Pre-Cruise Hotel Information
The Embassy Suites by Hilton
Fort Lauderdale 17th Street
Phone:
954-527-2700
Address:
1100 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33316, USA
Website:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/fllsoes-embassy-suites-fort-lauderdale-17th-street/
Holiday Inn Express
Ft. Lauderdale Cruise-Airport
Phone:
954-728-2577
Address:
1500 SE 17th Street Causeway
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Website:
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/fort-lauderdale/fllcc/hoteldetail
To help make travel easier for the Rainbow Readers Cruise, Joel and Rich visited Fort Lauderdale to check out some hotels and are recommending the Embassy Suites by Hilton or the Holiday Inn Fort Lauderdale 17th Street. There is not a group room block to book into, but this is where a lot of people who are on the cruise will be staying the evening before.
There is a shuttle service from the Airport that you can reserve – complimentary for the Holiday inn. For the Embassy Suites it is $15 per person for a solo rider or $12 per person for 2 or more. Reservations can be made within 30 days of your stay by calling the hotel concierge directly at 954-527-2700. We will be arranging a bus from the Embassy Suites to the Cruise Terminal on the morning of the 11th - information and pricing on that will be available closer to Cruise time. There is also the option of Uber, as the hotel is just a few blocks from the cruise port.
We strongly recommend arriving in Fort Lauderdale the evening before to prevent air travel problems/delays from making you miss the cruise!
For your post-cruise flight arrangements, if you are flying home the same day after disembarking your flight should leave Fort Lauderdale no earlier than 11:30 am if flying from Fort Lauderdale, 1 pm if flying from Miami. The ship should clear customs and allow passengers to start leaving around 7 am, then time is needed to individually clear customs, travel to the airport, and arrive in time for flight check-in.
FAQs about Air Travel and Group Hotel
Where do I fly into for the Rainbow Readers Cruise?
The best airport to fly into is Fort Lauderdale (FLL). This is the airport with a shuttle to the Embassy Suites, which can be booked directly with the hotel.
You could also fly into Miami, but there will be a long taxi or uber drive to the cruise port or the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale if you stay with the group.
When should I fly in for the Rainbow Readers Cruise?
Our recommendation is to fly in no later than the evening of August 10 – the evening before the cruise departs. With air travel being so unpredictable it is better to arrive the evening before and ensure that you don’t miss the ship!
If you do want to take the risk and arrive in Fort Lauderdale the morning of the 11th, your flight MUST arrive in the morning in order for it to be possible to get from the airport to the cruise terminal on time. The ship will depart Fort Lauderdale at 4 pm, but they will close off boarding up to two hours prior to departure and may not let you board at all after 2 pm!
What about flying home? What time can I make a return reservation?
If you are flying home the same day after leaving the ship, the EARLIEST you should make your flight time is 11:30 am. This will give you enough time to get off the ship and arrive at the airport. Any earlier and you will risk timing problems. Disembarking should start around 7 am, but there is always the possibility of delays with customs and immigration and traffic on the way to the airport!