Miami Cruise Terminal Guide: What You Need to Know

Table Of Content

• Useful Information About Miami for Cruise Passengers
• Dropping Off/Picking Up Passengers
• Best Time to Visit and Cruise from Miami?
• From the Airport:
• Carnival Corporation plans headquarters sale and Miami relocation
• Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
• Cruise Line Adds “Glacier Day” to Its Alaskan Cruise Itineraries

Formerly known as Terminal H, Terminal V is planned as an exclusive terminal dedicated to Virgin Voyages. Terminal K is a newly approved terminal to serve as homeport for at least one of Disney Cruise Line’s latest ships which will all be powered by eco-friendly LNG. An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) was approved by Miami-Dade commissioners in Fall 2018. It will become a fully automated “One-stop shop” for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services. This facility is designed to look like a boutique to cater to discerning high-end cruisers who are looking for more personal service. All vehicles must enter the port via Biscayne Blvd and the Port Bridge.

Useful Information About Miami for Cruise Passengers

Royal Caribbean Group will be responsible for the repayment of 125% of capital construction costs for that project over the first 30 years of the term. The county is willing to spend up to $450 million on that project. The agreement also extends the lease there for another 50 years.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Passengers

You pay a fee/ night to leave your car at the hotel or book a parking package which includes a night stay, shuttle service and cruise parking. Hotel ShuttlesIf you are staying at a hotel in the area, then know that many of them offer shuttles to the cruise port. Some hotels offer the service for free while others charge a nominal amount for the service. Either way, it’s a simple way to get to the ship on cruise day. See our full list of hotels in Miami with cruise shuttles to the port. Many of the cruise lines offer transfer service from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports to the cruise terminals.

Best Time to Visit and Cruise from Miami?

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. To keep things simple, you have two main options — park at the official port parking or with an independent parking lot. Terminal ACurrently one of the crown jewels 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 Caribbean’s biggest ships, which are the largest in the world.

From the Airport:

In the last fiscal year through September 2023, it welcomed nearly 7.3 million passengers. The entrance to the port is walkable over the Port Boulevard Bridge from downtown Miami (not Miami Beach). The ships are lined up in a row along the north side of the island so the distance obviously depends on which terminal you are going to. Pre-Covid on the Meraviglia we left from Terminal D if I remember correctly. The new MSC terminal (now due to open next summer) will be at the far east end.

Carnival Corporation plans headquarters sale and Miami relocation

I’ve been seeking the information you posted for some time now but didn’t know where to look. We are at the Holiday Inn adjacent to the port so your information is perfect. Miami Beach - especially the area along the beach - isn't exactly local to the port especially walking since you need to walk to downtown Miami and then cross back to Port Miami. By the agreement, NCLH received preferential berthing rights at the new Terminal B. This means priority docking of vessels from the fleets of NCL, Oceania and RSSC-Regent. The required minimum number of ship calls (per fiscal year) is 45, which is 15 more than the previous agreement. Miami-Dade shares the county's parking and marketing revenues.

Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America

However, baggage storage is available for a fee through private companies if you're booked on a flight departing from Miami International Airport. You could also check with your cruise line for luggage forwarding services if needed. Arrangements should be made with your cruise line in advance if you require wheelchair assistance to board the ship. If wheelchairs are required for the duration of the sailing, passengers are responsible for providing their own or they could likely rent from their cruise ship. All garages and Lot 2 offer day parking and short-term parking.

Cruise Line Adds “Glacier Day” to Its Alaskan Cruise Itineraries

Click here to finding pricing and locations closest to the PortMiami Cruise Terminal. If you are travelling in from the Interstate, look for the signs for the PortMiami tunnel. It’s a quick and free way to get directly to the port without having to get off the Interstate and drive in downtown Miami. From the south, take I-95 North and take Northwest 2nd Street exit. From here you will see the Port of Miami Bridge which will take you into the port entrance.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Two nine-ship — full capacity — cruise days for PortMiami - Seatrade Cruise News

Two nine-ship — full capacity — cruise days for PortMiami.

Posted: Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The trolley drops off at the port every 15 to 20 minutes from early until mid-evening all days except Sunday. If your cruise line has a broad boarding window (something like noon to 4 p.m.), then you can arrive at any point during that window. We suggest waiting until the second half of the boarding window to actually arrive.

Royal Caribbean signs deal to build new cruise terminal in Miami in new deal with port - Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean signs deal to build new cruise terminal in Miami in new deal with port.

Posted: Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Ride-sharing services have opened up a much cheaper and convenient way to get to the port. Uber and Lyft are available from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports, so no matter where you fly, you can catch a ride to the ship. According to county documents, the county will foot the construction costs up front.

PortMiami is one of USA's fastest growing containership ports. It contributes annually with around USD 43 billion to the economy and supports over 334,000 jobs countrywide. Miami Cruise Terminals C, D & E have been built with mega-ships holding up to 5000 passengers. Over five times the size of the Titanic, the Icon of the Seas is over 1000 feet long and 20 decks tall. Miami International Apirport is just eight miles away from PortMiami.

NCL terminal's construction officially started on April 26, 2018 (ground-breaking ceremony). The project was officially approved on April 10th, and works started on May 1st, with planned completion in Fall 2019. RCCL later added to the project another building (named "Innovation Lab") that serves as the corporation's headquarters. Innovation Lab is sized 1860 m2 (20,000 ft2) and also hosts the company's ship design studio.

The port caters to travelers with on-port parking and easy access to public transportation, taxes and rideshares. Also, if you want to splash out a bit more, these apps can be used to book a high-end SUV for your journey, providing a costlier but more luxurious travel experience. All payments can be conducted securely through the app via credit card, meaning you don’t need to worry about getting a hold of cash. Reserving your airport transfer through the cruise line promises a level of convenience, comfort and assurance that other options might not meet. You will often be greeted by cruise company representatives, conducted to a comfortable coach, and be safe in the knowledge that if the shuttle is delayed the cruise will not be leaving without you.

Terminal CAn older terminal that often served Norwegian Cruise Lines before that cruise line moved next door, Terminal C still gets use from cruise lines like Disney and MSC. From here you can get a great view of all of the Miami area, looking out east to South Beach or west to downtown. Terminal BTerminal B (pictured above) is home to a Norwegian Cruise Lines. The Miami cruise port sits in a perfect location, on Dodge Island just over the causeway from downtown Miami. About three miles from the open waters of the Atlantic, the port is protected from the ocean yet still close enough to make it a short time to get out to sea.

The project's value was estimated at USD 247 million for PortMiami - after taking into consideration up-front costs and annual rent for current cargo shipping purposes. For comparison, the Port's annual revenues are US$1,2M (from cargo activities) and US$9,5M (from cruise shipping). The port has 2 super post-Panamax gantry cranes (among the world's largest) with capacity to handle 22,000-TEU boxships. Miami is also among the most fortunate ports where newest cruise ships make show-off visits and many schedule inaugural homeporting seasons. Port's facilities are among the most modern, providing easy processing and boarding. PortMiami serves 20+ cruise companies and 60+ different passenger ships.