Thread: Killing time in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale

We're sailing out of Miami, but our flight is out of Ft. Lauderdale. RCI has a couple of short excursions post-cruise that will drop us off at the airport, but our flight doesn't leave until after 7 p.m. What's around the airport to kill some time?

Would it be worth it to skip the excursions, go back to the airport and get a rental car for the day?

I would be willing to bet that when MaiTai Mamma gets back home tomorrow, she will be able to answer your question for you, as she is local to the Miami area.

Hing in there... help is on the way!

We had that problem in 2003, I made the home flight for about 5 pm or so, just in case...we stayed onboard the Voyager until they pretty much kicked us off...we hung out on the deck and watched them unload the garbage and reload the goodies! It was fun. WE saw the police dogs and police going through all teh crates before they were allowed to be loaded!

We had a limo for our transfer...went on a tour of Miami, saw Madonna's old house, Billy Joel and more...went to South Beach (it was empty?) and saw Versace's house...which was a bit difficult because of the plants...

Went to Johnnie Rockets, kids choice....sat outside and people watched...it was a very realxing way to end the trip.

I know of some people who have dome the everglades excursion and enjoyed that.

Last year we did the Everglades trip but still got to the airport about 12:30.

The tour was good but our flight was 6pm so we still had time to kill

Thanks for the replies. Maybe we'll do an excursion (I think there's one where your flight has to be 4 p.m. or later) and see what time we get to the airport. Maybe there are things to do there or nearby.


We're flying Spirit and I only had two choices for a return flight, 12:30 and 6:55. I thought the 12:30 would be tight. Oh well, live and learn!

I usually try to target noon for retrun flights.

Facing same 01/06. Cruise into FLL Flight out of MIA @ 730pm, would love to do the limo then hang out @ South Beach for the day, then limo to airport, any suggestions re: various limo services or they all basically the same?

Originally Posted by Blizzard

I usually try to target noon for retrun flights.

I thought I read somewhere that it was better to get a flight after 1:00. With my luck, I'd have booked the 12:30 flight and we would've missed it. I guess I'll see how it goes and I'll know for next time.

I think if we had been sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale AND flying out of Ft. Lauderdale, I would've taken the earlier flight, but.....

I had your thoughts for our last cruise in 2003...but maybe we have been lucky, but every cruise I have been on, we got off pretty early...in fact the last one that was at Port of Miami...we were asked to leave and it was 10:00! We still would have made FLL for a noon flight, lol...I don't think I would book before noon though.

The one and only reason I suggest no flights before 1 p.m., is there could be any number of things that could delay a ship, or delay debarkation. Weather, something broke, immgration, unannounced customs inspection. Usually things run like clockwork, but always plan for the unexpected!!