Parking at the port in Fort Lauderdale

Has anyone parked at the port in Ft. Lauderdale during their cruise week? We have never had to do it before and am wondering what options and costs are. Any advice?

Parking at the pier $12/day. See http://www.cruise.com/cruise_info/port_parking/ft_laud_01.html

Offsite at airport with a private Park/Fly operator, $7.50/day, $45/week. May have to factor in a $10 cab ride each way unless shuttle to pier offered.

Alternative, if hotelling the night before is to get a hotel with 1 or 2 weeks parking included. This may be the most cost effective if needing hotel. See http://www.buyreservations.com only good if you have CC with U.S. billing address.

The Costa website indicates a "discounted" price (only if paid in advance) at a park and fly location in Port everglade? The price at the discount is $52.00. It says it also includes 24 hour free shuttle service. Is this the "bargain" they want me to believe it is?

If parking at the port - do they offer shuttles from your car to the pier?

Irene:

The parking garage for the pier is usually very close to the boarding area. So you don't need a shuttle.

Where are you coming from? Florida?

We are from FL and always rented a vehicle with any of the larger car rental companies, drove to the port, unloaded, dropped off the rental car and they shuttled us over to the port again and vis-versa on the way back.

Uncomplicated, and no worries that somebody may damage or break into your car...

Just my two cents...

Andy

We will be flying into Ft Lauderdale from Indianapolis at 10:30 on Jan 22, 2006. You can purchase the Park N Fly package from the Costa site. It says that there is a free shuttle to and from the Airport to the Port. Is this worth buying or is it better to pay for a taxi. If I do buy the Park N Fly how do I find the shuttle in Ft Lauderdale Airport?

My opinion is (and that's what several friends and relatives shared with me as well), that you are better off to take a taxi from the airport to the port... FLL is just minutes from the port and not a long ride away... maybe 10 minutes max.

If you book the pick-up service / shuttle through Costa, I understand that they will pick you up at your arrival gate / baggage claim area with a Costa sign in their hand (like Club Med vacation). You will then be escorted to a bus, which will shuttle you over to the port.

If you choose Costa's shuttle, they will follow up with the airline, if you should be delayed for any reason. If you go out by yourself and you are delayed, you have to hurry up yourself and shuttle yourself over to the ship.

I used the Park N Fly last October. It was a less expensive way to park @ $7/day. They do shuttle you to & from the parking lot in their mini-buses. Post cruise we did have to wait for the 3rd go around because I think they had only 1 shuttle running and it filled up quickly so plan to pack your patience. Confirm your rates and return times. We came back 1/2 hour later than I had put on my registration and they were going to charge me accordingly until I argued that if they had picked me up sooner, I would have made that time. They took off the extra charge.

The parking garages @ Port E are close to the pier/check-in area @ $12/day. Believe me Port E is MUCH better than Miami! Do unload pass & baggage @ curb and then park.

It's true the FLL airport is VERY close to Port Everglades for those that are flying in. It's a 10 min ride depending on traffic @ security checkpoint into the port area. Taxi easier than shuttle transfer service offered by cruise lines. When using the buses, remember to pack your patience. They don't leave until they are filled and baggage is on.

I've done both and really prefer parking right at the port. After the cruise we had a porter just roll our luggage right out to our car. So easy....but $10 a day, standard cruise ship pier prices.

Has anyone parked at the port in Ft. Lauderdale during their cruise week? We have never had to do it before and am wondering what options and costs are. Any advice?

living 30 minutes from th e port we have always left our cars at the port, including jaguars, mercedes and Porsches and never had a problem with break ins, etc.. cost started out at 7 per day a few years ago but has creeped up to 10 and i heard recently 12 per day.. we are leaving tomorrow on the costa Mediterannea and leaving a Lexus SUV at the port with no qualms....

BTW: If you need further information about parking your vehicle at the pier, here's a phone number you can call: (954) 462-7287, which is the phone number for the parking in Port Everglades...

Andy

Hey cruise4Andy--

Who did you rent your oversized vehicle from? We will be traveling fro Central Florida, and would love to do this b/c we will have 4 adults and 2 kids in our traveling party.

Thanks!--CeleBrat

The current cost of daily parking at the Port Everglades parking garage is $12 a day. We drive up to the baggage drop off and leave our big bags with the porters. I get out with both of our carry ons and wait while Hubby goes to park the car at the garage. He walks back and then we check in to board the ship together.

After the cruise, I wait with all the bags while Hubby goes to get our car and pay for the parking. He returns, we load up the car and we are on our way home.

Hey cruise4Andy--

 

Who did you rent your oversized vehicle from? We will be traveling fro Central Florida, and would love to do this b/c we will have 4 adults and 2 kids in our traveling party.

 

Thanks!--CeleBrat

A few months ago we rented from Thrifty, Orlando Airport offisite (right outside the airport) and rented an SUV.. we ended up with a brand new Dodge Durango.. Hemi.. man that was sweet. Their cars/trucks have satellite radio standard, man that was sweet. We drove it down to Miami for the weekend, that was such a nice vehicle to drive, very roomy inside. If anyone here owns one and can help with the comfort for that size group? I know you can definitely fit four adults and then some. It also had another rear seat that would fit a few more plus the extra trunk space..

Hi

Just got off Costa Med yesterday and parked at the park and fly..the pier garage is $84 per week and park and fly is $52 per week but if you give them the Costa voucher it is $45.

We didn't make a reservation so got there at 10:30 then had to wait until 11:30 for the shuttles to pick us up and take us to the ship as they were only emptying the ship and going to the airport..aited 1/2 hour to 45 min in line at the ship to board. Getting off yesterday the shuttle was right there and we got on early and were out of the lot by 9:30am.

The parking garage gives you more freedom to board and leave when you want but the lot is fine if you time it right.

Hi All,

Just curious to know what you "Tip" the baggage handlers at the port side, as I will be dropping off our minibus (I have 5 kids) with 6 cases, and it would be easier just to tip them

Thanks

Gary

I have found that the new Park 'N Go Cruise parking is the best service. They carry your bags, drop you off and pick you up at your car and give you a free drink at check out. Best price to. I think the website is parkngo.net

The Costa website indicates a "discounted" price (only if paid in advance) at a park and fly location in Port everglade? The price at the discount is $52.00. It says it also includes 24 hour free shuttle service. Is this the "bargain" they want me to believe it is?

 

If parking at the port - do they offer shuttles from your car to the pier?

Park N Go has much better service I my opinion and carried all my bags for me (big Help)- plus they gave the whole car free bottled water at check out- nice touch!

Does anyone know if any of the rental car companies will take you to the port in fort lauderdale??

Thanks so much,

Leslie

Actually the information about Park n Go being cheaper than the Costa discounted priced is incorrect, and the service is not better from what we experienced. With Park 'N Fly you get a Free Day so it is definitely cheaper. They also provide assistance with baggage AND pick you up and drop you off at your car.

One recommendation we heard if you are cruising in the coming months is to be sure to make your reservation from the cruise line's website (like Costa, Holland or Carnival) to get your discount AND guarantee your parking. With the Oasis of the Seas coming to Port Everglades parking will be at a premium and often sold out.

pricing seems tobe all over the board here, at the pier its $15 per day & fly & drive its $12& change per day with a discount for AAA. Prices at same lot are less for anyone going to airport departures.

Budget has a local office, on 20th St if I remember correctly, that does port transfers, not the airport location.

Parking at the pier is definitely more convenient for debarkation, less so for embarkation. But I always try to patronize off-site parking- think of what these guys would charge if they didn't have competition.

pricing seems tobe all over the board here, at the pier its $15 per day & fly & drive its $12& change per day with a discount for AAA. Prices at same lot are less for anyone going to airport departures.

Cruised in Oct. from Ft. Lauderdale. I agree with your prices - $15 at pier and $12 at Park N Fly.

However, I reserved Park N Fly in advance (online) thinking it was a discounted price. And I had to pay an additional $3 service fee. As we checked out and handed our pre-paid voucher to the attendant, I noticed the prices were the same whether reserved online or just drive up. Lesson learned: don't book online.

Another note here. We were on Princess, leaving from one terminal and returning to a different one. Quite a number of pier-parked passengers were quite angry as they couldn't just get off and walk to their vehicles. Princess did provide a free shuttle to the departure terminal parking but there was still a lot of grumbling.

Has anyone used them recently? Their website says $12 per day. The posts on this thread are months old, so if anyone could update prices, I would greatly appreciate it.

Going in November for 8 days-found a room at a Rodeway Inn, right on rte 84 which comes right off of Alligator Alley/I-75. $92 for a room the night before, free breakfast, shuttle to and from the ship, and free parking. Been on many cruises and never look forward to the hassle of driving 200+ miles from my home in Tampa, unloading the car of luggage and passengers, finding parking, walking to the ship, and boarding. This way the hotel drops me off at the terminal, and I go thru boarding, find my room and go eat lunch. And at $12/day at the port, it looks like my room is free.

Sounds too easy. Will update this post after returning from the cruise.:eek::eek::eek:

so how did it go??? we're doing the same idea in september just wondering how the free parking went. thanks!

Going in November for 8 days-found a room at a Rodeway Inn, right on rte 84 which comes right off of Alligator Alley/I-75. $92 for a room the night before, free breakfast, shuttle to and from the ship, and free parking. Been on many cruises and never look forward to the hassle of driving 200+ miles from my home in Tampa, unloading the car of luggage and passengers, finding parking, walking to the ship, and boarding. This way the hotel drops me off at the terminal, and I go thru boarding, find my room and go eat lunch. And at $12/day at the port, it looks like my room is free.

 

Sounds too easy. Will update this post after returning from the cruise.:eek::eek::eek: