Sailing out of Miami...looking for recommendations

[pezgirlroy]

So we just got back from our first Disney cruise (Fantasy Eastern Carib out of Port Canaveral) and we have drunk the kool aid and are going on the Magic out of Miami sailing on April 5th. We have not been to this port before. I apologize if this has been asked before. We will live in New Hampshire so our preference is to fly out of Manchester if we can. So we are looking at flying into Fort Lauderdale or Miami. We will come in the day before. Looking for a hotel that is near the port and looking for recommendations on how to get to that hotel and to the port without having to bring out own carseats. (will have a 8 year old and 3 year old). You guys were so helpful the last time. Any thoughts are very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Dug720]

My favorite Miami place to stay (if not on Miami Beach - they are two different cities) is the Hampton Inn Blue Lagoon.

I don’t do kids, so I have no clue about transportation with them.

 

[anricat]

We've sailed out of Miami twice and flown into FLL both times. We've done it two different ways. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes!

The first time I used Hotwire and let it pick me any hotel downtown Miami for $89. We ended up at the Intercontinental (a steal for $89) and had a nice stay. We used SAS transportation from FLL to the hotel which does have boosters *sometimes* but not guaranteed. We brought a Bubble Bum for our booster-using child. The morning of the cruise we took a cab (~10 minutes) to the port. Again, I don't have a kid in an actual 5-point seat so we just used the Bubble Bum. On the way back we used SAS again and it was insane. They didn't have any car seats, there were unrestrained toddlers in the van and the driver was a maniac (I've ridden in taxis all over the world: Rome and NYC are particular nuts and this guy was ON PAR). I will never use SAS again after that experience.

The second time we had my mom and step-dad along so transport was getting more expensive. We ended up renting a van. We could have reserved a booster from them (or car seat, if we had a smaller kiddo that needed it). We drove the van to a hotel in Fort Lauderdale (from FLL airport) and stayed on the beach. That was a big mistake - spring break. So, never again with that! The next morning we drove that van to the port. My step dad dropped everyone and luggage off and we all went inside and waited while he returned the car. The Avis return is in downtown Miami and they have a shuttle. That went quite smoothly and I would choose that option again, just not stay at the beach in Fort Lauderdale. At the end of the cruise we did it in reverse: shuttle to Avis, picked up van and then since we had a later flight we went and did something else with the car before dropping it off at the airport. My signature has links to trip reports for both vacations if you're curious to read more details of our adventures. Both were 5-nights: one in spring and one in fall.

 

[pezgirlroy]

We've sailed out of Miami twice and flown into FLL both times. We've done it two different ways. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes!

The first time I used Hotwire and let it pick me any hotel downtown Miami for $89. We ended up at the Intercontinental (a steal for $89) and had a nice stay. We used SAS transportation from FLL to the hotel which does have boosters *sometimes* but not guaranteed. We brought a Bubble Bum for our booster-using child. The morning of the cruise we took a cab (~10 minutes) to the port. Again, I don't have a kid in an actual 5-point seat so we just used the Bubble Bum. On the way back we used SAS again and it was insane. They didn't have any car seats, there were unrestrained toddlers in the van and the driver was a maniac (I've ridden in taxis all over the world: Rome and NYC are particular nuts and this guy was ON PAR). I will never use SAS again after that experience.

The second time we had my mom and step-dad along so transport was getting more expensive. We ended up renting a van. We could have reserved a booster from them (or car seat, if we had a smaller kiddo that needed it). We drove the van to a hotel in Fort Lauderdale (from FLL airport) and stayed on the beach. That was a big mistake - spring break. So, never again with that! The next morning we drove that van to the port. My step dad dropped everyone and luggage off and we all went inside and waited while he returned the car. The Avis return is in downtown Miami and they have a shuttle. That went quite smoothly and I would choose that option again, just not stay at the beach in Fort Lauderdale. At the end of the cruise we did it in reverse: shuttle to Avis, picked up van and then since we had a later flight we went and did something else with the car before dropping it off at the airport. My signature has links to trip reports for both vacations if you're curious to read more details of our adventures. Both were 5-nights: one in spring and one in fall.

This is helpful. Going to check out the trip reports now (instead of work. ). Having just gotten back from 7 days I am a bit sad that it isn't going to be as long but this is the only thing that would work with our schedule (and we are even taking the 2nd grader out of school for it).

 

[Disneypeach]

Like Dug720 I stayed at the Blue Lagoon Hampton Inn...very nice staff and room. Free shuttle from the airport. Came with a nice (not fancy) breakfast and they got me onto a shuttle to the port the next day for only $10 per person. Plus there is a grocery and pharmacies very close by if you need to get something last minute.
have fun!

 

[DisneyPups]

We went on the Magic out of Miami with 2 kids (2 and 5) in January. Because we flew in at night into FLL (Jetblue only goes to FLL, not Miami), we wanted a hotel near FLL, not the port so we could get to bed at a reasonable time. We stayed at the Hyatt House (there's a Hyatt Place there too) and they have a free airport shuttle. Also a nice breakfast in the morning (complimentary).
We used Jiffy Jeff the next day (they have 2 scheduled pick up times, we took the earlier one) and seamlessly traveled down to the Port, and were even early, so we waited in port an hour or so before boarding. It was great. If you have a good option from Manchester to FLL and it's cheaper than MIA, definitely a great choice.

 

[pezgirlroy]

We went on the Magic out of Miami with 2 kids (2 and 5) in January. Because we flew in at night into FLL (Jetblue only goes to FLL, not Miami), we wanted a hotel near FLL, not the port so we could get to bed at a reasonable time. We stayed at the Hyatt House (there's a Hyatt Place there too) and they have a free airport shuttle. Also a nice breakfast in the morning (complimentary).
We used Jiffy Jeff the next day (they have 2 scheduled pick up times, we took the earlier one) and seamlessly traveled down to the Port, and were even early, so we waited in port an hour or so before boarding. It was great. If you have a good option from Manchester to FLL and it's cheaper than MIA, definitely a great choice.

Very helpful. Thank you.

 

[ajo]

We went on the Magic out of Miami with 2 kids (2 and 5) in January. Because we flew in at night into FLL (Jetblue only goes to FLL, not Miami), we wanted a hotel near FLL, not the port so we could get to bed at a reasonable time. We stayed at the Hyatt House (there's a Hyatt Place there too) and they have a free airport shuttle. Also a nice breakfast in the morning (complimentary).
We used Jiffy Jeff the next day (they have 2 scheduled pick up times, we took the earlier one) and seamlessly traveled down to the Port, and were even early, so we waited in port an hour or so before boarding. It was great. If you have a good option from Manchester to FLL and it's cheaper than MIA, definitely a great choice.

We did exactly the same thing but stayed at the Springhill Suites (also has a free airport shuttle and free breakfast). It worked out great.

 

[hcox31]

We flew into FLL and stayed at the Holiday Inn near the airport. Free breakfast. We used Jiffy Jeff Transport to the port and they were awesome. $15 pp one way.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Depends on when your flight arrives. We arrived MIA late in the day and had a great rate at the Sheraton MIA. Nothing was free except the airport shuttle but the rate offset the expenses. There are soooo many options for getting to port. We had 4 adults and booked private transportation rather than use the hotel shuttle - it was less expensive and we were able to schedule it for the time we wanted, rather than set shuttle times.

 

[dugthetalkingdog]

My DD and I flew into FLL and stayed at Marriott Biscayne Bay. I used SuperShuttle and DD used Uber from airport to hotel. Then Uber to Cruise Terminal. Our room faced the water and could see all the Cruise Ships at the port. Nice mall and restaurants within walking distance.

 

[anomamatt]

We just sailed from Miami. In the airport now... we stayed in the comfort inn Miami north, based on recommendations here. It was nice. Breakfast included that was decent. And a shuttle included to the port that was nice. Overall I would recommend.

 

[dvcdisney]

We've cruised out of Miami twice. And both times we stayed at Courtyard Marriott near the MIA. It's a nice, appropriately priced hotel for overnight and clean and quiet....and they are no complaints under the Bed Bug Registry. We used a car service to the port.

This is the Courtyard Marriott....not Marriott in the same complex.