Overnight stay at Ft. Lauderdale pre cruise

[GingerCandy]

What hotel near the terminal in a good place to stay pre cruise and leave one's car at hotel for a 10 day cruise? Also would need to be shuttled from hotelto terminal and picked up at end of cruise. Thanks for you help.

[cb at sea]

A cab might be faster than a shuttle....it's only about $8-12 bucks!

[Steelers36]

This should be posted under the ports of call/embarkation thread. It might be a good idea to state time of year and your budget per night there. There are so many possibilities. You will likely find many opinions under the correct thread. Plus, you can use Trip Advisor.

[fishywood]

The roughly ten gazillion threads on this topic found on the Florida Departures board

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

 

all have the common theme of NOT relying on hotel shuttles to the pier. They run on their own limited schedule and will very likely stop at several other ships before reaching yours. And none will pick you up from Port Everglades at the end of the cruise; if you are so determined on avoiding a taxi (by far the quickest and least expensive option to and from the Port) you should either park on site at the Port or one of the off-site Airport lots such as Park N Go that will pick up from the ships as well.

[ggprincess2004]

What hotel near the terminal in a good place to stay pre cruise and leave one's car at hotel for a 10 day cruise? Also would need to be shuttled from hotelto terminal and picked up at end of cruise. Thanks for you help.

 

When we drive we have used the Fairfield Inn. Look for the rate that includes keeping the car there while cruising. If you are not Marriott people, there is also a Hampton Inn next door. We really prefer to take a cab rather than a shuttle to the pier and back.

[skynight]

Look on line for hotels on or near S.W. 17th street. They are mins. away from the pier. There are lots of places to dine on SW 17th St. and the Sun Trolley can take you to the beach area.

 

Take a cab. From SW 17th St. the cost is about $10+tip, less expensive than a shuttle and easier. It is also easier to just take a cab from the pier back to wherever you are going, hotel or airport.

[boykin]

Fort Lauderdale area has Uber also.

[RocketMan275]

We're the exception but we've started staying a 3 or 4 hours drive from FLL. It's much cheaper and we have an easy drive into the port the morning of the cruise. BTW, the 'free hotel' parking often isn't exactly free. Probably cheaper than some other options but not free. We usually park at the port.

[Teach2cruise4fun]

We normally stay at the Holiday Inn Express. I love it. Super clean, nice rooms. Good breakfast in the morning. We use their shuttle from the airport. I have to agree with everyone else. The first year we paid for their shuttle. BIG mistake. So expensive. The last time we just got a cab. So easy and cheap!

 

I can't help with the car since we normally fly in. Good luck!

[ggprincess2004]

We're the exception but we've started staying a 3 or 4 hours drive from FLL. It's much cheaper and we have an easy drive into the port the morning of the cruise. BTW, the 'free hotel' parking often isn't exactly free. Probably cheaper than some other options but not free. We usually park at the port.

 

We've done the math when we have driven in, as the hotel rates that include the cruise parking are higher than the regular rate, but it is cheaper to park at the hotel than at the "Parking Spot" or the pier. It will depend upon the length of the cruise, when we drive we are onboard for at least two weeks.

 

Sometimes there is not a reasonable hotel room to be had in FLL, especially the weekend of the boat show. So we also have gone farther afield at times.

[GingerCandy]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

[jsmac3]

I believe Homewood Suites in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood offers what you're looking for . . .

[SenorBruce]

We stay at the Holiday Inn Express on State Road 84. Besides the airport shuttle, we have taken their contracted shuttle to the pier and back to the HI after the cruise. Unclear about parking fees.