Sailing from Miami means sailing from a port built around very large ships. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages each run their own terminal on Dodge Island, so check-in tends to be designed around one line's ships rather than shared. Royal Caribbean bases Icon of the Seas here, and MSC opened its Terminal AA in 2025, a four-level building that Miami-Dade County describes as the largest cruise terminal in the world.
Short trips are the bread and butter: three- to five-night Bahamas sailings, often built around a line's private island, plus seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean loops. In winter you also find longer Southern Caribbean itineraries and smaller luxury ships using the boutique Terminal J on the port's south side, along with seasonal repositioning voyages in spring and fall.
The port is only a few minutes from downtown and Brickell, which makes a pre-cruise night in the city easy. The trade-off is volume: on busy weekend mornings several big ships turn around at once, and every car, taxi and bus funnels over the same Port Boulevard bridge. Arrive at your assigned check-in time, know your terminal letter, and the process is usually quick.
Where cruises from Miami go
- Bahamas The quick escape: short cruises from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines' private islands.
- Caribbean Warm water, short flights and the widest choice of ships and itineraries anywhere in cruising.
- Eastern Caribbean Beach-hopping through the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico, with some of the calmest sailing in the region.
- Western Caribbean Maya ruins, barrier reef snorkeling and jungle adventures in Mexico, Central America, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
- Southern Caribbean The far islands: Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, with more port days and drier weather in the south.
Cruise lines sailing from Miami
- Royal Caribbean International Giant resort ships where the ship itself is the destination.
- Carnival Cruise Line Casual, affordable Fun Ships sailing from more US ports than almost anyone.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle cruising: no fixed dinner times, no formal dress rules, lots of restaurants.
- MSC Cruises European-style big ships with a private-island Bahamas habit and a luxury enclave on board.
- Virgin Voyages Adults-only, design-forward cruising with every restaurant included.
- Oceania Cruises Food-first, mid-size ships on port-rich itineraries, with specialty dining included.
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises All-suite luxury where shore excursions, drinks and tips are built into the fare.
Line schedules change by season. We confirm which ships sail from Miami on your dates when we quote.
Cruise terminals
| Terminal | Used by |
|---|---|
| Terminal AA MSC Cruises' terminal, opened in 2025. Parking in Garage AA. | MSC |
| Terminal A Royal Caribbean's 'Crown of Miami' terminal, opened in 2018. Garage A is booked through Royal Caribbean's parking site. | Royal Caribbean |
| Terminal B Norwegian's 'Pearl of Miami' terminal. Norwegian runs Garage B with advance reservations. | NCL |
| Terminal C Shared terminal used by several lines; check your cruise documents. | Varies |
| Terminals D and E Expanded in 2018 for larger Carnival ships. | Carnival |
| Terminal F Renovated in 2022. Parking in Garage G. | Carnival |
| Terminal G The county lists a new Royal Caribbean Terminal G as under construction, with opening expected in 2027. | Varies |
| Terminal J Boutique terminal on the south side of the port for smaller and luxury ships. Parking in Garages J and K. | Varies |
| Terminal V Virgin Voyages' terminal, opened in 2022. Parking in Garage G. | Virgin |
Getting there
From MIA, a taxi or rideshare to the terminals usually takes 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour. Everyone enters over the Port Boulevard bridge off Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami, then follows signs by terminal letter. If you are driving, put the terminal letter rather than just 'PortMiami' into your map app, since the terminals stretch along most of the island. Fort Lauderdale's airport is a workable alternative, but plan on 40 minutes to over an hour on I-95.
- MIA Miami International Airport: about 9 miles
- FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: about 28 miles
Parking
Each terminal has its own garage or lot on Dodge Island. Garage AA serves MSC, Garage A is Royal Caribbean's (booked through the line's parking site), and Garage B is run by Norwegian with reservations. Garages C, D and G plus surface lots D and E cover the other terminals, with Garage G serving Terminals F, G and V, and Garages J and K serving Terminal J. Rates differ by garage, so check the county's PortMiami parking page before you go. Debit cards are not accepted at the garages, oversized vehicles and RVs go to Surface Lot E, and garages are staffed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on cruise days.
Where to stay the night before
Downtown Miami and Brickell are the closest hotel areas, a short ride from the port bridge. South Beach and the rest of Miami Beach are farther but popular for a beach day before sailing. Airport-area hotels near MIA work if you land late and want an easy morning.
Season: Year-round. Winter (roughly November through April) brings the widest choice, including luxury and longer sailings, while the big mass-market lines keep ships here all summer too.
Embarkation-day tips
- Find your terminal letter in your cruise documents before you leave the hotel; Terminal AA and Terminal J are at opposite ends of the island.
- Port garages do not take debit cards, so bring a credit card or cash if you plan to park.
- On weekend turnaround days, expect a slow approach on the port bridge between about 10 a.m. and noon; arriving at your assigned check-in window helps.
- Fly in the day before. Miami weather and air traffic can delay morning flights, and ships do not wait.
- For your return flight, leave a generous cushion after disembarkation, especially on days with several big ships in port.
Cruising from Miami: questions
Which PortMiami terminal does my cruise line use?
MSC uses Terminal AA, Royal Caribbean uses Terminal A, Norwegian uses Terminal B, Carnival uses Terminals D, E and F, and Virgin Voyages uses Terminal V. Terminal C is shared, and Terminal J handles smaller and luxury ships. Your boarding documents list the exact terminal.
How far is PortMiami from Miami International Airport?
About 9 miles. A taxi or rideshare typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, longer in weekday rush hour.
Can I park at PortMiami during my cruise?
Yes. Each terminal has an assigned garage or lot, and you pay a daily rate that varies by garage. Debit cards are not accepted, and RVs or vehicles with trailers use Surface Lot E.
Is flying into Fort Lauderdale a good option for a Miami cruise?
It can be, especially if fares are lower. FLL is about 28 miles from PortMiami, so plan on 40 minutes to more than an hour by car depending on I-95 traffic.
Sources and fact-checking (last checked October 14, 2026)
We write our own guides and check hard facts like fleet sizes, ship specs and published fees against these sources. Cruise lines change things often, so we re-confirm details in every quote. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
