Coordinating Cruise out of MIA for arrivals in 2 different airports

[flyingdoxie]

Hello All!

We are planning a family mini-vacation on Majesty of the Seas Sailing Aug. 1. There are 2 families traveling from different destinations & both arrive the day before the cruise.

Family #1 (2 adults & 2 children) is arriving in FLL mid-day (1st time cruisers) . Family #2 (2 adults & 1 child) is arriving in MIA at about 7pm (one veteran cruiser). We would like to stay in the same mid-price hotel in a location that would have easy access to dining & "beverage" shops. Perferably, the hotel would offer a pool or be near some activites to keep the kids busy.

 

My thought is that Family#1 rents a van when they arrive in FLL & we find a hotel in FLL downtown area to stay at the night before the cruise. Family #2 takes a taxi or shuttle to FLL. Both families drive to MIA port & drop off the rental there.

 

Return trip: both families fly out of FLL: rent van at MIA port & drop off at FLL airport.

 

Would there be a better way to organize this?

Which hotels would be good options in FLL?

Or is there a good hotel option mid-way between FLL & MIA?

Any rental car agencies better for this arrangement?

 

All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[floridacruiser63]

How about the opposite, family #1 (arrives earlier) can drive down to Miami, check in to a nice hotel, close to the pier (The Intercontinental, the Hilton, The Hyatt), family #2 arrives into Miami International and takes the hotel shuttle to the same hotel, check in and then go to a place such as Bayside Market Place (lots of beautiful restaurants, and shops right on the Bay), close to any of the hotels I previously mentioned.

Just an idea!;)

[sdirector77]

Floridacruiser is correct this would be better. You can rent a vehicle one way, I know Enterprise has a desk in the Hilton the most others are located in the area.

[flyingdoxie]

Thank you for your suggestions & a new perspective. I assumed that MIA hotels would be too expensive compared to FLL. But it turns out that for July/August, MIA is actually less expensive in some areas.

 

We are now trying to decide which would be better Holiday Inn Bayside vs. Best Western On the Bay. I got similar rates on both & can cancel without penalty with advance notice.

 

*** Of main concern is ease of getting to stores to pick up some essentials & "beverages" the night before, decent food options, & some distractions for the kids. ****

 

We might have a rental car from FLL to MIA. We are not sure if we want to deal the hassel of dropping it off before the cruise. Both hotels offer paid shuttle/taxi to port at reasonable rates.

 

What would be recommended by those familiar with the area? Thank you VERY much for your help!