Hotel and Transportation in Miami

[Melissa518]

Hello everyone!

We will be arriving a day ahead of our Disney Cruise out of Miami and are looking for transportation and hotels. Our flight lands at 6:30pm so not a whole lot of time so thinking it will be best to stay near airport. I know EB Hotel Miami offers a free shuttle to and from the airport but then what is the best option for getting to the port the next day. There are 4 adults and one 5 year old, who will need some sort of carseat,/booster so thinking Uber is not an option. Willing to pay for a private shuttle/van especially if it is convenient. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. This is my first cruise.

 

[mmouse37]

Sorry....was going to suggest Uber as that was what we used in January. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot by the airport and an Uber was $15 for two people so you would need two. Hopefully, someone could provide a car service company that they used.

We just booked again for Miami for April and will be staying one night pre cruise at the Marriott by the airport...same location as the Courtyard but just a different section of the campus.

Both hotels have free shuttle from airport to hotel

MJ

 

[Melissa518]

Thanks! I would gladly take an Uber as that is what I normally do when I travel, but the 5 year old needing a carseat/booster is what is throwing me for a loop.

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks! I would gladly take an Uber as that is what I normally do when I travel, but the 5 year old needing a carseat/booster is what is throwing me for a loop.

Could your 5 year old use one of the those travel booster seats that use a seatbelt?

MJ

 

[Melissa518]

Could your 5 year old use one of the those travel booster seats that use a seatbelt?

MJ

Yes I think so. Maybe I'll bring it on the plane?

 

[mmouse37]

Yes I think so. Maybe I'll bring it on the plane?

I would....we use this one for our grandkids when they are in our car....bulky yes, but not as bad as lugging a full car seat. Should fit in the overhead. not sure if it would be approved for use on the airplane though...haven't researched that.

Amazon.com : GoFit Plus Backless Booster Car Seat - Iron : Baby

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Why not just use the DCL bus? Seems like the simplest solution.

 

[MomOTwins]

Why not just use the DCL bus? Seems like the simplest solution.

Agree. That's what we're doing.

 

[Melissa518]

Why not just use the DCL bus? Seems like the simplest solution.

Where does it pick you up?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Where does it pick you up?

Airport baggage claim.

So in this scenario, you'd book a hotel room close to the airport and go Airport -> Shuttle to hotel -> Spend the night -> Hotel shuttle back to airport -> Disney bus to seaport.

 

[Chrispy97]

As our DD grew we ended up buying a Mifold, which is a foldable tiny booster seat we could use to move the seatbelt for the plane and in cabs/Ubers.

They also make some larger ones now. This is likely not enough for smaller kids, but as they start to grow it works well for air travel and short cab rides. I know we used it when she was 7, possibly 6 as well.

When we cruised the Magic out of Miami, we found a hotel downtown and then got an Uber to the port. It worked fine for our needs, especially since we had friends in Miami we wanted to meet for breakfast on embarkation morning.

 

[MomOTwins]

Where does it pick you up?

You mentioned EB hotel--that's one of three hotels where you can book a DCL bus directly from the hotel to the port (others are Hyatt Centric Brickell and Four Seasons).

 

[Melissa518]

Thank you everyone! It is greatly appreciated!

 

[mmouse37]

The DCL transportation to the port from their Miami hotels or airport is

Thank you everyone! It is greatly appreciated!

Here is the info on ground transfers from the DCL website for Miami:

Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Airport Transfers

Ground transfers from Miami International Airport to PortMiami are available for purchase. Airport transfers are available on embarkation and debarkation days only, for $21 per Guest. We recommend calling (800) 951-3532 to add ground transfers in advance, as only a limited number may be available for purchase upon arrival. Please be prepared to provide your inbound and outbound flight details. Private transportation options are also available.

Upon arrival at Miami International Airport, go directly to Baggage Claim where you will pick up your luggage. A Disney Cruise Line representative will be available outside the Baggage Claim area to direct you to your designated transportation. Transportation may include a motor coach, minibus or taxi, depending on arrival time and party size.


The price would be the same for transfers from the hotels they are using.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

I just looked up my reward points on my credit card and I get the EB Hotel. Do you have to book the EB hotel with DCL directly in order to buy the ship transfers or can I just call DCL and book the transfers?

Also, for Miami transfers do you need to book a PAT and about what time has the bus been picking up at EB? Thanks!!

MJ

 

[MomOTwins]

I just looked up my reward points on my credit card and I get the EB Hotel. Do you have to book the EB hotel with DCL directly in order to buy the ship transfers or can I just call DCL and book the transfers?

Also, for Miami transfers do you need to book a PAT and about what time has the bus been picking up at EB? Thanks!!

MJ

You can book the hotel separately and call DCL to add bus transfers. I did that for our April cruise. My check in date is this weekend so will find out then if I get a PAT or not.

 

[slindamood]

We are staying at the EB Hotel and I have just booked a private van to the airport. It seats up to 10 (there are 7 of us) and provides free booster seats (we need 2). It is $153 plus tip. The car service has SUVs and towncars as well as vans.

I was planning to take the free shuttle to the airport then the bus, but it involves a lot of transferring luggage and extra time.

I booked through "The Black Car Service" although there are other services.

 

[tlovesdis]

You can book the hotel separately and call DCL to add bus transfers. I did that for our April cruise. My check in date is this weekend so will find out then if I get a PAT or not.

Do you know how much the DCL transfer is from EB to the port?

 

[MomOTwins]

Do you know how much the DCL transfer is from EB to the port?

$21 per person

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks for all the answers...I haven taken DCL transfers in about 15 years...we usually just drive to the ports and in January this year when we sailed out of Miami we just took an Uber. My check in was last night but with the system down I can't do it until tomorrow when they reopen so I can't even add transfers yet.

MJ