Cruise Port Transportation Woes!

[Sandy and Ed]

Wife and I are going on a Celebrity Panama Canal cruise on April 18 2022 from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale). Just found out that Yankee Trails last trip down to that port for 2022 will be April 10th. Anyone have any thoughts about alternative transportation?? Trying to find an easy way to get down to the port besides driving. Given that Florida seems to be the cruise capital of the US and The Village located smack dab in the center of some great cruise ports, there would be a lot of transportation options. Also, by chance is anyone else from The Villages booked on that cruise?

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Wife and I are going on a Celebrity Panama Canal cruise on April 18 2022 from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale). Just found out that Yankee Trails last trip down to that port for 2022 will be April 10th. Anyone have any thoughts about alternative transportation?? Trying to find an easy way to get down to the port besides driving. Given that Florida seems to be the cruise capital of the US and The Village located smack dab in the center of some great cruise ports, there would be a lot of transportation options. Also, by chance is anyone else from The Villages booked on that cruise? I don’t cruise but many people I know use the different limo drivers here

[blueash]

A bit of a bother.. but if you really don't want to drive and park, you could take a shuttle from here to Orlando airport, where in the past Celebrity has made available transports from MCO to their ship.

[Babubhat]

Take a short flight from Orlando. Not usually expensive

[Arctic Fox]

...Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale). Just found out that Yankee Trails last trip down to that port for 2022 will be April 10th...

That's a shame - we always use Yankee Trails for Ft L as it's a long way to drive. YT have to get their buses up north for coach tours, but mid-April does seem a bit early.

Some people have used the train - I think it's a coach at this end and a taxi at the other end so ends up being quite time-consuming.

[Sandy and Ed]

A bit of a bother.. but if you really don't want to drive and park, you could take a shuttle from here to Orlando airport, where in the past Celebrity has made available transports from MCO to their ship.
Thank you. Figured a crazy alternative. Since ship leaves from Everglades and terminates at San Diego, decided to drive to Tampa Int’l and leave car there, fly Southwest to Ft Lauderdale then get transfer to ship. On return we fly to Tampa pick up car and drive home. A bit more complicated. Hope it works out. Little over 3 hours total driving, cheaper parking, low airfare, yada, yada, yada. Wish me luck

[ThirdOfFive]

Thank you. Figured a crazy alternative. Since ship leaves from Everglades and terminates at San Diego, decided to drive to Tampa Int’l and leave car there, fly Southwest to Ft Lauderdale then get transfer to ship. On return we fly to Tampa pick up car and drive home. A bit more complicated. Hope it works out. Little over 3 hours total driving, cheaper parking, low airfare, yada, yada, yada. Wish me luck
Sounds like a good idea.

Ft. Lauderdale can be a bear. I remember one time: 15 minutes from our hotel to the port gate, and from there THREE HOURS to the ship. We could see it the whole time. It has been nearly two years since we took our last cruise but as I recall all the ships leave port at approximately the same time (5:00 PM or so) so "nuts" is a mild way of putting it.

I'd advise leaving yourself plenty of time.

[Stu from NYC]

Sounds like a good idea.

Ft. Lauderdale can be a bear. I remember one time: 15 minutes from our hotel to the port gate, and from there THREE HOURS to the ship. We could see it the whole time. It has been nearly two years since we took our last cruise but as I recall all the ships leave port at approximately the same time (5:00 PM or so) so "nuts" is a mild way of putting it.

I'd advise leaving yourself plenty of time.

Not sure how the best way to get there is now but would plan to get there a day early just in case. No fun to watch the ship leave without you

[Sandy and Ed]

Not sure how the best way to get there is now but would plan to get there a day early just in case. No fun to watch the ship leave without you
Considered that. Going to have transfers from airport to cruise port added to our cruise package. Let Celebrity worry about getting us onboard.

[Arctic Fox]

We're taking Yankee Trails to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow

There are three ships leaving Fort L, and two departing Miami, so hopefully we'll have a full-size coach rather than a minibus

[Calisport]

Creative solution you made. Like someone mentioned try to get there one day before and stay at a closer hotel to the port then all stress getting on the ship is waived. San Diego airport is very close to the port so no worries there. Probably chilly in San Diego in April still. Rain and cold usually till May. But usually sunny in the afternoons.

[Arctic Fox]

Probably chilly in San Diego in April still. Rain and cold usually till May. But usually sunny in the afternoons.

Good advice. We had a trans-Panama cruise that ended there. Spent the day (sunny) at the zoo in shorts and a t-shirt. By 6pm, waiting for the bus back to the hotel, we were frozen!

[Garywt]

Thank you. Figured a crazy alternative. Since ship leaves from Everglades and terminates at San Diego, decided to drive to Tampa Int’l and leave car there, fly Southwest to Ft Lauderdale then get transfer to ship. On return we fly to Tampa pick up car and drive home. A bit more complicated. Hope it works out. Little over 3 hours total driving, cheaper parking, low airfare, yada, yada, yada. Wish me luck

We just flew in and out of Tampa and found the ride to The Villages much easier than from Orlando.

[xcaligirl]

Thank you. Figured a crazy alternative. Since ship leaves from Everglades and terminates at San Diego, decided to drive to Tampa Int’l and leave car there, fly Southwest to Ft Lauderdale then get transfer to ship. On return we fly to Tampa pick up car and drive home. A bit more complicated. Hope it works out. Little over 3 hours total driving, cheaper parking, low airfare, yada, yada, yada. Wish me luck
sounds like a good plan if you don't mind a little more of a hassle. Good luck and have a great cruise!!

[Arctic Fox]

We're taking Yankee Trails to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow. There are three ships leaving Fort L, and two departing Miami, so hopefully we'll have a full-size coach rather than a minibus

Chaos at Bealls this Morning. Had a message from Yankee Trails saying to get there early as there records were in disarray. Took them five minutes to find us on the printed list. Two buses, and they couldn't work out who to put on which. Half an hour late leaving and didn't arrive in Fort Lauderdale until past noon.

[Rainger99]

We just flew in and out of Tampa and found the ride to The Villages much easier than from Orlando.
Why was it easier?

[Dana1963]

Wife and I are going on a Celebrity Panama Canal cruise on April 18 2022 from Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale). Just found out that Yankee Trails last trip down to that port for 2022 will be April 10th. Anyone have any thoughts about alternative transportation?? Trying to find an easy way to get down to the port besides driving. Given that Florida seems to be the cruise capital of the US and The Village located smack dab in the center of some great cruise ports, there would be a lot of transportation options. Also, by chance is anyone else from The Villages booked on that cruise?
Did you book cruise on line or thru a travel agent if so then-did the travel agent inform you before, during or after you committed.
My neighbor is going on Christmas cruise using private limo for 2, only $500 each way.
You might consider flying day before staying in hotel then shuttle to ship.
Someone already suggested leave out of Tampa and return flight to Tampa from coast.

[santee]

rent a car and drive down, much cheaper

[Stu from NYC]

rent a car and drive down, much cheaper

Have you seen rental car prices lately? Very expensive idea

[Marge22]

Check out Cruise Connection Escot Bus Lines. They have an ad in the Daily Sun most Sundays. It looks like they go until May 13.
I have taken them before and they are reliable. 888-501-5388

[asianthree]

Did you book cruise on line or thru a travel agent if so then-did the travel agent inform you before, during or after you committed.
My neighbor is going on Christmas cruise using private limo for 2, only $500 each way.
You might consider flying day before staying in hotel then shuttle to ship.
Someone already suggested leave out of Tampa and return flight to Tampa from coast.

$500 each way little pricey

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

$500 Pricey ?? I say comfortable , stress free , convenient, PRICELESS