Rental Car Question

[richbum]

I think we are flying into Tampa/St. Pete (PIE) and our flight would land around 10pm. If we got a rental car from there...is there somewhere closer to the tampa port to return it, or should we return to the same airport and take an uber? Does anyone know the cost of Uber from PIE airport to the cruise port? Or does anyone have a smarter plan?

[Ashland]

Landing that late why not just taxi/Uber/Lyft to your hotel. If you need a rental for a few pre-cruise days check out pricing Costco if you're a member. Check out locations with each company based on where your hotel is vs the cruise port.

[CruiserBruce]

You can get an estimate on the fare from the Uber website.

 

As to closer return sites, do a search on the website for the car company for rental sites near the port.

[kelbell]

It's about $30 for an Uber.  I agree why waist the money for a car. Especially

if your hotel offers shuttle from airport. Uber amount can go up if it's a busy time.

[richbum]

We are flying in on the 5th...and our cruise isn't until the 7th. We wanted a car to drive around when we get up the next morning...and also the morning of the cruise. If we were just waking up and heading to the port...I would just do a shuttle or uber...Thanks for your help everyone

[LB_NJ]

I was thinking of using Enterprise rental and dropping it off at their downtown Tampa location: 608 N Nebraska Ave.  We will be in Tampa for a couple of days before the cruise so need a car.

 

If they don't have a shuttle, it looks like it might be walkable if I drop my wife and luggage off first.

We will be on Celebrity.

 

Any thoughts?

[richbum]

What is the closest rental drop off to the port? It looks like I can do a 1 way rental instead of taking it back to PIE..depending on who I rent from

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I thought I recall that Enterprise has a location near the Tampa port. But even if you have to drop it in downtown Tampa, a taxi/uber from there would be much cheaper than returning the rental car back to PIE. Also, there is a train (trolley) from downtown to Tampa's Ybor City area that makes several stops at Channelside next to the port.  http://tecolinestreetcar.org/

[Kalynan]

We cruised out of Tampa back in 2017 on NCL Jade to the Caribbean and had an Avis hire car for about 5 or 6 days pre-cruise.

 

We picked the car up at the airport when we arrived and returned the car to an Avis depot at Embassy Suites Dwnt, 513 South Florida Avenue, Tampa 33602 which is very close to the cruise terminal.

 

We asked the Avis guy if he could drop us off at the terminal (which he did) and I gave him a 20 dollar tip !!

 

Think it would be easy to get an Uber or taxi from the Avis depot if necessary. 

[richbum]

Thank you all for your help!