Port of miami to port Canaveral FAST! Rental Car?

[Kirk2121]

Ok.  Dec 16 i have cruise on NCL Sky returning to port of Miami.  Then SAME day Friday Dec 16, i want to embark on ncl Prima from port Canaveral. 

 

I've got two reduced price cruises from casinos at sea.  One specifically is the Prima.  Edit (aren't many options for the Prima reduced price cruise dates.)

 

Google says about 3 hrs 18 minute drive. 

 

Priceline was saying $150 for one way car rental. 

 

Anyone done this? Any suggestions/input appreciated. I know it's really tight time wise.  

 

Closest rental car place to both ports? Anyways to save some cost? 

 

Is 2 pm the very latest i can board or would 4 pm work? 

 

Thanks

Edited September 10, 2022 by Kirk2121

[Flymia]

You should be fine if you get off the ship early. The drive can easily be done in 3-hours so long as you are not afraid to keep up with traffic. Much of the drive flow of traffic will be going 80 mph+. 

 

Off the ship at 7:30 (self luggage) In a rental car by 9:00 a.m. (it should be quicker) and then a 3-3.5 hour drive to Port Canaveral. Use google maps to avoid any accidents. 

 

No idea regarding car rentals in Port Canaveral. Just need to chose an agency that has rentals in both Downtown Miami/Port Miami and Port Canaveral. 

[Capt_BJ]

at PC

 

Enterprise/National/Alamo share an office on port property

 

then just outside - maybe a mile is Budget

 

and a lil further Dollar/Thrifty & AVIS across the street.

 

++++++++++

in Miami I'd just use the airport location as the offices are large .... there are some downtown rental offices a lil closer to the piers but they are smaller and can be crowded/slow

 

There it is straight up 95 ..... Friday morning traffic can be a bear til you get past Palm Beach .. it will be moving FAST unless there's an accident.

[Corby114]

One bad accident on Interstate 95 northbound and your plans are shot. If you are one of the first passengers off the ship when you arrive at the Port Of Miami and get to the Miami International Airport Rental Car Center relatively early you have a chance of making the Prima. Personally at my age I wouldn't do it and would do another Prima sailing a week or so later.

[Rothko1]

I think it is very "doable".   I wonder though if it is better to take the Turnpike up rather than I-95, through South Florida.  Switch over to I-95 in Fort Pierce or Vero and then take I-95 the rest of the way up.

 

I-95 has more lanes (and the Express Lanes now for a good deal of the way), but Turnpike might be less traffic?

[Kirk2121]

2 hours ago, Corby114 said:

One bad accident on Interstate 95 northbound and your plans are shot. If you are one of the first passengers off the ship when you arrive at the Port Of Miami and get to the Miami International Airport Rental Car Center relatively early you have a chance of making the Prima. Personally at my age I wouldn't do it and would do another Prima sailing a week or so later.

My casino at sea offer is very limited for dates on Prima.

 

I'm really on the fence.

 

I've got 3 b2b starting on Nov 13th.  Wanting to add these two more.  But gonna be stressful hustling for port Canaveral. 

 

Airfare deal expires (or may renew) on Monday so trying to make my decision. 

 

Inexpensive cruises always seem to have lots of hidden outside costs like parking, ubers, hotels, rental cars, gas for rental cars, etc. Etc.  maybe I'll just use my "free" one on the sky & let the free one on Prima expire. 

 

Trying to go on 10 cruises in next 5 months.  1 down on Joy to Bermuda.  scheduled 6 more.  3 more "free" to schedule.  

 

Really want to try the Prima.

 

Edit: how old are you? I'm 50.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Kirk2121

[Corby114]

Hit sixty five in March 2022. Been on over forty five cruises since I got hooked in May 1983 on Royal Caribbean's seven day Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Song Of America.

[Corby114]

Could try a short flight from either MIA or FLL to MCO. Grab a shuttle or rent a vehicle for the minimum twenty four hour time period from NCO to Port Canaveral.

[Flymia]

On 9/10/2022 at 12:31 PM, Corby114 said:

Could try a short flight from either MIA or FLL to MCO. Grab a shuttle or rent a vehicle for the minimum twenty four hour time period from NCO to Port Canaveral.

No way. Talking about 90-mins pre-arrival (TSA Check in boarding) 10-15 mins of taxing on a good day 30min in the air, and 30-45 mins post-arrival. To then grab a car. 2.5 hours to deal with the risk of a delay or cancellation for a 3.5 hour drive. And that 2.5 hours does not even include the 45-mins from Orlando to the Port. 

 

On 9/10/2022 at 10:15 AM, Rothko1 said:

I think it is very "doable".   I wonder though if it is better to take the Turnpike up rather than I-95, through South Florida.  Switch over to I-95 in Fort Pierce or Vero and then take I-95 the rest of the way up.

 

I-95 has more lanes (and the Express Lanes now for a good deal of the way), but Turnpike might be less traffic?

That is for Google maps to determine. It is going to be one of the two, and I would just pick whichever the GPS with live traffic says is best. 

[altarr]

4 hours ago, Flymia said:

No way. Talking about 90-mins pre-arrival (TSA Check in boarding) 10-15 mins of taxing on a good day 30min in the air, and 30-45 mins post-arrival. To then grab a car. 2.5 hours to deal with the risk of a delay or cancellation for a 3.5 hour drive. And that 2.5 hours does not even include the 45-mins from Orlando to the Port. 

 

That is for Google maps to determine. It is going to be one of the two, and I would just pick whichever the GPS with live traffic says is best. 

Stop. Nobody, especially with precheck, needs to arrive any more than 1 hour from departure. 

 

That said, op should rent a car and stick to the major companies (not priceline) direct booking. 

[Flymia]

3 hours ago, altarr said:

Stop. Nobody, especially with precheck, needs to arrive any more than 1 hour from departure. 

 

That said, op should rent a car and stick to the major companies (not priceline) direct booking. 

Ok, so I say 90-mins and you say 60-mins. Which just makes the cutoff for checking in bags (30/45 mins before departure) and if they don't have pre-check looking at barely making it to the flight if there is a line at security. 90-mins is the minimum I would do, especially with checked bags. 

[Kirk2121]

Well I'm going for it!  I've booked the cruises.  Now to book the rental car. 

 

Leaning towards direct avis outside the port.

 

Gonna give them a call. 

[Kirk2121]

Just pulled up Uber app which is quoting $232 Miami to port Canaveral.  Rental car is coming in at $150 + gas + hassle of pickup & drop off + two ubers to get to & return rental. 

 

Edit: Lyft showing $204.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Kirk2121

[altarr]

8 hours ago, Kirk2121 said:

Just pulled up Uber app which is quoting $232 Miami to port Canaveral.  Rental car is coming in at $150 + gas + hassle of pickup & drop off + two ubers to get to & return rental. 

 

Edit: Lyft showing $204.

Dont forget this pricing can change, though probably not by much 

I would schedule the pickup in advance. It costs more but it all but guarantees you a ride 

Edited September 15, 2022 by altarr
Wrong words

[Kirk2121]

3 hours ago, altarr said:

Dont forget this pricing can change, though probably not by much 

I would schedule the pickup in advance. It costs more but it all but guarantees you a ride 

Yeah I've seen some crazy surges! Plus someone reminded me that December 16 is Friday before Christmas so people might be heading to Disney maybe from miami Airport. 

 

Boarding says on board by 2.  But wondering if anyone knows actual last boarding?

 

Probably hold ncl Prima for a bit because guessing some peoples' plans gonna be messed up also.