Long wait between disembarking and flight home from FLL.. what to do ?

We have a 7:30pm flight home from Fort Lauderdale after our cruise. I wouldn't mind so much except I don't know what to do with our luggage ? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Cruise lines usually offer shore excursions that end at the Fort Lauderdale Airport.

The cruise line excursions will get you to the airport way too early. Check (ask this question on your cruise line board) if they offer a luggage valet program where, for a fee, they collect your luggage the night before disembarkation and you next see it on the luggage carosel of your home airport. Without having to shelp around your luggage you are free to take the water taxi (www.watertaxi.com) and/or the sun trolley (www.suntrolley.com) to sightsee and have a late lunch in Fort Lauderdale.

Alternatively you could rent a car and put your luggage in the trunk and then do your sightseeing (check out www.sunny.org).

As a third alternative a few Fort Lauderdale hotels offer day rooms with access to hotel amenities (pool, etc.). Most often mentioned is the Rodeway Inn and Suites where you can reserve your room in advance. A much nicer hotel in a much better location (downtown Fort Lauderdale), the Riverside Hotel, has been reported on this board to offer day rooms but you can only call and reserve on the day you need it.

I have rented a car before, and sightseeing on our own, but for sure I'd go for a day room at a hotel next time.

They have luggage storage at the airport, downstairs by the exit. We have been able to use curbside checkin for jet blue as early as 9:30am for a 6:30pm flight , we leave our carry on at the luggage storage. If your on RCL they offer luggage valet for 25.00 and that includes getting your boarding pass the last night of the cruise. You can also take the Sun Trolley from the airport to downtown.

Compare prices of a rental car, to a hotel room for the day, to changing to an earlier flight. Unless there is a HUGE price difference , get an earlier flight. You will be off the ship before 9am....probably much earlier than that! You can easily make a 10am flight.

They have luggage storage at the airport, downstairs by the exit. We have been able to use curbside checkin for jet blue as early as 9:30am for a 6:30pm flight , we leave our carry on at the luggage storage. If your on RCL they offer luggage valet for 25.00 and that includes getting your boarding pass the last night of the cruise. You can also take the Sun Trolley from the airport to downtown.

Good points:

• The luggage storage is in each terminal on the lower levels. http://www.bagstogo.net
  

• The Sun Trolley airport link (http://www.suntrolley.com/routes-schedules-fares/airport/) is available for free on weekends. I think the latest return is at 4:30 so you would still get back to the airport and have 2 1/2 hours before your flight - or just take a cab/Uber back from town an hour or so later. There have also been some reports in this forum that the trolley can fill up before reaching all 4 terminals, especially in the high season so have a plan B to take a cab/Uber wherever you want to go.
  

The Rodeway Inn is a total dump. I had a day room there last week waiting for a flight for non-cruise related travel. Total cost was $72.59.

I'm not sure how to even describe the place. Filthy, smells horrible, things are broken, etc. The negative reviews on TripAdvisor are absolutely correct, and whoever posts responses (Izzy?) for the hotel is an absolute lunatic. The over-the-top positive reviews must be fake.

I would consider another option.

The Rodeway Inn is a total dump. I had a day room there last week waiting for a flight for non-cruise related travel. Total cost was $72.59.

I'm not sure how to even describe the place. Filthy, smells horrible, things are broken, etc. The negative reviews on TripAdvisor are absolutely correct, and whoever posts responses (Izzy?) for the hotel is an absolute lunatic. The over-the-top positive reviews must be fake.

I would consider another option.

You would be doing a favor to many cruisers if you post this on the Florida Departures Board too since the topic of day rooms comes up frequently.

I would either book a cruise line post cruise excursion or rent a car.

Keith

There is a reason there are bars in airports.

We have a 7:30pm flight home from Fort Lauderdale after our cruise. I wouldn't mind so much except I don't know what to do with our luggage ? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Sawgrass Mills mall.

I would rent a car and spend time touring around Ft Lauderdale -- take the Everglades boat ride.

They have luggage storage at the airport, downstairs by the exit. We have been able to use curbside checkin for jet blue as early as 9:30am for a 6:30pm flight , we leave our carry on at the luggage storage. If your on RCL they offer luggage valet for 25.00 and that includes getting your boarding pass the last night of the cruise. You can also take the Sun Trolley from the airport to downtown.

We are going on RCL. I have to look into this, thank you

With Carnival there is an excursion to tour the everglades. It holds your luggage and drops you back off at the airport.

Is there a rental car plan in the Miami Cruise Terminal?

Avis rental car is approx 1 mile away. You can uber to it then pick car up there

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Compare prices of a rental car, to a hotel room for the day, to changing to an earlier flight. Unless there is a HUGE price difference , get an earlier flight. You will be off the ship before 9am....probably much earlier than that! You can easily make a 10am flight.

You CAN make a 10 AM flight; but I'm not sure about "easily". FLL can get clogged - how many people will be debarking from your ship? How many from others coming in the same day? Will it be at the end of a vacation period when there might be many land vacationers flying home? Could the ship be delayed?

If you are CERTAIN that you will be off the ship BEFORE 9:00 AM, there is a reasonable CHANCE you can get to the airport, check your bags, clear security and get to the gate before they close the doors at 9:45 --- but no one in his right mind would bet on it without a good, affordable Plan B in mind.

Hello, I am in the same situation. I want to thank Cappricio for the helpful information.

We also had a late flight out of FLL a couple of years ago and we did the RCCL Land and Sea Tour. The first part was a tour of parts of FL by bus and then we got on a boat and toured the intracoastal waterway. I can't remember if we were able to use the luggage valet program or if we had to pick up our luggage at the airport but at least we didn't have to deal with it all day long. We enjoyed the tour.

Get a day rate st a hotel and sit by the pool.

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Get a day rate st a hotel and sit by the pool.

 

 

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That's a great idea! The hard part is finding a hotel with day rates that's not a dive.

Any helpful suggestions? Have you found one? :)

I always do it out of San Juan. Ask your TA for help or try a Hyatt or Marriott. You might be better calling the hotel directly vs 1-800 number. I actually booked a night and made sure it says we won't be there till the morning.

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That's a great idea! The hard part is finding a hotel with day rates that's not a dive.

Any helpful suggestions? Have you found one? :)

Some have posted that they were able to get a day room (especially in the off season) at the Riverside on Las Olas. That hotel is definitely not a dive! Plus it is in a great location within walking distance to lots of restaurants, galleries, etc. and the Carrie B (excursion boat with 1 1/2 hour tours of the intracoastal if you don't want to spend the entire day by the pool). The problem is that most report they don't take reservations in advance; you have to call on the day you want the room but I think there has been at least one report this summer that when called a week early the hotel was able to confirm that there would be no issue.

I would stay overnight and catch a flight the next morning. Nothing wrong with an extra vacation day in FLL!