Taking a Caribbean Cruise? Need to know the best options for getting to your cruise ship? Interested in visiting some more of Florida on your cruise vacation? Read on…
Getting To Your Florida Cruises
Florida has become one of the largest destinations in the U.S. for people taking cruises. While passengers come from all over the U.S. and even the world, a large number come from the Southeast and especially Florida. The close proximity to the Florida ports offers a number of advantages to cruisers from the region but it also presents some interesting challenges. The following is a complete rundown on how to get to your cruise ship regardless if you come by planes, buses, trains or automobile
Florida has four major cruise ports; The Port of Miami, Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral at Merritt Island (sometimes called the Orlando port) and Tampa. Each one has its own environment that makes getting to your cruise ship different for each port.
Flying In
Tampa
The port is some distance from the airport but there is generally a fixed taxi fare for the trip of about $35 (plus luggage fees and tip). There are also a number of shuttles as well but expect to pay between $15 and $20 per person for them. A transfer with the cruise ship at last check was about $20 per person*.
Orlando
The Orlando airport (MCO) is the nearest major airport to Port Canaveral. Expect to pay over $100 for a taxi to the port which is a 47 mile trip. There are a number of shuttles that charge as little as $20 per person. Booking a transfer thru your cruise line can cost around $35 per person*. At last check Disney offers a bus service from Orlando airport and the hotels at Disney World to their cruises at $35 per guest (reservations required).
Ft. Lauderdale
Port Everglades is only about 2 miles from the airport and while the airport taxi stand will usually quote a flat fare of $20 to the cruise ship, if you go with the meter on, it should cost less and if you are going from the ship to the airport it will cost about $15 plus tip (no delay exiting the port because of security). The cruise ships also offer transfers but they average $15 per person*, which for two people makes a taxi the better choice.
Miami
If you are going from the Miami airport to the cruise terminal, current taxi charges are about a $30 flat-rate fee. That’s not per person. So if you are traveling with a family of four, that’s just over $7 per person (or $14 round-trip) — not a bad deal. Buying a transfer from your cruise line will cost around $17 per person or $68 for four*.
Rental Cars (In City)
Often people will fly into the port city a day or two early and if that is your plan, it is a good idea to rent a car. All four cities cover a lot of real estate and are not noted for having easy to use public transportation. Depending on the city, rentals can be very inexpensive and give more flexibility on how you get around. Be sure and check with the agency and make sure you can drop the car off near the port to save even more.
Miami and Ft. Lauderdale actually have rental car offices near the port that provide free shuttles to your ship after drop off.
Miami
It is common in Miami for rental car agencies to allow a rental to be picked up at the airport and dropped off somewhere else in Miami. At between $25 to $40 a day this is a very economical way to get to the cruise port with the advantage of seeing some of Miami in the process. In the case of Avis and Budget** they both have drop-offs near the port with free shuttle service to your ship, which saves the cost of a short taxi ride.
Tampa
While it is possible to also pick up a rental car at the airport in Tampa and drop it in the city, there are no drop offs conveniently near the port. Coming into Tampa on a cruise it usually costs between $15 and $25 to get a taxi to the nearest rental car location.
Ft. Lauderdale
Because the port and airport are so near each other, unless you plan on spending some time in the area before your cruise, there is little reason to rent a car. It is also worth noting that Avis and Alamo have free shuttles from their airport locations to Port Everglades and back (you probably will need a copy of the rental car reservation to board the shuttle though).
Orlando
It has become popular to rent a car for the one-way trips between Orlando or Orlando International airport (MCO)and Port Canaveral and the rental agencies have been very accommodating in recent years. A recent check showed three agencies (Avis, Budget and Alamo) offering cars between $50 and $75 per day that allow for the one-way trip including free shuttles to the ships in Port Canaveral.
One Way Florida Car Rentals
Even if you live within convenient driving distance to a port, sometimes port parking can become an expensive proposition. This is especially true if the cruise is longer than seven days. Except for the Orlando – Port Canaveral connection, one-way drop-off fees can make renting a car very expensive. The one notable exception to that is if you live near Orlando. Because Orlando is the number one destination in Florida the rental car companies are always trying to balance their inventories and are usually not charging drop-off fees between Orlando and major Florida cities. Renting a one-way car is is a good option for getting to and from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa to Orlando. We have rented cars for as little as $29 from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale. One trick is to make reservations way in advance and check the rate a few more times before the cruise.
Buses Etcetera
Back in the day buses were good, inexpensive transportation between cities and there still is a number of options for economical fares. MegaBus offers a one-way ticket from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale for $26. The problem with them as with most bus service is that you have to get to their terminal and to your destination at the other end. This can be a major additional expense impacting the economy of bus transportation. We should also note that some people live in communities with active travel groups that normally arrange charter buses as part of a cruise package.
Rail Service From Miami, Orlando, Tampa
Taking the train is now an option but you’ll need to still get to the train station and to the cruise ship.
Orlando To Ft. Lauderdale and Miami (Not Port Canaveral)
High-Speed Passenger Train service from Brightline provides comfortable, eco-friendly rail service between Orlando and Miami, with stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami with fares starting at $29.
Orlando To Tampa
There is train service also available between Orlando and Tampa that includes Amtrak and Brightline with travel times of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. with a station not far from the cruise piers but you’ll need to still get to the train station.
Additional information HERE.
Parking Near the Ports
Most parking structures inside the various ports are owned and operated by the ports and, on average, are fifty percent higher than private services near the port. Over the years there have been some interesting fights between these venues. Mostly it has been the ports trying to make it difficult for the private lots to compete and survive. Generally private enterprise finds a way and if you’re looking to save money on parking check with the local parking lots.
Official Port Parking
Port Canaveral
Parking at the port garage inside the port is currently $17 per day and they charge a full day for each portion of a day (that means full fare for the day you arrive and the day you leave). There are at least four dedicated private lots with shuttles near the port that average under $10 a day based on 24 hour days. There are also companies that contract with some local hotels for parking spaces and provide van service to and from the port.
Miami
Parking at the Port of Miami currently is $20 per 24 hour day with a daytime rate of $7. Because the port is located right in the heart of downtown Miami it is difficult to find reasonable rates nearby. There are a number of companies offering reduced rates but it would be recommended that you investigate where these lots are and how much security they provide.
Ft. Lauderdale
Parking inside Port Everglades currently is $15 per day but offers a location right next to the ships. Because the port is located near the airport there is a great deal of parking available in the area. There are official remote lots associated with the airport with shuttle service to the terminals as well as more than a few private lots not far away. Again it would be recommended that you investigate where these lots are and how much security they provide before reserving.
Additional Notes & Links:
* Virtually all the cruise ships offer shuttle service from the airport to the ship. One popular advantage to this service is that you check you luggage for the cruise at the bus.
** Avis at Port of Miami with Shuttle to Cruise Ships. Address: 99 Southeast 2nd Street, (Cruise Ship Passengers Only), Miami, FL,33131. Phone: (1) 305-379-1317. Hours of Operation: Sun 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
** Miami Budget location with a free shuttle to the port. 89 SE 2nd St, Miami, Florida.
Of Site Parking
The Intentional Travelers 