Hilton to Ft Lauderdale port question

[dkis4nu]

We are taking Disney transport from The Hilton to the port. For those who have done this, do you remember the time that the bus picked you up?

dk

 

[dwg]

I do not remember the exact time but IIRC we were told to be downstairs about 9:00 am to wait in a large conference room to board the buses. The Disney representative calls your family name in the conference room to board the bus. There were 3 buses to take guests to the port. You leave your luggage inside your room prior to going downstairs to board the bus. When we checked in to the hotel the front desk seemed to not know anything about the Disney transportation other than to direct us to the table set up for the Disney representative to check us in for the transportation.

Just our opinion but the Hotel was a great disappointment and I did let Disney know after the trip. The restaurant is very expensive and slow. $65 for 2 hamburgers including an automatic tip added on. There really is nowhere else to eat in short walking distance. We had issues with the restaurant and room maintenance. Not what we expected for a Hilton Hotel.

 

[Calantha]

Adam Hattan just stayed there as well and didn't seem to care for it much:

 

[Audie2025]

We stayed there for our early June cruise on the Dream. I thought the hotel was fine. We got in 2 days before embarkation and stayed at the Hilton both days. It certainly appeared to be a bit "weathered" but I think that's pretty common for any property on the or near the water. I'm a Hilton honors member so we had the breakfast buffet included - that would have been an extra $100 for a family of 4 if I had to pay out of pocket. We did not eat at the hotel for dinner, instead we chose to DoorDash both nights. I thought the pool was fantastic - FWIW. There is a water taxi stop right outside the hotel if that's something you might be interested in.

We also did DCL transport to the port - I think it $40 a person but not 100% sure (both ways). We were first time cruisers so this was definitely worth it as it gave us a much earlier PAT and boarding group. They set up a desk in the lobby the day before embarkation - around 3 and it's open until 7 to "check in". In seemed like the earlier you checked in the earlier you were able to board a bus. We got checked in later so ended up getting on the bus around 11 (had a PAT of 11:15, BG 4). We got to the port by 11:30 and walked through the Port and onto the ship by 11:45-12.

If I had to do it again I'd probably stay there or check out the Marriot. No real complaints from me or my family

 

[dkis4nu]

Thanks all-that’s good information.

dk

 

[SteveMouse]

Carraba's, Duffy's Sports Gtill, The Boatyard, Chipotle, and quite a few other restaurants are a 10 minute or less walk west of the Hilton Marina.

My personal preference by far is Quarterdeck. I've been going there for 35 years. Southport Raw Bar is about as Fort Lauderdale as you can get. I've eaten clams and oysters there for 45 years. I'd get conch salad and Bimini bread.

Mezaluna is very good.

 

[Tripscarcare]

Great info on this thread, is there a link through DCL to pre book the shuttle to Port Everglades. We booked a room for a couple nights prior to our cruise in spring 2026 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Hoping to pre book this portion for shuttle as well.

Just a random side note has anyone ever gone to the Mai Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale?

 

[Audie2025]

We used a travel agent and they handled adding the DCL transfer from the hotel to the port and from the port back to the airport.

 

[SteveMouse]

Great info on this thread, is there a link through DCL to pre book the shuttle to Port Everglades. We booked a room for a couple nights prior to our cruise in spring 2026 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Hoping to pre book this portion for shuttle as well.

Just a random side note has anyone ever gone to the Mai Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale?

The points of Mai-Kai are the rum and the show. The food is nothing to really write home about, but you don't really care if you're focused on the Mai-Kai's strengths.

It's worth the extra for premium seating And the show is pretty good.

I had my 11th or 12th birthday dinner there in 1980 or 1981. Been going back, and glad it's back.