Talk to me about car hire drop off, Miami cruise terminal ?

[JessBlu]

So we have 2 weeks in Animal Kingdom lodge followed by a seven day cruise in the NCL Getaway.
We will be driving to Miami from Orlando to get on the cruise and dropping off the car.

We will then collect a new car (2 separate bookings) on our return for 1 day to travel to Orlando airport ( we are from the north and Miami flights only go into London so we figured it was a 4 hour drive either in Florida or Uk so we picked Florida).

So we have only ever cruised from port canaraval.

Alamo are giving me 3 options for car hire drop off in Miami
Airport
South Beach
North beach

Which is best for cruise terminal and do they have a transfer ?

Same question for the reverse on the way back.

Thanks dibbers

[Pootle]

We always use Alamo and last January cruised out of, and into, Miami. They did have port transfers then so I would think they still do. Like you we had 2 separate bookings and kept the documentation with us in case the driver wanted to see it.

[Cloverlady]

Have you considered one continuous hire?

We had your dilemma last year, we oohed and aahed over doing 1 or 2 hires and decided against having to trail the car to drop off wait about for transport to the port, wait about again when getting off the ship, trailing to hire again.

We didn't fancy all the trailing and hassle, and figured time is money when on holiday!

We found it was about the same price or thereabouts to do 1 hire even with the port parking factored in. We parked at the official closest car park at Port of Miami. It was literally a hop skip and jump across a tiny little street to the ship itself.
Park car, in queue to board in like 5 minutes or less.

It also meant we didn't have to drag all our luggage onto the ship. No valuables were left of course, but all our non-cruise stuff stayed in the boot.

We'd recommend this for the pure stress free experience and are doing it again next year.

Just something to consider if you already haven't.
Your time on holiday is precious .

[JessBlu]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

Have you considered one continuous hire?

We had your dilemma last year, we oohed and aahed over doing 1 or 2 hires and decided against having to trail the car to drop off wait about for transport to the port, wait about again when getting off the ship, trailing to hire again.

We didn't fancy all the trailing and hassle, and figured time is money when on holiday!

We found it was about the same price or thereabouts to do 1 hire even with the port parking factored in. We parked at the official closest car park at Port of Miami. It was literally a hop skip and jump across a tiny little street to the ship itself.
Park car, in queue to board in like 5 minutes or less.

It also meant we didn't have to drag all our luggage onto the ship. No valuables were left of course, but all our non-cruise stuff stayed in the boot.

We'd recommend this for the pure stress free experience and are doing it again next year.

Just something to consider if you already haven't.
Your time on holiday is precious .

See more...

Thanks will have a look.

[JessBlu]

Originally Posted by Pootle

We always use Alamo and last January cruised out of, and into, Miami. They did have port transfers then so I would think they still do. Like you we had 2 separate bookings and kept the documentation with us in case the driver wanted to see it.

See more...

Which drop off for this ? Airport, north or south ?

[JessBlu]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

Have you considered one continuous hire?

We had your dilemma last year, we oohed and aahed over doing 1 or 2 hires and decided against having to trail the car to drop off wait about for transport to the port, wait about again when getting off the ship, trailing to hire again.

We didn't fancy all the trailing and hassle, and figured time is money when on holiday!

We found it was about the same price or thereabouts to do 1 hire even with the port parking factored in. We parked at the official closest car park at Port of Miami. It was literally a hop skip and jump across a tiny little street to the ship itself.
Park car, in queue to board in like 5 minutes or less.

It also meant we didn't have to drag all our luggage onto the ship. No valuables were left of course, but all our non-cruise stuff stayed in the boot.

We'd recommend this for the pure stress free experience and are doing it again next year.

Just something to consider if you already haven't.
Your time on holiday is precious .

See more...

£188 more for car hire +
$105 for parking so coming out quite a lot more, but totally agree about the time verses money factor ...

[Pootle]

Originally Posted by JessBlu

Which drop off for this ? Airport, north or south ?

See more...

Sorry, don't remember. I am sure we just followed the first rental car drop-off signs we saw and then asked at the desk the way to the transfer bus. I do not recall it being any hassle once we had found the right place to stand (needed to ask a few times though; it wasn't obvious). Bus was pretty full by the time it got to us (so maybe it serves both terminals?) but we got on. We would use again.

I would also not pay the car rental plus parking charges. We have often left a suitcase at Old Key West resort and reclaimed it after the cruise. Even if I wasn't going to do that I'm afraid I'm still too mean to pay - it would all have to come with me . On the other hand, when we did a 3 day cruise out of Port Canaveral a few years ago with the family, we paid and kept the vehicle in the parking garage ... 3 days, small children, etc etc. When we have sailed as a couple out of Port Canaveral for 7 days, again we used the rental company shuttle.

I also use Alamo for Fort Lauderdale cruises too and will be doing so again in a few weeks' time. Always satisfied so far.

[christybell]

We have done this and dropped off/picked up at the airport.

There is a free shuttle bus (each way) which takes about 15 minutes. Nice easy option avoiding Miami traffic!

[Guest]

We have used the airport drop-off many times. There is a free shuttle going from the airport to the port and vice versa. Super easy and would not hesitate to use it again. Just have your car rental confirmation ready as the driver will check your confirmation.

[JessBlu]

Great thanks

Airport drop off it is.