Port Everglades Surprises: just off Dream

[professorandmom]

I disembarked yesterday from a 5 night Dream. This was my 8th cruise but first out of Port Everglades. I thought I did a fair amount of research but found a few surprises that I haven't seen posted. Of course your experiences may be very different. Our family: DSIL 34, DD24, DGD4 and DGD 1, me, the grandma

We flew in the night before and stayed at the (under renovation) Residence Inn. It was fine

1. security at the port was very surprising. I've sailed from Port Canaveral, Miami and New York but never seen all cars searched and IDs checked before entering the port (not the terminal, the whole port). I found I didn't factor in the time. Essentially the 10 minute ride took almost an hour! I had an 11:15 port arrival time and didn't arrive until after 12. Part of the problem: We ordered an uber XL but the car did not fit five adults and luggage so I had to try to get another uber...but by that time ubers were hard to get...after about 5 cancellations I was panicking. Eventually I got assigned someone who showed. Anyway, I was separated from my family as I waited.

2. cars are searched leaving the terminal. Luckily this was a bit faster than arrival but if you have an early flight, factor in the security searches.

3. When disembarking we faced a decision: try again with uber (and join the throng of people at the uber pick up area) or go with a cab that we could be sure would fit. We decided to use a taxi. HUGE problem because the taxi dispatch person wanted us in a cab fast and the first car - a Tahoe we were assigned to had a HUGE cooler in the back and wouldn't fit our luggage. The dispatcher was very frustrated with us that we needed another vehicle. It was awful trying to keep a 4 year old from being hit by double rows of cabs.

4. When we arrive at the airport the taxi driver only wanted cash and charged $30...turns out that's not the flat rate. So, we overpaid...but at least we were at the airport.

I hope you find Port Everglades easier to navigate

 

[dreamer17555]

Thank you for sharing your experience at port

 

[AquaDame]

Yikes I wonder what happened! We sailed on the 12/2 and did not get searched coming in or out of the port. We had rented a car through Avis so we used their shuttle both in and out, but if they were checking taxis I'd think they would check us too. Both ways were quick, though out took an extra 5 min or so due to traffic.

As an aside, did your sailing have any issues with a stomach virus..? Folk were dropping like flies on ours. Everyone assumed it was motion sickness the first night as the ship was rocking but every day more and more people were struck with a horrible bug. Some were saying food poisoning, others noro, and others just a bug. The only difference we noticed was they started having folk check their own trivia answers - they didn't start serving us in Cabanas so I assume we were under whatever threshold kicks that into gear. My husband and I escaped unscathed but I was hoping they scrubbed her down extra well for you all! The carolers only performed once, their further times in the guide were cancelled and disappeared.

 

[Calantha]

Yikes I wonder what happened! We sailed on the 12/2 and did not get searched coming in or out of the port.

Yes, that's interesting. Maybe it happens on random days? We sailed twice out of PE this year and there were no searches (especially leaving). Incoming we just had ID checks.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Yikes I wonder what happened! We sailed on the 12/2 and did not get searched coming in or out of the port. We had rented a car through Avis so we used their shuttle both in and out, but if they were checking taxis I'd think they would check us too. Both ways were quick, though out took an extra 5 min or so due to traffic.

Something must have happened to spur those searches on. We sailed out of Port Everglades the first week in Nov and the most we had to do was show our IDs and PAT forms on the way in. Nothing on the way out.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Yikes I wonder what happened! We sailed on the 12/2 and did not get searched coming in or out of the port. We had rented a car through Avis so we used their shuttle both in and out, but if they were checking taxis I'd think they would check us too. Both ways were quick, though out took an extra 5 min or so due to traffic.

As an aside, did your sailing have any issues with a stomach virus..? Folk were dropping like flies on ours. Everyone assumed it was motion sickness the first night as the ship was rocking but every day more and more people were struck with a horrible bug. Some were saying food poisoning, others noro, and others just a bug. The only difference we noticed was they started having folk check their own trivia answers - they didn't start serving us in Cabanas so I assume we were under whatever threshold kicks that into gear. My husband and I escaped unscathed but I was hoping they scrubbed her down extra well for you all! The carolers only performed once, their further times in the guide were cancelled and disappeared.

I really wish they would go back to serving folks in Cabanas!! All those non-hand washers give me the heebie jeebies! I carry had sanitizer attached to my lanyard to re-sanitize my own hands before eating after touching the serving utensils!!

 

[dreamer17555]

The only difference we noticed was they started having folk check their own trivia answers - they didn't start serving us in Cabanas so I assume we were under whatever threshold kicks that into gear. My husband and I escaped unscathed but I was hoping they scrubbed her down extra well for you all! The carolers only performed once, their further times in the guide were cancelled and disappeared.

Curious- Was the Dream trading trivia papers and then mid sailing switched? I ask because we were told on the Fantasy in Sept it came from the higher ups not to trade anymore because it made guests feel like they were being treated like children... Only instead they made us hold up our phones and repeat a long spiel after them about not cheating and how we wouldn't look up answers etc that made me feel more like a little kid then trading papers ever did.

Sorry about all the illness onboard- You said Cabana's was still self serve, how did they handle soft serve ice cream? I see them switching that faster than Cabanas sometimes

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I sailed Dec 2nd. Used Uber both ways. Got searched incoming but not outgoing
I had no delays in both directions. Gotta admit I was the first pat (bg 2) and left with express walk off.
Upon arrival for me it was a breeze to get through check in and security. Very different from my experience there in May for the TA and arrival was just a digital photo…. Verrrrry different from my arrival on the TA early November where we left the port by 12.30…. (The reason I did express walk off this time cause i had a flight late morning)

 

[dreamer17555]

I really wish they would go back to serving folks in Cabanas!! All those non-hand washers give me the heebie jeebies! I carry had sanitizer attached to my lanyard to re-sanitize my own hands before eating after touching the serving utensils!!

Not to encourage your heebie Jeebies but better to wash hands again after getting your food. Hand sanitizer unfortunately does not work on Norovirus

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

Yikes I wonder what happened! We sailed on the 12/2 and did not get searched coming in or out of the port. We had rented a car through Avis so we used their shuttle both in and out, but if they were checking taxis I'd think they would check us too. Both ways were quick, though out took an extra 5 min or so due to traffic.

As an aside, did your sailing have any issues with a stomach virus..? Folk were dropping like flies on ours. Everyone assumed it was motion sickness the first night as the ship was rocking but every day more and more people were struck with a horrible bug. Some were saying food poisoning, others noro, and others just a bug. The only difference we noticed was they started having folk check their own trivia answers - they didn't start serving us in Cabanas so I assume we were under whatever threshold kicks that into gear. My husband and I escaped unscathed but I was hoping they scrubbed her down extra well for you all! The carolers only performed once, their further times in the guide were cancelled and disappeared.

I was on that sailing too. I dont have the official word on the carollers but those are the mainstage performers and our cruise was the start of crossover (where the new cast atrives) so might have had to do somethibg with that. It made me sad as well cause I missed half of the set of the first time they did it.
As far as the illness/sickness I didnt notice anytjing except for the stories in the fb/whatsapp group. I did not go to trivia thiugh

 

[Beachbummer]

4. When we arrive at the airport the taxi driver only wanted cash and charged $30...turns out that's not the flat rate. So, we overpaid...but at least we were at the airport.

What’s the taxi flat rate from port to the airport?

 

[lilmc]

We sailed Nov 23 and only had ID check on the way in. We had PAT 11:45 and our Uber, drive, and ID check went so quickly we ended up getting there at 11 or a little later. We stayed on board pretty late to let the rush go by since we had a later flight and had a super quick Uber ride to the airport. No troubles at all. So sorry you had so much trouble!

 

[gatordoc]

We’ve sailed DCL out of PE twice. The first time they checked our IDs at the gate on the way in and asked if we had any weapons in the car, but didn’t check anything. On the way out they checked our IDs at the gate and asked if we had any drugs in the car. The second time they checked our IDs at the gate and asked us to roll down our rear windows (but not open the trunk). On the way out they just waved us through. So who knows.

 

[AquaDame]

Curious- Was the Dream trading trivia papers and then mid sailing switched? I ask because we were told on the Fantasy in Sept it came from the higher ups not to trade anymore because it made guests feel like they were being treated like children... Only instead they made us hold up our phones and repeat a long spiel after them about not cheating and how we wouldn't look up answers etc that made me feel more like a little kid then trading papers ever did.

Sorry about all the illness onboard- You said Cabana's was still self serve, how did they handle soft serve ice cream? I see them switching that faster than Cabanas sometimes

Yes; the first couple of days we were trading and then it stopped. I never saw them switch to serving ice cream either, though we honestly only did that a couple times. I think my last cone was on Nassau day, two days before debarking.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

Yes; the first couple of days we were trading and then it stopped. I never saw them switch to serving ice cream either, though we honestly only did that a couple times. I think my last cone was on Nassau day, two days before debarking.

I ate softserve every day and it stayed selfserve

 

[jujubiee4]

What is the usual regular Uber cost to FLL airport? (not xl)

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

What is the usual regular Uber cost to FLL airport? (not xl)

Our XL Lyft was $26, so less than that, I guess

 

[Girl of the South]

November 2nd off the Dream. Four people and luggage. Taxi was $18 and I added a $4 tip, so $22. Port to FLL airport.

 

[SteveMouse]

There isn’t a flat taxi rate between Port Everglades and any South Florida airport- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach. There are no flat rates from PortMiami, either.

 

[CaliGrrl]

We sailed the Dream Nov 23-27. Our taxi to the port had to pop the trunk and attest to no weapons. All adults showed ID. Fairly quick. Upon leaving the port, ID check again but did not look in the trunk. We had the same issue with the large Tahoe like taxi not running a meter and asking for $30 plus tip, cash only, upon arrival at the airport. It was only $18 + tip from the airport to the port and after we were already halfway to the port he stated his credit card machine wasn't working and would only take cash. Good thing we had cash!