Hi-
We will get off the ship at 10 am, but our flight home isn't until 7 pm! What can we do in between, besides wait at the airport?
What about our luggage? (no car, of course)
Thanks,
Linda

I'd take a cab or rent a car and just drive around South Beach. We parked near the Eden Rock hotel and the Fountainbleau... they are very cool and retro looking. I bet you could pay a little money and lay by the pool, have some drinks.

We stayed at the Fountainbleau last year, and the lobby and the back by the pool and beach are beautiful. If you take the escalator down to the lower level, there are even a couple of shops.

You would definitely need to rent a car. We go to Miami every February and stay at the Fountainbleu. The pool area is wonderful, but if you plan to visit their pool, I'd call in advance to make sure you can. You have to show your room key card for access to the pool area, and I've seen them turn people away because they weren't hotel guests.

You could drive to Coral Gables and spend some time walking through the streets and looking at the shops. It's a very nice, unique, botique type atmosphere, with lots of restaurants and cafes on the street.

You could also visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens which is in Coral Gables. Here's the description from their web-site:

An Italian Renaissance-style villa containing 15th- through 19-century antique furnishings and art, surrounded by more than 10 acres of formal gardens and fountains. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. with gardens open until 5:30 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 4:30 p.m. Adults $10, children (6-12) $5. Free for children under 5.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This tour takes 2 - 3 hours. It's in the Coral Gables area which is probably a 20-30 minute drive from the airport. The tour was awesome (for adults- I'm not sure children would enjoy it). Vizcaya was the vacation home of the one of the guys that started the John Deere company back in the late 1800s or early 1900s. If you're into history or architecture, you'll love it.

Thanks!
Great ideas!
Linda

My vote is to see Vizcaya. Rent the car, get good directions, and have fun. It's right on the water, and beautiful. You can stay as long as your time will allow, and then head to the airport and maybe have a quick dinner somewhere on the way. ENJOY!

You guys are great!
Thanks!
Linda

I would definitely find a hotel nearby that would let me purchase a room for the day, a "day rate". Many hotels will give you a special rate that would allow you to check in during the morning and checkout during the evening. We have done this with Sheratons and Marriotts before. Call the hotel directly for these rates.

Agree with the previous poster about getting a day rate at a hotel. Don't know what port you will be arriving at, but we picked one with a free airport shuttle so just take a cab from the ship to the hotel and then the free shuttle to the airport. Saves a little $ that way. The hotel is a great way to just wind down and if its warm, catch some final rays the by pool.

The cruise line will usually offer post-cruise excursions also for those people with late flights.

you could go to Miami Beach, park near Eden Roc and Fountainbleu, go on boardwalk and beach.
fyi - fountainbleu will no longer let people who are not guests into the pool area - must show room key to get in. You can go to the pool at the Eden Roc though.

I also highly reccommend Vizcaya...it was one of the highlights of our trip to Miami.

It's the estate of James Deering who founded International Harvester...not John Deere.

linda, my friend and I had that same layover. We took a cab to Southbeach, treated ourselves to a wonderful lunch, did some shopping, strolled the beach, had cocktails before grabbing a cab back to the airport. This was a few years ago and I think each way was $50 but it was more convenient for us than driving and parking. Plus we had won some $$$ in the casino on the cruise!

>- Wendy

The cruise line can help you too.

BonVoyage.