Time to kill before departure from FT Lauderdale

[GSRDPM]

Our Cruise (RCCL's IOTS) ends in FT Lauderdale on Saturday March 21st and it looks like our FT Lauderdale to Houston flight will not leave until about 5:30 PM. What would anyone recommend we could do (Myself, wife, 13YO son and 10YO daughter) between disembarking and the flight (keeping in mind we will probably have our luggage, right?).

[SheltieLady]

I would do the ships tour of the everglades we did this last year had a wonderful time. They put you all together and your are escorted of the ship in the group find your luggage and go thru customs then you meet up with the shore excursion personnel and she escorts you to the tour bus with your luggage. The tour goes to the sawgrass recreation center you get to go on the airboat and they have some animals you can go look at. Then the bus takes you to the airport. It was a great why to send the day.

 

They might have our tours of Fort Lauderdale it's worth doing especially if you have a late flight home.

 

 

Christine

[wrp96]

What airline will you be flying? If possible, participate in the ship's onboard luggage valet service. With this service, the cruiseline checks you in for your flights and then at the end of your cruise takes your bags to the airport for you. That way all you'd have to deal with is your carryons (plus you'd get to skip the check in lines at the airport).

 

I enjoyed the Everglades tour I did through RCCL. But you could always get a rental car or a day room at a hotel.

[ladyjane550]

What hotels have day rooms?

[Lois R]

none.......I have been sailing from FLL for 5 years now

and none of the major chains have day rooms. If you want

to have access to them the best bet is to bit the bullet

and just book a room. If you can talk them down to a lower

price please let us know.

Of course, there are tons of "Mom and Pop" places too.

Maybe they would have a price for the use of the facilites

during the day.

[moondoggie]

We rented a car at the airport, and drove to the beach, and also to a place called Sawgrass Creek Outlets (or something like that), where we did some light shopping, had a late lunch, and saw a movie. Bags stayed in the trunk, and we had a great (cheap!) day.

[ell52]

Ditto what Moondoggie said. We rented a car: went for a drive up the coast, stopped at a beach, had a leisurely lunch, drove back to Sawgrass for a bit of shopping with plenty of time to return the car and take complimentary shuttle to FLL.

[GSRDPM]

Great Ideas! Our flight does not leave until about 5:30PM. What time do you think we would probably be off the Independence of the Seas? Seems like we could have a lot of time on our hands. Keep those ideas coming!

[Lois R]

Great Ideas! Our flight does not leave until about 5:30PM. What time do you think we would probably be off the Independence of the Seas? Seems like we could have a lot of time on our hands. Keep those ideas coming!

 

Hi Tom, does she arrive in FLL? If so, I know disembarking

is usually early. (if all goes well with Immigration everyone is usually

off before 10:00am).

So yes, you will have all day.

[wrp96]

Great Ideas! Our flight does not leave until about 5:30PM. What time do you think we would probably be off the Independence of the Seas? Seems like we could have a lot of time on our hands. Keep those ideas coming!

 

Unless there are problems with disembarking, you will be off the ship no later than 10:30 am (they want you off so the next cruisers can get onboard).

[Lovetocruiselots]

Ditto what Moondoggie said. We rented a car: went for a drive up the coast, stopped at a beach, had a leisurely lunch, drove back to Sawgrass for a bit of shopping with plenty of time to return the car and take complimentary shuttle to FLL.

 

 

I am trying to find a hotel with day rate with early check in (10 am) just about impossible. So my next option will be car rental. Where did you pick up the car? Did a shuttle take you from port to car rental company, did you go to airport and down to car rental? Thanks for your help.

[ell52]

I am trying to find a hotel with day rate with early check in (10 am) just about impossible. So my next option will be car rental. Where did you pick up the car? Did a shuttle take you from port to car rental company, did you go to airport and down to car rental? Thanks for your help.

We took a shuttle from the port to the rental office. If I remember correctly, the shuttle was just across from where we got out of the port terminal. We returned the car at the end of the day to the rental location and they shuttled us to the airport. Very simple and easy.

[Lovetocruiselots]

We took a shuttle from the port to the rental office. If I remember correctly, the shuttle was just across from where we got out of the port terminal. We returned the car at the end of the day to the rental location and they shuttled us to the airport. Very simple and easy.

 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

BTW - I found a hotel with a day rate - finally! I called may hotels, the Hampton Inn - Plantation gave me a day rate, we stayed there last year pre and post cruise - very nice hotel with shuttle to and from port and airport. Also, the Hyatt Place Airport does have a day rate but you can not make reservations it is on availability the day of. Anyway, now we have a few options.