Post cruise flight - how early?

[Gregg20]

Our flight time got changed from 3:05pm to 11:45am. There is one at 7:45pm but that would put us in Boston around 11:00pm. Do you think the early flight is doable? The niggle is our flight is leaving out of FLL so we would have to get off the ship in MIA fairly early and catch a taxi to FLL. We have 6 in our group so we would need a shuttle van. I hate Delta!

[jleq]

I'd choose the 7:45pm flight. In theory you could catch the 11:45 flight from FLL. But anything [even the smallest thing] could cause to miss it. Carnival has excursions in Miami. They keep your luggage locked away until you get to the airport

[Cuizer2]

I agree. 11:45 from Miami to FLL is pushing your luck. But thanks for the reminder. I better check my flights again. The day after I booked it they changed the schedule on me.

[karadsheh]

My group of 9 returns to Miami on April 23rd and we have a 11:45am flight departing from Ft. Lauderdale too. We're planning on taking advantage of the self-assist debarkation and I've scheduled an early pick-up (8:30am) using larry'slimo.com. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best! If all goes as planned, we should be at the airport in FLL by 9:30am.

[StacyandTim]

Our flight time got changed from 3:05pm to 11:45am. There is one at 7:45pm but that would put us in Boston around 11:00pm. Do you think the early flight is doable? The niggle is our flight is leaving out of FLL so we would have to get off the ship in MIA fairly early and catch a taxi to FLL. We have 6 in our group so we would need a shuttle van. I hate Delta!

 

You'll be fine at 11:45 if you are doing self-disembark. Just grab your luggage and walk off the ship...you'll be off before 10 a.m. with plenty of time to get off and get to the airport and get home.

[StacyandTim]

Oh, and I've learned, don't wait for them to call self-disembark...just grab your things and head out when they dock...you'll be off early......

[StacyandTim]

Getting to Miami

 

--- Last updated: 11/03/05 at 12:50 pm ET

Flying is the most convenient and efficient way to get to Miami from out of state. Floridians and intrepid travelers can also opt to take buses or trains into town, or even drive their own cars. As a major business- and leisure-travel destination, Miami offers many transportation options to fit any budget or style.

 

Transportation trends

 

 

As in other major cities, the rise of the low-cost airline has had a major effect on Miami travel. Major low-cost carriers, such as Southwest and JetBlue, fly into nearby Ft. Lauderdale but not Miami, making Ft. Lauderdale an appealing alternate airport for Miami travel.

Cruising has always been a huge business in Miami, and as the industry gains popularity, Miami's cruise offerings only increase. Miami is a major gateway for mainstream and premium cruise lines, and a few luxury lines call at the port on their way up or down the coast. A new trend that is gaining momentum is for cruise lines to view Miami as a port-of-call rather than as merely a jumping-off spot for the Caribbean.

 

Airplane

 

 

Two airports serve Miami-Dade County. Miami International Airport (MIA) is the main city airport, located just a short drive from Downtown, Coral Gables, and the Beaches. Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is situated approximately 25 miles north of the city in Broward County, but offers plenty of transportation options into Miami.

Miami area airports

 

Miami International Airport (MIA)

 

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the main gateway for domestic and international travelers to Miami and the Beaches. It is located in the heart of Miami, a quick drive from most tourist destinations. It has one terminal with eight concourses and serves 144 destinations worldwide.

Distance from downtown Miami: Seven miles

 

Distance from Miami Beach: 13 miles

 

Transport optionsCar rentalAlamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Royal, ThriftyTaxiAround $20 to Downtown, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables; $21 to the cruise port; $28 to Miami BeachPublic transportation- MetrobusSeveral bus routes stop at the station located on Level 1 of Concourse E in the airport. Fares are $1.25 each way.SuperShuttle$11 to $13 per person to area hotels and the cruise port

 

Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

 

 

 

Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is located north of Miami. It has four terminals and serves 40 U.S. cities and many international destinations. Several low-cost airlines, such as JetBlue and Southwest, that do not serve Miami International Airport do fly into Ft. Lauderdale. About 15 percent of people flying into Ft. Lauderdale are ultimately headed for Miami.

 

Distance from downtown Miami: 25 miles

 

Transport optionsCar rentalAlamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National, Royal, ThriftyTaxiAverage fares to Miami are around $70.Public transportation- bus to Tri-Rail commuter trainThe South Florida commuter train provides service to Miami, including a connection to the Metrorail, Miami-Dade County's local railway. One-way fares to Miami cost $3, with a flat weekend and holiday fare of $4. The ride takes 35 minutes to the Metrorail transfer station or 50 minutes to the Miami airport stop. Shuttles run from three stops at Ft. Lauderdale Airport's terminals to the train station. TriCounty Airport Express

Shared-ride service

costs approximately $17 to Miami.

 

 

 

Alternative modes

 

Sitting close to the southern tip of Florida, Miami isn't exactly a transit hub for the rest of the country. However, you can find bus and train alternatives to flying. The overland route is probably much more time- and cost-efficient for Florida residents than for out-of-state visitors.

 

Train

 

 

Amtrak connects Miami to cities along the Eastern Seaboard with its Atlantic Coast Service. The Silver Star travels direct from Tampa and the Silver Meteor travels direct from Orlando.

Direct trainsInterstate- southSilver Service/Palmetto (Silver Meteor and the Silver Star) from New York via Washington, D.C.

 

Bus

 

 

Greyhound connects Miami to many cities around the U.S. For shorter distances, bus fares are lower than most airlines, but for cross-country trips, a low-fare airline may offer better prices. For more information on routes and fares, visit Greyhound's website.

 

Cruises

 

 

Miami is the biggest cruise port in the U.S. Nineteen ships call the city home, and 3.5 million people sail out of Miami each year. With the exception of repositioning cruises, most people sail out of Miami rather than using a cruise as a way to get to Miami. Nearby Ft. Lauderdale also has its own cruise port.

The Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami-Dade is currently undergoing a major renovation, including the construction of two new parking garages, a new passenger access roadway to the port, and two new cruise terminals. The new facilities will feature a combined customs and border protection station, the first in the country. All of these improvements will allow passengers to get from the city to their cabins faster than ever.

The Port of Miami is on an island located between downtown Miami and the southern tip of Miami Beach. Parking at the terminal costs $12 per day and a cab from Miami International Airport to the terminal costs a flat rate of $21.

Miami cruise informationCruise linesCarnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, WindjammerDestinationsThe Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, South America

 

Value analysis

 

 

Unless you're traveling from a nearby city, flying will always be the most convenient and cost-effective option for getting to Miami. However, whether you place more value on saving money or saving time may determine which airport you choose as your destination.

Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is often a good bet for low fares because several low-cost carriers fly there. JetBlue, Song, Southwest, Spirit, and Ted all fly into Ft. Lauderdale but do not serve Miami.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the most convenient option, whether your vacation centers around Miami Beach, Downtown, Coral Gables, or Coconut Grove. The airport is centrally located and is only a short drive from the most popular tourist areas. In addition, its plentiful ground transportation options mean you can easily get where you're going with or without a car.

Insider advice

 

• When planning your trip to Miami, check both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports for flights. You can easily get to the city from both, and the added cost of traveling from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami is often less than the price differential between airports.
  
  
• JetBlue and Southwest fly into Ft. Lauderdale Airport, but you won't find their fares on major travel web sites such as Travelocity and Expedia. Be sure to compare fares on the airlines' individual websites before you make your final travel plans.
  
  
• Miami's peak cruise season runs from October to April. You may have better luck finding a cheap cruise deal in the off-season.
  
  
• Last-minute cruise deals can save you a lot on your cruise fare, if you can find a cruise that's not sold out weeks prior to sailing. Just remember that the cruise line will need your passenger information a few days to a week in advance for security reasons, so you can't just show up at the port and buy a ticket. Plus, starting in 2006, you'll need a passport to cruise to the Caribbean.

Hope that helps!!

[pardoni]

American Airlines did the same to us. We originally had a 1pm departure from FLL, but they did some flight changes and we were on an 11:45am flight. We called AA and they rescheduled us again to depart at 2pm. Check with Delta to see if they have any other options that will get you out of town a little later, but not 7:45pm.

Were are using Larry's Limo also. They told us that when we have our luggage to give them a call and they will send a car to the front to pick us up. Supposedly, they are staged and waiting right outside the terminal and will pull around when they get the call.

[Cuizer2]

Jet Blue flys from FLL to NYC. Would that work for you?

[Gregg20]

Oh, and I've learned, don't wait for them to call self-disembark...just grab your things and head out when they dock...you'll be off early......

 

Don't you have to wait for customs to clear the ship before you can get off?

Oh and a BIG hardy New England "bou-ya" to all of you for responding!

[GoinCruisin]

Don't you have to wait for customs to clear the ship before you can get off?

Oh and a BIG hardy New England "bou-ya" to all of you for responding!

 

Yes, and in Miami that is not always something you can predict. You are going to have to make the decision for yourself. I don't know that I would EVER be so comfortable as to tell someone they would definitely be okay and even predict what time they would be off the ship... it's simply not that easy. I've been off the ship as early as 8:30 and I've also had to sit and wait for customs to clear the ship until 10:30... it's just not the same way every week. You have to decide if it is worth the risk to you... by doing self assist, that will help but doing self assist does not guarantee you will get off the ship at any certain time... US Customs still makes that call, not Carnival and not anyone on this board. You have to be off the ship by 9-9:30 at the latest to really feel comfortable about getting there on time, I would guess that most weeks, you'd be fine, the rest is up to you... time of year will make a difference, day of the week, etc. If you have travel insurance and book a flight before the cruise lines recommended time, I don't think they will cover any of your expenses. Good luck in your decision!!