what to do in Ft Lauderdale

[stacieg1011]

Cruising on the Allure Mar 8, 2015. The only affordable flight coming home on the 15th does not leave until 9pm. What is there to do in Ft. Lauderdale all day. We will still have our luggage. Any ideas? Thanks

[LMaxwell]

Use the water taxi to see the sites and you can use it to bar and restaurant hop as well in the area.

 

watertaxi.com

 

Do NOT go to the Everglades in May, you will be soaked and dripping in sweat.

 

Edit, I see you said March. I'd say weather dependent for an Everglades trip.

Edited December 31, 2014 by LMaxwell

[Sunbreez]

Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi ticket is good for all day of purchase. We went from 17th Street stop all the way up to the stop (forget name) close to the Cheese Cake Factory and had dinner there. The price was $20 pp or $17 for seniors.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Sunbreez

[caribsun]

Book a beachfront hotel for the day and at 5pm wave goodbye to your ship.:)

[kifler]

Cruising on the Allure Mar 8, 2015. The only affordable flight coming home on the 15th does not leave until 9pm. What is there to do in Ft. Lauderdale all day. We will still have our luggage. Any ideas? Thanks

 

You could also cab to the airport and check-in for your flight but not go through security (which means no more lugging bags around).

[waterbugohio]

If you decide on the water taxi, just a couple pointers.

 

Make sure to watch on groupon, living social, travel zoo, etc because the water taxi often runs 2 for 1 coupons. A great way to see the town and get a quick tour of lots of boats, plus you can get on and off at the beach, restaurants, shopping and get back on and keep going. We do the water taxi whenever in FLL just as a taxi service!!

 

Also, check out which airlines participate in the luggage valet program. If you are not familiar check it out on the Royal website. Basically you "check" your luggage with the cruise ship. When you sit it outside your room the night before you don't see it again until you get to your home airport. Royal takes your suitcases to the airport and checks them it for you. Not sure what the cost is now, I think it was $20 pp the last time we used it.

 

If your airline doesn't participate, there is also a local program at FLL port. Called "bagstogo" They normally have a truck parked outside the terminal. After you exit the ship and terminal just look for them. Walk up to the truck and "check in" your bags. You will have to go to the airport just a little earlier and if I remember right, their office is near baggage claim. Stop there to retrieve your bags and then go back upstairs to check into flights as normal. I think this service was only $6 per bag when I used it several years ago.

 

Lots of options. Just enjoy that last day.

[Garavar]

You could also cab to the airport and check-in for your flight but not go through security (which means no more lugging bags around).

 

Yep and if you have a first class ticket go the first class lounge. If not then maybe consider getting a 1 day pass, it will be like you never got off the cruise

 

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[LetsGetWet!]

If you decide on the water taxi, just a couple pointers.

 

Make sure to watch on groupon, living social, travel zoo, etc because the water taxi often runs 2 for 1 coupons. A great way to see the town and get a quick tour of lots of boats, plus you can get on and off at the beach, restaurants, shopping and get back on and keep going. We do the water taxi whenever in FLL just as a taxi service!!

 

Also, check out which airlines participate in the luggage valet program. If you are not familiar check it out on the Royal website. Basically you "check" your luggage with the cruise ship. When you sit it outside your room the night before you don't see it again until you get to your home airport. Royal takes your suitcases to the airport and checks them it for you. Not sure what the cost is now, I think it was $20 pp the last time we used it.

 

If your airline doesn't participate, there is also a local program at FLL port. Called "bagstogo" They normally have a truck parked outside the terminal. After you exit the ship and terminal just look for them. Walk up to the truck and "check in" your bags. You will have to go to the airport just a little earlier and if I remember right, their office is near baggage claim. Stop there to retrieve your bags and then go back upstairs to check into flights as normal. I think this service was only $6 per bag when I used it several years ago.

 

Lots of options. Just enjoy that last day.

Great detailed reply - I second that! Get rid of the luggage, then use the water taxi to see the sights at your pace through the day, as well as eat at some great waterfront restaurants.

[stacieg1011]

What is a 1 day pass?

[Garavar]

What is a 1 day pass?

 

You can buy 1 day access to first class lounge at airport.

 

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/airports-and-aircraft/delta-sky-club/one-day-pass/one-day-pass.html

 

I only fly Delta so I don't know how to look up other airline's lounges or 1 day passes. But I am fairly certain if you are flying another airline you can still purchase 1 day pass for Delta's lounge.

 

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Edited December 31, 2014 by Garavar

[Lionesss]

The last two years when we sailed the Allure we arrived in FLL around noon.

 

So did the storms:eek:.

 

I wonder if this is a daily event.....rain every afternoon.

 

We had a great time sitting in the hotel lobby after going to Publix waiting for our room to get ready.......it rained.

 

Would love to do the water taxi, if it does not rain.

 

So boring sitting in a hotel lobby waiting for your room.

 

Sea Ya

[jeditden]

Check out the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. It's a cool "mansion" on protected land right near the beach. Tickets were under $20/pp and you can burn a good few hours there.

[ivanrocko]

1) Fort Lauderdale Beach

 

2) Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - The hotel has a tower, a 145,000 sq ft (13,500 m2) casino, a 4 acres (1.6 ha) lagoon-style pool area, fifteen restaurants, sixteen shops, the poker room, a spa, improv comedy club, over ten bars and nightclubs, and "Hard Rock Live", a concert venue.

 

 

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[Jenhem31]

We rented a car from the airport for a very reasonable price and drove out to Miami. It's only a half hour or so away. The car was inexpensive, and we had a place to keep our luggage. Much more convenient and cheaper than cabs all day.

 

 

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[LBumb]

spend the day at the beach or shop across the street

[golfpccc]

We fly Southwest and found out when arriving at the airport that we could not check in more than 3 hours before our flight. So, not only do you have your luggage until you can check in, but you can't get to the restaurants or anything past the security check in area.

[Cruise_Anne]

Book a beachfront hotel for the day and at 5pm wave goodbye to your ship.:)

 

That's just mean...lol

[stacieg1011]

If you choose the water taxi do I just take a cab or is the water taxi close by?

[lah66]

If you decide on the water taxi, just a couple pointers.

 

Make sure to watch on groupon, living social, travel zoo, etc because the water taxi often runs 2 for 1 coupons. A great way to see the town and get a quick tour of lots of boats, plus you can get on and off at the beach, restaurants, shopping and get back on and keep going. We do the water taxi whenever in FLL just as a taxi service!!

 

Also, check out which airlines participate in the luggage valet program. If you are not familiar check it out on the Royal website. Basically you "check" your luggage with the cruise ship. When you sit it outside your room the night before you don't see it again until you get to your home airport. Royal takes your suitcases to the airport and checks them it for you. Not sure what the cost is now, I think it was $20 pp the last time we used it.

 

If your airline doesn't participate, there is also a local program at FLL port. Called "bagstogo" They normally have a truck parked outside the terminal. After you exit the ship and terminal just look for them. Walk up to the truck and "check in" your bags. You will have to go to the airport just a little earlier and if I remember right, their office is near baggage claim. Stop there to retrieve your bags and then go back upstairs to check into flights as normal. I think this service was only $6 per bag when I used it several years ago.

 

Lots of options. Just enjoy that last day.

 

 

Waterbug, Great response! Do you know if bags to go still has a port pickup? Or do you have to get your luggage to the airport? We are planning on checking our bags with RCI because the most updated info (at least for port pickup of luggage) was from 2012. bags to go was much cheaper than RCI.

 

Lauri

Edited December 31, 2014 by lah66

[lah66]

If you choose the water taxi do I just take a cab or is the water taxi close by?

 

The water taxi has a great website. Watertaxi.com. You can pre order tickets, see all the stops and plan your route. The closest water taxi stop to the port is 5A Hilton Marina. 1881 Southeast 17th St.

 

We plan on taking the water taxi in Feb after our RCI cruise. Our flight back to MI does not leave until 530 pm. Time enough to make the round trip (2.5 hrs) and a lunch stop at Coconuts!

 

Have fun,

Lauri

[capriccio]

Waterbug, Great response! Do you know if bags to go still has a port pickup? Or do you have to get your luggage to the airport? We are planning on checking our bags with RCI because the most updated info (at least for port pickup of luggage) was from 2012. bags to go was much cheaper than RCI.

 

Lauri

 

Check their website: http://www.bagstogo.net

[lah66]

Check their website: http://www.bagstogo.net

 

I did spend some time on their website. I read through the FAQ's and there is absolutely no mention of port luggage pickup! I suppose I could call or easier yet, assume they no longer offer that service and let RCI take our bags. For the $20-30 extra we would be spending, I would rather stick my luggage out in the hallway the last evening of the cruise and be reunited with it in MI!

Lauri