DCL ground transportation-Miami

[Baileykiko]

I am so excited that we will be taking our first cruise in Feb! And excited I was able to convince DH to take a Disney cruise as our first. We will be going with our 10 year old son-we are excited

I have been lurking all over the boards to find the answer to my question (including the port of Miami of port thread). We will be flying in the day before and we have our hotel picked out. We will be taking the hotel shuttle to the hotel and back to the airport the next day for DCL ground transportation to the port.

My questions:
1. Where are they (DCL transport) located in the airport?
2. What time should I be there? What is the earliest time I can I can get on the DCL bus?
3. Is it correct that when using DCL transport, I dont "need" a check in time for the port?

Thanks everyone. I am looking forward to being on the Wonder. I already told DH that I may want to cruise again!

 

[CurtisB]

You'll see DCL people with signs standing around the baggage claim area. They'll get you situated on the next available bus. I think we got on a bus around 10 or so. You do still need to have a PAT (port arrival time). That dictates what boarding number you'll get.

 

[jrabbit]

Our first cruise out of Miami we did exactly what you are planning on
Flying in the Day Before
Spending the night at an airport area hotel
hotel shuttle back to the airport
DCL bus to the Port

DCL has been near baggage claim in the terminal on the "right hand side" of the terminal when looking at the terminal from outside (Terminal D - North)

 

[Baileykiko]

Thanks for all the info!

 

[hoff41]

the DCL transport in miami doesnt sound like its the disney buses with the movie, is that right?

 

[jrabbit]

the DCL transport in miami doesnt sound like its the disney buses with the movie, is that right?

The bus between the Miami Airport and the Cruise Port of Miami is NOT painted in Disney designs.

BUT

They do play the video of Mickey and the Gang going to the Cruise.

My first cruise out of Miami I found myself watching the movie ... again for the 10th time, instead of looking at the new to me sights of Miami since I had never been in Southern Florida before.

 

[pirate]

We are sailing out of Miami next year for the first time. What airport area hotels will shuttle you back to the airport to take a DCL but to the port? And how much is the DCL transportation? Thanks!

 

[jrabbit]

We are sailing out of Miami next year for the first time. What airport area hotels will shuttle you back to the airport to take a DCL but to the port? And how much is the DCL transportation? Thanks!

I would say any hotel that will pick you up from the airport will take you back -- they don't need to know that you are NOT flying out. They really don't care either - they're glad that you stayed at their hotel!

We stayed at Hyatt House several years ago ... during the week in the evening they had "heavy" hors d'oeuvres along with free soda, beer and wine (was fine for our dinner). In the mornings (all) they have a good breakfast to get you started.

 

[Capt_BJ]

a taxi would cost much less . . .

a taxi from the airport to the port is $24 FLAT RATE (plus tip) PER VEHICLE ... 3 people is $8 per person ... what's DCL charge? About that per person? More?

You can take a taxi from the hotel and while not flat rate it will cost very close to the same thing . . . around $25for the VEHICLE (Vans and SUVs are available for larger groups but there may be a wait .... for a group of 6, do the math: 2 taxi at $24 versus 6 people at ?? per person . . .)

the ride from MIA to the port is about 15 minutes ... 6 miles ... not much time for a free movie . . .

 

[pirate]

We like to fly Southwest because of the free luggage and we just like them. But they don't fly to Miami Airport, so we are thinking of flying into Ft. Lauderdale. So we will need transportation from Ft. Lauderdale, to a hotel in Miami, and then transportation the next day to the Port. Who's got some good advise for me?
Thanks!

 

[Capt_BJ]

Who's got some good advise for me?

There is a darn good chance your cost of getting to POM might make you reconsider, unless you are willing to spend a lot of time trying to navigate public transportation . . . trying to get from Lauderdale to POM "cheap" can take 6 hours . . . a taxi close to $100 and a shuttle maybe better and maybe not depending on your shopping skills.

we like SouthWest too ... but sometimes it is not the best cost wise in the big picture

 

[holula]

SAS transports from FLL to POM and that's the name I see pop up most to do this route.

 

[mareed]

SAS transports from FLL to POM and that's the name I see pop up most to do this route.

Yes, we've booked with SAS for our upcoming cruise. It was much cheaper to fly SW to FLL and pay $15 per person each way using SAS to/from port of Miami and get much cheaper FLL area hotel for the night before the cruise than to fly to Miami, pay to check luggage, and pay outrageously higher Miami hotel prices (Dec holiday time period).

 

[HCP55]

Baileykiko - I would love to hear how this works for you - we are cruising in April and are considering do the same - Flying in the day before, staying at a hotel with transportation to the airport, and taking DCL transportation the morning of the cruise.

Also, does anyone have any reasonable, clean hotels they would recommend that offer transportation to the airport?

I am so excited that we will be taking our first cruise in Feb! And excited I was able to convince DH to take a Disney cruise as our first. We will be going with our 10 year old son-we are excited

I have been lurking all over the boards to find the answer to my question (including the port of Miami of port thread). We will be flying in the day before and we have our hotel picked out. We will be taking the hotel shuttle to the hotel and back to the airport the next day for DCL ground transportation to the port.

My questions:
1. Where are they (DCL transport) located in the airport?
2. What time should I be there? What is the earliest time I can I can get on the DCL bus?
3. Is it correct that when using DCL transport, I dont "need" a check in time for the port?

Thanks everyone. I am looking forward to being on the Wonder. I already told DH that I may want to cruise again!

 

[Baileykiko]

Baileykiko - I would love to hear how this works for you - we are cruising in April and are considering do the same - Flying in the day before, staying at a hotel with transportation to the airport, and taking DCL transportation the morning of the cruise.

Also, does anyone have any reasonable, clean hotels they would recommend that offer transportation to the airport?

I will def let you know how it works out! We booked a room at Hampton Inn Suites, Miami Airport South-Blue Lagoon. They have free airport shuttle and hot breakfast. It is close to supermarkets too. Had good reviews overall.

There are other places by the airport that have shuttles too. Just make sure to looks at reviews. I found that some places may not be the "best" around the airport, so do some research on hotels