What to do in Ft. lauderdale?

[Mlascheid]

Our flight doesn't leave FLL until 6PM ...any suggestions as to what we could do? And what to do with our luggage? Thanks!!

[kryos]

Sadly you're kinda gonna be stuck with the luggage, so that is what will limit your activities for the day.

 

Does your ship offer any excursions in Fort Lauderdale for that last day? Normally they will have a couple of offerings that will involve using a bus for touring. Your luggage is loaded onto the bus and off you go. At the end of the tour, you and your luggage are dropped off at either the FLL airport or the Miami one for your flights home.

 

But to do something on your own is kind of difficult since you will be hauling luggage around with you for the day. You can't head to the airport hours in advance and check yourself and your luggage in for your flight. The airlines no longer allow this post-9/11. So that option of disposing of luggage and touring around is no longer available. A rental car is a possibility ... or possibly seeing if one of the hotels offers a "day room" at a good rate. But other than that, a ship's tour seems to be the only practical way to go.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[seaisme]

rent a car for the day...you can get great rates! (and there's a courtesy van at the port that takes you to the car rental agencies). advantages: (1) you have a place for your luggage. (2) you usually get an earlier deporting time. (3) you can drive all around and see whatever! Things to see: Drive up to the Butterfly Garden. Or go to the waterfront in FLL...there's lots of great places to visit. Have a sinful gourmet lunch at one of the many wonderful restaurants in FLL. Visit the historic district/antique shops. Or just lie on the beach! When we didn't live in Florida, we would do this at the end of every cruise and always had a great time.

Enjoy!

Cass

[CCCM]

In March on RCI we did a shore excursion getting off the ship. We did the Everglades tour and loved it.

[WindyCity]

We had the same problem, so we took a cab to Hard Rock Casino. At the bellboy's desk, we asked them to hold our luggage - they gave us a claim check and off we went. Checked out the casino and, on the other side, discovered a "shopping mall". I think there was a museum there also. Inside were several nice places to eat, so we had lunch there. When it was time to go to the airport, we retrieved our luggage, tipped the bellboys and took a taxi. No charge for holding the luggage either.....

[SarahQ]

Keep those ideas coming :)

 

We are in the same boat for our December Westerdam cruise out of FLL - out flight home leaves at 7 PM.

 

We thought about renting a car (although it'll probably have to be a van, as it'll be 4 adults plus luggage), but the Hard Rock Casino sounds like a great idea too!

[airlink diva]

I also suggest that you rent a car. For my last two cruises, I had late flights. However, I had car rentals, both times I was off the boat, pick up by the car rental agency and in my car by 10 a.m.

I went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch and then to the beach to relax. Another time, one of the local smooth jazz radio station was having a brunch. I called the station and got the info and went to brunch.

You have alot of options in Fort Lauderdale. Dining, shopping,water taxi,etc. I was back at the airport in plenty of time for my flight.

Check out Alamo, they have great rates.