Day in Miami Prior to Flying Home

[Kimberly1]

Our flights home on the day we disembark are not until 6:50 PM.

We'd like to spend as little as possible but have a "fun" end of our trip. Obviously we'll have luggage.

Our party consists of 6 - a 4 year old boy, 15 and 16 year old girls, and 3 adults....

At this point we are thinking we'll rent a car because we don't know what else we would do with our luggage... If someone has another suggestion, this isn't my first choice, I have just decided it's the "best" choice.

Any thoughts on what we could do......

Thanks,

 

[SeanT]

We're planning to do the Big Bus Tour excursion. They store your luggage and includes free shuttle to the airport.

 

[Kimberly1]

We looked at that, but I think (if I remember) it was going to be close to $250 for the day and we can rent a car for $100.

 

[mmfox316]

Based on my experience you will spend most of your time sitting in traffic if it is a week day. The Sunday we got off the Magic it was ok but there was no NFL game that day. I am not sure how things go on NFL gamedays or MLB game days depending on you time of year. I don't pretend to know anything about any of the other sports.

 

[Kimberly1]

Ugh! That will be a bummer. I am hoping to find one thing maybe to do that will just occupy a few hours of our time.

It's the day before Thanksgiving (a Wednesday) if anyone else reads this that may have some ideas of traffic.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We are trying to figure out the same thing... Looking at Miami Zoo, or South Beach/lincoln Mall - my understanding it's not too far from the port. We also looked at the Everglades and the Jungle Island but you may need more time for it. Are you flying home from Miami or Fort Lauderdale?

 

[bethy]

We just went through this with young children and a ton of luggage. We booked 2 nights at a nice resort so that we would have our room available the whole time. So we booked the night before we got off the ship and the night after. And we just hung out for 7 hours, took it easy, swam a little, ate and relaxed.

 

[Round the World Traveler]

I have stayed at the Sheraton airport. They have free pickup at the airport (it is pretty close) a nice pool, and they will store your luggage if needed. Across the street from the Sheraton there is the metro. It is a great thing to ride and I went to Little Havana and enjoyed walking around.

Oops, I just re-read your post. You are not staying overnight. One option is to go to the airport and see if you can check in your luggage - or check it in from the cruise terminal. Then from the airport you can take the metro to Little Havana and spend some time there. You will want to be at the airport at least 1 1/2 hours before departure, and if it is around the holidays, maybe 2 hours due to the crowds. That said you will probably have 6 hours tops! I really enjoyed Little Havana, but I am interested in cigars. I also went to the Mall, and it was a madhouse. If you ask me, it is just another mall. Nothing special, you probably have good malls at your home.

Sheraton does have a rate package where they offer round trip transportation to Miami International Mall or Dolphin Mall. the date you are talking about the rate is $126.00. Even though you are not sleeping there that night, you could use the hotel as a base. Swim in the pool, store your luggage, relax, take the shuttle, and then go to the airport. Saves you the rental expense. Just a thought.

Disney may offer packages for when you disembark, check into that.

 

[CesD]

The only problem with renting a car for the day is all the car rental companies that service the port are a hot mess. We took the avis shuttle to their office and when we got there, several other people were waiting for their cars and we all waited an average of 2 hrs. I walked over to another company to see if they had cars and it was the same problem. On couple who wanted to rent a car for a few hrs wasted all their time waiting for a car. They ended up calling a shuttle to take them to the airport

 

[Kimberly1]

We are trying to figure out the same thing... Looking at Miami Zoo, or South Beach/lincoln Mall - my understanding it's not too far from the port. We also looked at the Everglades and the Jungle Island but you may need more time for it. Are you flying home from Miami or Fort Lauderdale?

We are flying out of Fort Lauderdale.

 

[Kimberly1]

I have stayed at the Sheraton airport. They have free pickup at the airport (it is pretty close) a nice pool, and they will store your luggage if needed. Across the street from the Sheraton there is the metro. It is a great thing to ride and I went to Little Havana and enjoyed walking around.

Oops, I just re-read your post. You are not staying overnight. One option is to go to the airport and see if you can check in your luggage - or check it in from the cruise terminal. Then from the airport you can take the metro to Little Havana and spend some time there. You will want to be at the airport at least 1 1/2 hours before departure, and if it is around the holidays, maybe 2 hours due to the crowds. That said you will probably have 6 hours tops! I really enjoyed Little Havana, but I am interested in cigars. I also went to the Mall, and it was a madhouse. If you ask me, it is just another mall. Nothing special, you probably have good malls at your home.

Sheraton does have a rate package where they offer round trip transportation to Miami International Mall or Dolphin Mall. the date you are talking about the rate is $126.00. Even though you are not sleeping there that night, you could use the hotel as a base. Swim in the pool, store your luggage, relax, take the shuttle, and then go to the airport. Saves you the rental expense. Just a thought.

Disney may offer packages for when you disembark, check into that.

I had not thought of renting a room just as a "luggage storage". That might be cheaper and easier than renting a car.

We are flying out of Fort Lauderdale though so I'd have to find someone with a shuttle to pick us up from port and deliver us to Fort Lauderdale at end of the day.... Off to research.

 

[Kimberly1]

Stumbled upon this when researching about our stay after the cruise in Miami
http://eng.bigbustours.com/miami/ship-to-shore.html

Maybe worth to check

Ship to Shore tickets are NOT available for purchase online at this time.


To book your ticket, please call us on: (1) 800 336 8233, email us atcruisemiami@bigbustours.com or call your Cruise Line directly.

The new Ship to Shore Sightseeing package is available exclusively to cruise ship passengers disembarking in the Port of Miami.



Customers will be able to enjoy the best sights in the city on this fully narrated tour. Luggage will be available for collection on completion of the tour.

Thanks. We looked at that as a possibility.