Alan Karp · Owner, Ace Tours Inc
· Updated · 6 min read
There are five ways to get from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) to PortMiami: a shared shuttle, a private van with a driver, a group coach, a taxi or rideshare, or a train plus a taxi. Small parties with normal bags do fine with a shared ride or a car; families and groups with cruise luggage are usually better off booking one private vehicle that goes door to pier. Ace Tours Inc runs the shared and private rides on this route, and the Miami cruise port shuttle page has the booking details.
Why so many cruisers fly into FLL for a Miami sailing
FLL sits in Broward County, one county north of PortMiami. Travelers pick it for the flight times, the fares on their route, or because they want a night in Fort Lauderdale before the ship. The trade-off is a cross-county ride south on I-95 on sailing day, and the same ride back after the cruise.
That ride is where plans go wrong. A family of five with five large cases, a carry-on each and a stroller does not fit the car a rideshare app sends by default. A group of twenty does not want to split across six cars and meet again at the pier. Picking the right option before you land saves the scramble at the curb.
The five options side by side
Here is how the options compare on the things that matter on a cruise day. Ace does not publish prices because every trip is quoted, so the table compares what you get, not what you pay.
| Option | Best for | Luggage | Changes on the way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared shuttle | One to four travelers with normal bags | Tell the booking how many bags | None, but other stops may come first |
| Private van with a driver | Families and small groups | Sized to your bags when you book | None, straight to your pier |
| Group coach (minibus to motorcoach) | Groups of 15 and up | Sized to people plus bags | None, one vehicle for everyone |
| Taxi or rideshare | One or two people, light bags | Limited by the car that shows up | None |
| Train plus taxi | Solo travelers on a tight budget | You carry it on and off | At least two |
Option 1: a shared shuttle
A shared shuttle carries several parties going the same way. You book seats, not the vehicle. It suits couples and small families who travel light and do not mind a stop or two before the port.
Ace runs shared rides from FLL. When you book, give the flight number, the number of travelers and the number of bags, so dispatch can hold enough space. Ask how the pickup works at your terminal and what happens if your flight lands late.
- Good: you pay for your seats only.
- Good: no need to drive or park.
- Watch: other travelers' stops can come before yours.
- Watch: tell dispatch about oversized items such as strollers or mobility aids.
Option 2: a private van with a driver
A private ride means the whole vehicle is yours. The driver meets your party, loads the bags and goes straight to your cruise terminal. Ace uses Sprinter vans with a driver for this; it runs no sedans.
This is the usual pick for families and friend groups who arrive on the same flight. If the group lands on two flights, give dispatch both flight numbers when you ask for a quote, so the plan covers both arrivals.
Option 3: a group coach
Wedding parties, church groups, reunion cruises and company trips often fly in together and sail together. For them, one coach beats a convoy of cars. Ace's coach classes are a minibus for 15 to 20 people and a full size motorcoach for 56. Bigger groups are covered by Ace's partner-fleet capacity of 40+ vehicles.
A coach also solves the multi-hotel problem. If part of the group stays at FLL area hotels the night before, the coach can collect from more than one hotel and arrive at the port together. See our guide on what size vehicle a group with luggage needs before you ask for a quote.
Option 4: taxi or rideshare
Taxis wait at the FLL terminals, and rideshare pickups use the airport's marked zones. For one or two people with a suitcase each, this is simple and quick to arrange.
The catch is space and pricing. App fares move with demand, and sailing mornings are busy. A standard car may not take three large cases plus carry-ons, so larger parties end up ordering a bigger car or two cars. Compare that with one quoted private van before you decide.
Option 5: train plus a taxi
South Florida has commuter and intercity trains between Broward County and downtown Miami. Neither stops at the FLL terminals or at the cruise piers. From the airport you need a connection to the station, then the train, then a taxi or ride from downtown Miami across the bridge to Dodge Island.
It can cost the least for a solo traveler with a backpack. With cruise luggage, it means lifting bags on and off at least three times. Most cruisers with large cases skip it.
Timing your sailing day
Your cruise line sets the boarding window and the latest check-in time; they are in your cruise documents. Plan the ride back from that time, not from the departure time on the ticket.
Morning traffic on I-95 southbound can be heavy, and the port roads get busy when several ships sail on the same day. Many travelers fly in the day before and stay near FLL or in Miami so a late flight does not threaten the cruise. If you fly in on sailing day, give dispatch the flight number so the driver can follow the arrival.
- Check your line's check-in cutoff before booking any ride.
- Flying in on sailing day? Leave a wide margin for delays.
- Book the return leg at the same time as the trip to the port.
- Know your terminal; your cruise documents list it.
Coming back: PortMiami to FLL after the cruise
Disembarkation mornings run on the ship's schedule, not yours. Passengers who carry their own bags often leave first; those who put bags out the night before leave later. Tell dispatch which you plan to do, and the time of your flight home from FLL.
A return booked in advance means the driver is expected at the pier instead of you queuing for a car with everyone else. Ace's Fort Lauderdale airport to Port of Miami route page covers that run in both directions.
