There is no bigger or busier city for cruising than Miami. The port handles more than 6 million passengers in a typical year, making it the most popular port to start cruising globally. Also known as Port of Miami, it has 8 active terminals that serve several major cruise lines with over 1,200 sailings yearly.

Chances are, if you are here, you will probably be taking your cruise from Miami for your vacation. Our team has compiled top tips to help you if you plan to take a cruise from Miami. Let’s take a deep dive.

Flying In For Your Cruise? Check Both Fort Lauderdale And Miami Airports For Deals

Miami Port is located in South Florida, home to millions of people. With these millions of people, the area is bound to have two significant airports, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami International, to serve the people there.

While Fort Lauderdale is further from the Port than Miami International Airport is, it is still located at a reasonable distance, meaning you can still search for flights for both airports and get the best deals. Wondering why you would want to fly into Fort Lauderdale since it’s further away? It offers more choices for price and schedule, and you can save a lot and get on a better flight than when flying y through Miami International Airport.

Get A Hotel With A Shuttle To The Port Of Miami

If you are flying to Miami, you must get a ride to the port. We suggest booking a hotel close to the Port of Miami that offers a cruise shuttle. Most hotels will offer you a free ride in exchange for a night’s stay. While some hotel rides are free, others charge a small fee of $5 to $10 per person for a shuttle ride. Either way, this is the easiest way to get to the port.

Do Not Book Your Flight Home Before Noon

Even when everything goes as planned, we suggest not to book a flight before noon on the disembarkation day. Why, you ask? Many cruise ships get back to the port around 6 am. While this is very early, getting every passenger off the ship takes several hours, and processing everything through customs. Some people will be off the ship by 7.30 am, while others will not get off until 10 am. You do not know when you will get off, so it will be safer to schedule your flight later.

Board Later-On In The Day

The Port of Miami is quite busy, as we have previously mentioned. During peak seasons, there are tons of ships in the port when tens of thousands of people get off the cruises while others are boarding.

When going on your cruise, prepare to get on the cruise later on. This will allow you to avoid the busy sessions when everyone is disembarking. Many cruise lines have their board window from 12 to 4 pm. When boarding starts,  there are long queues of everyone waiting to board. Often the long lines will thin out later in the afternoon, and we recommend going to board. This way, you will not have to stay in long lines to board. On top of that, boarding later gives the crew more time to take care of your cabins.

Book For Your Parking Early at Safe Cruise Park Miami

It is essential to ensure your parking is safe and secure when going on your cruise. If you plan to drive to Miami to catch the cruise, consider saving and securing parking for your car. We recommend booking your parking space early to avoid inconveniences.

At Safe Cruise Parking, we ensure your vehicle is safe while on vacation. You can book your slot early to save some cash. Safe Cruise Parking is at 189 NE SECOND STREET, MIAMI, FL 33132.  Check out some directions to get to our lot below.  Check out some directions to get to our lot below.

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