Late flight after cruise in Fort Lauderdale.

Hello, we have a 6pm flight after our cruise. Does anyone have any advice on what to do besides sitting at the airport? What did you do with your luggage?

Take a princess excursion....they will take care of your luggage and deliver you to the airport. You can book these on board the ship.

We did the shopping mall trip, all your luggage stays on board the bus and you get taken to the airport afterwards worked out perfect for us

Take an excursion to Cape Canaveral and the Everglades. Again luggage goes on the bus with you. Go to the Shore Excursion desk the first at sea day and they will give you a list of what is available.

Hello, we have a 6pm flight after our cruise. Does anyone have any advice on what to do besides sitting at the airport? What did you do with your luggage?

Luggage answer : use the EZ-check, $20/pp, Princess gives you your airline luggage tags, made out for your flight and final destination. when you put your luggage out on the last night, you put the tags on them and then you don't see your bags until your flight lands at home, much easier than dealing wi the bags thru customs and on/off a bus. Also, this way you can go off on your own - sightseeing, beach etc.

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. Signed up for the Princess Cruises tour that goes over to Las Olas with a scenic boat tour. Even if the tour gets me to the airport by 2pm I'll still have over four hours to kill, so I was thinking about also buying a one-time access Club Pass from the airline to use at the airport to relax in their lounge.

Take an excursion to Cape Canaveral ....

Impractical too far away from Port Everglades, about three hours each way if traffic is light.

You can find the tours on the personiliser, along with the other tours. I have booked one as our flight is not until 7pm.

One thing we did on another cruise in another port but it would still work is to take a hotel shuttle and relax in the hotel lobby, have lunch, etc. before heading back to the airport. If you use EZ check for your luggage, you'll have just your carry-on. We did it with a small group and had a great time. Cheaper than paying for the Club lounge. One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't/can't use EZ Check, FLL is pretty strict about not allowing you to check in baggage more than 2-3 hours before your flight. I forget how long it is but if you can't check in, there's no place to go or sit with your luggage.

Three other alternatives:

1. Rent a car for the day and that gives you more flexibility for 'on your own' touring and you can leave your luggage in the trunk. Touring ideas can be found at Fort Lauderdale's tourism website: http://www.sunny.org
   
2. If your airline does not participate in EZ check, consider storing your luggage at Bags to Go at the airport (http://www.bagstogo.net).
   
3. If your disembarkation day is a Saturday or Sunday, the Sun Trolley operates out of the airport with a free Sun Trolley route from the airport to the visitors center. Check out details (including pick up stops) at http://www.broward.org/Airport/Trans...unTrolley.aspx. According to the website, at the visitors center you can purchase Fort Lauderdale Excursion passes. "The pass includes admission to museums and historic properties, discounts at restaurants and shops, and all-day passage on the free Sun Trolley."
   

We had a 6:30 evening flight so we stayed on board as long as allowed and then took a taxi to a hotel that had offered to keep our luggage for us. We spent the afternoon at a Dave and Busters watching a football game and then took the hotel shuttle to the airport.

Last week, off the Royal TA, we left the ship early and had thrifty pick us up and take us to their rental site at the port entrance. Had reserved the vehicle of our choice and drove away before most were even off the ship (make sure that you reserve a vehicle large enough for your bags).

Drove to Sample road market, Sawgrass Mills, had a nice relaxed lunch, and then drove downtown. Finally drove to the rental return building and had the attendant drive us to our airline drop off(handicapped). Other than shopping and lunch, only cost of car - about $40

For a very pleasant day and did not have to sit in the airport all day.

Your choice

Hal

Luggage answer : use the EZ-check, $20/pp, Princess gives you your airline luggage tags, made out for your flight and final destination. when you put your luggage out on the last night, you put the tags on them and then you don't see your bags until your flight lands at home, much easier than dealing wi the bags thru customs and on/off a bus. Also, this way you can go off on your own - sightseeing, beach etc.

If Princess has that option and your airline participates, it works very well. We used it last summer with Carnival and a 6PM flight on Jet Blue.

We took a cab to Las Olas. You can swim. (The lifeguards will let you know where you can change at a mall bathroom.) There are plenty of options for lunch and shopping or window shopping.

Thank you for the good suggestions. I thought the Princess excursion looked interesting, but wondered how dirty and gross you get. Hate to fly dirty!

We had a 6:30 evening flight so we stayed on board as long as allowed and then took a taxi to a hotel that had offered to keep our luggage for us. We spent the afternoon at a Dave and Busters watching a football game and then took the hotel shuttle to the airport.

Which hotel was this? Did you call before hand? Good idea!

If you are cruising on Holland America Line they have Signature Express Baggage Service at $16.00 p/p. I haven't used it (yet!), but will on 1/25/2014.