Not my first choice for cruising, but beggars can't be choosers. This was a very last-minute decision, and it was the only ship sailing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami that still had cabins available.
Getting to the port wasn't the problem. We live in Boca Raton, so it's only about a 40-minute drive to the Port of Miami . The real issue is parking. The Norwegian Cruise Line garage charges $35 per day, and after taxes it comes to a little over $300 for a 7-night cruise. FYI... 7 nights is 8 days and you are charged for 8 full days.
There are several off-site parking lots near the port that include shuttle service, but after reading the reviews, I wasn't willing to risk waiting an hour or more for a shuttle getting to or getting off the ship. The last thing I wanted was to stand in a parking lot with hundreds of other people.
Instead, I reserved an Uber in advance. From past experience, if you wait until embarkation day, fares to Miami can easily climb to $100 or more depending on demand. By booking about a week ahead, I locked in a great price... just under $50 to get to the port and just under $60 for the ride home. We were dropped off and picked up right at the terminal, and it couldn't have been easier. For us, it was well worth it and actually cost so much less than parking.
Once we arrived at the terminal, we handed our luggage to the porter and headed inside. From the time we walked into the terminal until we were on the ship was less than 20 minutes. I have to admit, it was one of the easiest embarkation experiences I've ever had. NCL definitely has their boarding and disembarkation process down to a science. read more