Do I really want to avoid Miami airport?

[KGmomoftwins]

Happy new year! Starting to look into flights in August to Miami. Fort Lauderdale seems like it’s really far away from port and the flight times are kind of tough either leave on disembarking at 11:36am or wait till 5pm. Miami has better times and is slightly cheaper. Do I really want to avoid MIA? Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We did Miami back in September. Not my favorite, but it was fine.

 

[Cheburashka]

Happy new year! Starting to look into flights in August to Miami. Fort Lauderdale seems like it’s really far away from port and the flight times are kind of tough either leave on disembarking at 11:36am or wait till 5pm. Miami has better times and is slightly cheaper. Do I really want to avoid MIA? Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?

Fly into the Miami airport since it works better for you. We've flown into and out of the Miami airport several times without any problems, any delays or any issues with checked bags. Our one bad experience in the Miami area was at the Fort Lauderdale airport, actually, although to be fair to them, it was the Sunday after New Year's, so a pretty crazy travel day.

 

[princesscinderella]

Either is good we fly out of both, I prefer FLL as there’s less traffic to and from but if it’s cheaper and better times from Miami then choose MIA.

 

[joelle89]

I’ve flown in and out of MIA twice, both times without any issues or delays. If you can get better deals for MIA, i’d go for it!

 

[auntlynne]

If the flights work for you, don’t overlook MIA. It’s not the prettiest airport - but my main issue is actually the availability of flight times.

It is a convenient for accessing the cruise port and affordable hotels (with free shuttles) - and not too far to hotels nearer the port.

 

[jrez]

Happy new year! Starting to look into flights in August to Miami. Fort Lauderdale seems like it’s really far away from port and the flight times are kind of tough either leave on disembarking at 11:36am or wait till 5pm. Miami has better times and is slightly cheaper. Do I really want to avoid MIA? Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?

I got off the Dream on Sat, 12/24 at Port of Miami and had a 10:55 flight out of FLL.

We did express walkoff and the gangway was open around 7:15, we were thru customs by 7:30. Had an Uber pick us up a few minutes later. We got to FLL at 8:00 and with TSA pre check was thru security and at our gate at 8:20.

So your situation is probably doable but in reverse.

 

[mmouse37]

Flew into and out of Miami a few times last year (funny saying that today) and had no problems at all. Ride to the port was only about 20 minutes. We did DCL bus twice (once from the airport and once from the EB Hotel) and an Uber to the port once (from the Courtyard Marriott).

We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot twice and the EB Hotel once. Once when we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott we took the hotel shuttle back to the airport to catch the DCL bus.

MJ

 

[Cheburashka]

Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?

Yes, easily. The Miami port is only about 20 minutes away from the airport.

 

[msmama]

While I have to say the Miami airport is probably one of the most unpleasant airports I've ever been in, I wouldn't hesitate to fly in/out of there again if it were the best option.

 

[unrequited23]

I've never flown out of FLL, but for comparison, I would rather fly out of MIA than MCO hands down.

 

[Sam207]

Not sure what you've read. MIA is totally fine.

 

[DisneyConvert]

While I have to say the Miami airport is probably one of the most unpleasant airports I've ever been in, I wouldn't hesitate to fly in/out of there again if it were the best option.

You havent flown in/out of LaGuardia.

 

[yowcruiser]

Fly into the Miami airport since it works better for you. We've flown into and out of the Miami airport several times without any problems, any delays or any issues with checked bags. Our one bad experience in the Miami area was at the Fort Lauderdale airport, actually, although to be fair to them, it was the Sunday after New Year's, so a pretty crazy travel day.

Been there and agreed on FLL after New year's

 

[yowcruiser]

As your question is "Is it doable", as evidenced by the posts above - if everything lines up well, then yes, it is doable. Now, the question is that is it advisable? DCL recommends an 11:30am or 12:00pm departure out of Miami (depending on the ship)... I'd say that this is overtly conservative based on distance to port... but this should give you an idea of what is considered "reasonable" for FLL by DCL if things were to go sideways.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Happy new year! Starting to look into flights in August to Miami. Fort Lauderdale seems like it’s really far away from port and the flight times are kind of tough either leave on disembarking at 11:36am or wait till 5pm. Miami has better times and is slightly cheaper. Do I really want to avoid MIA? Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?

Honestly, Either airport is... an Airport. Miami does tend to be a bit busier but what really dictates peoples decisions is usually the price of flights.

I had friends who went on a cruise with us out of Miami in 2021 and they ended up flying out of FLL instead of MIA because the flights were 100 bucks cheaper per person.

Either option works, FLL is just farther away and a little bit more of a taxi ride. There are always lots of taxis lined up outside of the port and ready to get you to the airport, etc. We have found that they are typically about the same price as Uber's now with the labor shortages in south Florida anyway.

If you are doing an 11:30 from FLL, Make sure that you do express walk off and just do breakfast in Cabanas if you really want to grab something before you leave the ship.

 

[Cheburashka]

Just a reminder that OP is talking about going to the Miami airport from the port of Miami. That's a short ride.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Just a reminder that OP is talking about going to the Miami airport from the port of Miami. That's a short ride.

Lets take a look at the original post shall we?

"Happy new year! Starting to look into flights in August to Miami. Fort Lauderdale seems like it’s really far away from port and the flight times are kind of tough either leave on disembarking at 11:36am or wait till 5pm. Miami has better times and is slightly cheaper. Do I really want to avoid MIA? Is an 11:30am from FLL doable?"

 

[MamaMermaid]

MIA is fine, just busy!

 

[ScooterScott44]

Not sure of the reason to avoid MIA, if it is a viable option I would use it. Personally I travel frequently for work (100+ flights a year) for the last fifteen years and FLL is one of my least favorite airports. Good luck with the planning and safe travels.