Country Inn & Suites (Shuttle?)

[Postal68]

How early does the shuttle run? We were fortunate enough to get the 11:00 am arrival time. Should we just call a cab? If so how much from Suites to Port?

 

[chudson98]

I'm wondering the same thing. Also, do you have to sign up for a shuttle time?

 

[lianne_0325]

I LOVED their shuttle. You call them when you get back and they arrive just minutes later. We had the entire return shuttle to ourselves.

Anyways back to your question: We had a 1030am Shuttle ride. We were to be in the lobby by 1015. This was on the Jan. 29th Dream sailing.

 

[Renysmom]

When you check in you sign up for your shuttle time then. They are really sticklers about this and not letting people schedule early (at least the last two wimes we used them they were).

I would make sure you have your paperwork that shows your boarding time with you so that if the shuttle you need is not available they may work to make adjustments.

 

[chudson98]

When you check in you sign up for your shuttle time then. They are really sticklers about this and not letting people schedule early (at least the last two wimes we used them they were).

I would make sure you have your paperwork that shows your boarding time with you so that if the shuttle you need is not available they may work to make adjustments.

Thanks!

 

[gooftroop22]

i want to say that when we were there last may the first shuttle was at 9:30am...we took the 10:30 as we had an 11:00am port arrival time...loved the shuttle...they were very helpful for first time cruisers!

 

[Pawleys4]

We returned yesterday from a 7-night cruise on the Fantasy... our fourth DCL cruise from Port Canaveral. On our prior cruises, we stayed at a local hotel and then left our vehicle in the terminal parking garage. This time we decided to do like many of our fellow cruisers and take advantage of the service offered by many hotels near the cruise terminals... stay at the hotel and leave the vehicle parked at the hotel during the cruise, utilizing the free shuttle service offered by the hotel. We looked at several hotels online and decided upon Country Inn & Suites (“CI&S”), mainly because of online comments from others and the fact it’s the closest hotel to the terminal. Our traveling companions stayed at a different hotel, left their vehicle at the hotel, used the shuttle, and had no problems. Our hotel stay was fine, the free breakfast was okay, and the staff was quite friendly, but our shuttle experience was a nightmare, so I would like to warn others who may be considering this service.

After debarking, we came out of the terminal and a small CI&S shuttle was there, with standing room only, completely filled with luggage. The driver said another shuttle would be by in 20 minutes, so the porter deposited our six large bags of luggage on the sidewalk and we took a bench at the location CI&S requested, perfectly willing to wait the 20 minutes. Other hotel shuttles came and went until we were the ONLY ones left to be picked up. (The Radisson shuttles looked really nice and arrived regularly.) After an HOUR AND 20 MINUTES, we were STILL sitting in the hot sun on the sidewalk outside the terminal! We had placed several calls to CI&S to no avail. Several porters and security personnel came to us and asked what hotel could possibly have left guests on the sidewalk in the hot sun that long. Many people were arriving to embark on their cruise and we were still waiting to be picked up after debarking!

When the shuttle finally arrived, we were waiting exactly where we had been told to wait, yet Dwayne the shuttle driver drove way past where we were waiting with our pile of luggage. Dwayne then told us to bring our own luggage all the way to the shuttle ourselves, saying, “The hotel only pays me minimum wage to drive. I don’t get paid to put your luggage in.” He was surly and rude. I was shocked. The terminal porters and security were watching what was going on and felt sorry for us, so they started helping us pick up our bags and put them in the trailer. They suggested we stay at another hotel next time. As my husband was telling Dwayne he should be more sympathetic to people who had been left waiting so long in the hot sun, Dwayne said, “If anyone in your party b-tches and moans, I am throwing you off this shuttle!” He then picked up two lightweight backpacks and hurled them into the trailer as hard as he could. It is hard to express in writing this man’s tone and bad-tempered demeanor.

The passengers in the shuttle were watching everything going on. When I boarded the shuttle, one of the other passengers said her party had been waiting a really long time at another cruise terminal as well. Posted in front of the shuttle in large print were two signs saying, “Tips are a big part of a driver’s income.” and “Tips are not included with the fares and vouchers.” Still, Dwayne announced to his passengers, none of whom were happy at that point, that he appreciates tips! When people exited the shuttle, he stood by the door with his hand out, and the unhappy guests handed over tips obligingly. We are happy to tip for good service and had just left a cruise ship after generously tipping the staff, tour operators, and porters, but there is no way Dwayne was getting a dime from us after being excessively late, rude, confrontational, and begging for tips!

When we finally arrived at the hotel, I went in to speak with the manager Vernedetta personally. She credited our credit card $55 from the $123 we had paid for our one-night stay and gave us each a bottle of cold water (it was obvious we were overly hot). Vernedetta was professional and apologetic in my dealings with her. I told her how rude and confrontational Dwayne was and she said she would talk with him, but I know nothing is going to be done about Dwayne because pictures of him are hanging in the hotel lobby and in the shuttle. He is very unprofessional.

Our experience with CI&S was fine in all regards, with the exception of the terrible shuttle service. We had plenty of opportunity to observe the other hotels’ shuttle services and they were much more efficient than CI&S. If you are going to be staying near the terminal AND plan to leave your car in the terminal parking garage (which looks nice), I would recommend CI&S. BUT... if you are looking for a hotel to stay where you can leave your vehicle at the hotel and utilize their “free” shuttle service, I would strongly advise against staying at CI&S. There are other nice hotels right next door which have much more efficient, professional shuttle service at comparable rates. Also, if a hotel is going to offer this service, they should have adequate sized vehicles to handle the number of patrons and their luggage. Neither of the CI&S vehicles were adequately sized for luggage, but the vast majority from other hotels were.