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Thread: Miami Port

  1. #1
    Florida Expert Gerry Reed's Avatar
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    May 2011
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    Miami Port

    Hi
    We have just booked a Thrifty rental (the only one that offers a shuttle) with a pick up at the cruise port. In the past we have always had to wait a long time for the pick up at the port- an hour or more. Are we doing something wrong ? should we notify the hire company of the exact time we want the pick up and the cruise we are arriving on ? We have always been told that the buses just do the round trip at frequent intervals but really don't want an other 1hr + wait.
    Gerry and Sue




  2. #2
    Super Moderator DaveL's Avatar
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    Jun 2003
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    High Wycombe
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    Been there, done that, to many times.

    It all depends on the day you arrive back in port and what time you get off the ship.

    If there are a lot of ships docking at the same time you have a lot of people wanting transport. The shuttles will often follow the same route of dropping off new guests while picking up returning ones. The problem with this is that the first ships on the route fills the bus. Yes they should send empty one to other ships and they do but I have seen it happen so many times that you just have to accept that this is the way it is.

    Can you get round this and the answer is maybe depending on how many are travelling.

    First are you a member of the cruise lines priority club so that you can get early disembarkation? If so get off as early as possible and get a luggage porter even if you can manage the bags on your own. The porters have a special immigration line so you bypass the long snake of people waiting. It well worth $5 a bag and can easily save you 30 minutes or more. If you are out early you stand a better chance of getting a bus with space available.

    Another option depending on party size is to take advantage of self carry that most cruise lines now offer. You can leave as soon as the ship has cleared but have to take all your own luggage. One member of the group can do this while the others go through the normal process of getting there luggage. In the mean time the first person off has gone to the car hire depot to get the car. They can then return to the ship to pick up the others once they have cleared customs. Both groups will need a phone for this to work well as they will need to call the driver after they clear customs because you can only spend a small amount of time in the pickup area if you are not loading people.

    Have a good cruise.

    Dave
    Dave Lewis


  3. #3
    Florida Expert Gerry Reed's Avatar
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    May 2011
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    Kent (Biggin Hill) and Four Corners
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    Thanks. We will try disembarking early this time.

    Sue
    Gerry and Sue




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