bethcooks4u

We decided to stay at a Fort Lauderdale hotel close to that airport that provides free shuttle service to/from airport. We will go back to the airport on Monday and catch the Carnival shuttle to the port in Miami. (Hotel is around 1 mile from airport)

Decided on this because the Fort Lauderdale hotel was $40 less than the Miami one would have been and we would have been dependent on shuttles running on Christmas day (one of the shuttles already told us they are not). By doing it this way we are saving at least $20 and much more if we couldn't have gotten one of the cheaper shuttles. Not even mentioning the higher tips we would have paid ON the holiday (yes, we still plan to tip the hotel shuttle driver well).

I do appreciate the information on the other shuttle companies and hopefully it will help someone else. If we weren't traveling on Christmas I know we would have gone with it. We'll give them a try next time when it isn't a holiday.

I'm thinking we might be better off changing our hotel to one near FLL airport with a free shuttle and going back to the airport to have carnival pick us up. One of the services mentioned here said they aren't operating on 12/25 and that made me think we might be better off not even trying that day. Besides the hotel in Fort Lauderdale is $40 less than the one in Miami so that more than makes up the difference in cost of shuttles if we went with one of the cheaper shuttles and we know the cruise shuttle will show up. Plus you gotta tip huge on Christmas Day!

Carnival said they pick up at FLL until noon. We'd have been in trouble if we'd have flown in that day instead of a day early since our flight is not scheduled to be in until 12:05!

Since I sort of remember some of what happened in a wedding I attended several decades ago in WI (do they still make Steven's Point beer?), I will try to help.

 

If you land on time, by the time you get off the plane and collect bags you are looking at a 1:00 shuttle time. I would focus on QLS and Go Airport or spend an extra $10-15 and just use Uber

lol Yes I believe they do still make that beer.

What is QLS? But why wouldn't the other shuttles be available?

With a $10 cab to the port you must be staying downtown - Holiday Inn? Intercontinental? Hyatt?

 

Uber should be under $50 unless surge pricing is in effect. Shuttles get more expensive the later in the day you arrive when they have less opportunity to fill the van. Around noon or so they can be as cheap as $15 per person.

Which shuttle company would you recommend? Our plane gets in just after 12 noon.

We are flying into FLL the day before our cruise and need transportation to a hotel in Miami. The hotel said it's a $10 cab ride to the port from there so we are good to get to port for our cruise. I see there are several shuttles that can get you to Miami from FLL but are they all reputable and will they drop of at hotel? Go Airport Shuttle was recommended but what about Super shuttle? Or are there other choices?

Anyone know how much uber would run for that trip? I was told a cab would be $75-80 and Hertz said it would be close to $200 to rent a car for the day which I find to be crazy. She can't be right!

DH and I agree that Patirck's tour was the highlight of our trip. He gave us an amazing experience well worth the cost. We did have him as our guide which I'm sure added to it but the guide with the other group appeared to be giving them a good trip too.

We first did the sharks and there were many. I was a bit uneasy (not about the sharks but about being in such deep water/snorkeling) at first and Patrick stayed with me a few minutes until he saw I was relaxed. Patrick took each of our underwater cameras and took a picture of us with sharks behind us. Then the rays. They were amazing. We were able to feed them. Worse part was holding the pieces of fish... There was another group (different guides) near by at the rays and we saw a woman holding a ray from leaving her and a man was pulling on it's tail. Their guide either didn't see it or ignored it. Patrick pointed out that is how people get hurt.

We had snorkeled for the first time 2 days before and they had taken us in shallower water with tide out. Patrick took us in deeper water and it was much more fun. We saw amazing fish and had no problems with coral being too close. The meal on the Motu was also amazing and there was plenty of food. There were two groups for a total of 14 people at the meal.

My only regret is that we didn't do the 4x4 tour too.

I just returned - 2:30am our time - from our trip. Just looking over emails. I'll post more later but we did do Patrick's tour. We had Patrick and it was just as we expected. He did a great job. He had a second tour going on with another guide (don't know his name but he was I believe Australian). The second boat was having mechanical difficulties so we stopped to help a couple times and ended up taking on those people for the Motu visit and lunch but it was all good. I'll post more when I've had some rest. Been traveling more than 24 hours...

Hey Beth,

 

No beautifying yourself TOO much......us frizzies don't need any additional hot air near our heads !!!:rolleyes:

Hahaha no worries there. No matter what I do there won't be any beauty contests won here. lol ...just trying to be presentable some of the time.

So, I understand that there is a hairdryer in the rooms. Is it full sized or a mini like in many hotels? Also do we per chance get to keep the robes and slippers? Would we even want to? as far as the toiletries... are they in little bottles or what? Just checking for last minute needs as far as packing. TIA

I don't think he does, but you should tell him of your concerns via e-mail.;)

I emailed him and he said that that guide is no longer with him. Patrick said he was trying to help him out but he caused trouble, did damage to the boat and his company's reputation.