Questions about parking at Fort Lauderdale Pier
 

We are taking our first cruise in May departing in Fort Lauderdale. We fly into Orlando and had planned on renting a car to drive to Fort Lauderdale. Is there a lot of parking? Would you recommend leaving your car there(we're only taking a four night cruise)? Is it expensive to park? Any other tips appreciated.

There is plenty of parking at Port Everglades where you are departing from. Parking is 6 or 8 dollars a day, can't remember. Just drop everyone and the luggage off at the bag drop and take the car to the garage. Depending on where you cruise ship is docked you can either walk back or they have shuttles. Very easy!
You can also arrive much before they recommend and get on the ship. If you are leaving at 5:00 say, you can get on around 11:30 or 12. Your room probably will not be ready but lunch will be served and you can wander around and get your bearings. Also a great time to book spa or dinner reservations.
Any other questions?

It is $15 a night and there is plenty of parking. We leave our car at one of two rental places for $6 a night with free shuttle to and from the pier. Maybe you should rent a car in Orlando then turn it in in Fort Lauderdale. When you get back, you can again rent a car for the drive back to Orlando. Is there a reason for flying to Orlando instead of Fort Lauderdale? If you're coming from some place you have to fly from, think about a 7 day cruise! The four days will fly by so fast and you're spending money to fly there. It shouldn't be that much more for 3 more days! (Seen 7 days for $299 and $399!)

I had wondered if renting a car in Orlando, dropping it off in Fort Lauderdale and then getting another one when we got back would be a better option. The reason we're landing in Orlando is that we had planned a family trip, bought the airfare, and then the family trip was cancelled. So instead of spending two weeks in Florida again (we've been there 3x) we thought we would break it up with a cruise. We're getting a really good price on this four day and since we've never been on a cruise before we thought we'd do a short one to start to see if we like it.

Would the Fort Lauderdale airport be the best place to drop off the rental (and get another one when we get back)? Apparently the airport is close to the pier? Many thanks again.

Yes, I think the airport would be a good choice to drop off the rental car and get another one after the cruise. The airport is close to the pier and the cab fare would be about $12.-- Unless you cancel flying to Orland and change to Lauderdale.