Cruise Connection Bus

[tucson]

Can anyone give me advice on whether I should pay the $90.rd trip for 2ppl (180.total price) to the Miami port or just drive my car and pay the $90. for 7days prking at the cruise ship lot?

[LittleDog]

We took the Cruise Connection bus on our last cruise. The bus going down to Miami was pretty dirty as it hadn't been cleaned after the previous trip. Also the bus made quite a few stops to pick up passengers before arriving at Miami. I think I would seriously consider driving myself if we had to go to Miami again.

John

[juneroses]

Friends and I have taken the bus and had no complaint with the cleanliness. Heading to the port and the start of the cruise, it was fun to step aboard and feel like the vacation had already begun.

At the end of the cruise, however, I was ready to arrive home. The return trip was very long because the bus made many stops along the way to disembark passengers, unload their luggage, etc. I no longer remember what time we actually arrived at the Villages but it was after dark (winter months) and many hours after I could have been home if we had driven.

Once the bus arrives at the Villages stop, you also have the issue of actually getting to your front door.

[tucson]

The problem is w/my husband who has a bad back and pain issues, I heard the bus takes a long time to get to Miami because of the frequent stops. Also, I don't want to bother my neighbors to drive me at 6am to the bus stop and also to pick me up. And I don;t think there's any taxi's around here at 6am.

[rjm1cc]

If you do not mind driving I would drive. That way you are not waiting for the bus. You might also look for a motel that lets you park for free for the week if you stay a night. They might also have a shuttle to the ship. I have done this from Tampa.

[swrinfla]

I almost always use Cruise Connection, BUT only to Fort Lauderdale! I've never had a dirty coach, and the movie is usually one I haven't seen.

Leaving from behind the McDonald's across from the Walmart on US441 at 6:40am does pose some logistical questions. I count on my brother to come pick up my car somewhere about 8:00am, then bring it back around 4:00pm on the day I return. Works very well.

Neighbors of mine have prevailed upon friends to do the same. And, I see good neighbors dropping off and picking up passengers all the time!

Yes, there are definitely objections. My most recent return (12/03/10) was delayed considerably because one of the ships due to disembark passengers that day (the Zuiderdam) had problems and arrived at Port Everglades some 3 hours late! Thus, we waited a long time and finally left port at 1:00pm.

Arrived back at "Lady Lake" close to 6:30pm, lots later than other trips, but exactly when we should have according to our departure time!

I've known of Miami-bound passengers having to transfer mid-trip, either way. And, I've sat waiting at Port Everglades for a late connection from Miami. Not ideal, of course!

But, I'm not doing the driving and the (now) $90 fare is still less than most parking fees!

SWR
:beer3:

[sunrise2]

The problem is w/my husband who has a bad back and pain issues, I heard the bus takes a long time to get to Miami because of the frequent stops. Also, I don't want to bother my neighbors to drive me at 6am to the bus stop and also to pick me up. And I don;t think there's any taxi's around here at 6am.

Hi Tucson - I called the Village taxi and they are picking us up at 6:00AM to take us to MCDonalds. This will be our first time taking the bus and we will see how it goes. Also the Village taxi said to call 1 hour out before we arrive back home and they will have a taxi waiting to take us back to our house.

[MrMark]

Can anyone give me advice on whether I should pay the $90.rd trip for 2ppl (180.total price) to the Miami port or just drive my car and pay the $90. for 7days prking at the cruise ship lot?

If you drive you probably shouldn't drink first like the Bus Driver on my first and last trip by Bus seems to have done.

[sunrise2]

If you drive you probably shouldn't drink first like the Bus Driver on my first and last trip by Bus seems to have done.
Hopefully you reported this behavior!

[drdodge]

I have driven down the day before and stay overnight in a motel. very relaxing and not being rushed. some motels will let you leave your car in their parking lot while you are on the cruise
drd

[tucson]

Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions ! I have decided to drive down to Miami and I also found out that because my husband has a disability decal on our car, we can park at the cruise ship pkg lot for $0. It's too much of a hassle to take the bus. Just getting to the bus stop by 6:30a, I'd have to get a taxi, pay more $ and then another $180. for 2 rd trip tickets for 2. Plus,not to mention the problem with a person that has some physical pain problems. Thanks again !:smiley:

[missypie]

Go to www.stay123.com and that will give you a list of hotels in the area needed so you can park your car for free while cruising if you stay the night before. We just stayed at the Cambria Inn. in Ft. Lauderdale. It was terrific for us because we relaxed the day before our cruise took off and our car was safe in the parking lot for the week! They shuttle you to the cruise port also for free.

[Freeda]

We just returned from a cruise yesterday and took the Cruise Connection bus to the port of Miami and back. In the past we have always driven ourselves down the day before and spent the night and then left our car at the hotel, using a hotel which provides for free cruise parking after a hotel stay. While both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and the bus trip was an 'okay' experience, it was definitely more relaxing and less time consuming to drive ourselves.

Counting the time waiting for the bus (especially when we were returning from the cruise), and the stops along the way, we found the bus trip very long (we disembarked from the ship at 10 AM, left the port on the bus at 11:30 AM, had to make several stops along the way to drop other passengers off, had to change to a different bus in Orlando, and arrived home in The Villages at 6 PM) and tiring (even though, yes, we were able to nap some on the bus).

Also, one member of our party had a bug run across her arm while she was riding on the bus.

[Freeda]

I forgot to mention the taxi ride, as was mentioned in a prior post; for four of us, riding together from our two homes in The Villages it cost $25 for the taxi for our early morning 5 AM transport from our homes to the bus pickup location - at MacDonald's on 441 - on the day of departure for the cruise. (And, for some reason, it cost $40 for the same taxi ride for the four of us to be picked up from the bus dropoff and taken to our two homes upon return from the cruise).

So, that is added expense to be factored in (unless you have a friend who is an energetic early riser for the departure and who is okay with being on call during dinner time for the return).

[LittleDog]

What we have done in the past is to drive our car to the parking lot. We have friends come and pick up the car and drive it to our house. On the return trip they leave the car in the parking lot. We found that works well. You just have to have a friend that will do that. Of course they pickup and deliver your car when it's convenient for them, not early morning.

John

[rjm1cc]

Thanks for the info.

[cybermuda]

Just prior to our last cruise, Holland America e-mailed us offering discounted transportation from Lady Lake - $25 each, each way.

We didn't follow up as we were not leaving from The Villages, but I assume it was Cruise Connection they were offering.

Might be worth contacting your cruise line before booking the bus.

[65mustangconv]

Used this company twice. First time ok - but it did take a long time to reach our boat. It stops several times on way to Fort Lauderdale/Miami and then once you arrive at port it will stop at numerous cruise lines depending on the ships people on the bus are going to.
Second time - ride down was a disaster. We sat in 2nd last row - within 20 min of ride, someone went to rest room and smoked. It was terrible once door opened. Also, people that boarded prior to Village pick up, were already feeling good and were loud, obnoxious and very ignorant. They were drinking bloody marys and making no effort to hide any of it. Bus driver never did a thing. At rest stop, myself and another passenger called bus company and they made contact via cell phone to this groups' leader. Finally quieted down but lots of sneer remarks being made.
Ride back to here was non-eventfull.
We will never use this bus service again.

[kaydee]

Would appreciate a phone number for Cruise Connection. Thanks

[swrinfla]

kaydee:

Cruise Connection of Florida - Official long distance motorcoach & bus lines transportation service for most major cruise lines in Southwest Florida. (http://www.connect2cruise.com)

1-800-226-5055

SWR
:beer3:

[kaydee]

kaydee:

Cruise Connection of Florida - Official long distance motorcoach & bus lines transportation service for most major cruise lines in Southwest Florida. (http://www.connect2cruise.com)

1-800-226-5055

SWR
:beer3:

Thank you for the helpful information.

[momesu]

kaydee:

Cruise Connection of Florida - Official long distance motorcoach & bus lines transportation service for most major cruise lines in Southwest Florida. (http://www.connect2cruise.com)

1-800-226-5055

SWR
:beer3:

Is this the company you have used?

Suzanne

[momesu]

Oops....just went on their web site and there is an announcement that they are ceasing their operations as of March 18 this year.....so much for that option to get to ports. Whether it was good ot bad its GONE!

Suzanne