Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Cruises
Reload this Page >

Killing time in Fort Lauderdale before our cruise

Killing time in Fort Lauderdale before our cruise

Old Oct 1st, 2014, 10:41 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Killing time in Fort Lauderdale before our cruise

Hello, we are landing in Fort Lauderdale at 5am before our cruise disembarks. Does anyone have some ideas to kill about 6 hours before we can board? We will have our luggage and don't plan on renting a vehicle for such a short period of time. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.
dpb123 is offline  
Old Oct 1st, 2014, 03:46 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Five am? wow, are you frequent flyers with lounge privileges? There is probably more to do in the airport that the cruise terminal. It is very industrial. Have a nice leaisurely breakfast is about it since you have your luggage. Is there a shuttle picking you up?
flpab is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2014, 06:01 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We do have lounge privileges, now that i think about. We were planning on taking a taxi. Thanks for your input.
dpb123 is offline  
Old Oct 6th, 2014, 07:08 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You could do an Everglades airboat ride.

http://www.destinationlauderdale.com...irport-fl.html

http://evergladestours.com/default.aspx

The 1st company does pickup at the airport and you can bring luggage along. This might work for you.

We were coming off a Princess cruise a couple of years ago and had time to kill before our flights left so booked the Everglades tour thru the ship. Check your cruise lines tours and see if they have anything pre-cruise before you board your ship. Looks like the tours start around 9 am though. You could hang in the lounge, have breakfast, relax, then go chase those alligators! LOL

Take a flight over FLL and Miami:
http://fortlauderdaleairtours.com/ai...rida-air-tour/

Otherwise, hit the beach!

How about a day pass at one of the nearby hotels, you can relax, shower, change your clothes for the cruise, etc. Lots of people do this.

http://www.sunny.org/travel-trade/pr...re-excursions/

Do a duck tour which goes to Las Olas Blvd. (so pretty on the blvd.)
http://www.fortlauderdaleducktours.com/

http://www.sunny.org/travel-trade/pr...re-excursions/

We stayed overnight in Las Olas Blvd. area and walked from hotel to the blvd. You can take the water taxi.

There is baggage storage at the airport at Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and you could store your luggage and go off sightseeing. You would then have to go back to pick it up tho.

How are you getting to the cruise port from the airport?

Here's a consideration:
http://bagstogo.net/faq.php

"In Fort Lauderdale, passengers arriving at any of the airport's four terminals can bring their luggage to our conveniently located office(s) and have their luggage delivered directly to their departing cruise ship at Port Everglades. Also available is our storage service, where your luggage is securely and safely stored until you are ready to pick it up." (from the website)

http://www.broward.org/Airport/Pages...assengers.aspx

Good ideas on above website, you could take the Sun Trolley:

Provides free trolley service to a Welcome Center in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Explore historic Fort Lauderdale, take a trolley to the beach, shop on the trendy Las Olas, or stroll the historic Riverwalk along the New River.
Fort Lauderdale Excursion passes are available at the Welcome Center. The pass includes admission to museums and historic properties, discounts at restaurants and shops, and all-day passage on Sun Trolley.

Schedule
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Pick up at the airport every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Final departure to the airport from downtown Fort Lauderdale leaves at 3:30 p.m.

Trolley Stops (located on the lower level)
At the west end of Terminal 1
Between Terminals 2 and 3
Between Terminals 3 and 4

For more information, visit Sun Trolley or call 954-761-3543.
http://www.suntrolley.com/

This should give you some good ideas! Good luck. Have a great cruise.
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Old Oct 6th, 2014, 10:42 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,993
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Luv2travel15, what a lot of great advice! We travel through Miami and Ft Lauderdale often and that is all very useful.
Sassafrass is online now  
Old Oct 7th, 2014, 08:03 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Glad that it is useful! I spent a lot of time trying to find things to do on our last cruise as I was not familiar w/ the FLL area.
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Old Oct 9th, 2014, 06:45 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for the great advice, it is appreciated. Lots of choices.
dpb123 is offline  
Old Oct 12th, 2014, 08:18 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Love the suggestion and there are lots to do in FLL: but none of the suggestion would work for a 5 am arrival and get to the ship by 11 am.

For things to do that early in the morning, if you are adventurous or romantic, cab out to the beach and watch the sunrise. There are many great vantage point.

Another option would be have breakfast at food court and cab out to Southport Shopping Center where some shops are open by 9 am. There are restaurants and Starbucks near by. Harbor Beach Plaza is just across the street.

Southport Center is $5 cab fare away from the cruise terminal and I have actually seen crew members walk from cruise terminal to Southport Mall where they shop (mostly at Ross).
Eschew is offline  
Old Oct 13th, 2014, 08:01 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When we cruise we do not get in line to board first! LOL We usually get to the ship by 1 ish and get in line (and still wait). By the time we do board it is lunch time and the lido deck is less crowded. JMO

We just went on Royal Princess out of FLL and it was the longest wait we have ever had to board the ship. We got to the port around noon (we had the free shuttle from the hotel so there were 2 options - 10:30 and noon). It was not the best organized cruise check in we've had. We enjoy having the later lunch as it's not so crowded on Lido.
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
whiteowlmtlca
Air Travel
9
Jun 29th, 2016 01:31 PM
jrjmimi
Cruises
9
Jan 18th, 2011 01:37 AM
adlai
Cruises
4
Feb 24th, 2008 10:11 AM
dragon
United States
6
Oct 14th, 2003 01:52 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -