Flymia

On a normal day an UberX will cost around $35-$40.

You can use referral codes and get a credit when you sign up: X753g

If you already signed up not sure if you can use it. But you could sign up with say your spouse name and credit card too. The nice thing about Uber is you are on your schedule, no waiting around for other people or other stops like the shuttle. But remember an Uberx can sometimes be a small car. So if you have more than two large bags you need to maybe use an UberXL that is more expensive.

I think we should put up a sticky. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Port Canaveral are all fine. Everything is pretty much back to normal expect for some neighborhoods still without power. I drove on the highway on Monday less than 12-hours after the storm hit.

You sure are cutting it close though. Hope you have trip insurance.

Whether you stay in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale is personal preference on two things. One do you want a longer drive to the ship on embarkation day. Or you take the drive down to Miami the day you get in.

The hotels in Downtown Miami and Brickell are all very close to the port. That is why almost none of the hotels offers shuttles. You could grab a few ubers or cabs for $8-$12. Uber is almost always cheaper than a taxi. Stayin in Miami also gives you the chance to see Maimi, especially if you're coming in earlier in the day.

I know this may astound some people around here but only a very small fraction of people that are flying, even to places like MIA, are actually going on a cruise.

 

In 2016 44.9 million people used MIA and 29.2 million people used FLL.4.48 million people boarded boats at Miami/Fort Lauderdale in 2014 and obviously not all them flew in.

Well keep in mind at MIA a very large percentage, over 50% of those passengers are connecting. In FLL that percentage would be much smaller, maybe less than 20%. And the cruise passengers in Miami and Port Everglades is around 7.9 million. 3.6 million to Port Everglades and 4.3 million to Port Miami.

Outside of connections and people who live in Miami, I would not be surprised if cruise traffic was the 3rd or surely the 4th most popular reason people fly into and out of FLL and MIA. Its a bug funnel for passenger airline traffic, especially on the weekends.

Its expensive, but it all depends on the exact weekend and flight times. You seem to be a little specific on the times you want, which will limit your choices. For example I am going to Vegas in November from Miami. I would rather leave Vegas in the afternoon, but that flight is $496.00 roundtrip. Instead I need to wake up early and take an earlier flight that is $370.00 round trip. The less restrictions you place the more options you have. Depending on how busy it is that fare is not crazy, especially if its a holiday weekend. And South Florida in January will be expensive regardless.

Have you looked at fares to MIA?

I took two Ubers this afternoon in Miami. You should be fine.

What hotel did you pick? It will likely be fine.

Most of the hotels are fine. Downtown did not get much flooding like Brickell did. But even there, by the 23rd the hotels should be completely fine. Downtown and Brickell are the most popular spots.

You'll be fine. We expect to be running fairly normal by Monday. Streets are clear, damage is minimal. Only major issue is power. But that should be taken care of within the next week for 90% of the city. If your hotel is having issues, they would need to find you another place to stay.

The only thing that could be iffy is the Beach. There is a advisory right now to not swim in the beach for the next two days, I doubt it will last past Monday.

The brickell flooding was storm surge, it comes in with the wind and then goes out with the wind. Other than some lower garages the flooding is gone as was gone the night the storm left.

There has been lot of announcements of businesses and restaurants closing. Instacart stopped last night and canceled orders. Uber has been off line since this afternoon. No one is going to waste their gas when the majority of gas stations don't have any today!

 

I really pray you are right about things getting back to normal quickly here in the Brickell/downtown areas. Being up on the 43rd floor is kind of freaking me out! And they just ordered mandatory evacuations.

 

Stay safe!

I'll be heading to Miami Lakes stay in a shuttered up house. Stay safe as well! We are prepared, we will be ok.

thanks you two...my sentiments on both accounts .will book Miami hotel and sleep in on Monday.always feel better being able to actually see the port the night before sailing. will have to Uber as no shuttles pick up after 3 PM unless charging an arm and a leg.

Uber is a good way to go, once you are more than one person the price difference is not much between a shuttle and UberX.

And yes as the other posters stated of course, there is a huge difference in the amount of traffic on a weekend to a Monday. It could more than double travel time from FLL to Miami.

I am talking about next Friday the 15th. Irma will be long gone before then.

You will be fine. Unless its a direct hit Miami will be up and running by then. If its a direct hit all bets are off. It could take a few weeks to get back to some normal levels of service and electricity.

Downtown Miami would be the best bet for normal life starting the quickest with electricity usually going on there first because of the important city buildings.

To the OP. There will be ways to get around, not sure how surge pricing will be but you'll be able to get around with a taxi or Uber. Businesses are open, stores are open etc.. and they will remain open until at least Friday night. You'll be fine with getting into Miami Beach Thursday and to the port Friday IMO.

I would not plan for more than a 4 hour drive on day of embarkation. I would say get down to at least Daytona Beach.

I am not sure, but chances are if the stop is not just for fuel, you will clear customs and immigration there and then re-board the airplane. Or they will just stop for fuel and head out without letting anyone onto the airplane only off.

Either way, you'll clear in one of the two airports.

If you just want to spend time by either of the parks (Disney or Universal) and stay at a hotel on the property of either park or close by that has a shuttle, then yes not having a car is not a problem. Disney has a massive transportation system and Universal does too, along with being much smaller than Disney.

Many hotels near by either have shuttle buses too.

But public transit is not good in Orlando so outside of resort transit you'll have to Uber/Taxi around.

To get to the port you could get a shuttle or bus service.

The lines to buy tickets at the park could be 20-30mins long. So its your choice of whether buy in advance or risk the rain.

What do you consider late at night, is the issue safety? We are light packers and fairly fit but late 50's. Spouse and I have done trains in Europe and in Vancouver from airport to hotels or cruise port but don't really know Miami. Flight arrives at 8:30 pm going to a hotel 500 ft from a station

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

The metormover is not the problem, the Metrorail goes through some "ok" areas of town. An Uber will cost $15 dollars or so and be much quicker. I would spend the extra $10.00 and just take an Uber to downtown. Taxi will be close to $30.00

There is nothing specifically special about going into SJU, treat it just like any other U.S. airport chose the airline you prefer, the dollar amount you wish to spend and pick. I am not a fan of Spirit unless its a very short flight or the Big Front Seat is cheap. I have only used them a few times. Frontier, never used them and don't think I ever will.

Jetblue is great, and the rest are the rest. American would be your best option.

Yea, there are 7-11s and CVSs very close to lots of nice hotels in Downtown and Brickell. Multiple of each within a few blocks. If on the water, you want to be on the beach, it won't be cheap in March. Really nothing will be cheap in March that is not a 1-2 star hotel. Downtown and Brickell is on the bay but not on the ocean. But its very close to the port and lots of places to grab a drink and dinner.

Cheaper options check out Holiday Inn Port Miami, YVE Hotel, Hampton Inn Brickell, The Langford sometimes has good prices.

The beach is public, so there can't be a charge to access it. Maybe a charge to rent their chairs etc..

Its a great location. Make sure to go to Lincoln Road in the evening, I highly recommend Yardbird for dinner. Make a reservation weeks ahead of time.

Yes, the 767-300 for AA has never and will never have PTV, even the retrofitted ones. Its unfortunate for longer international flights, but that is the way it is. You could always load up on some movies on an I-pad or I-phone, though I don't know the electric outlets situation either. The 767s are slowly being retired out of the fleet and being replaced by 787 aircraft. The 787, 777, and A330 all have in seat IFE.

Any new orders of AA's planes won't have seatback IFE either, but they all will have streaming IFE. So you can stream tons of movies and even live tv onto your device. Though I am not sure how good it will be for international flights on those planes as the 737s and narrow body airbus does go to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The widebody will keep IFE as they are used for crossing oceans where streaming is much more difficult.

The nice thing about the 763 is its 2-3-2 seating. Honestly, these days, I would rather have the 2 row seat and just bring my Ipad.

I would just fly into one of the London airports. I took a cruise out of Southampton last May.

Flew into LHR the day before, stayed the day in London as most flights arrive in the morning. Took a 11:30am Southwest train to Southampton from Waterloo, took about 90mins and cost $53.00 round trip. It was a bank holiday so the train was very very busy, which made the ride a little difficult with the large bags as the luggage only fits in the middle of cars. It was than a 7 pound 5min ride to the port. Was on ship by 1:30pm. There are trains every 20mins or so. There is also the national bus service takes about 2 hours+ but is cheaper and easier with the luggage.

Going back, was easy as it was not a holiday weekend, train trip was great, and back in London in time for lunch. Flew out the next day.

It depends on what is reasonably priced. If you give us the exact date and price range I would be more than happy to give you some suggestions.

With no car and a full day but wanting to keep the price down Downtown Miami and Brickell area will be your best bet. Very walkable, endless dinning options, shopping and things to do. I suggest for the kids to check out to new science museum in Downtown Miami. You can also take a boat tour around Biscayne Bay and check out Bayside Market Place. Getting around Downtown and Brickell is easy using the free Metromover system or just walking as its usually great to walk around that time of year. And kids will usually enjoy the metromover too (as odd as that sounds as its transit) its a autonomous train so kids tend to enjoy it and the views are great.

If its three full size luggage you probably need an Uber XL which will be more expensive than a Taxi or right around the same price. If its smaller luggage I have never had an issue with an Uber X. And by smaller I mean four carry ones and maybe some personal items, I often use Uber when traveling with another couple, but usually for quick weekend trips that the bags are just carry ons.

I see no reason to take a shuttle though. Uber or Taxi is the way to go. Uber is always more comfortable and reliable IMO.

If you go Uber you can use a referral code here: (x753G) and you will get a $10.00 credit on your first ride.

You won't pick them up in the departure level. The arrivals is rarely so busy that you can't comfortably pick them up. It's usually fairly light traffic, especially compared to the mad house at FLL. There is a cell phone waiting area, you can wait there for your guests to call you. Have them call you once they step outside in the arrivals area, and have them walk to the center island/pickup area. When they walk out the door, there is door numbers and these are plastered on the pillars as well that you see while driving through the arrivals, can't miss it. You simply drive to that door number and pick them up in the center lane.

 

Simply, the best pickup is whatever door they walk out of. There is no tricks necessary, it's a simple airport.

Great advice, and agreed, MIA is nothing like FLL. Once in a while though it can get pretty bad, especially in the evening or early morning hours by the international arrival area for AA. But I've only had to use departures once or twice in all my years picking up at MIA.