fort Lauderdale airport question

[bruce85]

First time sailing from port Everglades, and looking at flying into FLL. Looks like it's a about a 15 minute drive from port to the airport. How is the airport? Looking at a 9.30 flight after the cruise. Yea I know ship can be delayed etc, but if  everything goes fine and we walk off first thing can we easily make a 9.30am.

[FOPMan]

Fort Lauderdale can be a busy airport if there are slot of ships in port. Often, ships’ passengers are not all that familiar with TSA procedures. Add on to that, TSAPre and Clear are not the advantage they once were.

 

There will be good availability of taxis and ride share vehicles at the port.

 

Can you make a 9:30 flight? Yes. Will you? Maybe. Have a good plan if there are bumps.

[Traveling Library]

Be prepared, if you take a taxi they will want to be paid in cash even if they have credit card machines. In Nov 2023 we paid a flat $20 from port to airport. This is a very busy port and airport. Yes, the airport is close but a 9:30 flight would be just too close for my comfort.

[CruiserBruce]

9:30 is tight...I wouldn't try. But if you can carry your luggage off, be first off the ship, and jump in the first cab, you have a chance...but it's going to be very stressful. 

 

There are dozens and dozens of threads here on "how early a flight can I make".

[capriccio]

When are you cruising?  If disembarking on a Saturday or Sunday Thanksgiving week or from Christmas thru April (high season) there can be as many as 6 or 7 other cruise ships in port with tens of thousands of passengers, many of them rushing to the airport.  The one day record for passengers embarking or disembarking at Port Everglades is over 55,000.  Many of those disembarking are heading for the airport.

 

Have a backup plan.

[CruiserBruce]

It will also matter what ship the OP is on. The "Monsters of the Seas" are typically first to dock, and usually start off loading pax by 6:30. That is entirely different from Holland America, which rarely allows people off before 7:30.

[phoenix_dream]

Is it possible?  Yes.  Will you always be able to make it?  No.  Lots of questions to ask.  Are there many other ships in port and how big are they?  Do you have any priority for early disembarkation with your cruise line?  Do you have TSA precheck or Clear?  If TSA be advised that the increase in Clear passengers and the way they put them at the front of the line is really hurting TSA entry times.  Also consider capacity on the flight after yours if you miss yours.  These days most of them are 100% full, and more people will be booking the later flight so your odds of getting on the next flight out are very, very slim.  

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

That is very tight ???

[DaveOKC]

We have done the off early, taxi to FLL and TSA precheck many times.  We generally get to our gate by 8:30 to 9:00 AM.  However, if there is any problems along the way, a 9:30 flight could be a real problem.  Also, weekday flights normally are easier to get through the airport, as once the massive ships (who usually dock on weekends) start letting people off, the airport can get very busy.

 

[Lee Cruiser]

Last September we were on Carnival Celebration out of Miami with a flight out of FLL.  We made it from Miami to FLL, went through security and were sitting at our gate at 8:40 for an 11 am flight. We have done it before as well.  Is it possible, yes.  However, we would definitely have a backup plan.  If we are attempting a very early flight, we typically book a refundable later flight on another airline just in case.