MIAMI CRUISE TERMINAL

The Port of Miami is one of cruising’s biggest hubs with seven main terminals and dozens of ships from all of the major cruise lines. The port is made up of three connecting islands that are joined with the mainland via the Port Boulevard Bridge.  It is important to know which terminal your cruise ship will be using or you might try to drop your luggage off at the wrong one!

If you are using a GPS or map program (we use Here WeGo) input the following addresses to find your cruise terminal:

CRUISE TERMINAL A: 2299  East Port Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL B: 1751 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL C: 1741 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL D: 1435 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL E: 1265 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL F: 1103 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL G: 909/1055 North Cruise Boulevard

CRUISE TERMINAL J: 1120 Caribbean Way

Note: All cruise terminal addresses are Miami, FL 33132.

View a map of the cruise terminals from the Port of Miami.

Also scheduled for completion in November-2021 is the revamped Terminal H which will be Virgin Voyages state of the art terminal for its new cruise ships. Check out those plans here. 

PASSENGER & LUGGAGE DROP OFF

EMBARKATION: Passengers may drop off their luggage, and companions if they wish, at their designated terminal prior to parking.

DISEMBARKATION: When returning you can either retrieve your vehicle and return to the terminal to pick up your companions and luggage in the loading area, or take your luggage and companions to your parking lot to retrieve your vehicle. If you are being picked up there are cell phone waiting lots across from Terminals B, E, and F.

The area next to the cruise terminal is for loading and unloading only so you should be prepared to unload/load quickly to allow others to do the same.

TAXIS: As to be expected there is a high demand for taxis during peak disembarkation hours and they may not be readily available. Please account for this wait time in your plans for departure day, especially when booking a flight home.

WHICH TERMINAL DO YOU GO TO?

Cruise Terminals B and C: Norwegian Cruise Line (Escape, Getaway, Jade, Star, Sky, Sun)

Cruise Terminal D & E: Carnival Cruise Line (Glory, Horizon, Magic, Sensation, Victory, Vista)

Cruise Terminal F: MSC Cruises (Divina, Seaside) and Disney Cruise Line (Magic)

Cruise Terminal G: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (Empress, Enchantment, Mariner, Navigator) and Celebrity Cruises (Eclipse, Equinox)

Cruise Terminal J: Oceania (Insignia, Riviera, Regatta, Marina, Sirena) and Regent Seven Seas (Explorer, Navigator, Mariner)

Always confirm the terminal your ship will be departing from with your cruise line. 

*Click on each of the ship names above to learn a little more about the ship you’ll be sailing on

PORTS OF CALL FOR SHIPS DEPARTING MIAMI

Port of Miami is home to 20 cruise lines and 45 cruise ships so you’re sure to find something sailing from this port that you’d enjoy. For 2019 Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Viking, and Virgin cruise lines will offer several ships with itineraries scheduled to include:

Acapulco  |  Amber Cove  |  Antigua  |  Aruba  |  Astoria  |  Barbados  |  Barcelona  |  Bar Harbor  |  Basseterre  |  Belize  |  Bermuda  |  Bonaire  |  Boston  |  Bridgetown  |  Cabo San Lucas  |  Cadiz  |  Cartagena  |  Castaway Cay  |  Castries  |  Cienfuegos  |  Civitavecchia  |  Charleston  |  Charlotte Amalie  |  CocoCay  |  Colon  |  Cork (Cobh)  |  Corner Brook  |  Costa Maya  |  Cozumel  |  Cristobal  |  Curacao  |  Dublin  |  Falmouth  |  Freeport  |  Fuerte Amador  |  Genoa  |  Golfito  |  Grand Bahama Island  |  Grand Cayman  |  Grand Turk |  Great Stirrup Cay  |  Grenada  |  Half Moon Cay  |  Halifax  |  Hamilton  |  Harvest Cay  |  Havana  |  Hilo  |  Honolulu  |  Huatulco  |  Hubbard Glacier  |  Ibiza  |  Icy Strait Point  |  Juneau  |  Kahului  |  Ketchikan  |  Key West  |  Kralendijk  |  Labadee  |  La Romana  |  Lima  |  Lisbon  |  Los Angeles  |  Mahogany Bay  |  Malaga  |  Marseille  |  Martinique  |  Montreal  |  Moorea  |  Nassau  |  New Orleans  |  New York  |  Nuku Hiva  |  Ocho Rios  |  Oranjestad  |  Orta  |  Panama Canal  |  Panama City  |  Papeete  |  Philipsburg  |  Ponta Delgada  |  Portland  |  Prince Rupert  |  Princess Cays  |  Puerto Limon  |  Puerto Costa Maya  |  Puerto Quepos  |  Puerto Quetzal  |  Punta Cana  |  Puntarenas  |  Quebec City  |  Roatan  |  Roseau  |  Saguenay  |  Salaverry  |  Saint John  |  San Francisco  |  San Juan  |  Santa Marta  |  Santiago de Cuba  |  Santo Tomas de Castilla  |  Sitka  |  Southampton  |  St. Barts  |  St. Croix  |  St. John’s  |  St. Kitts  |  St. Lucia  |  St. Maarten  |  St. Pierre  |  St. Thomas  |  Tortola  |  Turks & Caicos  |  Valencia  |  Vancouver  |  Waterford (Dunmore)  |  Willemstad

*Please Note: These scheduled ports of call are not guaranteed as the cruise line may make changes to their itineraries due to weather or other reasons. 

MONEY MATTERS

CURRENCY

The currency of the United States is the US Dollar (USD) which is divided into 100 cents. It is printed on paper bills in the following denominations: $1, $2 (uncommon), $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. It also includes the following coins: 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), and 25¢ (quarter). There are 50¢ pieces and dollar coins but they aren’t common.

TIPPING

Although it’s not mandatory, tipping is customary in the United States and some service industries will expect a tip for a job well done. Visitors from outside the country may also be surprised at how much is tipped as it can be quite a bit more than in, for example, European countries.

RESTAURANTS: It is customary to offer your waiter or waitress a tip between 15-20% depending on the level of service they provided. Usually, you will find the service is very attentive (refilling your drinking, checking on your party etc.) but if the service isn’t great you can leave a smaller tip or even no tip. Typically service that doesn’t warrant a tip does warrant speaking with a manager to voice your dissatisfaction. If you are dining with a large group (usually 8 or more) the restaurant may add an 18% service charge to your bill automatically so check for this before you add your tip. This is usually indicated at the bottom of a menu if the restaurant does this, or it will be indicated on your bill.

BARS: A tip of 10-15% is appropriate at a bar. In some places, you’ll find a “tip jar” on the bar and others you can give the tip to your server directly.

TAXIS: A tip of 10-15% of your fare is customary, especially if your driver helps you with your luggage.

Paying with a credit or debit card is very common and in most restaurants, bars, and even taxis,  you’ll be able to add a tip to the total on the machine when you settle the bill if you don’t have cash. This is so common that many credit card machines now even have buttons with 15% / 18% / 20% on them so it will calculate the tip for you if you choose that option. You are always given the option to select the amount you’d like to tip, or you can opt not to put the tip on your card and give a cash tip instead.

BANKS & ATMS

Finding an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) will not be too difficult in Miami. We’ve pinned several ATMs that are near the terminal to the map below.

Generally, in the US, you will find ATMs at banks (some may have drive-thru ATMs), in grocery stores, gas stations, and in pharmacies (of which two common ones are CVS and Walgreens).

GETTING AROUND MIAMI

Thanks to the Miami Downtown Development Authority, getting around Miami has never been easier. Check out this interactive map of their key transportation systems.

Public transportation options include:

• Miami Trolley – Has ten different routes around the city that operator seven days a week for free. Click here for route maps and hours of operation or here to download the Miami Trolley App.
• Metrorail – Provides easy access to Downton Miami and the airport, among other stops. Click here for the routes, hours, and pricing or here for the MDT Tracker app. 
• Metromover – A fully-automated, electrically powered system that will move you around the city for free. It also connects with the Metrobus in many places to extend the areas you can visit. Click here for more information. 
• Metrobus – With connections to the Metromover, the bus system serves all major shopping, entertainment, and cultural centres. For schedules and routes, click here. 

Other options in the city include:

• Citi Bike – A bike-sharing rental system that provides locals and visitors with a great way to skip traffic and see the city. For more information click here and for the app click here. 
• FreeBee – A fun, eco-friendly, and free ride around town, FreeBee claims to be more than just a ride – it’s an experience! Check them out here. 
• Uber/Lyft – Both programs operate in Miami to get you where you need to go. If you haven’t joined their program yet, click here for Uber or here for Lyft and receive a discount on your first trip. 
• Water Taxi – For a more relaxing way to get around, or just check out Miami from the water, you can hop in their water taxi for visits to places like Bayside Marketplace, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach. Click here for schedules and fares. 
• ZipCar – For an alternative to a traditional rental while visiting Miami, you can drive one of these cars by the hour or day with gas and insurance included. They have hybrids, convertibles, and SUVs and more to meet your needs. Click here for more information. 

With all these options you will be able to really take in Miami if you visit for a pre or post-cruise stay!

MIAMI WEATHER

In general, you’ll find the summers are hot, oppressive, wet, and mostly cloudy while the winters are short, comfortable, humid, windy, and mostly clear. The best times to visit Miami for warm-weather outdoor activities is from early November to late April.

The hottest part of the year is from early June to end of September with average daily high temperatures above 87°F (30°C). The cooler part of the year is from the beginning of December to the beginning of March with average daily high temperatures below 78°F (25°C).

MIAMI VISITOR’S CENTER

The Greater Miami Convention & Vistors Bureau is a great place for even more, in-depth, information about many sights and sounds in the Miami area.

LOCATION: 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700, Miami, FL 33131

PHONE: 1-305-539-3000 or toll-free in the USA 1-800-933-8448

HOURS OF OPERATION: Open Monday – Friday from 0830- 1800

There are several other regional visitors centers in the area. For those addresses click here.

For the Official Miami Visitor’s Guides click here to sign up to receive one by mail or instant download.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Miami is one happening place and that can definitely be seen in the number of events going on almost every day of the year. Some events are so spectacular they get to enjoy them every year such as the following sampling:

• Coconut Grove Arts Festival (February) – Features the works of over 380 of the finest artists and craftspeople in the world during this three-day festival.
• South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February) – Recognized as American’s most prestigious gourmet gathering, this is a star-studded event that is a must-do if you’re in town during this time.
• Miami Fashion Week (May) – This is the only fashion week that dedicated to resort-style (perfect for cruising!) and pre-spring collections.
• NASCAR Ford Championship Weekend (November) – All three of NASCAR’s premier racing series crowns Champions during this weekend in November.

These are just a few of the events held annually in Miami. Check out the calendar of events below for more annual festivals, as well as special events being held in 2019.

DINING

Downtown Miami is home to over 300 places to eat ranging from little corner coffee shops to five-star restaurants, from quick bites to full-service dining. There is cuisine from all over the world to tempt your taste buds and they also have restaurants featuring celebrity chefs (click here for info).

SHOPPING

From name-brand department stores to unique boutiques, you’ll find plenty of places to do some shopping for those last-minute cruise items or souvenirs of your trip. Popular shopping destinations in Miami include:

• Bayside Marketplace – Located on Biscayne Bay, this two-level, open-air centre has over 150 stores, shops, and restaurants. This marketplace is recognized as a national must-see destination and is the number one most visited tourist attraction in Miami.
• Brickell City Centre – With a half a million square feet of shopping space, this shopping centre has three levels of shopping, dining, and entertainment. It is a mix of premium and contemporary shops for beauty, home decor, jewellery, clothing, and much more.
• Historic Flagler Street – Located in the heart of the downtown area, this historic street is where visitors can find great prices on items such as sporting goods, shoes, fragrances, luggage, and fashion. It is hope to the Olympia Theater, Macy’s department store, as well as speciality shops. It is currently undergoing improvements, especially for pedestrians which are due to be completed in 2019.
• Mary Brickell Village – This is a small, speciality mall with high-end boutiques selling clothes, jewellery, housewares and more. There is also a selection of restaurants which are sure to suit every taste and budget.

MAP

The map below shows the points of interest mentioned above in relation to the cruise terminal.