Cruise Express rip-off
 

We have been using Cruise Express (formerly Yankee Trails) to get to and from Fort Lauderdale for at least a decade, often one-way for Transatlantic cruises.

We have been very happy with the service and have recommended them frequently on this forum.

The price has gone up regularly, but the recent leap is obscene. In March 2023 we paid $100 for two people to go one way. Today they quoted me $240 for the same trip.

The return fare is $140 per person, which is reasonable, but to charge almost that for one-way is daylight robbery.

I take Groome to Orlando Airport and from there I take Brightline to Fort Lauderdale

Yes, it is no longer the great deal that it was. However, it is still the most painless way to get there. I miss the pickup at the corner of 44 and 301.

We have used them several times but now the price is up there.

Wonder why such a large increase?

Have thought of doing this for next cruise but after paying both charges not really saving anything.

Just go to Budget and rent a car one way to the cruise terminal office. Opt in for e-toll and all your tolls are covered for $12. Free shuttle to the cruise terminal. Right at $100 all in.

I recently purchased a 2 week expensive cruise with Yankee Trails, in the past they included free transportation to Ft.Lauderdale. Now they wanted to charge me $280 r/t for 2 people, I said if you include the bus I'll book the trip. The agent after a few eye rolls said okay, she made a nice commission and we got the bus - which was always new and modern & excellent driver.

We are exploring all options but currently the one-way car rental is $180

Leaning towards Brightline as we have been wanting to try that anyway

Toyota Camry or similar $88.

We usually rent a car through Costco for ~$100. Pick it up in Leesburg the day before and drop it off at FLL. Then Uber to the port.

jacksonla
 

We only wanted to go from Tampa international to Winter Haven. Not bad renting a car for $54 one way

Cheapest price on the day we want to travel is $175.50 :-(

Just booked Brightline for $89 so adding in Groome will still be considerably cheaper than Cruise Express.

Please report back on how this worked. How will you get from train station to cruise terminal? Are you going down the day before?

I might be wrong but recently there was a posting where someone had mentioned, driving down the day before and staying at a hotel that had a shuttle to and from the ports and placing their car in long time parking. I'm not sure if the total cost was more or less but to me that would be a more comfortable way to start a vacation.

It really depends on the length of the cruise. Our last one was 35 days long out of Boston. Not even close to being cheaper. Maybe 7 days or less.

Since we took the Brightline in Aug. to a cruise, I'll give a report. First let me start off by saying I have some mobility problems which influenced our decisions. We used to take the cruise express and would board at 301 and rt. 44. Getting into and out of the bus became more difficult and the service plaza stop if I needed it just compounded the problem.
We were fortunate to get a ride from a neighbor to the Brightline. We'll have to return the favor the next time the neighbor cruises. We were dropped off at the train station not the airline terminal where Groom goes. The walk from terminal C to the train station is somewhat lengthy. The train station is modern and comfortable. boarding the train was no problem for me since the platform and train were level.
While prices for the train are somewhat pricey, the trick is to download the app, open an account and watch the emails that they send. Starting about a month before you want to leave they run promotions covering your travel time. These are discounts, bogos etc. We ended up getting seats in first class for about the same as economy. It came with a $10 Uber voucher which we used to get from the train to the ship. The ride was very comfortable. There was a rest room. They provided complimentary soft drinks and snack. The seats were roomy. The wifi was very good. For us it was much nicer than the bus. Our Uber was waiting for us at the station and we were at the ship in 15 min.
You can probably find a cheaper way to go but not one any more enjoyable.

True - but it’s such a relaxing way to travel - train travel is the best!

How does it work for luggage once you first get to the train station?

Brightline to Cruise Terminal
 

In January, we did Groome to Brightline and then took a taxi (Uber and Lyft also options), and it was great. The taxi ride was very short and not very expensive.

We are going out of Fort Lauderdale in January for a cruise. Just looked up parking right at cruise terminal. 20$ maximum per day. 10 day cruise 200$. My car. No rental. Seems worth it me.

Our situation was different. Sailed out of Port Everglades and then flew back to Miami. Our day flying back from Rome was 23 hours so we stayed overnight in Miami and drove home the next day. I spent way more time than I cared to looking at all the possibilities. Renting both ways was the cheapest with the most flexibility.

We had carry on sized luggage and you can just roll it onto the train and store it in your car. Large luggage can be checked for a price.

Why is that a rip-off? Because they raised the prices? That's their right. And you did the right thing - you shopped it and found a better price. A rip-off would be if they told one price and charged another.

Going to Brightline station, taking train and than taxi to port morning of cruise seems dangerous to me. One thing goes wrong and bye bye cruise. Wife not a strong swimmer.

Think that if we do this and probably will, will plan to get to port day ahead of time to be on the safe side.

Ya don't ask, ya don't get! Well done.

We are coming FROM a cruise. Brightline offers shuttles from the airport, but I think we'll have to take a cab from the cruise terminal to the train station. Overall time to get home will be about the same as with the bus.

Brightline often offers discounts - Mrs Fox just grabbed a "50% off - so stay alert.

If we were going TO a cruise we'd go "same day", as we always did for the bus.

I am sending a (very polite, of course) e-mail to Stephen Tobin (CEO of Yankee Trails).

We thrive on the danger.

Use Brightline
 

We used the Brightline train from MCO and was very pleased with the service. Used a limo to Orlando Airport at reasonable cost and then picked up the train right at the airport.

We used the Brightline train from MCO and was very pleased with the service. Used a limo to Orlando Airport at reasonable cost and then picked up the train right at the airport. Then Uber or Lyft from train to port. very easy.

despite all your aggravation, I wish you a joyous, carefree trip :coolsmiley:

We do the same thing when we port out of Miami.

Thank you for your report. Good info.

I drive the turnpike to one of the parking lots a mile from Port Everglades and the parking lot Shuttle drives me right to our ship. $75 for one week to park. The trip is 4 hours and I make it with one tank of Gas. There are rest areas on the turnpike to get gas and food if you need to stop. My wife and I enjoy the drive.

Ditto on Brightline. We were sailing on Princess out of Port Everglades. We got a discount via Princess on Brightline that included free checked baggage from the station in Orlando to our cabin aboard the ship and a free Princess shuttle from train station in Fort Lauderdale to the ship. The trip on the train was very relaxing.

Since then we get disconnected offers via email from Brightline several times a week.

Thank you, PugMom :-)

Getting to old to subject myself to that. Going a day early is rather cheap insurance for an expensive trip.

Same here. We flew from Orlando to Boston on 7/19/24 for a 7/20/24 departure on a 35 day cruise. That was the day of the major software glitch that canceled so many peoples flights. Fortunately for us we flew on Southwest whose flights were not affected. There were quite a few people who were flying in on the day of who never made it and had to cancel. Some were able to join the cruise on the first few stops of the cruise. Some people made the cruise by rebooking their flights but their luggage never showed up. 35 days with no clothes! It was a nightmare for some.

My point of view is you're spending thousands of dollars on a cruise, to take a relaxing break from everyday life. Vacations should start the minute you lock the door of your home and start your journey. Whatever the cost to get to the ship is a fraction of the expense of the overall excursion. There are a number of options, plane, train, drive, drive and stay at a hotel the night before. The target is to come back home rejuvenated and that's not going to happen if you already are stressing the cost before you open your door.

Very true

Going on a cruise this Saturday, so the wife and I will drive to our son's house in West Palm Beach on Friday, spend the night, get up the next morning, drive to Port Everglades and my son gets the use of my BMW for a week. He shows up at the dock the morning we return and picks us up at the door. (I know, it's a special case. But I just had to post it.) :a040: