Parking At The Cruise Port
If youre driving to the port, then you obviously need a place to park your car. As in other port cities, theres an industry surrounding cruise parking for passengers. We cover all of your options in full detail in our Port of Miami cruise parking article.
To keep things simple, you have to main options park at the official port parking or with an independent parking lot.
Official Port ParkingThe Port of Miami offers parking garages and lots near all of the cruise terminals. Parking is literally across the street from the ship. In total there are thousands of parking spaces you dont need to reserve a space or worry about finding a spot. Shuttles will also take you to the cruise terminal, even though its a short walk.
Parking at the port is convenient but its also expensive. Rates run $22 per day. There is space for oversized vehicles like RVs, but the rate is an additional $22 each day. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted, but debit cards are not.
Note that parking at Royal Caribbeans Terminal A is $25 per day.
Are you a disabled cruiser? If so, you may be eligible for free parking at the Port of Miami. If your car has special modifications such as ramps or driving controls or you have a Florida Disabled Veteran license plate then you can park for free. For more details, see our article on free parking for disabled passengers here.
Port Of Galveston In Galveston Texas
Aerial view of Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas
The Port of Galveston is one of the busiest cruise ports of North America, hosting many major cruise lines including Carnival, Disney, and Royal Caribbean. Galveston Island is more than a departure point, with beautiful beaches, giant swing rides over the water, fun activities for the entire family, and more. Since this is a popular destination, many hotels in the area offer guests complimentary parking and a free shuttle to the cruise port.
With a wide variety of Caribbean cruises sailing from Galveston, you can book itineraries of four, five, and seven nights. Carnival Breeze and Explorer of the Seas both offer four-day sailings starting July 1 and July 3, 2021. You can also book a seven-night voyage with Liberty of the Seas starting July 4, 2021, and visit the ports of call of Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. The Carnival Vista also offers a seven-night sailing as early as July 10, 2021, stopping at Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.
For the latest updates regarding Port of Galvestons reopening, please visit the ports official website.
Cruise Lines That Sail From Miami Cruise Port
The Miami Cruise Port is ideally located just outside of the Downtown Miami area. Just over the causeway on Dodge Island in the beautiful Biscayne Bay, PortMiami offers some of the best sailaway views.
PortMiami is the homeport for a number of brands. These brands include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Viking, and Virgin Voyages.
Not to mention, several brands also include Miami as a port of call on some itineraries.
When arriving at the Miami Cruise Port for your cruise, there will be large electronic signs directing passengers to the correct terminals. Given that the Miami Cruise Port is bustling with cruise ships year-round, its no surprise that there are several terminals to process passengers.
The good news is that they are mostly all adjacent to each other along the waterfront.
Terminals at the Miami Cruise Port
Terminal AA/AAA are the projected cruise terminals to be built and financed by MSC Cruises. The projected completion of these terminals were scheduled for 2022. Though, the future is still unclear, as recent talks indicate a potential merger with the Disney terminal project.
Terminal A is Royal Caribbeans state of the art facility. This terminal was completed in November 2018 in time to process the largest cruise ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas.
Terminal C also belongs to Norwegian Cruise Line.
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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.
Hotels Near The Miami Cruise Port
When preparing for your cruise, you should consider planning a pre-cruise stay before the vacation. When cruising from the Miami Cruise Port, you will have a number of hotel options. Even if you are flying into the Fort Lauderdale airport, we would recommend securing a hotel in Miami so you are closer to the cruise port in the morning.
The Downtown and Brickell neighborhoods of Miami offer plenty of hotel choices. Some popular options include Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, Intercontinental Miami, and Kimpton Epic Hotel. Our personal favorite is East Miami located in the Brickell neighborhood.
If you want to spice up your pre-cruise stay, you could always spend a few days in South Beach. For more selections, see our guide to the Top Hotels Near the Miami Cruise Port.
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Terminal V Palm Grove
897 South Cruise Blvd, Port of Miami, FL33132
Formerly known as Terminal H, Terminal V is planned as an exclusive terminal dedicated to Virgin Voyages. This 100,000 sq.ft. Miami cruise terminal will have a tropical-inspired feel.
It is due for completion in late 2021 at an estimated cost of $180 million. It is located on the northwest side of the port and is planned to be the homeport to Virgins showcase Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. The construction of the terminal broke ground in early 2021.
Tunnel And Deep Dredge
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Four major projects directly and indirectly related to PortMiami are expected to increase both the capacity and efficiency of the port: the expansion of the Panama Canal, the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project, the PortMiami Tunnel, and the restoration and upgrade of the bridge and rail line connecting PortMiami to the mainland.
On May 24, 2010, construction began on the Miami Port Tunnel, a $1 billion project providing a much-needed direct connection from the port to I-395. Prior to the tunnel’s completion, the only way to enter and exit the port was via surface streets through downtown Miami. Construction on the tunnel finished in 2014.
Another major development for the PortMiami was the PortMiami Deep Dredge project, enabling Super Post Panamax Megaships to enter the United States after the completion of the Panama Canal expansion in 2014. The ports of Norfolk, New York and Baltimore have also deepened their ports to the required 50 feet. It is estimated that this project could double Miami’s cargo business in the next 10 years as well as creating over 30,000 permanent jobs for Miami, which currently has a very high unemployment rate.
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Virgin Voyages Terminal V
On November 28, 2018, Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin officially announced in Miami City company’s plans to build a new cruise terminal in PortMiami.
“Virgin Voyages Terminal” is sized 100,000 ft2 and will be located on seaport’s northwestern side. Approval for the project was given on Sept 20, 2019, with subsequent berthing agreement deal.
Construction works started in October 2019, with scheduled completion in November 2021. The USD 150 million facility was officially renamed from “Terminal H” to “Terminal V”. Virgin Voyages has brand’ss name on a for-profit train connecting Miami with West Palm Beach . Virgin’s cruise operations from PortMiami were planned to start in April 2020 with Scarlet Lady.
In late-October 2019 was approved the agreement for Brightline Miami to be rebranded “Virgin Trains” and Virgin Group to build a train station at the cruise port. The new station serves high-speed trains and connects PortMiami directly with the USA’s intercity railway system and Orlando International Airport. Construction works on Virgin Trains PortMiami are scheduled for completion in 2022.
Miami Cruise Terminals B C D E F G H J
- port address – “1741,1751 Africa Way, Dodge Island, Miami Florida 33132”
- location – 8 mi / 13 km from Miami International Airport, 25 mi / 40 km from Fort Lauderdale International Airport
- Port entrance is via Biscayne Blvd .
- Terminal address – “zzz Cruise Boulevard, Port of Miami, Miami, FL 33132”
- In the above address replace “zzz” with the corresponding address listed below:
- “Terminal A” – here dock Royal Caribbean ships only. Berth length is 1300 ft .
- Terminal B – here dock NCLH-Norwegian ships only
- Terminal C
- Terminal D – here dock Carnival ships only.
- Terminal E – here dock Carnival ships only.
- Terminal F
- Terminal G – here dock Royal Caribbean ships only
- Terminal H – for Resorts World Bimini .
- Terminal J Terminal J is primarily for docking luxury cruise ships from the fleets of Azamara, Crystal, Oceania, Regent. This terminal underwent an USD 3 million refurbishment which upgraded the furniture, more lounge seating was added, along with new check-in counters.
Terminals D and E are the newest and can berth the world’s largest cruise ships with capacity up to 5000 passengers. Their buildings are 3-story facilities , airline counters, conveyor baggage system.
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Who Sails From Portmiami
Home to many major cruise lines and capable of berthing 34 ships, PortMiami is the gateway to Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and beyond. The Cruise Capital of the World caters to a wide range of cruisers, from family and budget cruisers to luxury cruisers.
The following cruise lines have ships that homeport out of PortMiami: Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Viking and Virgin Voyages. Its also a port of call for AIDA, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hurtigruten, P& O Cruises, Phoenix, Princess Cruises, Saga, Scenic, Seabourn, TUI, Windstar Cruises and Amadea.
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Reported today at the State of the County, #PortMiami set a new record year in 2019 with a 3.4% gain in cargo traffic at 1.12 million TEUs, and a 22% increase in cruise with 6.8 million passengers! Mayor Gimenez congratulated CEO Juan Kuryla & his team for such a prosperous year!
PortMiami
Which Us Cruise Ports Are Open For Sailing
Ocean-lovers rejoice: with the latest announcement from the CDC, many US cruise ports are preparing to welcome cruisers back to their docks once again.
Here youll find the latest information on which cruise lines and sailings are now departing from American ports*. For more info on the comeback of cruising, check out our guide: everything you need to know about the restart of cruising.
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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.
Terminal A The Crown Of Miami
1015 North Cruise Blvd, Port of Miami, FL33132
Sleek and efficient, Terminal A is the largest cruise terminal in the US. It was opened in November 2018 and serves as homeport to Royal Caribbean International.
The 170,000 sq.ft. cruise terminal is capable of accommodating the larger Oasis-class ships of their fleet and includes parking at the terminal for 1000 cars.
Known as The Crown of Miami this cruise terminal is operated by RCI in corroboration with Miami-Dade County. It was designed to handle 2 million cruise passengers per year.
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How Much Is An Uber From Fll To Miami Cruise Port
How much is an Uber ride from Fort Lauderdale to Miami? If you use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the Port of Miami, you should expect to pay around $35 to $45 each way. This pricing is based per car, which rideshare services offer for up to four people for one fee.
What Time To Arrive
Your arrival time depends on when your specific ship is scheduled to leave. Check with your cruise line for more information. PortMiami recommends all passengers arrive at the port no fewer than two hours prior to sailaway to allow ample time for check-in and security screening.
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Independent Shuttles To The Port
In addition to the cruise line shuttles, there are independent shuttles that can get you to and from the port. The difference? They can be much cheaper.
Depending on where youre coming from, expect the cost to run about $10-25 per person, each way. Obviously it is cheaper to go from the Miami airport compared to Fort Lauderdale because of the distance. There are often discounts for additional passengers.
While rates are pretty low, if you are traveling in a group of three or more, wed suggest a taxi or Uber/Lyft as they will be comparable in cost but give you a private ride.
We cant list every shuttle service here as there are quite a few of them. All of the following, however, can give you a good start for your search.
Shuttle Companies:
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.
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Port Of Miami Cruise Guide: Everything About Sailing From Miami
When it comes to cruising, theres simply no bigger or busier port than the Port of Miami. Also known as PortMiami, the cruise side of the port handles about 6 million passengers each year, making it the most popular starting point for cruises on the entire planet.
All told, the Port of Miami has eight active terminals with more on the way , services over 1,200 sailings in the typical year, and offers a year-round warm weather locale to start your cruise.
With so much going on at the port, you might have questions about cruising from the city. For instance, how do you get to the port? Where do you park? What sort of tips and advice is there to make embarkation smoother?
Weve dug into the all the details of cruising from PortMiami below. It will give you all the details you need to know before you set sail.
In This Article…
- Distance from Miami Airport: 10 miles
- Number of Terminals: 8
- Passengers Carried Each Year: 5.6 million
- Cruise Ship Dockings Each Year: 1,200+
Guide To Cruises From Miami
Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world and is home to some of Royal Caribbeans newest and most popular ships. As the hub of the cruising industry, Miami is a convenient port option for those looking for various options of ships and itineraries.
Royal Caribbean sails year round from the Port of Miami, officially known as PortMiami, and offers primarily Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises. Whether youre a seasoned cruiser or are planning your first cruise vacation, here is what you need to know when sailing from PortMiami.
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Phillip And Patricia Frost Museum Of Science
A roughly 10-minute ride from the port is the Frost Museum of Science . Here, kids and kids at heart can marvel at the 500,000-gallon aquarium, kid-friendly touch tanks and the 250-seat 3D planetarium. There are also exhibits on the solar system, physics of flight, biology, light and lasers, and more. Tickets cost $27.95 for adults, $18.95 for youth ages 311. Admission is free for kids 2 and under.
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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, .
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