Which Airport in Florida?

[augiesmom]

After having a wonderful time on the Jewel this summer, My mom and I are looking at a Panama canal cruise next March on the Pearl. trying to figure out which airport we need to fly into, have seen both Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

[jb456]

After having a wonderful time on the Jewel this summer, My mom and I are looking at a Panama canal cruise next March on the Pearl. trying to figure out which airport we need to fly into, have seen both Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

 

Either one. The airports are 30 miles from one another and both offer shuttles to port of Miami.

Edited August 20, 2015 by jb456

[don't-use-real-name]

The NCL PEARL sails out of the Port of Miami on the PC cruises.

So thus the airport at Miami is the best choice with the least amount

of surprises. Are you arriving the day of the cruise (Not good idea) or a

day or two ahead of time ? If arriving a day or two or more what are your

plans and now this is where arriving at that other airport comes into play !

At this point either airport works fine - get the best fare you can negotiate

and realize that if arriving at Fort Lauderdale you are a bit of distance from

the Port of Miami (less than an hour drive). So to get me to ship on time

on the day of departure just a little bit of advanced planning is in order.

What method of transportation are you planning on using to get from the

Lauderdale area to the Port of Miami ? I am sure that there are shuttles

and taxis that can take care of your needs - expensive ??? NCL does provide

a chartered motor coach from the Miami airport to the ship on the day of

sailing for a small fee. You can certainly do better !

You have a ton of time to get your ducks in order for the fun you are about

to enjoy. If arriving the day before the cruise and using NCLs bus the

hotels in the airport area are generally less expensive than the beach hotels.

Have an affinity relationship with a hotel chain - check out the rates !

If staying at a beach property the cab/taxi ride to the port is one method -

check if your hotel has a cruise shuttle service ?

 

Come back and post your ideas and plans - there is plenty of help available

here at CC !

[roger001]

We use FLL always because SWA goes there and that's who we fly with. Also, it is a smaller and more user friendly airport. We arrive a day early, get a FLL hotel with free airport shuttle, and use SAS shuttle the next morning to take us to the POM. However, I'd probably base which airport on who you fly with and what are the cheapest fares.

[punkincc]

After having a wonderful time on the Jewel this summer, My mom and I are looking at a Panama canal cruise next March on the Pearl. trying to figure out which airport we need to fly into, have seen both Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

 

Go with whichever airport you can get the cheapest fare into. Our airline of choice only flies into Ft Lauderdale and we have done this many times for a Miami cruise. Never used Miami but I was reading here recently that it is much busier and more of a hassle due to the fact that it is an International airport rather than a regional one like FLL. We always fly in the day before and book a shuttle service to our Miami hotel. There are several who offer this for about $15 pp one way. They will also pick up at the pier after the cruise for your return to FLL. A taxi will be much more expensive. There are even some FLL hotels which have cruise packages and you can overnight there and they will shuttle you to Miami day of cruise. NCL does offer a transfer day of cruise, but I do not recommend it. Too expensive and too much waiting around.

[Turtles06]

The NCL PEARL sails out of the Port of Miami on the PC cruises.

So thus the airport at Miami is the best choice with the least amount

of surprises. . . .

 

It's not the "best" choice, it's one of two viable choices, as others have noted. Depending on where the OP is flying from, Miami may not be a very good choice at all.

 

I do agree with the advice to fly in at least the day before.

 

Also, the Florida Departures Board has a ton of info on just these sorts of questions.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Turtles06