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/
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 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 – 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. There is also a shuttle to the cruise port that runs every half hour from 10am to 1pm and the pricing is the same. I will be sending out messages and emails with reminders about making shuttle reservations when the time comes that they are available. 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 1 pm. The ship should clear customs and allow passengers to start leaving around 7am, 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 18 – 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 19th, 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 4pm, but they will close off boarding up to two hours prior to departure and may not let you board at all after 2pm!
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 1pm. 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!
What is the information for the pre cruise hotel you are recommending?
We are recommending The Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/fllsoes-embassy-suites-fort-lauderdale-17th-street/
There is a shuttle service from the Airport that you can reserve – 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. There is also a shuttle to the cruise port that runs every half hour from 10am to 1pm and the pricing is the same.
We’ve recommended the Embassy Suites to make things as easy as possible, but you are of course welcome to stay anywhere you like the evening before the cruise! Some hotels have shuttle service to the Cruise Terminal, and for those that don’t there is always Uber or a Taxi.