Cruising from Miami? you can’t start your vacation without getting to the terminal first!
Luckily, there are a number of easy ways to get to the port whether coming from the Miami International Airport, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, or other points in the area.
The cruise terminal is located on Dodge Island, just across from downtown Miami. It is about 8 miles east of Miami International Airport and 25 miles south of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Expect the trip to take about 15-20 minutes to get from the Miami airport to the cruise port. Trips take 40-60 minutes from Fort Lauderdale to the Miami cruise port, depending on traffic.
Here is a map showing the cruise port in relation to the Miami airport:
The address is 1015 N. America Way, Miami, Florida 33132 if you wish to map your route.
In This Article...
Driving Directions to the Cruise Port
If you plan drive yourself to the ship, then the directions below will get you there.
Coming from north of Miami: Take I-95 South and exit 2D to I-395/Miami Beach. Follow I-395 East over the MacArthur Causeway. Use the left lane to take FL-887/Port Miami Tunnel exit toward Port of Miami. Continue through tunnel and follow signage to designated terminal.
Coming from the south: Take Route 1 or I-95 North and exit 2D to I-395/Miami Beach. Follow I-395 East over the MacArthur Causeway. Use the left lane to take FL-887/Port Miami Tunnel exit toward Port of Miami. Continue through tunnel and follow signage to designated terminal.
Transportation Options to the Miami Cruise Port
If you’re flying in for your cruise, or simply don’t want to worry with the hassle and expense of parking, then there are plenty of transportation options to get to the cruise terminal.
Below, we’ve covered the main options to get to the cruise port, along with estimated prices from the major airports. Keep in mind that prices can change.
Not sure which option is best for you? Below we’ve covered each, including our favorite recommendations.
For most people, we recommend using Uber or Lyft as they are among the cheapest and most convenient options. If planning to stay in a hotel, then we recommend a Miami hotel with a cruise port shuttle.
Uber/Lyft (Recommended)
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.
An Uber/Lyft fare from the Miami airport to the Port of Miami would run approximately $20-$25, compared to $30-$35 for a taxi. If flying into Fort Lauderdale, the fare is around $55-$60 to the Miami cruise port, compared to roughly $85-$100 for a taxi.
Keep in mind these rates are per car, not per person. So a couple or small group traveling together pays the same rate.
Why do we like using Uber/Lyft to the port? For one, they are less expensive than many other options. We also like the convenience of being able to call a car when you are ready instead of being on a tight schedule.
For more details and rates on using rideshare services to get to the Miami port, read our article here. It includes rates from a number of spots around the area, and more details on using the service.
Hotel With Shuttles to the Port (Recommended)
There’s no arguing that Miami is the cruise capital of the world. With millions of passengers sailing from there each year, hotels cater to them by offering perks like shuttles to the cruise port.
Often these hotels offer free shuttles, or shuttles that are included with a hotel package. There are also a number of Miami hotels near the Coral Way trolley, a transit route offering free transportation to the port.
See our full list of 30+ Miami hotels with cruise shuttles here. We also have a number of hotels near the port with shuttles below. If you plan to stay in a hotel the night before, booking one with a shuttle to the port is a smart idea. Hotels near the airport will also likely have a free shuttle from the airport, taking care of getting you from the flight to your hotel, and then from the hotel to the cruise port.
For more details about these hotels, we’ve linked to them on Kayak. If a package is required, you might have to book directly with the hotel.
- Hampton Inn Coconut Grove (shuttle with package or $10 pp)
- Hampton Inn Miami Airport South/Blue Lagoon ($14 pp)
- Hilton Garden Inn Miami Brickell South (shuttle with package)
- Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon ($13 pp)
- Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (free shuttle)
- Comfort Inn & Suites Miami International Airport (free shuttle)
One thing to note is that we know of no hotels in Fort Lauderdale with shuttles to the Port of Miami. The distance is simply too far for them to offer service.
If you have already booked a hotel in the Miami, give them a call and see if they offer a shuttle to the port.
Taxis
If you are going from the Miami airport to the cruise terminal, taxis cost around $30-$35. That’s based on the ride, not per person. So if you are traveling with a family of four, that’s about $8 per person (or $16 round-trip) — a decent deal. As well, unlike shuttles, taxis leave whenever you’re ready. There is no waiting for other passengers.
Expect to pay a bit more if you’re traveling by taxi from the Fort Lauderdale airport due to the longer ride. Taxi fare is an estimated $85-$100 each way from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the Miami cruise port.
Taxis do offer convenience in that they are already there at the airport and waiting to offer a ride whenever you arrive. Just follow the signs to ground transportation when your flight arrives.
Cruise Line Transfers
Many of the cruise lines offer transfer service from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports to the cruise terminals.
Carnival, for example, offers a shuttle from the Miami airport to your cruise for $23 one-way/$46 round trip per person. The same shuttle runs about $37 one-way/$74 round-trip per person from the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Cruise line transfers offer convenience, but we also find they can be expensive and restrictive. For instance, many are only available on the day of your cruise and the day you depart. So if you’re flying in the day before, then a transfer from the cruise line won’t work.
As well, prices are per person. A family of four taking the Carnival transfer from the Miami airport would pay more than $180 round trip, despite the trip only taking about 15-20 minutes each way.
That’s why we suggest finding alternate ways to the port.
If you are still interested in cruise transfers, you can call your cruise line for more information.
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 you’re coming from, expect the cost to run about $15-25 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, we’d suggest a taxi or Uber/Lyft as they will be comparable in cost but give you a private ride.
We can’t list every shuttle service here as there are quite a few of them. Note that we don’t recommend or suggest against any particular company as we haven’t used them. All of the following, however, can give you a good start for your search.
Shuttle Companies:
Private Cars/Limos
Some people simply like to go in style. In a place like Miami, that’s easy to do. There are dozens of car services in the area that will pick you up in a private car or limo. In fact, many of the same companies that provide shared shuttle service also have private car service too.
Of course, this service is typically a little pricier. But if you’re splitting the cost among four or more passengers, it can be surprisingly affordable.
We don’t recommend or discourage any of the following car services (we’ve never used them), but provide them as a starting point for you to see what’s available.
Private Car/Limo Companies:
Public Transportation (Least Expensive Option)
Despite its reputation as a car-centric area, South Florida does offer public transportation. If you are ok navigating what might be an unfamiliar transit system, it can be a cheap way to get between the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports to the cruise port. And when coming from the Miami airport, it takes only about 45 minutes.
We have full details of how to use public transport to the cruise terminals here. The general directions and prices are as follows…
Miami International (MIA) to Port of Miami
- Take MIA Mover at Airport –> Arrive at Rental Car Center/Metrorail Train Station (Free)
- Take Metrorail Orange Line –> Arrive at Brickell Station or Government Center ($2.25)
2a. If traveling on a weekend, you’ll transfer from the Orange Line to the Green Line at Earlington Heights and then ride to Brickell Station or Government Center - Take Miami Trolley (Coral Way Route) –> Arrive at Port of Miami (Free)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) to Port of Miami
- Take FLA-1 Commuter Connector at airport –> Arrive at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach for Tri-Rail (Free)
- Take Tri-Rail –> Arrive at Metrorail Transfer Station ($2.50/$5.00)
- Take Green Line –> Arrive at Brickell Station ($2.25)
- Take Miami Trolley (Coral Way Route) –> Arrive at Port of Miami (Free)
As you can see, while it is cheap (less than $3 if flying into Miami) the public transportation takes some time and at least one transfer to get to the port. For that reason, we recommend other methods for those unfamiliar with the area.
However, we’ve personally done this route from the Miami airport to the cruise port and it was fairly simple. There is also staff along the way that can help with the journey. Note that the trolley drop off at the port is a considerable distance from Terminals A & B (Royal Caribbean and Norwegian) and will require a decent walk.
More on Cruising From Miami
Miami Hotels with Cruise Shuttles — Staying in Miami before your cruise? These area hotels offer shuttles to the port.
Miami Cruise Parking — Parking at the port? We’ve got you covered with all your parking options, including costs and discounts.
Miami Park and Cruise Hotels — If you plan to stay in Miami the night before your cruise, look at this list of hotels that offer cruise parking with a one-night stay.
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If a cruise comes back to MIA at 630 am, what is the earliest Flight of out MIA airport (to our home) could we take without missing flight out of MIA: 9 or 10 am? Thanks.
I’d suggest 10 a.m. If everything goes right, 9:00 a.m. may be possible, but it’s tight.
We took Coral Line trolley from the port (about a 20 minute wait) and rode it around for about 1 hour just to see Miami. The driver (Rodrigo) was great. We caught the train at the Vizcaya station. That was the hardest part but a local helped us buy our tickets – $2.25 each. It was very simple to catch the train. The the people mover was super crowded but also easy. We were travelling with two large rolling suitcases, two roll aboard size cases and one carry on and one personal item. No problem getting them on or off. Thank you for the instructions!!
The Metrorail train to Brickell station (Orange line) is a relatively new train isnt it.. How long would it take to get from Airport Metrorail terminal to cruise terminal, worst and best case scenario ?
The airport is only about 15 minutes away via Uber/Lyft. If anything happens you can just call a car and be there quickly.
are there Uber or Lyft vehicles that will accommodate 5 passengers and their lugguage?
Yes there are. Look for UberXL or Lyft XL. There are designed to fit up to six passengers. Although with luggage as well, we’d suggest getting two vehicles.
I did not find your site helpful at all. I am not a US citizen and when I entered my phone number it was not accepted.
I don’t understand how I can book a ride or be able to contact a driver on arrival at airport?
Why don’t you have a contact point at Miami Airport or an office. I mean, a place I can make contact. I would like to use Lyft or Uber but it sounds too complicated to me.
Best Regards Pat
If you can’t use Uber/Lyft, then we have a number of other options available. For instance, you can just catch a cab from the Miami airport when your flight arrives.
if you port out of Port Canaveral, try looking at GoPortCanaveral.com. They have wonderful packages.
I like how you mentioned many shuttle service options for transportation in Port Canaveral. My husband and I are looking to go on vacation in the area and won’t have a car, so knowing our options is helpful. Thank you for the information about finding a shuttle service from the airport or any city in Florida to get to where we’re going.
Great which shopping mall would you recommend from Hilton airport