Place to catch up on sleep at FLL airport or Miami cruise terminally

[Roses253]

We get into FLL airport at 5:30 AM and the time we can board our Royal Caribbean cruise is 11:30 AM. I have 3 little ones. Is it better to park it at the airport once we arrive and get some sleep or go to the cruise terminal and get some sleep there? Any other options for us?

[CEOofVacation]

Do you have airport lounge access privilege?  If so, you can use one of the airport lounges to sleep for a while. 

[Ashland]

With 3 little ones.....sorry....but neither of your options is a good one. Book a hotel for the night prior to arrival with a very late (am) check in....ask for a late checkout...get some rest (all of you) then go to the port in the afternoon.

 

Just an FYI the port terminal will not be open and FLL is no place to spend time.

[Grandma Dazzles]

How are you getting from airport to cruise terminal?  You indicated arrival in FLL and sailing from Miami.  Are you using taxi, shuttle, rental car, cruise line transfer, Uber?  You need to allow for picking up baggage, travel, possibility of flight not being on time.  I don’t think you will have enough time for true “rest” other than airport lounge/club (if you have access).  You will also need to eat breakfast, probably freshen up, bathrooms, etc. 

 

  Perhaps just sitting in the airport for an hour or so, but with the cruise being from Miami and not FLL you need to figure that in. 

[JohninDC]

5 hours ago, Ashland said:

With 3 little ones.....sorry....but neither of your options is a good one. Book a hotel for the night prior to arrival with a very late (am) check in....ask for a late checkout...get some rest (all of you) then go to the port in the afternoon.

 

Just an FYI the port terminal will not be open and FLL is no place to spend time.

Do this!  Roadway Inn and other budget motels near FLL are usually available for about $100 or less -- get some sleep, a shower, breakfast, etc. and then shuttle or Uber to POM about 1:00 - by the time you drop bags with the porters and check in you should be able to go straight to your cabin with your carry on bags (and then hit the pool! )

[Cheezus]

You can almost always get to the port around 9:30 - 10AM.  Not 11:30.  So that cuts down the waiting time drastically.  Plus it's a 45 minute drive from FLL to PortMiami.  Plus the time to get your transportation.  I think you would only really be resting at the airport until 8:45 or so.  By the time you get your bags, just find a quiet place at the airport to rest for a couple of hours.  It's not that big of a deal.  You won't be able to do that at the cruise port, they won't let you in the terminal that early.  Just bring a few snacks and hang out.

 

I'm not sure about the suggestion of staying at a hotel in the morning and going to the cruise in the afternoon.  Unless you love staying at budget hotels more than hanging out on the cruise ship.

[JohninDC]

I would prefer to sleep in a cheap motel with beds than trying to rest for a few hours with three tired kids in the FLL airport, but it is the OP's call.