DCL Transfer from FLL to Port Everglades

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

We booked DCL transfer from Fort Lauderdale airport to Port Everglades for our trip later this month on the Dream. It was the same price as the shuttle offered by our hotel and ensured a better boarding group.

Any idea where it picks up at FLL? Our hotel has a free shuttle from the hotel to the airport so we will use that and I'd like to be able to tell the driver where to drop us off.

Thanks!

 

[BStieers]

When we have done this at other airports they are at baggage claim. Hopefully that is true for all locations.

 

[auntlynne]

There are separate terminals for various airlines. Each with its own baggage claim. Since you are not listing an airline arrival time for embarkation day, I would call DCL to determine which Terminal they recommend - or if it matters. (If no one books pickup from various airlines, they may not be doing shuttle pick-up in the associated baggage claim that day. ?)

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

There are separate terminals for various airlines. Each with its own baggage claim. Since you are not listing an airline arrival time for embarkation day, I would call DCL to determine which Terminal they recommend - or if it matters. (If no one books pickup from various airlines, they may not be doing shuttle pick-up in the associated baggage claim that day. ?)

Sounds like a question for my travel agent! Thank you

 

[auntlynne]

Wait. You are going to shuttle from hotel to airport - and then from airport to port?

Really a fan of an early PAT?

 

[LAS2AMS]

FLL and the surrounding hotels are within a couple miles of the cruise port. An Uber/Lyft runs $10-$15. IMO, getting on the ship a couple hours earlier isn't worth the hassle.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Wait. You are going to shuttle from hotel to airport - and then from airport to port?

Really a fan of an early PAT?

Yes. Seems weird, I get it. I know it's all very close. However, the hotel shuttle to the port is the same price as DCL's shuttle. It's a spring break cruise, so likely packed. And the hotel we are staying at is minutes from the airport in the Dania Pointe area and offers a free shuttle to the airport.

I really wanted an early PAT and DCL transfer was the best way to do it. I was able to focus on snagging a Royal Gathering reservation at midnight and not worry about DCL's IT issues for check-in.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

FLL and the surrounding hotels are within a couple miles of the cruise port. An Uber/Lyft runs $10-$15. IMO, getting on the ship a couple hours earlier isn't worth the hassle.

I know it seems silly but that extra couple of hours actually means a lot to us. It's Easter, it's Spring Break, it's our first Disney cruise.

 

[auntlynne]

Yes. Seems weird, I get it. I know it's all very close. However, the hotel shuttle to the port is the same price as DCL's shuttle. It's a spring break cruise, so likely packed. And the hotel we are staying at is minutes from the airport in the Dania Pointe area and offers a free shuttle to the airport.

I really wanted an early PAT and DCL transfer was the best way to do it. I was able to focus on snagging a Royal Gathering reservation at midnight and not worry about DCL's IT issues for check-in.

Just checking in - the situation with Port Everglades is different than Port Canaveral.

Here’s a thought or two, which your TA may share. DCL buses usually fill before they depart the airport. You will want to be at the Baggage Claim area when flights are arriving, not sitting around there for hours. And maybe schedule your arrival from hotel to get there as a flight comes in. You could be first on the bus - and maybe it will fill quickly.

First cruise? Fun. Hope it’s a great adventure.

It is hard to get early PAT /Boarding Group practice out of your system for many of us.

I would have gone with rideshare, too, to save money - no line/waiting for others at all for the ground transportation portion.

No shade from me.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

Just checking in - the situation with Port Everglades is different than Port Canaveral.

Here’s a thought or two, which your TA may share. DCL buses usually fill before they depart the airport. You will want to be at the Baggage Claim area when flights are arriving, not sitting around there for hours. And maybe schedule your arrival from hotel to get there as a flight comes in. You could be first on the bus - and maybe it will fill quickly.

First cruise? Fun. Hope it’s a great adventure.

It is hard to get early PAT /Boarding Group practice out of your system for many of us.

I would have gone with rideshare, too, to save money - no line/waiting for others at all for the ground transportation portion.

No shade from me.

We actually fly in the day before-- so we can get to the airport early. I just need to figure out how early to get there.

I figure we will eat breakfast at the hotel and then head to the airport. I've emailed my TA to ask when and where, hopefully she can get some clarification for me.

I appreciate your guidance!

 

[Henlady]

I have same question as OP. We have scheduled DCL transfer frim FLL airport to Port Everglades. Where is the DCL transfer pick up spot at FLL airport? What time is the first bus to port?

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

I have same question as OP. We have scheduled DCL transfer frim FLL airport to Port Everglades. Where is the DCL transfer pick up spot at FLL airport? What time is the first bus to port?

My TA told me I will receive correspondence from DCL via email 24-48 hours before the cruise begins with details on where to meet.

 

[auntlynne]

I have same question as OP. We have scheduled DCL transfer frim FLL airport to Port Everglades. Where is the DCL transfer pick up spot at FLL airport? What time is the first bus to port?

I am going to apply some general principles here, that seem pretty standard for Disney cruising - and based on Disney buses from Orlando airport Hyatt to Port Canaveral.

The first bus leaves at MCO Hyatt at 9:20 - travel time is about 50 minutes - therefore arriving at PC around 10:10.

Now apply that to arriving at Port Everglades. From FLL airport to Port Everglades Terminal 4 is 10 minutes. To arrive at Port Everglades around 10, the bus would leave the airport about 9:50/10 am. That would mean it was already loaded, boarding perhaps 20-30 minutes before.

The estimated 24-48 pre-arrival for information is not a joke; don’t expect it to come sooner. It’s like getting “pending” on your online check-in until the cruise is nearly here. It’s just the way it is.

 

[WinterSolider]

I know it seems silly but that extra couple of hours actually means a lot to us. It's Easter, it's Spring Break, it's our first Disney cruise.

It also makes a huge difference in the logistics of that first day. If you're onboard in time to eat a normal lunch at a normal time, the whole rest of that day goes much smoother. If you get onboard at 2:30 and you're starving, you have to decide if you're going to hold out for dinner or try to cram some food in between unpacking and your muster drill etc. etc. Then dinner might be spoiled and you're just in a weird rhythm.

 

[WinterSolider]

I have same question as OP. We have scheduled DCL transfer frim FLL airport to Port Everglades. Where is the DCL transfer pick up spot at FLL airport? What time is the first bus to port?

If you call DCL and ask them, they'll tell you very specifically. For example, for my Rome sailing, I know I need to be at Terminal 5, Door 3, before 11:30 AM.

Most people who take the airport shuttle are actually flying in that day. You tell DCL your inbound flight information during online check-in. So they might know "we have 6 passengers coming in on JetBlue flight whatever from Cleveland" so they'll send someone with one of those paddle signs to the baggage claim area of that flight and then escort you to the shuttle spot.

It's only the people who AREN'T flying in that day, but staying somewhere else and then returning to the airport for the bus, who need to know where to go.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

It also makes a huge difference in the logistics of that first day. If you're onboard in time to eat a normal lunch at a normal time, the whole rest of that day goes much smoother. If you get onboard at 2:30 and you're starving, you have to decide if you're going to hold out for dinner or try to cram some food in between unpacking and your muster drill etc. etc. Then dinner might be spoiled and you're just in a weird rhythm.

Agreed-- and I have kids and early dining. Would like our eating schedule to be close to normal that first day.

 

[Henlady]

I guess I was just figuring that DCL transport would have a kiosk/podium at a specific area for check in. When I added our transportation yesterday they did not ask for any flight information as they do for MCO. We are also arriving day before and going back to airport in the morning. Guess we’ll just wing it and wait for that 24-48 hour email

 

[WinterSolider]

I guess I was just figuring that DCL transport would have a kiosk/podium at a specific area for check in. When I added our transportation yesterday they did not ask for any flight information as they do for MCO. We are also arriving day before and going back to airport in the morning. Guess we’ll just wing it and wait for that 24-48 hour email

They ask for flight information at online check-in, not when you book.

 

[Henlady]

Did our check in at midnight. Even though we are using DCL transport from FT L airport to port we were assigned a PAT OF 11:30-11:45. What happens if our DCL shuttle arrives at say 10:30/10:45. Will we have to wait till 11:30 to be permitted into the terminal?

 

[WinterSolider]

Did our check in at midnight. Even though we are using DCL transport from FT L airport to port we were assigned a PAT OF 11:30-11:45. What happens if our DCL shuttle arrives at say 10:30/10:45. Will we have to wait till 11:30 to be permitted into the terminal?

This is the sequence of events for non-DCL-bus people:

1. Arrive and check bags with the porters.
2. Wait in line outside with carry-on bags until Port Arrival Time is called.
3. Proceed through security with your carry-on bags.
4. Finalize check-in with a DCL rep at the desk. They'll check passports, give kids their Oceaneer Bands, activate MagicBand+ if you bought one, etc.
5. Sit in the terminal and wait for your boarding group to be called.
6. Board the ship.

You will skip step #2, but you will not skip step #5.

In other words, your Port Arrival Time doesn't matter but your boarding group does.