Zuiderdam out of Ft. Lauderdale. I booked our air travel from Cleveland to FLL through HAL. When I booked the cruise in September, I checked out Orbitz and Travelocity. All the good flights and low fares were already sold out. The best I could do was going to cost about $950 per person, so I decided to let HAL worry about it.

I called Friday evening to make the final payment. I asked the rep if flights had been assigned. She gave me flights from Cleveland to Miami, through Atlanta!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I called HAL's Air/Sea department, but the rep who answered the phone said she was only there on Saturday to handle sailing-day emergencies. She also told me that they DO provide transfers from Miami to FLL pier. Its an hour and a half ride.

Has anyone ever done this? Or has HAL made a serious error.
are you flying in the day of the cruise (April 7th) or the day before?