Ft Lauderdale

[Sharon Mayberry]

First time sailing out of Ft Lauderdale , has anyone stayed in the last 2 months , at the Springhill suites airport and cruise port , in Dania Beach? They renovated the rooms a few months ago and wondered if anyone has stayed there. We are a family of 13 , trying to decide on the newly renovated suites at Springhill airport and cruise port or the Hyatt Place suites airport and cruise port. Thank you.

 

[snowwite]

First time sailing out of Ft Lauderdale , has anyone stayed in the last 2 months , at the Springhill suites airport and cruise port , in Dania Beach? They renovated the rooms a few months ago and wondered if anyone has stayed there. We are a family of 13 , trying to decide on the newly renovated suites at Springhill airport and cruise port or the Hyatt Place suites airport and cruise port. Thank you.

We didn’t see Springhill but we did do Hyatt place suites. It was ok. It needs an upgrade but it was ok. We did a day room at Rodeway on the way home since airport had signs warning you not to plan to wait there for hours. It was sketchy! Never doing that again.
There is a strip mall and shops across from the side of the hotel. We had dinner at a lovely Mexican place. There is also a Japanese, Chinese and a diner. It’s a quick walk and we are old. The line for shuttle was really long so we took a Lyft and it was like 5 mins and they were able to drop us right beside bag drop!

 

[Girl of the South]

The FLL airport has signs warning you not to plan on spending hours waiting there??

I do remember they were very strict (well, the Kiosk was strict) about checking in more than 4 hours before your flight. And I don’t remember anything much Pre-Security. Even when we were able to go Airside, it was crowded and not really welcoming.

I wonder what they expect Cruise passengers to do between exiting the ship and arriving at the airport . . .

MCO really is a very well designed airport.

FLL, maybe not.

 

[snowwite]

The FLL airport has signs warning you not to plan on spending hours waiting there??

I do remember they were very strict (well, the Kiosk was strict) about checking in more than 4 hours before your flight. And I don’t remember anything much Pre-Security. Even when we were able to go Airside, it was crowded and not really welcoming.

I wonder what they expect Cruise passengers to do between exiting the ship and arriving at the airport . . .

MCO really is a very well designed airport.

FLL, maybe not.

https://www.broward.org/Airport/passengers/Pages/CruisePassengers.aspx
Yeah. I guess they have too many people waiting. This is on the website.

 

[mmouse37]

We have sailed out Ft. Lauderdale a few times as well as flew out after the cruise. We never had any problems there with feeling not welcome (at the airport). We spent at least 3 plus hours there in July after our Dream cruise. We checked our bags as soon as we got to the airport. We left the ship around 9:30 and our flight was 2:00 pm.

As far as hotels I can't help with the 2 you mentioned but we have stayed at the Marriott Dania Pointe, the AC Hotel Dania Pointe (most recently in July) and the Hilton Marina All were fine pre or post cruise. Just booked the Hilton again for our January Destiny cruise (booked with Chase points and will use DCL transfers).

For our recent Dream cruise in July we had a group of 16 and booked private transportation from the Marriott Dania/AC Hotel (they share a pool) to take us to the port.

MJ

 

[snowwite]

We have sailed out Ft. Lauderdale a few times as well as flew out after the cruise. We never had any problems there with feeling not welcome. We spent at least 3 plus hours there in July after our Dream cruise. We checked our bags as soon as we got to the airport. We left the ship around 9:30 and our flight was 2:00 pm.

As far as hotels I can't help with the 2 you mentioned but we have stayed at the Marriott Dania Pointe, the AC Hotel Dania Pointe (most recently in July) and the Hilton Marina All were fine pre or post cruise. Just booked the Hilton again for our January Destiny cruise (booked with Chase points).

For our recent Dream cruise in July we had a group of 16 and booked private transportation from the Marriott Dania/AC Hotel (they share a pool) to take us to the port.

MJ

This is good to know. We are taking another cruise in March and worried about needing a room again while we wait post cruise

 

[Girl of the South]

mmouse37 - Which airline? There are 4 Terminals at FLL. I was in Terminal 3 (American Airlines). And I won't say that I didn't feel welcome, BUT it really wasn't a particularly comfortable place to hang out. Have to give MCO (even with the crowds) credit for all the amenities available pre-Security.

I understand FLL wasn't expecting the Port to take off but seems like they could capitalize on the captive audience and do a makeover with a food court like MCO? Or get a local mall or shopping area to supply a free shuttle. There's a place to leave your luggage . . . I'd much rather go spend a couple hours somewhere rather than hang out at FLL pre-security.

Here are the Terminals and their airlines:

 

[snowwite]

mmouse37 - Which airline? There are 4 Terminals at FLL. I was in Terminal 3 (American Airlines). And I won't say that I didn't feel welcome, BUT it really wasn't a particularly comfortable place to hang out. Have to give MCO (even with the crowds) credit for all the amenities available pre-Security.

I understand FLL wasn't expecting the Port to take off but seems like they could capitalize on the captive audience and do a makeover with a food court like MCO? Or get a local mall or shopping area to supply a free shuttle. There's a place to leave your luggage . . . I'd much rather go spend a couple hours somewhere rather than hang out at FLL pre-security.

Here are the Terminals and their airlines:

View attachment 1002017

We were on Jet Blue but the sign was from the airport not the airline.
We are considering doing MCO and taking the train.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

First time sailing out of Ft Lauderdale , has anyone stayed in the last 2 months , at the Springhill suites airport and cruise port , in Dania Beach? They renovated the rooms a few months ago and wondered if anyone has stayed there. We are a family of 13 , trying to decide on the newly renovated suites at Springhill airport and cruise port or the Hyatt Place suites airport and cruise port. Thank you.

If you're talking about the Hyatt Place with an Italian restaurant and an Outback Steakhouse next door, then yes, we stayed there in April and again last week for a Labor Day weekend cruise.
It's been in dire need of an update and now it's finally getting one. We didn't get a new room but it was only for one night so we didn't care. One elevator has been commandeered by the construction crew and the coffee pots have been moved closer to the door. Breakfast was relatively smooth though around 8:30 am.
It's crazy close to the port. Our Uber was only $6.92 plus tip.

 

[Lesverts]

Yes FLL is one of the most strict airports I know of for check-in times. Usually 3-4 hours before departure before they let you in and almost no landside services or amenities. The updated Terminal 2 is very nice but when busy with a lot of stacked departures there isn't enough seating airside. I guess it is even worse now that a 3rd airline is sharing it compared to when it was just Delta and Air Canada. That being said, the general speed and low distances you travel to go landside to airside makes up for where the airport lacks.

We will see what Terminal 5 is like. But given MCO's T3 I wouldn't hold out much hope that the landside area will be much different.

 

[mmouse37]

mmouse37 - Which airline? There are 4 Terminals at FLL. I was in Terminal 3 (American Airlines). And I won't say that I didn't feel welcome, BUT it really wasn't a particularly comfortable place to hang out. Have to give MCO (even with the crowds) credit for all the amenities available pre-Security.

I understand FLL wasn't expecting the Port to take off but seems like they could capitalize on the captive audience and do a makeover with a food court like MCO? Or get a local mall or shopping area to supply a free shuttle. There's a place to leave your luggage . . . I'd much rather go spend a couple hours somewhere rather than hang out at FLL pre-security.

Here are the Terminals and their airlines:

View attachment 1002017

We were on United