PortMiami Cruise Port: Terminals A to V and Getting There

Miami cruise ships dock at PortMiami on Dodge Island, about 4 km (2.5 mi) from downtown over the Port Boulevard bridge, with ten lettered terminals across roughly two miles. You need a vehicle. Miami International is about 9 miles away, a 20 to 30 minute drive; Wynwood Walls and Vizcaya are the two sights worth a day.

PortMiami at a glance: address, terminals and how it works

PortMiami does two jobs at once: cruise ships and cargo. The cruise side is the busiest in the world. Count the terminals and you get ten: AA, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J and V. The port has had ten ships in on one day with close to 68,000 passengers, and Miami-Dade’s transport planners expect cruise passenger numbers to climb from 7 million towards 24 million.

• Administrative address: 1015 North America Way, Miami, FL 33132. This is an office, not a terminal. Do not hand it to a taxi driver unless you enjoy being dropped at a desk.
• Terminal A address: 2000 N. Cruise Blvd, which is also the address of Garage A. If your paperwork says 2000 N Cruise Blvd, you’re heading for Royal Caribbean’s terminal.
• Postcode: 33132 across the port.
• Distance to Miami International Airport: about 9 miles, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Distance to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International: about 27 miles, roughly an hour.

The one thing that matters most: terminal letters belong to cruise lines and can move by ship and sailing. The letter on your e-documents and luggage tags is the one to trust, not one you saw online last year. For a fuller breakdown of who berths where, see the guide to PortMiami terminals and which cruise lines dock where.

If this is your first sailing from here, run through the first-time cruiser tips for PortMiami before you plan your day.

PortMiami cruise port map

The terminals run the length of the port island, so look for the letter on your cruise documents. From Terminal G, Bayside Marketplace is about an 18-minute walk. Tap a pin for directions.

• Terminal A (Royal Caribbean)Where ships dock
• Terminal BWhere ships dock
• Terminal CWhere ships dock
• Terminal DWhere ships dock
• Terminal GWhere ships dock
• Terminal JWhere ships dock
• Terminal V (Virgin Voyages)Where ships dock
• Bayside MarketplaceShopping mall · About 18 min walk from Terminal G
• MiamiCentral StationTrain station · About 3 km from Terminal G
• Wynwood WallsStreet art · About 4 km from Terminal G
• Vizcaya Museum & GardensMuseum and gardens · About 7 km from Terminal G

Which Miami cruise terminal does your ship use?

Royal Caribbean sails from Terminal A, Norwegian from Terminal B, MSC from Terminal AA, Carnival rotates across Terminals D, E and F, and Virgin Voyages uses Terminal V. Celebrity currently shares Terminal A with Royal Caribbean, and Terminal J takes the smaller and luxury ships.

Lines that treat PortMiami as a home port include Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages, while Holland America, Oceania, Azamara, Celebrity and Cunard also call. Carnival shuffles its ships between D, E and F, so the letter on your paperwork is the only answer that holds on the day.

If you’re sailing on a specific ship, Icon of the Seas passengers can read about where Icon of the Seas sails from at PortMiami, and anyone wondering what building work might change should check PortMiami construction and terminal changes before travelling.

To confirm which terminal and date apply to your sailing, check the PortMiami cruise calendar for your ship.

Can you walk to Miami cruise port?

You can’t walk to the Miami cruise port in any practical sense. Port Boulevard is a road bridge with no proper pedestrian provision, the terminals are spread across a two-mile island, and the walk from downtown to Bayside alone is about 2 km with no shade. Take a vehicle.

Even short hops between terminals need a ride, which matters if you’ve dropped bags at the wrong letter. Taxis serve every terminal on cruise days, and rideshare and taxis use designated pick-up and drop-off zones at each one.

Getting to PortMiami from the airport, by train or by shuttle

Miami International is the nearest airport at about 9 miles. Cruise lines sell transfers, and there’s no general free airport-to-port shuttle for all passengers. Getting this bit right is where most pre-cruise stress sits, so compare the options before you book anything.

• Cruise line transfer: pick-up at MIA is at the North bus station, Concourse D, Level 1, Door 1, or the South bus station, Concourse J, Level 1, Door 33. It’s convenient, priced per person, and slowest when several ships turn around at once.
• Taxi or rideshare: typically 20 to 30 minutes from MIA. Fares move with demand, so check live pricing in your app on the day rather than trusting an old figure.
• Metrorail and trolley: the Orange Line runs from MIA to Government Center, then the Metromover to Freedom Tower, then the free City of Miami Coral Way Trolley across the PortMiami bridge. The trolley stops inside the port, southside opposite the Terminal J parking garage, northside opposite the Terminal E surface lot, and northside opposite the port administrative offices. Cheap, but slow with luggage.
• From Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood: about an hour by road, or Brightline from Fort Lauderdale to MiamiCentral in around 38 minutes plus a short rideshare to the port. Brightline also runs a Vacation Service carrying cruise passengers to and from PortMiami.
• Tri-Rail: useful from Palm Beach or Broward into Miami Central Station, then a taxi or rideshare to the terminals.

The port has piloted complimentary airport transfers on selected dates only, with Carnival for guests off Carnival Celebration and with Royal Caribbean Group for Icon of the Seas passengers. This only applies to those specific sailings, so don’t plan your own transfer around it. For a full side-by-side of shuttles, trains, taxis and rideshares, see every Miami airport to PortMiami transport option compared.

One friction point worth planning for: turnaround day traffic backs up on the Port Boulevard bridge and through the tunnel, worst at weekends. If your boarding slot is midday on a Saturday when several ships are in, add half an hour and don’t cut the airport connection fine.

Parking at PortMiami cruise port

Port parking runs to about $28 to $35 a day depending on the garage, with off-site lots that shuttle you in for less. Every terminal has a garage or lot mapped to it, and you don’t need to reserve ahead for the port garages.

• Payment: cash, Visa, MasterCard, Amex and the usual US card brands, or US travellers’ cheques. Debit cards are not accepted.
• Height limits: as low as 6’8″ on remaining floors of Garage D, 6’10” in Garage C and 6’11” in Garage G. Roof boxes and tall vans should go to Surface Lot E.
• Staffing and shuttles: garages and Surface Lot E are staffed 6am to 5pm on cruise days, with a free shuttle between car parks and terminals on cruise days only.
• Being collected: two cell-phone waiting lots are available for drivers collecting passengers, including one opposite Terminal B, so your driver isn’t circling the terminal.
• Off-site: lots near the port quote from around $11 to $12 a day, and downtown’s Bayfront Garage has been quoted at a median $8 a day, both before tax. Check the current rate when you book.

Port parking is published on the PortMiami parking information page. If you’re weighing the port garages against the cheaper lots, where PortMiami parking gets expensive and what to do instead does the sums.

Where to stay near PortMiami cruise port

Stay in downtown or Bayside the night before if you want the shortest ride to the ship, or Brickell if you’d rather have restaurants and the free Metromover on your doorstep. Both are a short hop across one bridge from the terminals. The same areas work after a cruise too, when you have a late flight and want somewhere to dump bags.

• Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown, 340 Biscayne Blvd: the closest hotel to the port, opposite Bayside Marketplace and one block from the free Metromover. Its Sail Away package includes breakfast and transport to the ship, which takes the transfer question off your plate.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown, 50 SW 12th Street: half a block from the Metromover and a short taxi or hotel shuttle ride to the terminals. Hot breakfast from 6am suits early check-in times, and park-and-cruise packages keep the car for up to 14 days with a shuttle to the port.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami Downtown/Brickell, 1750 SW 1st Ave: suites with full kitchens and a scheduled shuttle to PortMiami for a fee, handy for families or a pre-cruise grocery run.
• Holiday Inn Miami-International Airport: a free 24-hour airport shuttle every 30 minutes plus a scheduled paid shuttle to the port, for late arrivals who just want to fall into bed.

For a properly critical look at the options, see which hotels near PortMiami are worth it.

Luggage storage at PortMiami cruise port

PortMiami has no luggage lockers or storage, for security reasons, and Holland America says outright that there is none at the pier. Early bag check with your cruise line may be possible but varies, so don’t assume it.

The usual situation it solves is arriving off a ship at 8am with a 7pm flight, or landing the night before with hours to fill. The nearest independent option is Hold My Luggage inside Bayside Marketplace downtown, ground floor near Starbucks and under 1.5 miles from the port.

At MIA, Communitel Baggage Storage sits in Central Terminal E and Terminal H on the second level, open 5am to 9pm, and asks for ID and a boarding pass. To find a place to leave your bags near PortMiami in advance, check storage options in downtown Miami before you travel.

For every option and what it costs, read PortMiami luggage storage options and costs.

Check-in at PortMiami: what happens on the day

Check-in happens inside your terminal, and the drop-off sequence is the same everywhere: vehicle to the terminal door, bags to the porter, then parking if you drove. Terminal A has its own dedicated luggage drop-off area, so you can leave bags before finding a space.

• Arrive at your assigned time rather than hours early. Terminal space is tight when two ships share a berth.
• Have your e-documents and luggage tags ready, with the terminal letter showing.
• If you’re driving yourself, park first if the terminal has no bag drop, or drop bags first where it does.
• Allow extra time on weekends and when several ships are turning around, because the bridge and tunnel queue.

The full sequence, including security queues and what to have in hand, is set out in the PortMiami check-in process with time-saving tips. Passengers with mobility needs should read PortMiami wheelchair and mobility services, and anyone unsure about rules should check what you can and cannot bring onboard at PortMiami.

Before you arrive, check the common PortMiami mistakes so a mixed-up terminal or late arrival doesn’t cost you boarding time.

Wynwood Walls: booking, bags and the best time to go

Wynwood Walls is an open-air street-art museum at 2516 NW 2nd Ave, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or rideshare from the terminals. Get there for opening at 10:30am on a weekday and you have the murals close to yourself; by midday it’s busy.

• Hours: daily 10:30am to 6:30pm, with doors closing 30 minutes earlier. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, early close Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
• Book ahead: tickets are sold online through the Wynwood Walls website, and booking ahead is recommended to avoid the queue.
• The rules that catch people out: large bags are not allowed inside, only service animals are admitted, and the site is outdoors so it runs rain or shine.

Check opening times and book at Wynwood Walls. A weekday morning between 10:30 and noon is the sweet spot for photos and for crowd-free viewing.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens: timed tickets and the walk back

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, at 3251 South Miami Avenue, is roughly 15 to 30 minutes each way by taxi or rideshare from the terminals. It’s open 9:30am to 4:30pm and closed Tuesdays, and tickets must be bought online with timed entry, so turning up and hoping isn’t an option.

Allow at least 60 minutes for the return to the ship, more at rush hour. The Metrorail Vizcaya station sits at the gate if you’d rather avoid the road, and the gardens are the late-afternoon photo, with softer light on the terraces facing Biscayne Bay in the hour before closing. Book through Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.

Best photo spots in Miami near the cruise port

Wynwood Walls is the one photograph everyone wants, and a weekday morning gives you the murals without a crowd of phones in shot. Vizcaya’s bay-facing terraces are the second, best in the last hour before closing when the light softens on the stone.

Bayside Marketplace, under 1.5 miles from the port on the Metromover and trolley route, is the easy waterfront frame if you only have an hour before all-aboard. All three sit within a short ride of the terminals.

What to wear in Miami: outfit ideas for a port day

Dress for heat and for walking on stone: Miami port days are hot and humid, and the ground at the sights is unforgiving.

• At Wynwood Walls: it’s outdoors and open rain or shine, so light layers and a compact rain shell beat an umbrella you have to carry. Large bags aren’t allowed, so carry as little as possible.
• At Vizcaya: the gardens are largely unshaded coral-stone and marble paths on Biscayne Bay. Flat closed shoes and a refillable water bottle are the practical choice for both women and men, and a hat earns its place.
• Between the two: the walk from the port to Bayside is about 2 km with no shade, which is why most people take a vehicle rather than dress for a hike.

For more inspiration, see these Miami cruise outfit ideas and this PortMiami packing guide by month.

Where to eat near PortMiami cruise port

The easiest place to eat near the Miami cruise port is downtown around Bayside Marketplace, under 1.5 miles from the terminals on the Metromover and trolley route, where waterfront restaurants and casual counters share one stretch of bayfront.

Follow the waterfront rather than hunting for one specific dish. Bayside is close enough for a pre-cruise lunch, the Metromover drops you a short walk away, and the trolley connects the port to downtown without a taxi fare. Inside the port itself, the terminals run their own food and drink, covered in the best places to eat at PortMiami terminals.

Things to do before you sail: quick wins near the port

If you have a few hours in Miami before boarding or after disembarking, the free options are better than they sound. The Metromover loops downtown for nothing, Bayside Marketplace is a short ride away, and the free Coral Way Trolley crosses into the port itself. For more ideas, read free things to do near PortMiami.

If you’d rather have a guided few hours than a self-made one, the options are set out in Miami tours worth taking before you sail.

Florida cruise ports: where PortMiami fits

PortMiami is the biggest of Florida’s cruise departure ports and the one most lines treat as a home base, but it isn’t the only option. Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale is about 27 miles north, Port Canaveral serves the Space Coast, and Port of Palm Beach and Port Tampa Bay handle their own ships.

If you’re comparing them, start with the Florida cruise ship port guide, then look at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and the Port of Palm Beach.

Portmiami cruise port guides

Each of these goes deeper into one part of a Portmiami port day.

10 Biggest PortMiami Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Cruise12 Hotels Near PortMiami: Which Ones Are Actually Worth It15 Essential PortMiami Tips Every First-Time Cruiser Needs8 Best Places to Eat at PortMiami TerminalsPortMiami Cruise Port: Free Things to Do Near the ShipMiami Airport to PortMiami: Every Transportation Option ComparedPortMiami Accessibility: Wheelchair & Mobility Services GuidePortMiami Check-In: How Long It Takes and When to ArrivePortMiami Construction Updates: Terminal Changes & ImpactPortMiami Cruise Calendar: When Each Ship SailsPortMiami Luggage Storage: Options, Costs & Complete GuidePortMiami Parking: Why You’re Probably Overpaying (+ Cheaper Alternatives)PortMiami Security: What You Can and Cannot Bring OnboardPortMiami Shore Excursions: Best Miami Tours Before SailingPortMiami Terminal Guide: Which Cruise Line Docks WherePortMiami Weather by Month: What to Pack for Your Cruise

PortMiami cruise port FAQs

Do you need a passport to cruise from Miami?

It depends on the itinerary and your nationality, not on the port. For a closed-loop Caribbean sailing, US citizens can often travel on a birth certificate and photo ID, but every other nationality, and any route that starts or ends abroad or calls at certain countries, needs a valid passport. Check the entry rules for every country on your route, and don’t rely on the general rule for a specific sailing.

How many cruise ports are in Miami?

There’s one cruise port in Miami: PortMiami is a single port on Dodge Island containing all ten cruise terminals, not a series of separate ports. Any list you see naming different Miami cruise ports is really naming the terminals AA, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J and V inside that one port.

How deep is the PortMiami channel?

The cruise channel’s depth isn’t published in a form passengers can use, and berth dimensions aren’t either. It makes no practical difference to your day ashore, so don’t plan around it.

What is the PortMiami address for a taxi?

Give the terminal address, not the port’s office address. Terminal A is 2000 N. Cruise Blvd, Terminal B is 1761 N. Cruise Blvd, Terminal AA is 2200 N. Cruise Blvd and Terminal V is 718 W. Cruise Blvd. The administrative address of 1015 North America Way won’t take you to a ship.

Is there a free shuttle from Miami cruise port to the airport?

No general free shuttle runs for all passengers. Cruise lines sell transfers from MIA, and the port has piloted complimentary transfers on selected dates only, with specific lines and specific ships. Otherwise it’s a cruise line transfer, a taxi, a rideshare, or the Metrorail and trolley route.

How much does an Uber cost from Miami Airport to the cruise port?

Rideshare prices change with demand, time of day and how many ships are in, so no fixed figure is worth quoting. Check live pricing in your app before you land and compare it with the fixed cruise line transfer price, which is often the better deal for one person travelling alone.

Which terminal does Icon of the Seas use in Miami?

Royal Caribbean’s ships sail from Terminal A, the line’s 170,000 sq ft “Crown of Miami” at 2000 N. Cruise Blvd, unless your documents say otherwise. Terminal assignments can change by sailing, and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity move to the new Terminal G when it opens.