daduesterhoeft Posted August 20, 2016 #1 Share Posted August 20, 2016 This is our first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise and our first time sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale. We were not able to get a good flight back home until 2:45pm so we are trying to figure out something to do once we get off the ship so we are not just sitting at the airport for 6 hours. If anyone has any helpful ideas we were greatly appreciate it. We looked at what Royal Caribbean has to offer for shore excursions and then airport transfer but the few they had did not sound that great at all c Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 20, 2016 #2 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Everglades airboat ride is popular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lordnlkon Posted August 20, 2016 #3 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Could always just go to the beach. The waters very beautiful down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom4mom Posted August 20, 2016 #4 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Pre-cruise to kill some time the night before sailing we took a water taxi on the intercostal waterway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molsonschooner Posted August 20, 2016 #5 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Pre-cruise to kill some time the night before sailing we took a water taxi on the intercostal waterway. We did this after our last cruise as we were staying in Fort Lauderdale an extra day. It was very relaxing. So many nice homes and boats to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poz222 Posted August 20, 2016 #6 Share Posted August 20, 2016 If you do the Everglades or oat (use Everglades holiday park as it is the most convenient, just west of the city and where the Gator Boys TV show is filmed) or I second the water taxi. It picks up at many locations and is a nice way to cruise the canvas and see the yachts and multi million mansions. Or there is Las Olas Blvd, which has nice shops, take a stroll on the new River and get a bite to eat at a cafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLSteve11 Posted August 20, 2016 #7 Share Posted August 20, 2016 If you do the Everglades or oat (use Everglades holiday park as it is the most convenient, just west of the city and where the Gator Boys TV show is filmed) or I second the water taxi. It picks up at many locations and is a nice way to cruise the canvas and see the yachts and multi million mansions. Or there is Las Olas Blvd, which has nice shops, take a stroll on the new River and get a bite to eat at a cafe. Everyglades Holiday park is probably the most convenient from the port (even more for us as it's only like 5 minutes from our house *grin*). Another thing we did once, though it costs more then the water taxi, is a guided boat tour of the intercoastal. Then you also get someone giving commentary on what you're seeing, whose house it might be, and history of the area. There are a few who do it (Jungle Queen being off the top of my head) so you can shop around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flonightey Posted August 20, 2016 #8 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Jungle queen river boat through the inter coastal is an awesome way to spend an afternoon or evening. Jungle queen.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newxmascruiser Posted August 20, 2016 #9 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Hi We had a late flight out of FLL last year. We left the ship early took a cab to the airport. On arriving we found out they won't check bags until 3hrs max before your flight time, so we booked them in with the luggage storage room located in the terminal (I think it as called bags to go) it cost 30 dollars then we took a cab over to las olas has breakfast walked around then took the water taxi for the whole round trip. Had a lovely late lunch then took a cab back to the airport. Was a fab relaxing last day and really felt like an extra bit of our no stress vacation not just a nasty travel day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aubreyc1988 Posted August 20, 2016 #10 Share Posted August 20, 2016 if you are into Casinos, there's a Hard Rock Casino not too far away to blow some time and probably some money haha Or I would go to the beach :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 20, 2016 #11 Share Posted August 20, 2016 I wouldn't want to go to a beach with no way to "clean up" after....but, the ship offers "post-cruise" excursions...you should look into that. They get you to the airport around 12:30 or 1...even if it was a bit earlier, it's better than sitting in the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted August 21, 2016 #12 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I wouldn't want to go to a beach with no way to "clean up" after....but, the ship offers "post-cruise" excursions...you should look into that. They get you to the airport around 12:30 or 1...even if it was a bit earlier, it's better than sitting in the airport. I find this more practical considering your luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsanTom Posted August 21, 2016 #13 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Have a couple Cuban Sandwiches! Yum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee123 Posted August 21, 2016 #14 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Everglades airboat ride is popular. We did this yesterday and I couldn't agree more. The whole family absolutely loved it. I am not sure if we can recommend tour companies here but the one we went with were absolutely great. The tour was a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberTeka Posted August 21, 2016 #15 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) . Miami is identified as ZIKA Area. Spreding north. Good chance of stopping it if not taken north. COPENHAGAN having outbreaks. Stay away from Fresh water where mosquitoes breed. Casino sound like good idea. Some old Mansions to tour that are great. Have lunch at Cuban Café. Tour Little Havana. FABULOUS shopping in South Beach. Pricey but no cost to look. Some Beautiful Gardens in Miami. Go to Nice Hotel..Motel. See stand of free booklets with things to do in Miami. Fort Lauderdale. I would be at the Jai Ali Fronton cheering on my picks. They serve lunch and have a matinee. Or used to do so. In Dania. Bet most have never seen anything like it. It is addictive. Edited August 21, 2016 by AmberTeka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poz222 Posted August 21, 2016 #16 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I think they wanted to stay in the Fort Lauderdale area... I personally would not recommend going all the way down to Miami with a 2:45 FLL flight.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_G Posted August 21, 2016 #17 Share Posted August 21, 2016 If it's a Sunday, we use luggage valet and Uber or taxi up to Las Olas for brunch. We like American Social but you have to make a reservation a week in advance. They'll ask for a phone number to confirm so just tell them you'll be on a cruise ship. Luggage Valet American Social Bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lido_Deck Posted August 21, 2016 #18 Share Posted August 21, 2016 This is our first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise and our first time sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale. We were not able to get a good flight back home until 2:45pm so we are trying to figure out something to do once we get off the ship so we are not just sitting at the airport for 6 hours. If anyone has any helpful ideas we were greatly appreciate it. We looked at what Royal Caribbean has to offer for shore excursions and then airport transfer but the few they had did not sound that great at all c Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Your math seems a little fuzzy to me. I usually don't get off the ship until 10:00-10:30, 15 minutes to the airport puts in at 4 hours prior to your flight which is not really enough time to do much of anything. Even if you carry your own luggage and rush off the ship ASAP, another hour or two is not going to make much difference in your choices. Then you have to figure out what to do with your luggage for a few hours. Other than a post cruise excursion the only thing I can think of is to rent a car at the 17th Street Causeway location of Budget, hop on one of their shuttles and pick up a car for only about 4 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio Posted August 21, 2016 #19 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Jungle queen river boat through the inter coastal is an awesome way to spend an afternoon or evening. Jungle queen.com The other popular boat cruise is the Carrie B (http://www.carriebcruises.com) which departs from the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale (the Jungle Queen departs from the Intracoastal near the beach). Both are nice ways to spend a couple of hours - we always take visitors on one or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio Posted August 21, 2016 #20 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Hi On arriving we found out they won't check bags until 3hrs max before your flight time, so we booked them in with the luggage storage room located in the terminal (I think it as called bags to go) it cost 30 dollars then we took a cab over to las olas. Each terminal has a Bags to Go area (http://www.bagstogo.net). If disembarking on a Saturday or Sunday, there is also a free trolley between the airport and downtown that departs from the arrivals area of the different terminals. Check out the Sun Trolley Airport Link for more info: http://www.suntrolley.com/airport-link/. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant2000 Posted August 21, 2016 #21 Share Posted August 21, 2016 You could purchase a day pass on the water taxi system and explore the canals of Fort Lauderdale. It's a great way to see the area. http://fort-lauderdale.ca/transportation/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueHerons Posted August 21, 2016 #22 Share Posted August 21, 2016 . Miami is identified as ZIKA Area. Spreding north. Good chance of stopping it if not taken north. COPENHAGAN having outbreaks. Stay away from Fresh water where mosquitoes breed. Casino sound like good idea. Some old Mansions to tour that are great. Have lunch at Cuban Café. Tour Little Havana. FABULOUS shopping in South Beach. Pricey but no cost to look. Some Beautiful Gardens in Miami. Go to Nice Hotel..Motel. See stand of free booklets with things to do in Miami. Fort Lauderdale. I would be at the Jai Ali Fronton cheering on my picks. They serve lunch and have a matinee. Or used to do so. In Dania. Bet most have never seen anything like it. It is addictive. Zika has spread east not north. The OP doesn't have enough time to go all the way to Miami. They are in Fort Lauderdale. To the OP, you really don't have time for much. I would go somewhere on Las Olas for a nice brunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drychi Posted August 21, 2016 #23 Share Posted August 21, 2016 My wife and I had a similar experience in FLL post cruise. We went to the airport,used the save the bags program, and took a short cab ride to Las Olas for some shopping and a nice lunch. It was easy and my wife and I have often remarked on how much we enjoyed that side trip. We are returning to Las Olas again in January, 2017 and staying at the Riverside Hotel for one night before our flight home the next morning. Happy Cruising! Bob and Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayehall Posted August 22, 2016 #24 Share Posted August 22, 2016 If it's a Sunday, we use luggage valet and Uber or taxi up to Las Olas for brunch. We like American Social but you have to make a reservation a week in advance. They'll ask for a phone number to confirm so just tell them you'll be on a cruise ship. Luggage Valet American Social Bar Celebrity has discontinued luggage valet. I would think that would also be the case with RCCL. Best to stick with a RCCL excursion and they can handle your luggage for you. That Everglades trip sounds cool!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted August 24, 2016 #25 Share Posted August 24, 2016 You could purchase a day pass on the water taxi system and explore the canals of Fort Lauderdale. It's a great way to see the area. http://fort-lauderdale.ca/transportation/index.html Thanks for the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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