Ft. Lauderdale Excursions

[cruise&travelgirl]

Does anyone have a list of excursions that are available in Ft. Lauderdale on the disembarkation day (the ones that Princess offers and include transfers to the airport)? Last time we did one with an everglades airboat ride and a trip to Flamingo Gardens but I'm wondering what else is available. Thanks!

[Astro Flyer]

Does anyone have a list of excursions that are available in Ft. Lauderdale on the disembarkation day (the ones that Princess offers and include transfers to the airport)? Last time we did one with an everglades airboat ride and a trip to Flamingo Gardens but I'm wondering what else is available. Thanks!

 

I disembarked in FLL recently & instead of having a flyer they only said in the Patter they were available for those flying after 1:00 at the Shore Excursions desk.

[2little time]

Does anyone have a list of excursions that are available in Ft. Lauderdale on the disembarkation day (the ones that Princess offers and include transfers to the airport)? Last time we did one with an everglades airboat ride and a trip to Flamingo Gardens but I'm wondering what else is available. Thanks!

Having once lived in Ft. Lauderdale I can tell you that there are a lot of things you can do but the ship excursions usually begin and end with the everglades airboat rides. That being said, there are snorkel trips and other water excursions but they are usually lengthy. Deep sea fishing is a possibility as well as wonderful shopping if you have the $$$. If the month you will be there has an "R" in it be sure and get some stone crab claws!!! They are to die for!

[shepp]

Just an eco-note: airboats are so destructive to plant and animal life that they've been banned within Everglades National Park.

[tcs1366]

If the month you will be there has an "R" in it be sure and get some stone crab claws!!! They are to die for!

 

We are heading to Billy's Stone Crab the night before the cruise. they are the best. haven't been there in over 10 yrs. it's in Hollywood on the intercoastal.

[Stevesan]

Does anyone have a list of excursions that are available in Ft. Lauderdale on the disembarkation day (the ones that Princess offers and include transfers to the airport)? Last time we did one with an everglades airboat ride and a trip to Flamingo Gardens but I'm wondering what else is available. Thanks!

 

Are they not showing in your cruise personalizer shorex list?

If not, do a faux booking for your cruise date. The Ft Lauderdale shorex are described just as they are in cruise personalizer.

 

 

http://www.princess.com/find/shorexDetails.do?portid=FLL&voyageCode=3136&bID=PCPB&exType=S

[anteaters]

Are they not showing in your cruise personalizer shorex list?

If not, do a faux booking for your cruise date. The Ft Lauderdale shorex are described just as they are in cruise personalizer.

 

 

http://www.princess.com/find/shorexDetails.do?portid=FLL&voyageCode=3136&bID=PCPB&exType=S

 

I just looked up the excursions and found the airboat one that sounds ok, but short (2 1/2 hours or so.) Can anyone who has done this tell me how it works? About what time does this tour begin in terms of disembarking times? Do you disembark first, get your luggage, go through customs, and then meet everyone for the tour OR is your luggage taken from outside your room to the bus and everyone on the tour gathers in one spot on the ship together to be walked to the tour by a guide (but everyone has to go through customs, right?) Since it says the tour is for people whose flights are after 1:00 (ours is at 4:30), I'm just wondering if we'd end up at the airport really early even with this tour (if it begins early in the morning) and if so, it might pay for us just to rent a car ourselves where we could do as we wish until going to the airport around 3:00 which would probably be less expensive and possibly more fun. So, I'd appreciate input from someone who has done either. Thanks!

[Bowie MeMe]

I would say rent a car (pier or airport) and either go to the Everglades to see alligators and birds etc. OR if you need retail therapy you can go to Sawgrass Mills Mall with hundreds of stores and restaurants. This mall is the second largest mall in all of the USA:D. If you like to play slots there is a casino not far away (Hard Rock).

 

With your own car you can do what you want and when you want. We are going to FLL on the 20th but that is for Thanksgiving and DGD care but we still just rent a car so we can do what we want.:D

[Pam in CA]

I just looked up the excursions and found the airboat one that sounds ok, but short (2 1/2 hours or so.) Can anyone who has done this tell me how it works? About what time does this tour begin in terms of disembarking times? Do you disembark first, get your luggage, go through customs, and then meet everyone for the tour OR is your luggage taken from outside your room to the bus and everyone on the tour gathers in one spot on the ship together to be walked to the tour by a guide (but everyone has to go through customs, right?) Since it says the tour is for people whose flights are after 1:00 (ours is at 4:30), I'm just wondering if we'd end up at the airport really early even with this tour (if it begins early in the morning) and if so, it might pay for us just to rent a car ourselves where we could do as we wish until going to the airport around 3:00 which would probably be less expensive and possibly more fun. So, I'd appreciate input from someone who has done either. Thanks!

You have a choice. You can either sign up for EZ Check at $25/pp whereby you fill out a form with your flight information and Princess checks you in and prints your boarding pass and airline luggage tags. You put the airline tags on your bag the night before and leave it outside. You won't see it until you arrive at your final destination plus when you get to the airport, you just have to go to Security.

 

The other option is to go through Immigration, pick up your luggage in the terminal, go through Customs, and take it to the tour bus. It'll be put on the bus with you and offloaded when you're dropped off at the airport later. You then go through check-in as usual.

 

To me, EZ Check is a great option, particularly of you're planning to rent a car.

[choochella]

Our flight home doesn't leave until 8:30PM, so we were definitely looking for something to do. I checked our personalizer, and there were no excursions listed for FLL. ???

 

Maybe we can find out while onboard?

[2little time]

We are heading to Billy's Stone Crab the night before the cruise. they are the best. haven't been there in over 10 yrs. it's in Hollywood on the intercoastal.

I'm sure it will be as good as you remember it

[Astro Flyer]

EZ Check at $25/pp...

The price may have recently decreased because it was only $20/pp recently for EZ Check which is very convenient. :D

[bunyababy]

We are heading to Billy's Stone Crab the night before the cruise. they are the best. haven't been there in over 10 yrs. it's in Hollywood on the intercoastal.

 

Is there a Billy's Stone Crab in Fort Lauderdale? When I googlemap it I can only see one in Tampa? We would love to try it while we are in Fort Lauderdale.

 

Thanks,

Connie

[bunyababy]

Yep....I answered my own question! :D;)

Here is the address. This restaurant has excellent reviews.

 

Billy's Stone Crab, 400 N. Ocean Drive #402, Hollywood, FL

[tcs1366]

Billy's is NOT cheap... and it's been a decade since i've been there... BUT something someone should experience in their life time.

 

Back in the 80;s DH used to have to travel to MIA for work -- there was a Billy's near the airport [it since burned down in the late 80's] but it was all you could eat!

 

the hotel we are staying at is a few blocks away... that was intentional so we could have dinner there.

[caribill]

Our flight home doesn't leave until 8:30PM, so we were definitely looking for something to do. I checked our personalizer, and there were no excursions listed for FLL. ???

 

Maybe we can find out while onboard?

 

They will be offered onboard. Check with the shore excursion desk.

[Stevesan]

Our flight home doesn't leave until 8:30PM, so we were definitely looking for something to do. I checked our personalizer, and there were no excursions listed for FLL. ???

 

Maybe we can find out while onboard?

 

My bad. I assumed the home port excursions are listed, but they aren't. Probably because they're not all offered on every cruise.

We all know what "assumed" is a contraction of. :p

However, not all is lost. If you go thru a faux booking you'll find the list of Fort Lauderdale excursions. Here's yours.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/shorexDetails.do?portid=FLL&voyageCode=E133&bID=PCPB&exType=S

 

I enjoyed the FLL-601 tour. The paddleboat tours the river which is bordered with millionaire's homes and yachts then turns around in the cruise ship basin. Good narration and hot dogs on board.:D

 

Unfortunately, none of the tours are long enough to accomodate an 8:30PM flight time.

 

Either a rental car or staying in town overnight for an early morning flight your best options.

 

BTW - Even though I stayed overnight, I took the tour to kill time. Check in time for the hotel wasn't available till noon. At the airport, I grabbed a taxi to the hotel.

[anteaters]

You have a choice. You can either sign up for EZ Check at $25/pp whereby you fill out a form with your flight information and Princess checks you in and prints your boarding pass and airline luggage tags. You put the airline tags on your bag the night before and leave it outside. You won't see it until you arrive at your final destination plus when you get to the airport, you just have to go to Security.

 

The other option is to go through Immigration, pick up your luggage in the terminal, go through Customs, and take it to the tour bus. It'll be put on the bus with you and offloaded when you're dropped off at the airport later. You then go through check-in as usual.

 

To me, EZ Check is a great option, particularly of you're planning to rent a car.

 

Thanks for that great answer (and the other writers' answers too)! Do you know if Southwest participates in that EZ Check program? I had heard that not all airlines do. It sure sounds good to me.

[Vietri Sul Mare]

Thanks Pam in CA for all of your advice & suggestions. You're just a wealth of knowledge!

 

My boyfriend and I are getting ready to take our first cruise and found out that our airline bumped out our flight until the evening and we were dreading having to sit in the airport for 6-7 hours waiting on our flight. I will definitely look into the EZ check and the shore excursions offered during disembarkation when we get on board.

 

Thanks again! :)

[bunyababy]

Billy's is NOT cheap... and it's been a decade since i've been there... BUT something someone should experience in their life time.

 

Back in the 80;s DH used to have to travel to MIA for work -- there was a Billy's near the airport [it since burned down in the late 80's] but it was all you could eat!

 

the hotel we are staying at is a few blocks away... that was intentional so we could have dinner there.

 

I was very curious to find out exactly what everyone meant by "expensive" so I phoned them. The All You Can Eat medium Stone Crabs go for $60, the Select for $70. If you just order the claws for $22 you get 7. They also have Alaskan King Crab which you can order All You Can Eat. They have a double portion platter that two can share that has 3 legs, 2 claws and some Stone Crab for $100.

It is definitely pricey, especially for a family of 3 adults, but, we will go and try it anyway. The reviews are fantastic and they have a pretty good web site if you want to check them out.

 

Connie

[Pam in CA]

Do you know if Southwest participates in that EZ Check program? I had heard that not all airlines do. It sure sounds good to me.

I don't believe Southwest participates in FLL. They do in some ports but not many. In FLL, they have a flight check-in area in the cruise terminal. It's not as convenient as EZ Check but I don't believe there's a charge. I don't fly SW so I don't know for sure.

 

My boyfriend and I are getting ready to take our first cruise and found out that our airline bumped out our flight until the evening and we were dreading having to sit in the airport for 6-7 hours waiting on our flight. I will definitely look into the EZ check and the shore excursions offered during disembarkation when we get on board.

You might want to check flight options from MIA. Most airlines will change your flight with no penalty if they have changed the flight time and it's inconvenient for you. It's certainly worth checking out.

[cruise&travelgirl]

Are they not showing in your cruise personalizer shorex list?

If not, do a faux booking for your cruise date. The Ft Lauderdale shorex are described just as they are in cruise personalizer.

 

 

http://www.princess.com/find/shorexDetails.do?portid=FLL&voyageCode=3136&bID=PCPB&exType=S

 

 

Thanks for the link! The Ft Lauderdale shore excursions don't seem to show up in cruise personalizer.

[Mozo9]

Last year we had an evening flight from Miami to UK. We hired a car in FL and took a taxi to the hire car office after disembarking. We had sat nav and drove to the Sawgrass shopping mall, however, we didn't really feel like shopping and were worried about being overweight luggage wise, as well as body wise after the cruise.

 

We looked for somewhere to eat and ended up in a place on an Industrial Estate called Chick a Lit or something similar. Was good, we don't have that chain in the UK.

 

We drove to Miami and walked along the beach for a while, then headed to the airport. We really enjoyed the freedom of having the car and it wasn't expensive for the day compared to UK prices.

 

What I would like to do this time is find the Hard Rock Cafe in Miami as I collect the fridge magnets.

[caribill]

I don't believe Southwest participates in FLL. They do in some ports but not many. In FLL, they have a flight check-in area in the cruise terminal. It's not as convenient as EZ Check but I don't believe there's a charge.

 

Siometime in the past year Southwest ended their checkin at the cruise terminal (bags-to-go) and it has been reported by others that they now particpate in EZCheck at Port Everglades.

[lehb]

On our Panama Canal cruise that ended in Ft. Lauderdale last month, Southwest was participating in the EZCheck program. The other airlines participating were American, Jet Blue, Continental, Delta, Air Tran, US Air, and United.

 

Post cruise tours were not available on the Personlizer, but were avaliable onboard from the shore excursions desk. A flyer about these tours was left in our cabin at the the beginning of the cruise. We had an early flight, so didn't take any of them.

 

Post cruise tours in Ft. Lauderdale were: Beach Brak, Ft Lauderdale by Land and Sea, Exclusinve Yachting on Intracoastal Waterway, Everglades Airboat, and Everglade Airboat and Flamingo Gardens. All of the tours listed departures after 2:30 except Airboat ride which could take passengers with departures after 1:00.

 

Post cruise tours for Miami departures were Ft. Lauderdale by Land and Sea (4:00 departures), Everglades Airboat (2:30 departures) and Everglades Airboat and Flamingo Gardens (4:00).

 

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise.