Pre Cruise Hotel Port Miami - WWYD?

[pjpoppins]

We (DM, DW, DD9, and myself) are booked on a 4 night Bahamian cruise out of Miami in November. We were going to change to a 5 night cruise but unavailable or prices too much. The cruise leaves Veteran's Day (a Wednesday). I'm thinking my daughter may have Monday and/or Tuesday off anyway so thinking of flying in 2 nights early.
I want to fly in to Fort Lauderdale due to airfare prices.
Can anybody recommend a good hotel (thinking beachfront)?

Considerations:
Transportation: Shuttle vs. taxi vs. car rental (and maybe free parking) - Both for the airport and the cruise terminal
Location: Fort Lauderdale vs. Miami vs. Hollywood(?)
Price

Was thinking we could fly in Monday (even Monday night) and spend all day Tuesday at a nice hotel or resort. Probably just lounge on the beach all day (like getting an extra day of cruising) or if not beachfront then a place with a nice pool and hottub or kid friendly area.
Also open to sight seeing all day but just not sure what the area offers. Honestly a little nervous about Miami. We are country bumpkins and I'll walk around Boston all day but maybe I've seen Scarface too many times lol.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ldo]

WE have stayed at both Sheratons, Yankee Clipper and Trader several times. They are older, but right on the beach and fine.

 

[Judyat]

I have a similar question. We are also cruising out of Miami and flying into Ft Lauderdale. Just wondering the best way to get from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and where to stay that is close and has shuttle service to Miami pier.

 

[KYDad]

Getting to Miami port isn't an issue for us, but we are going to stay an extra night coming back from our cruise. I need to get from the Port to Ft Lauderdale for a flight the next day. I think it may be cheaper to stay in Ft Lauderdale that night. What are the shuttle options for that?

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

We (DM, DW, DD9, and myself) are booked on a 4 night Bahamian cruise out of Miami in November. We were going to change to a 5 night cruise but unavailable or prices too much. The cruise leaves Veteran's Day (a Wednesday). I'm thinking my daughter may have Monday and/or Tuesday off anyway so thinking of flying in 2 nights early.
I want to fly in to Fort Lauderdale due to airfare prices.
Can anybody recommend a good hotel (thinking beachfront)?

Considerations:
Transportation: Shuttle vs. taxi vs. car rental (and maybe free parking) - Both for the airport and the cruise terminal
Location: Fort Lauderdale vs. Miami vs. Hollywood(?)
Price

Was thinking we could fly in Monday (even Monday night) and spend all day Tuesday at a nice hotel or resort. Probably just lounge on the beach all day (like getting an extra day of cruising) or if not beachfront then a place with a nice pool and hottub or kid friendly area.
Also open to sight seeing all day but just not sure what the area offers. Honestly a little nervous about Miami. We are country bumpkins and I'll walk around Boston all day but maybe I've seen Scarface too many times lol.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want a nice hotel/resort on the beach, consider the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood. It's a great hotel! The oceanview rooms have a great view of the ocean from the large garden tub. Very relaxing! The pool area is colossal! They even have a lazy river that the kids would enjoy. My family stayed there and loved it! If I can find some pics I took from my balcony of the pool area, I'll post them.

 

[pjpoppins]

What did you do for transportation?

 

[pjpoppins]

Just checked the diplomat unfortunately there aren't any rooms available

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

That's a shame. It's a really nice hotel. Perhaps, there will be availability when you're in the area in the future.

I didn't stay there prior to cruising. I stayed there for a weekend trip with my family. I have friends and family in the are. So, whenever I cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, I have one of them drop me off and pick me up. However, I have taken the Super Shuttle and Go Shuttle from Ft. Lauderdale Airport to downtown Miami (where the port is located). That was the cheapest route I found at the time.

 

[tinkmom2]

We stayed at Hampton Inn Suites in FLL and we took All Star shuttle the next day. It was about $80.00 for the 4 of us. We drove all the way there from WI.