Homeport Destination Guide: Miami

By Cruiseline.com

What you need to know about cruising from Miami. - *Photo by Canva*

Bienvenidos a Miami! Welcome to the ‘Magic City’. Located on beautiful Biscayne Bay with the downtown skyline on one side and the Atlantic Ocean just a short sail away. PortMiami is one of the most popular homeports for cruise lines sailing the Caribbean. There are currently so many cruise lines and ships calling PortMiami home, the city of Miami has appropriately received the nickname ‘cruise capital of the world’.

Miami is one of the larger metropolitan areas in the United States, complete with fantastic beaches, great cultural attractions, awesome food, and an exciting energy. It’s truly a traveler’s paradise, that makes for a great destination to check out before or after your cruise.

With Miami being such a large city, we recommend doing your homework for your next cruise sailing from PortMiami. No matter if you're spending just a few hours or a several days before or after your trip, there are a lot of factors to consider when your sailing goes out of Miami. To help you plan your trip, we’ve shared some of our top recommendations for all aspects of going on a cruise from Miami.

Fast Facts for Miami
How to Get Around the City
Staying in Miami Before or After Your Trip?
Excursions
Member Tips
Airport Information
Parking Information

1. Fast Facts for Miami

Airport Address - 2100 NW 42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33126

PortMiami Information - 1015 N. America Way, Miami, Florida 33132 / Learn More About PortMiami’s Cruise Terminals

Time Zone - Eastern Time Zone

Climate - Warm year-round. Humid in the Summer months.

Fun Facts: The city is home to the largest collection of art deco in the world. Suntan lotion was invented in Miami by a local pharmacist. Miami is the only city surrounded by two national parks - Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park.

2. How to Get Around the City

If you are not arriving by your own car to Miami, there are a number of ways to get around:

Cabs, Uber/Lyft are the most commonly used methods of private transportation for getting to and from the airport and around the city. We recommend downloading the Uber or Lyft app before your trip so that it's on hand when you are ready to travel in the city.
Metrorail is a public transportation train that spans from Hialeah to the Miami Airport, and Coconut Grove. It connects to Tri-Rail, the local commuter line which can take you north to Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
The Metromover is a free elevated train that runs a 4.4-mile loop from Brickell to Downtown Miami.
Miami Trolley - Free system that runs around various portions of Miami. Explore trolley routes at: https://www.miamigov.com/Transportation-Roadways/Trolley-Information/Trolley-Maps.
Brightline Train - The Brightline is the newest travel system to come to Miami. This is a great way to get around Florida, eliminating the need for excess car travel. Stops currently include Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The Brightline is currently being built to run all the way up to Orlando from South Florida. There are also future expansions in plans for the system to have its own dedicated port stop at PortMiami, Aventura, Boca Raton, Disney Springs, and all the way to Tampa Bay.

3. Staying in Miami Before or After Your Trip?

Hotels: Miami is a huge city, with a variety of hotels for all price points. When selecting accommodations, you will primarily want to consider the hotel’s proximity to PortMiami or the Miami Airport. Some Miami hotels (primarily those downtown or near the airport) offer a shuttle service to/from the port that makes traveling a little easier. We recommend checking on this directly with the hotel when booking. If you are thinking of adding an additional day or two pre- or post-cruise, you can also look for hotels in other areas that are near some of the sites you want to see.

We’ve shared a selection of some recommended hotels near the cruise port, as well as in some of the city’s most popular areas.

Hotels Closest to the Port
- Intercontinental Hotel (Downtown Miami) - 1.2 Miles from PortMiami
- YVE Hotel (Downtown Miami) - 1.3 Miles from PortMiami
- Holiday Inn Port of Miami (Downtown Miami) - 1.4 Miles from PortMiami
- Hyatt Regency Miami (Downtown Miami) - 1.4 Miles from PortMiami
- Courtyard by Marriott - 1.4 Miles from PortMiami
- Marriott Biscayne Bay - 2.0 Miles from PortMiami
Hotels Near the Airport
- Residence Inn at Miami Airport - 7 Miles from PortMiami
- Hyatt Place Miami Airport - 7.5 Miles from PortMiami
- Holiday Inn Express Miami - 8.3 Miles from PortMiami
- Hilton Garden Inn Miami Airport - 11.5 Miles from PortMiami
South Beach
- Delano Hotel - 5.6 Miles from PortMiami
- Kimpton Angler’s Hotel - 6.4 Miles from PortMiami
- The Savoy Hotel and Beach Club - 6.2 Miles from PortMiami
- The Local House - 6.2 Miles from PortMiami
Vacation on Top of Your Vacation - Hotels for a Pre/Post Cruise Escape
- Residence Inn Miami Beach (South Beach) - 4.8 Miles from PortMiami
- W Hotel (Brickell) - 4.8 Miles from PortMiami
- Delano Hotel (South Beach) - 5.6 Miles from PortMiami
- Fontainebleau Hotel (South Beach) - 7.2 Miles from PortMiami
- Courtyard by Marriott (Coconut Grove) - 8.2 Miles from PortMiami

See All Miami Hotels

4. Excursions

It will take you more than one trip to truly explore all that Miami has to offer! The city is full of so many distinct different areas, with a number of attractions for travelers of all types. You can explore trendy South Beach, historic Coconut Grove, enjoy fine dining and shopping on Lincoln Avenue, discover the art scene of Wynwood, sample Cuban delicacies in Little Havana, or visit the numerous museums.

There is so much to do in Miami that we recommend planning your trip ahead of time. Here are some of our recommended excursions to check out:

City Sightseeing Tour - This hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a great way to see a number of attractions in a short amount of time. Running from 9 am to 5 pm, an open-top bus brings you to 20 stops around Miami.
Cruise Biscayne Bay- This 5-hour tour cruises along the coastline for a sightseeing tour of downtown Miami, Fisher Island, and the famed houses of ‘Millionaire's Row’.
Everglades Airboat Tour - What is a trip to Florida without an alligator spotting? This all-day tour will bring you by bus to the Everglades, where you will join a knowledgeable guide for an airboat tour. You will learn all about gators as well as the flora and fauna of the region.
Key West Day Trip - Got an extra day to explore South Florida? This full-day trip to Key West is a must! The tour begins in Downtown Miami with transport to Key West. While there, you will see the island and take a ride on the Conch Train.
Secret Food Tour - Miami is a foodie’s paradise! This small-group tour is great for eating your way through the city’s top locales.

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5. Member Tips

We’ve received numerous recommendations and tips from our community members who have sailed from/visited Miami. These are a sample of highlights to help you plan your time in the area:

The Frost Museum was great and a good use for the little time we had before catching our flight home. - melissalennis

Hate driving to this port, but port itself was easy embark. Everglades tour is great fun. - sekardos

Stayed at hotel near airport and cruise port. Cruise port was easy to get to. - raknsak2

There’s so many things to do here. If you can, arrive a few days early so you can explore and have some fun. - Bernierfamily05

We had 3 days prior to the departure in Miami, always a nice visit. Don't miss Little Havana. - thorspeeps

Stayed here for one night before getting on the ship. Hampton inn on Collins street. Block from the beach. Went to the beach and hung out at the hotel pool. Short distance to the port using rideshare - cost 13 dollars.

Explore All Member Reviews of Miami

6. Airport Information

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the closest airport to PortMiami, just 8 miles away. While this is just a short distance, it’s important to remember that to get in between the destinations, you will travel through a metropolitan area with a lot of traffic. If travel is moving smoothly, it typically takes only 15 minutes to get between the two; however, we recommend planning for the unexpected. Here are the options for transport between Miami International Airport and PortMiami:

Cruise Shuttle - These shuttles take cruisers directly from the airport right to the port. As they are organized by the cruise line, they will transfer your luggage right to the ship. The price of this option will depend on your cruise line.
Taxi - Will take you from the airport to the port or vice versa for a flat rate of $27 (plus tip)
Uber or Lyft - Pricing for Uber and Lyft rideshares will depend on demand and timing. Typically starts at around $20 and goes up from there.
Private Transportation - Pricing for this option will vary. Many travelers choose to arrange a private car service as there is a guarantee they will be at the airport/port on time and assist with luggage transport.
Independent Shuttle Services - This will take you from/to the airport or port at a low, flat-rate cost.
Public Transport:
- Metrorail's Orange Line will bring you from MIA to Downtown Miami in less than a half-hour. From there, the walk to the Port from the nearest Metromover station (Freedom Tower) is about 1.5 miles.
- The Miami Trolley Coral Way Route goes to PortMiami every 15 to 20 minutes, Monday through Saturday. Learn more about this option via the Miami Trolley website.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is also a popular airport for cruisers going in and out of Port Miami. It’s just 25 miles away and services a number of airlines all around the world. Typically the trip from the port to the airport only takes about 30 minutes, but we recommend factoring in traffic to your timing. The Airport has provided these resources for travel to/from Port Miami:

Shared Ride - GO Airport Shuttle offers shared van rides (per person) for $25 to PortMiami. Vans will hold a maximum of ten passengers. They accept cash or credit cards.
GO Airport Shuttle also offers luxury sedan rides (for up to four people) for
Taxi cabs are available from FLL. Fees are based on meter readings and are estimated at $76 to PortMiami.
Train Tri-Rail (commuter train) offers direct service to MIA by connecting to Miami-Dade's Metrorail Orange Line. There is no direct train service to PortMiami, so a taxi or rideshare will be necessary from this endpoint.

7. Parking Information

Driving right to Miami for your cruise? According to PortMiami’s website, they recommend using the following GPS instructions for your ride in:

PortMiami is located at 1015 North America Way, Miami, Florida, 33132.
Once at the port, follow signs to your destination (Port Offices, Cruise Terminals, Cargo Yard, etc.).

Parking is available at all cruise terminals. Additionally, designated disabled permit parking spaces are an option in each garage and spaces for oversized vehicles at special rates. Rates for parking at PortMiami run as follows:

Overnight parking: $22,
Royal Caribbean Terminal A Garage: $25 per day
Short-term Parking: $8
Vehicles longer than 20 feet: An extra $22 per day

You can learn more about parking directly at PortMiami at: https://www.miamidade.gov/portmiami/parking-transportation.asp.

Offsite PortMiami Parking Options:

Premier Cruise Parking - Discounted to parking directly at the port. Offers 24-hour shuttles to port/garage.
Safe Cruise Parking - 24/7 secure lot with free shuttles to and from the Port.
WeParkinMiami - Lot in downtown Miami with free shutters to/from Port. 24/7 security and onsite car wash.