First cruise - questions regarding ground transportation

[Noris]

It appears that from all the information I've gathered that flying into Orlando and renting an AVIS rental car then driving to the Radisson Cape Canaveral and staying the night prior to cruise date might be a good idea for us. We can then drop the car off in the morning with AVIS and they will transport us to the ship.

From there what's unclear is regarding where the luggage is dropped off and where you go from there. I thought I read your luggage gets dropped off at some parking there at the port and hope it's not raining. Do we walk far from there to the ship? I read in one thread something about waiting in the heat to cross some street for 45 minutes. Can someone clarify please or share their experience?

I just want to make we select the best ground transportation option given that we'll have a small child with us along with some carry-on luggage.

[Michelle]

Hi Noris, and welcome to the Cruise Board!

Since you're renting from AVIS, the easiest thing to do would be for you to drive to the port on embarkation morning (it's a 2-minute drive) and drop the bags off curbside with a porter. THEN take your car back to AVIS and your whole family can ride in the shuttle to the port with just your carry-on bags. I believe you will still get dropped off across the street but it is a very short walk across to the port and you can go right into the terminal and check in.

Enjoy your cruise! :)

[MFan]

What we did was something similar, except I dropped off my kids and DW at the port as well. So, only I went back to Avis to return the car. The Avis shuttle bus can get crowded. It's much easier to get on it with myself only than needing 5 seats for the entire family. If every renter does the same, I think the shuttle wouldn't be nearly as crowded as it sometimes can get. ;) ;)

[Noris]

Thanks Michelle - makes sense:D

[disvaclub92]

Thanks for asking the question Norris - I was thinking the same thing.

Michelle thanks for your answer - it will make it less stressful.

[teacher3410]

This has me thinking about our transportation. We are driving from TN the night before. We are staying at the Radisson and plan on parking our van at port. How far will we have to walk with our luggage? Would it be better to drop off our luggage and then park? Would it be even better to leave our van at the Radisson? (I think I read that they allow this) Please advise. Thanks.

Pam:crazy:

[Piglet_Pooh99]

I would definately drive to port, drop your bags off at curbside. There are tons of porters waiting to take your bags in for you. The rest of the family can stay there at the terminal and you can go park the car in the parking lot accross the street. It is less then a 5 minute process literaly. And when the ship returns back the porters will take your bags from the luggage room and follow you to your car with your luggage so you never have to touch it. We did the land/sea package and the entire trip we never touched our luggage till we got back to Detroit. It was kind of a drag to have to carry it again. There is good security at port too so don't worry about your car. Hope this helps.

[Hygiene99]

As of May 11, 2002 the Avis van driver can now drop u curb side
in the shuttle van and the porter will get your luggage from there,, we took the avis shuttle over from the rad on may 11, 2002 and the driver was very excited that for the first time since sept. 11 he was able to drop curb side was nice out of van and the porters r right there and u r all set
so drop the car at the rad
would check with Avis to make sure it has not changed again

peter

oh yea we did not even rent a car from avis

the other shuttle was very busy and he came up to us and said get in and took jen and i over by ourselves guess he was board..... nice tip for him

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I have a map of the terminal property. This should help you get an idea of where you drop your luggage.

www.dcltribute.com/directions/terminal_map.htm

[Noris]

Oh wow - thanks so much. That's real helpful.

[mmouse37]

I am so happy to hear that we can now drop our luggage off curbside. It will makes things that much easier for us.

Does anybody know what time the Porters start accepting luggage curbside? Is it right at 10:30 am when the terminal opens or a bit earlier? Thanks.

MJ