Considering cruise from Miami....cost savings help?

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I'm thinking about booking a 3 night cruise out of Miami (just me and two teen daughters - a graduation gift) in January 2017. I've always sailed DCL from PC;so far it seems leaving from Miami is a more complex - and expensive. Keeping costs down is critical for me this time and I'd appreciate any help! I'd be leaving from Chicago and will only want to stay overnight the night prior.

So, questions:
1) Which airport - Miami or FLL - and why? I'm not familiar with either one. Does DCL offer transport to the port from either? I'd prefer not to rent a car.
2) Recommendations for a hotel? Do any provide both free airport shuttle and port transportation?
3) Would I be better off using a travel agent this time? I always book my own DCL trips but would be willing to use an agent, just not sure how much it will help?

Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'm thinking about booking a 3 night cruise out of Miami (just me and two teen daughters - a graduation gift) in January 2017. I've always sailed DCL from PC;so far it seems leaving from Miami is a more complex - and expensive. Keeping costs down is critical for me this time and I'd appreciate any help! I'd be leaving from Chicago and will only want to stay overnight the night prior.

So, questions:
1) Which airport - Miami or FLL - and why? I'm not familiar with either one. Does DCL offer transport to the port from either? I'd prefer not to rent a car.
2) Recommendations for a hotel? Do any provide both free airport shuttle and port transportation?
3) Would I be better off using a travel agent this time? I always book my own DCL trips but would be willing to use an agent, just not sure how much it will help?

Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions!

Travel agents can give you on board credits therefore save you money. I would get a TA to price cruises up for you.

 

[Stephanie711]

I'm thinking about booking a 3 night cruise out of Miami (just me and two teen daughters - a graduation gift) in January 2017. I've always sailed DCL from PC;so far it seems leaving from Miami is a more complex - and expensive. Keeping costs down is critical for me this time and I'd appreciate any help! I'd be leaving from Chicago and will only want to stay overnight the night prior.

So, questions:
1) Which airport - Miami or FLL - and why? I'm not familiar with either one. Does DCL offer transport to the port from either? I'd prefer not to rent a car.
2) Recommendations for a hotel? Do any provide both free airport shuttle and port transportation?
3) Would I be better off using a travel agent this time? I always book my own DCL trips but would be willing to use an agent, just not sure how much it will help?

Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions!

1. In general, I heard that flying in and out of FLL is easier and cheaper. However, it is about a 40 minute drive to the port and Disney does not offer DCL transfers from that airport (only transfers from MIA). You would have to rent a car or use a shuttle. We are now flying into MIA but when we were going to fly in/out of FLL, we were going to use SAS transportation. Seems that many people recommend that company and they did get good reviews online.
2. I know there is one that a lot of people recommend that has a free shuttle to port but I do not recall which one.
3. I booked my own trip but I wish I would have have at least explored booking through a TA.

We are cruising this Fall out of Miami and I agree that it seems more complex than PC. However, everyone on the DIS has been so helpful. Good luck.

 

[MrsSmalls]

We are sailing out of Miami also and the airfares are killing me. We have 5 to fly, so that's a big part of our vacation budget.

 

[Stephanie711]

We are sailing out of Miami also and the airfares are killing me. We have 5 to fly, so that's a big part of our vacation budget.

I found that to be true as well.

 

[NS8VN]

1. In general, I heard that flying in and out of FLL is easier and cheaper. However, it is about a 40 minute drive to the port and Disney does not offer DCL transfers from that airport (only transfers from MIA). You would have to rent a car or use a shuttle. We are now flying into MIA but when we were going to fly in/out of FLL, we were going to use SAS transportation. Seems that many people recommend that company and they did get good reviews online.
2. I know there is one that a lot of people recommend that has a free shuttle to port but I do not recall which one.
3. I booked my own trip but I wish I would have have at least explored booking through a TA.

We are cruising this Fall out of Miami and I agree that it seems more complex than PC. However, everyone on the DIS has been so helpful. Good luck.

That would be Comfort Suites Miami Airport. Free airport and port shuttles.

As for #3, your price will always be the same whether you book directly with DCL or a TA. But if you book through a TA they get a commission and many of them offer you a portion of that commission either as OBC or other perk. I am personally going to book my next cruise through Costco Travel where they offer a Costco gift card worth about 8% of your cruise cost. We are also going to pay for it with our Disney Visa, which will give us a $50 beverage credit as well as 2% points put on to a Disney gift card.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

That would be Comfort Suites Miami Airport. Free airport and port shuttles.

As for #3, your price will always be the same whether you book directly with DCL or a TA. But if you book through a TA they get a commission and many of them offer you a portion of that commission either as OBC or other perk. I am personally going to book my next cruise through Costco Travel where they offer a Costco gift card worth about 8% of your cruise cost. We are also going to pay for it with our Disney Visa, which will give us a $50 beverage credit as well as 2% points put on to a Disney gift card.

Does anyone know if you book through Costco whether you can pay for it using Disney Gift Cards?

 

[Momee]

Does anyone know if you book through Costco whether you can pay for it using Disney Gift Cards?

Yes you can purchase with Disney gift cards through Costco. All you have to do is call Costco and let them know that you need to apply payment with gift cards. They will put you on hold and contact Disney directly to apply your cards. We have done this before. You can save a little extra money.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I would avoid Miami airport if you can. FLL is a smaller airport and it's not really far from the Miami port. Look into the transfer companies that were suggested here.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Flying into FLL was dramatically cheaper for us than MIA. Given that you are in Chicago, you have access to more flights than we do, but definitely price things carefully. You may find it cheaper to fly into FLL and get a rental car and pay for parking (based on nights, not days) at the port because it will allow you the flexibility to find less expensive hotels, etc. For us, the rental car cost less for a week than shuttle service was going to cost us. We were also in FL for a couple of days pre-cruise because we wanted to explore the area.