Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
If you have time in Miami and want to enjoy the outdoors, you couldnt do better than a visit to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park open 8 a.m. through sundown. Located at the tip of Key Biscayne, it has 400 acres of nature hemmed in by a one-mile-long beach. You can rent bikes to ride the trails, go swimming and tour a lighthouse from the early 1820s. Admission is $8 per car , $4 for a single-occupant car and $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists.
Dropping Off/picking Up Passengers
Dropping off passengers at the port? Or picking up someone after your cruise? Thats a great way to help passengers save money and hassle of parking at the port.
While navigating around the port can be a little confusing given the twists and turns and the number of terminals, picking up and dropping off is simple. Youll see signs at the terminal directing you to the spot where you can let out passengers . Simply pull up and drop them off, similar to what you would do at an airport.
Numerous signs throughout the port area will direct you to the correct terminal for your ship. It may help to drop off or pick up at the very beginning or end of the terminal as there is less traffic here and it may be less of a hassle to stop and let out passengers.
Complete Guide To The Miami Cruise Port
If you are cruising from PortMiami, we have our complete Guide to the Miami Cruise Port to help answer many frequently asked questions.
PortMiami is recognized as the busiest cruise port. This Cruise Capital of the world processed over 6.8 million passengers in 2019, with more growth on the horizon. The Miami cruise port is home to some of the newest and most innovative ships afloat.
Not to mention, this cruise port has some of the most modern terminal facilities with more on the way. If you are planning a cruise from this southern Florida location, we have our complete Guide to the Miami Cruise Port to help answer many frequently asked questions.
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Where To Shop Near The Port
If you need to stock up on some last-minute cruise supplies, PortMiami is near two major shopping centers, Bayside Marketplace and Brickell City Centre.
Bayside Marketplace is an open-air shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront that buzzes with energy and offers stunning views of Biscayne Bay and the cruise port. If this is your first time cruising out of Miami, a visit to the marketplace is a must. In addition to shopping and live performances, the waterfront marketplace offers numerous dining options including a Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Segafredo. This is also the place to book sightseeing tours and even a thrilling speedboat tour if youre in town before or after your cruise.
If youre already at the port and want to do some last-minute shopping at Bayside Marketplace, get on the free Coral Way Trolley and disembark at the Biscayne Blvd. stop. You can also walk to the mall it takes about 15 minutes from the port.
From Downtown Miami and the Brickell area, take the free Metromover Inner Loop to the Bayside stop.
If you have high-end shopping on your mind, head on over to Brickell City Centre , where four floors and more than 120 stores are dedicated to designer labels and luxury. The Saks Fifth Avenue here is 107,000 square feet! Theres also a dine-in movie theater, CMX. For restaurants, there are many to choose from. We like Lukes Lobster, Pubbelly Sushi and Quito la Huella .
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Private Cruise Island Enhancements
NCL Norwegian expanded the company’s plans for its Bahamian privately-owned island Great Stirrup Cay and the exclusive luxury resort destination Harvest Caye . Harvest Caye port features a large-sized swimming pool, private beach, shallow lagoon , private cabanas available for rent, as well as a huge flora and fauna diversity.
Great Stirrup Cay was last enhanced in 2014 and by 2017 spring features several new offerings and amenities .
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Carnival Cruise From Miami Skips Ports Because Of Covid Cases
David Selig, Digital Executive Producer
MIAMI A Carnival Cruise Line voyage out of Miami is the latest banned from some Caribbean ports because of COVID-19 cases onboard.
The Carnival Freedom, which left on an 8-day trip Saturday, had stops in Bonaire and Aruba canceled. The line said it would instead make a stop at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on Friday before returning to Port Miami on Sunday.
Carnival did not reveal how many people on board tested positive. The ship has 2,497 passengers and 1,112 crew members.
Carnival Freedom is following all protocols and has a small number on board who are in isolation due to a positive COVID test, the Miami-based company said in a statement. Our protocols anticipate this possibility and we implement them as necessary to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew. This is a vaccinated cruise and all guests were also tested before embarkation. Unfortunately, Bonaire and Aruba authorities did not permit the ship to call in those ports.
Ashley Peterson, a passenger on the ship, tweeted a photo of a Dec. 22 letter from the ships captain apologizing for being unable to make the stops in Aruba and Bonaire. The letter said passengers would get $100 per room in onboard credit and refunds for excursions planned at the two stops.
Carnival noted in its statement that this may be a new reality for cruises as the contagious omicron variant drives infections.
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Passenger Shipping Pause 2020
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, NCLH’s entire fleet is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries were given the option to cancel without penalties.
Eventually, NCLH canceled all NCL cruises leaving between March 14, 2020, and July 2021.
Next are listed all NCL ships and their scheduled first departure dates/homeports in 2021-2022 – BLISS , BREAKAWAY , DAWN , ENCORE , EPIC , ESCAPE , GEM , GETAWAY , JADE , JEWEL , JOY , PEARL , SKY , SPIRIT , STAR , SUN , PRIMA , PRIDE OF AMERICA .
- In late-March 2021, NCL canceled through October-November all voyages scheduled for the ships ENCORE , JEWEL , Sun , BLISS , JADE , JOY , GEM .
- In early-April 2021, NCL announced new schedules for the ships JADE , JOY and GEM . Previously the boats were planned to restart as follows – JOY , GEM , JADE . JOY’s ex-Greece program was canceled in May. GEM’s ex-Dominicana program was canceled in June.
- In late-May 2021 were canceled JOY’s Caribbean roundtrips from Montego Bay Jamaica and BLISS’ Alaskan program from Seattle .
- In late-June were delayed the restarts of 5 ships . These cancellations affected DAWN’s Mediterranean schedule and STAR’s Europe-Iceland-UK .
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Transportation From The Miami Airport To The Cruise Port
There are plenty of methods to get from the Miami airport to the cruise port, especially since the distance is quite short! Depending on your the cruise you are taking, the cruise lines services, your budget, and time allocation, you have plenty of options to choose. Here we explain what you need to know, as well as some pros and cons for every option.
Ncl Cruise Ship Lifeguards
In April 2017, NCL Norwegian Cruise Line announced the company will employ certified lifeguards on some of its vessels and fleetwide . The news made NCL, the 3rd major cruise company with lifeguards onboard its ships – following Disney and Royal Caribbean.
- The onboard lifeguards are stationed only at the family pools during scheduled swimming pool hours. This staff will be “American Red Cross” trained and certified.
- NCL will also offer complimentary swim vests for both adults and kids. Parents can obtain safety vests at the Lido Deck’s towel station during daytime hours.
- The first NCL ships with lifeguards will be Norwegian Epic , Norwegian Escape , Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway .
- NCL started testing monitoring through CCTV cameras at family pools since 2015. So adding full-time lifeguards was a decision for more safety on pool decks. However, it should be known that lifeguards don’t replace parental supervision and that parents remain the best form for preventing onboard accidents.
- Disney Cruise Line employs certified lifeguards since 2013. RCI Royal Caribbean employs cruise ship lifeguards since February 2017 . RCI’s onboard lifeguards are dressed in special uniforms and stationed at every onboard swimming pool, including the Solarium during the complex’ opening hours.
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Dont Assume That Guys Offering Taxi Service Mean Private Rides
Heres a disembarkation tip that is particularly relevant for Florida cruise ports. If you have not pre-arranged a ride to the airport, either through the cruise line or a third-party service, you will step outside looking for a taxi. Now in many large cities, you will often find legitimate car service guys hanging around asking people if they want rides because something happened to their original fare.
If you step outside and get approached by someone who otherwise looks legitimate, be sure to ask if it is a private ride or a group taxi. Oftentimes, the term taxi may be used loosely, and its actually a shuttle van.
We missed a plane with this mistake. We had done the early morning walk off the ship so that we could catch an early flight in Miami. They loaded all of our luggage into the cargo trailer. We stepped into a van and there was already one guy in it. That was fine since we were all going to the airport. But what we did not realize was that the driver would proceed to drive by several other terminals looking for additional fares. And, since we werent full, the driver made a whole other loop around the port for a second try.
Turns out that the guy who first approached us worked for a shuttle company. And the shuttle company had someone stationed at each terminal to solicit folks and hustle them into the van. Although this team of folks was moving rather efficiently, it still added an extra 20-30 minutes that we hadnt expected.
Cruise Terminals At The Port
As you would expect given the number of cruises that leave Miami, it has the capacity to dock a number of cruise ships as once. In fact, with a total of eight terminals , more than a half-dozen ships can be berthed at any given time. Below weve listed current terminal and those under construction or soon to be built.
Terminal ACurrently the crown jewel of the Port of Miami, Terminal A is exclusive to Royal Caribbean and is a monument to the cruise line. Featuring a modern styled look, Terminal A is at the far east end of the port, and is large enough to handle Royal Caribbeans biggest ships, which are the largest in the world.
Terminal AA/AAA Slated for completion in 2022 at a cost of $300 million, this terminal complex will be home to MSC and act as a flagship terminal at the port. It is planned at the far east end of the terminal complex, making it the last terminal as you make your way out of the main channel to the open ocean.
Terminal BThe new Terminal B is home to a Norwegian Cruise Lines. Featuring a large rounded façade thats reminiscent of an ocean wave and a spectacular piece of modern architecture, the terminal known as The Pearl of Miami acts as the flagship home for one of the worlds largest cruise lines.
Terminal CAn older terminal that often serves Norwegian Cruise Lines, Terminal C still gets heavy use. From here you can get a great view of all of the Miami area, looking out east to South Beach or west to downtown.
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Useful Information About Miami For Cruise Passengers
Miami has an extensive public transit system, which connects you to all major attractions in the city. Metrobus, Metrorail, and free trolley buses make it easy to explore Miami without a car. Miami Beach and Downtown are easily explored on foot, although having a car or traveling by taxi and public transit are the best way to get between districts.
Downtown Miami is home to the citys major attractions and is the commercial hub of the city. From theaters and shops to government officers and corporate headquarters, the district is a bustling part of the city with plenty of hotels and things to do.
To the north is Midtown and the hip Design District, while Cuban culture flourishes with authentic Latin restaurants and shops in Little Havana to the west. Coconut Grove is a lush part of the city with historic sites, fine dining and luxury hotels.
Miami Beach sits on a barrier island east of Downtown Miami. Often thought of as part of Miami, it is a separate and distinct municipality. The popular beach destination on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean is home to several oceanfront resorts, sandy beaches, and colorful South Beach.
Where Is Miami Cruise Port
Located on Dodge Island, PortMiami is in sheltered Biscayne Bay just a short sail from the Atlantic Ocean. The port handles a vast amount of cargo and containers as well as cruise ships. The cruise terminals are about 8 miles from Miami International Airport and 25 miles from Fort Lauderdale Airport .
All vehicles must enter the port via Biscayne Blvd and the Port Bridge. Along the north side of Dodge Island are terminals A, B, C, D, E, F and G. On the west side is terminal H/V. On the south side are the proposed Terminals J and K.
The PortMiami address is:
1741-1751 Africa Way, Dodge Island, Miami 33132. Phone: 347-4800.
Individual cruise terminal addresses are shown further below. You can also take a detailed look at the map of the terminal that includes the terminals and parking garages. Simply click the image to expand:
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Best Time To Visit And Cruise From Miami
Miami is a year-round destination with plenty to see and do regardless of when you visit. Generally, mid-February through to May are great times to visit the city. The humidity of summer and uncertainty of Hurricane Season have not arrived, and you will find warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
If you are visiting Miami Beach, the best time is between March and May. You will find sunny days and comfortable temperatures hovering between the high 70s and low 80s. You also avoid peak season rates common during the winter and summer months with a spring-time visit.
Hurricane season typically runs from the beginning of June until the end of November. Most rain falls on Miami between May and September, while the winter period between December and February are the driest.
Cruise Destinations From Miami
You will often find travellers coming from across the globe to go on an exceptional Bahamas cruise from Miami, allowing voyagers to relax at idyllic paradises and sun-soaked sandy beaches. Miami also serves as the perfect gateway to the tropical worlds of the Caribbean and South America. Youll often find hundreds of fantastic Caribbean cruises from Miami going to amazing destinations such as Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Key West. South America cruises from the Florida city sail to phenomenal locales in the region including San Juan, Ushuaia, and Rio de Janeiro. Cruise travellers also love boarding Panama Canal cruises from Miami, with an extensive selection of itineraries provided by popular cruise lines all-year.
In search of similar itineraries from alternative departure ports? Check out our cruises from Port Canaveral, cruises from Tampa, and cruises from Fort Lauderdale. Whether youre looking for a Caribbean Islands cruise from Miami or must-see cruise packages from Miami, Cruise Guru is the place to be!
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Where Do Cruise Ships Leave From In Miami
Large cruise ships will almost always be departing from the Miami Cruise Terminal. The address of the Port of Miami is 1015 North America Way, Miami, FL 33132. This port is considered one of the largest in the world boasting an impressive eight terminals capable of housing large cruise ships from any popular cruise line.
Learn More About Last Minute Cruise Deals From Miami Florida
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Where Is The Port Of Miami
Port of Miami Dodge Island1015 N. America Way
From Miami International Airport :
- Via Port Tunnel: Take 836 East through the toll.
- Continue onto FL836 E/I-395 E, then keep right to merge onto MacArthur Causeway.
- Use the left 2 lanes to take the exit towards Port of Miami Tunnel and follow the signs to your pier terminal.
- Via Port Bridge: Take 836 East through the toll.
- Exit at US1 N.E. 2nd Avenue/Biscayne Boulevard, proceed straight through one light, and then turn right at the second light onto Biscayne Boulevard .
- Stay in your left-hand lane and turn left into the Port of Miami on N.E. 5th Street.
- Drive across the bridge and follow signs to your pier terminal.
From Ft. Lauderdale International :
- Via Port Tunnel: Take I-95 South to Exit 2D toward I-395 E/Miami Beach.
- Merge onto MacArthur Causeway.
- Use the left 2 lanes to take the exit towards Port of Miami Tunnel and follow the signs for your pier terminal.
- Via Port Bridge: Take I-95 South to Exit 3B, N.W. 8th Street.
- Turn left onto 5th Street and continue straight until you reach the Port of Miami entrance.
- Drive across the bridge and follow signs to your pier terminal.
Parking Information
- Our Florida Bus Program is provided by Cruise Connection of Florida.
- For rates, availability and pick up locations, please contact our Reservations center at 327-6700.
To learn more about Royal Caribbeans new state of the art Terminal A, .