How do transfers work if I'm flying in the day before?

[Cruisin' Spartan]

I've been on 5 Royal Caribbean Cruises and probably 10 or more cruises in total, but I learned a valuable lesson on the last one I was on. A snowstorm caused us to miss the ship in Miami and we had to catch up with it 2 days later in San Juan. To avoid a problem this time, I've made the decision to fly in the night before the departure of the cruise I'm currently planning. My question is first and foremost, does anyone know how the transfers would work if I purchased them from RCI? Is it even worth purchasing, or is there a better way to handle transportation from the airport to the hotel then on to the port?

[HorrorFan]

I''d just take a cab or if you want to be mobile, rent a car. Neither of those options are particularly expensive. Good plan going a day early.

[billsgal]

I've been on 5 Royal Caribbean Cruises and probably 10 or more cruises in total' date=' but I learned a valuable lesson on the last one I was on. A snowstorm caused us to miss the ship in Miami and we had to catch up with it 2 days later in San Juan. To avoid a problem this time, I've made the decision to fly in the night before the departure of the cruise I'm currently planning. My question is first and foremost, does anyone know how the transfers would work if I purchased them from RCI? Is it even worth purchasing, or is there a better way to handle transportation from the airport to the hotel then on to the port?[/quote']

Check witth RCI about their procedures but I suspect that your best option in Miami, assuming that is where you will be sailing from, is to simply grab a cab to your hotel and then one the next day from the hotel to the pier. Be sure to purchase travel insurance because even flying in a day early is no guarantee especially in winter time. Storms can occur any day of the week and if the airport is closed by a storm on the day you are to fly, you might not get another flight until after the ship has sailed. Those who are already booked to fly the next day (the day of your cruise) will have first priority for those flights and you might not be able to get a seat on any of those flights.

[fireman3632]

Our group always flies in the day before to avoid any airport delays. When we've chosen to use RCCL transfers it's worked out just fine. RCCL gives you a confirmation and I've always got the name and phone number of the transfer company. The company will let you know when they're allowed to have you at the port and the time they will pick you up. Last time we were in Miami they weren't allowed to have us to the pier before noon so they picked us up @ noon. Hope that helps.

[tiggypooo]

You cannot get cruiseline transfers if you fly in the day before, unless you take their hotel pkg.

[Desert Cruizers]

If you booked thru RCL/or cruise lines, or a TA and paid for Transfers, upon your arrival into the airport, a Cruise line Representative will be waiting for those requesting transfers where you pick up your luggage. When everyone has arrived, you will be escorted to a waiting van or bus to be taken to your hotels. The following morning you will be picked up in groups to the Crusie Terminal. The going isn't a problem but say your cruise gets back into port late and your late disembarking, those buses need to wait on all passengers for their particular airlines before they can leave. Your better off grabbing a cab. We have used cruise transfers, and for all transportation, came out cheaper then if we had used a cab, for the two of us. However future transportation especially if with a Roll call group, we will utilize a van and arrive when we want to.

[Ashland]

You cannot get cruiseline transfers if you fly in the day before, unless you take their hotel pkg.

This is correct....or you will have to be back at the airport for the Transfer pickup..and that doesn't make sense...If you are then concerned with post cruise, you can purchase oneway Transfers, they will offer them onboard which will be a little less than doing it prior to your cruise...

[Cruisin' Spartan]

I appreciated the advice. I don't have anything booked at this moment, but I'm looking at cruising this June. Obviously, snow won't be an issue but there is always the chance of storms.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

You cannot get cruiseline transfers if you fly in the day before, unless you take their hotel pkg.

 

I've done it. When they ask for flight info I give them the flight info. I just don't tell them what day the flight is coming in.

 

I usually stay at an airport hotel that has a shuttle. When I arrive I call for the shuttle to take me to the hotel and the next morning I use the shuttle to take me back to the airport.

 

I just walk up to the RCI reps like I've just gotten off the plane.:)

 

Bill

[JRS2010]

I've done the same thing. When we flew into Orlando the night before, we stayed at one of the hotels nearby and just made sure we got to the airport for when our "arrival" was due in. We got there a tiny bit earlier than the flight and was kind of funny walking over to the rep with all our luggage and the flight not in yet. No questions were asked though and worked out great.

[Cruisin' Spartan]

I'm leaning toward the Oasis' June 19th sailing which leaves out of Ft. Lauderdale. It looks like the Hampton Inn Aiport/Cruise Port actually has a free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise port. That seems like it might work out well.

[arlodog]

We just checked into the pricing on the transfers for our cruise next week. The air option add on was about $700. We were able to book a flight for my mom for $250 round trip with times that were convienent and book a hotel for $70 for the night with a shuttle from airport to hotel.

 

We will be driving down and will pick her up at the hotel and go on to the ship. When I called to inquire how much just the transfer would be they told me you have to book the hotel package with transfer and their cheapest hotel was $200 night.

 

Depending on what ship you are on you probably can do it cheaper yourself!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I'm leaning toward the Oasis' June 19th sailing which leaves out of Ft. Lauderdale. It looks like the Hampton Inn Aiport/Cruise Port actually has a free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise port. That seems like it might work out well.

 

FLL is the most convenient port to cruise from. The airport, hotels, and the port are all within about a 10 minute ride.

 

We usually stay at Embassy Suites or the Hyatt Place when we cruise from FLL.

 

Bill

[Ashland]

FLL is the most convenient port to cruise from. The airport, hotels, and the port are all within about a 10 minute ride.

 

We usually stay at Embassy Suites or the Hyatt Place when we cruise from FLL.

 

Bill

Love the Embassy Suites..Great location, service, accommodations and they allow for VERY early checkins..it's always our choice too....

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Love the Embassy Suites..Great location, service, accommodations and they allow for VERY early checkins..it's always our choice too....

 

not to mention a beautiful pool area, made to order breakfast, and free happy hours.:)

 

Bill

[househunter]

I've done it. When they ask for flight info I give them the flight info. I just don't tell them what day the flight is coming in.

 

I usually stay at an airport hotel that has a shuttle. When I arrive I call for the shuttle to take me to the hotel and the next morning I use the shuttle to take me back to the airport.

 

I just walk up to the RCI reps like I've just gotten off the plane.:)

 

Bill

 

That sounds like alot of work. Much easier to just take a cab and probably cheaper too!

[cruising to paradise]

On our first cruise we flew in a day early to visit friends that had moved to Orlando. We stayed with them and that day they drove us back to the airport and we got in the group for the transfers. Worked out fine for us.

[Shak]

I am not sure why you would want to buy cruise transfers from Miami. It is a short cab ride no matter where in Miami you are but to answer your question you would have to go to the airport to pick up the transfers. Cruise transfers can be a bargain on some overseas destinations where the port can be very far from the airport and transportation is expensive but in the US most ports are closer to the airport and transportation costs are cheaper.

 

Shak

[S.S.Oceanlover]

That sounds like alot of work. Much easier to just take a cab and probably cheaper too!

 

In Miami yes but I did it in Orlando where a taxi or shuttle would be close to the same price for the transfers.

 

I was just refuting the comment by the poster who said it couldn't be done.:)

 

Bill

[chitown_cruisers]

The Embassy Suites at Miami Airport has free transportation from the airport to the hotel and a "cruise package" which is a suite that holds 6 people and one way transfers for everyone to the port. The cruise package with tax is $140 per night.

 

So that's what we are doing in July. Flying in the day before our cruise because who knows what might go wrong at O'Hare Airport......

[wanasail]

We are flying in a day ahead and staying at Days Inn Miami Airport North. They provide free shuttle from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the cruise terminal the next day. The day we come back we are staying in the same hotel for the night but have to pay for a taxi to the hotel and then they provide a shuttle to the airport in the morning. It was a better deal all around than paying for RCCL transfers.

[hannibal54]

wanasail,

 

What is the price for the Days Inn?

[Desert Cruizers]

The one advantage I can see with Transfers, is once you arrive at the Terminal, your luggage is handled from there, except for your carry ons. We only needed to verify that from the Hotel, our luggage was out by the Bus or Van. In FLL we were one of the last buses out, 1:30 and though we had no lines to deal with, we would have preferred to be on board alot earlier. In a future cruise & Roll Call, we will do our own transportation along with some from our group.