First cruise out of jacksonville. Any tips on terminal parking & hotels

[momosbee]

Will be sailing on the Fascination soon with two tweens. First time out of JAX port. Will be driving in. Is getting into the terminal for parking organized? Then getting on the ship????? Usually go out of NOLA. Also, is excursion necessary at LSC or will the kids enjoy the beach, etc.? Any tips appreciated.

[crewsweeper]

Here's a link on Jaxport parking from the Florida departures board.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2079970&highlight=jacksonville

 

There are several recent posts about Jacksonville hotels, etc.

 

Re LSC, there were recent posts (1 week ago) on trip advisor saying the jelly fish were out in force. That can change with currents and weather. But I'm to understand that this a primarily a beach port/private island owned by RCCL. Some over priced shops. Don't expect excursions outside of snorkeling or diving.

Edited September 18, 2014 by crewsweeper

[Tapi]

We parked right at the terminal's parking lot. Even though it's a bit more expensive than parking at a hotel or remote location, we considered it well worth the extra money.

 

Jaxport is much smaller than cruise terminals in other, more established departure cities. The terminal is a small, converted warehouse somewhat isolated from everything. Parking is a surface lot right next to the small terminal. Golf carts drive around looking for passengers that may need assistance with their bags or who need a ride to the terminal. You can go from car to check-in in about 5 minutes.

 

Remote parking facilities will be a few miles away (once again, the terminal is somewhat isolated). And besides the Holiday Inn, most hotels are also a few miles away, closer to the airport.

 

 

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Edited September 18, 2014 by Tapi

[marshhawk]

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Blount Island, three times, parked there, and used their shuttle. If you are Platinum, Diamond or have FTTF, they make sure you are over on the first shuttle.

 

Have a great cruise, I love the Fascination. You will notice more space in your cabins over the Elation out of NOLA. (Our second favorite ship)

[mikem1977]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Blount Island in July for our Fascination Cruise. Location was great and the room was standard holiday inn. The breakfast in the morning was very blah, the best part was the make your own waffles. But it only took 5 minutes from hotel parking lot to terminal parking.

 

We parked at the terminal. Arrived at 10:55 am and there were maybe 25 other cars there at that time. The porters walk around the terminal parking lot to take your luggage or you can walk it up to the terminal. It is about a two-three minute walk from parking lot to terminal but make sure to stay in the white lines :D. There was a security guard yelling and screaming at everyone that stepped outside of the white lines. It was a little foolish.

[suzycruiser2]

We cruised out of Jacksonville last year and liked it. We used the port parking and so glad that we did. The nearby offsite parking seemed really cramped and there were a lot of people waiting around for the shuttle to get them there.

 

We stayed at the Residence Inn by the airport and there were a lot of nearby restaurants.

[GTO-Girl]

Will be sailing on the Fascination soon with two tweens. First time out of JAX port. Will be driving in. Is getting into the terminal for parking organized? Then getting on the ship????? Usually go out of NOLA. Also, is excursion necessary at LSC or will the kids enjoy the beach, etc.? Any tips appreciated.

 

All of the major chains are located around the airport (i.e. Hampton, Best Western) and you can usually get some pretty good deals. The Jax port is only about 10 miles away.

 

We always park at the port for the convenience but if you try to enter the port before 10:30am you will probably get turned around and made to come back later because they will probably still be debarking passengers from the previous cruise.

 

We enjoyed the Fascination......I hope you have a great cruise!!!

[The4Cruisers]

We use port parking as well. Would not use the private lot outside the port entrance.

[WayTooCool]

We are about to take our 14th cruise out of Jax. Easy peasy. Park in terminal parking, it's fast (drop off luggage at terminal then zip into pkg lot). We lije the security at the terminal pkg.

 

since we're coming in from north of Atlanta, we drive to Valdosta the day before, stay still Hampton inn, eat there at Cheddar's next door, sleep till about 8:00 am, or so, get ready, have a very nice complimentary breakfast, then finish the last leg of the drive (about 2hrs) and on the Lido by 1:00pm or earlier.

 

We love Fascination, and Jax is no hassle at all. Have fun!!

[Seechell]

Anyone have experience with Jacksonville Plaza Hotel and Suites? I have heard that rooms are small but I won't be arriving until late the evening before and really just need a bed and shower. :) The rates were very good and include parking.

[Naomi John]

See below links to reviews. One is from our sail out of Jacksonville. Some tips on hotels and parking.

[Mutumbojimbo]

We parked near the airport and took a shuttle over. It was super easy, the only hiccup was that they wouldn't let us park until they had moved the returning cruisers out of the lot. We went shopping nearby, came back, and road the shuttle over with another couple.

 

 

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