What to do with a group of 12 till flight leaves?

[gracie65]

I am cruising on The Royal Princess with a group of atleast 12. This will be couples from 40-70. Our flight does not leave till about 8:30pm so we will have all day to kill. It doesn't look like Spirit participates in the E-Z baggage so we will have that as well. Does anyone have any suggestions that aren't ship excursions? Any names of and guides etc.?

It does look like the airport does have a luggage storage to use as a backup for all that stuff atleast. Just would rather not have to take 12 of us there to store then on to whatever we have found to do to kill time.

Thanks!!

[JohninDC]

Maybe 3 rental cars (4 if any in your group pack like my spouse :o), store the bags in the trunk, and then go where you want -- beach, water taxi, Hollywood boardwalk, etc. Most of the car rental agencies offer free shuttles.

 

Good luck! :)

[gracie65]

Can anyone confirm if bagstogo still picks up at port and takes to FLL or this has stopped?

[capriccio]

I am cruising on The Royal Princess with a group of atleast 12. This will be couples from 40-70. Our flight does not leave till about 8:30pm so we will have all day to kill. It doesn't look like Spirit participates in the E-Z baggage so we will have that as well. Does anyone have any suggestions that aren't ship excursions? Any names of and guides etc.?

It does look like the airport does have a luggage storage to use as a backup for all that stuff atleast. Just would rather not have to take 12 of us there to store then on to whatever we have found to do to kill time.

Thanks!!

 

Did you notice this earlier thread? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1774183 entitled "Waiting for a plane in Fort Lauderdale?" It would be something to consider.

 

Here is the Fort Lauderdale city press release:

 

Fort Lauderdale partnership combines airport Sun Trolley service and baggage storage

Matt Little, Public Information Specialist

(954) 828-4732 or mlittle@fortlauderdale.gov

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Fort Lauderdale visitors can make every minute count, thanks to a new airport transportation and baggage storage service that aims to provide convenient access to area attractions and businesses.

 

With the Fort Lauderdale Excursion, visitors who have a few extra hours to spare can securely store their baggage at the airport and enjoy hassle-free transportation on the Sun Trolley or Water Taxi to explore the City's best cultural attractions, sites, dining, shopping and entertainment.

 

The service is ideal for tourists and business travelers who have a few hours to spare before scheduled departures.

 

The Fort Lauderdale Excursion includes luggage storage at Bags To Go Enterprises, located at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Sun Trolley transportation between the airport and downtown, an all-day ticket for the Sun Trolley and/or Water Taxi, sightseeing opportunities and an array of special offers and discounts.

 

The excursion is available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. The last departure from downtown is at 3:30 p.m. The downtown drop off and pick up point is located at the Fort Lauderdale History Center near area attractions and Las Olas Boulevard.

 

The price for the one day Sun Trolley excursion is $19.95 per person. A combo package that includes the Sun Trolley and Water Taxi is available for $29.95 per person.

 

The ticket price includes admission to several attractions, including the Historic Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale History Center and the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale.

 

For more information, visit http://www.suntrolley.com or call 954-761-3543.

[Florissouri]

You could book a day room at Hyatt House, particularly their 2BR/2BA Trio Suite. They don't have very many so you should book well in advance. The Trios have a King bed in one bedroom, 2 queen beds in the other bedroom, a pullout sofa-sleeper, a full kitchen and 2 full bathrooms. This would give enough separation and privacy for several people to simultaneously nap, shower, change clothes, fix a snack, grab a beverage and watch TV. They have a good pool deck and they're across Stirling Road where are multiple dining options and some shopping. They also have an airport shuttle when you're ready to head out.

 

If you take the rental car option I would also suggest Downtown Hollywood which no one ever talks about here. Below is my review of an evening I spent there a couple of weeks ago.

 

Everyone always talks about Las Olas Blvd., but I've never quite found much there that attracts me. In my opinion I consider it a place where lots of plastic people do plastic things with plastic. To me it's just an overpriced "Trendy Tourist Trap" that is difficult to get to, get through and find a place to park.

 

What I found in Downtown Hollywood was the antithesis of Las Olas. It was so much more family friendly, reasonably priced and street parking is plentiful, free and easy. Hollywood Blvd. is a very quaint tree line boulevard where there are far more restaurants and shops with an incredible amount of diversity and sidewalk dining is much better and more spacious than Las Olas. You'll find an Irish Pub (Mickey Byrnes's) right next to Chocolada Bakery and Cafe that had a Spanish guitar player entertaining the sidewalk diners. Across the street is a great pizza place where I had dinner (Rustic Pizza) after I enjoyed happy hour at a Polish beer bar (PRL Euro Cafe). I couldn't figure out why they call it a cafe when all they have is beer...lotsa beer. There was a Greek tavern/cafe that had a belly dancer. You can also find French, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Caribbean and even Romanian eateries.

 

Now...Right in the middle of all this is the Ramada Inn, but it's not like any Ramada I've ever stayed in. It's more like a European boutique hotel with a small, but very nice pool deck. I have no idea what their rooms are like, but it was so unique and charming it made me want to spend a weekend there. And I live only 15 miles away!

 

If the usual places wasn't enough to entertain, on Monday night area food trucks park on Young Circle and the locals bring their lawn chairs and enjoy a variety of unique cuisine. There were no less than 25 food trucks from the Purple People Eatery to Ms Cheesious to Korean Barbecue and Taco Box. One had soft serve ice cream machines built into the side of the truck. As someone who has spent half their life in the restaurant industry, this truck really fascinated me.

http://www.visithollywoodfl.org/downtown.aspx

 

.

[ragtiki2004]

I also enjoy the setting at Hollywood Beach much more than Las Olas. So much to see and do. Bob

[gracie65]

Did you notice this earlier thread? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1774183 entitled "Waiting for a plane in Fort Lauderdale?" It would be something to consider.

 

Here is the Fort Lauderdale city press release:

 

Fort Lauderdale partnership combines airport Sun Trolley service and baggage storage

Matt Little, Public Information Specialist

(954) 828-4732 or mlittle@fortlauderdale.gov

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Fort Lauderdale visitors can make every minute count, thanks to a new airport transportation and baggage storage service that aims to provide convenient access to area attractions and businesses.

 

With the Fort Lauderdale Excursion, visitors who have a few extra hours to spare can securely store their baggage at the airport and enjoy hassle-free transportation on the Sun Trolley or Water Taxi to explore the City's best cultural attractions, sites, dining, shopping and entertainment.

 

The service is ideal for tourists and business travelers who have a few hours to spare before scheduled departures.

 

The Fort Lauderdale Excursion includes luggage storage at Bags To Go Enterprises, located at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Sun Trolley transportation between the airport and downtown, an all-day ticket for the Sun Trolley and/or Water Taxi, sightseeing opportunities and an array of special offers and discounts.

 

The excursion is available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. The last departure from downtown is at 3:30 p.m. The downtown drop off and pick up point is located at the Fort Lauderdale History Center near area attractions and Las Olas Boulevard.

 

The price for the one day Sun Trolley excursion is $19.95 per person. A combo package that includes the Sun Trolley and Water Taxi is available for $29.95 per person.

 

The ticket price includes admission to several attractions, including the Historic Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale History Center and the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale.

 

For more information, visit www.suntrolley.com or call 954-761-3543.

 

 

Yes, thanks. It looks like they have dropped the service where they take your bags straight from the port. You must actually go to a terminal to take them.

Our flight won't leave till 8:30pm. I wish Spirit would change the flight time. It's always a dilemma about what to do. DH and I usually rent a car. We've done the Everglades, been to Las Olas and seen back to back movies at Sawgrass Mills Mall LOL. Does anyone know of any private tour guides in FLL?

[Florissouri]

I also enjoy the setting at Hollywood Beach much more than Las Olas. So much to see and do. Bob

 

No, not Hollywood Beach, Downtown Hollywood. There's a very big difference.

 

.

[ragtiki2004]

You are correct. Meant to say that, me bad! Bob

[JamesEM]

Florissouri - Thanks for the info.