I’m travelling to Miami with heavy luggage: what should I do?

If your cruise luggage is heavy or you are planning on taking a lot of cases, we recommend pre-booking an airport transfer to meet you on arrival. For the wellbeing of our crew, we politely ask that you keep the weight of each piece of luggage below 23kg. Remember to also check your airline’s respective luggage rules before packing.

Miami airports to PortMiami Cruise Terminal

Your guide to getting from Miami International Airport to board your Cunard Queen in PortMiami.

White sand beaches and tropical sunshine are just two temptations of our cruises from Miami. If you book your flights through us, complimentary airport transfers to the cruise terminal are included in the price you pay for your holiday. Should you prefer to source your own flights, however, you’ll need to consider how you’ll get from the airport to the cruise terminal on arrival.

Where is Miami cruise port vs the airport?

Cunard cruises from Miami sail from PortMiami, situated in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River. If you’re flying to meet your Cunard Queen, you’ll have a choice of two international airports. Miami International Airport is the nearest and most direct, at around a 15–20-minute drive. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is located a little further out, with an average transfer time of around 45 minutes by road (traffic dependant).

Route options

There are multiple ways to travel to PortMiami from Miami’s two international airports. We’ve outlined some of the possibilities below.

A taxi ride from Miami International Airport to PortMiami takes around 15-20 minutes. Taxis are available 24/7 at all terminal exits with fares charged by the meter. It’s customary to give the driver a 20% tip on top of the final fare too. Tolls will also be added on. Most taxis accept cash or card but it’s good to confirm this with the driver upfront. You should also ask for a fare estimate before setting off.

Rideshare services, including Lyft and Uber, also operate out of Miami International Airport and may prove more competitive than using a metered cab at off-peak times. Cunard cruises often depart from Terminal F at PortMiami but it’s always worth double checking on your paperwork prior to requesting a ride, as you won’t be able to adjust the destination once you set off.

As with Miami International Airport, taxis are also available outside each of the arrivals terminals at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. If you’re exiting at terminals 1 or 2, you’ll find these to the East of the terminal. At terminal 3, taxis wait outside the North end and at terminal 4, it’s the West. Airport taxis operate a flat rate to the cruise terminal, so the price quoted will be final and not open to negotiation. Some wheelchair accessible taxis are available, but it’s best to pre-book if you need this type of vehicle.

If you’re taking an Uber or Lyft, the meeting point can be found at the lower level of the arrivals terminals. Unlike airport taxis, fares for these vehicles fluctuate, with prices increasing at peak times. Another option is to book a private shuttle to meet you at the airport. This service will need to be arranged in advance, and you may be asked to share a vehicle with other passengers.

Taking the train to PortMiami requires several changes and some walking.

First, jump on the free airport train, called the MIA Mover, to Miami Intermodal Center. Take the Orange Metrorail Line in the direction of Downtown Miami, and alight at Government Center Station. Exit the station and make your way to the Coral Way Trolley stop. Take the trolley to PortMiami and alight by the entrance to the cruise terminal.

Depending on which terminal you ship is docked, you may still need to walk 10-15 minutes, so you may prefer to hail a cab the remainder of the way.

To reach PortMiami by train from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, take the free airport shuttle to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach Tri-Rail Station.

Once there, board a southbound service towards Miami airport. Alight at the Metrorail Transfer Station and switch to the Metrorail Orange Line towards Downtown Miami. Get off at Government Center Station and walk to the Coral Way Trolley stop outside the station exit. Take the trolley east towards PortMiami and alight at the cruise terminal.

Shuttle busses from Miami International Airport run just twice daily, once in the early morning and once in the early evening. The service is operated by private shuttle, and not by public transit. Depending on traffic, the journey is estimated to take around 40-50 minutes. Busses depart from the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), which is connected to Miami airport via a free airport train (MIA Mover).

Alternatively, you can take the Orange Line metrorail to Government Center Station, towards Downtown Miami and pick up the Coral Way Trolley. The Trolley is free and stops close to the entrance of PortMiami.

Travelling by bus from Fort Lauderdale airport to PortMiami takes between two and 2.5 hours and requires multiple changes. Once you’ve collected your luggage, make your way to Rental Car Center, Stop G at the airport. Take the Boward County Transit (BCT) Route 1 south in the direction of the Young Circle Terminal in Hollywood. At Aventura Mall, switch from the BCT to the Route 93 or 119 Metrobus in the direction of Downtown Miami. Alight at Government Center and board the free Coral Way Trolley. This will take you all the way to the entrance of PortMiami.

Travelling from Miami airports – common scenarios

Wondering what the most economical way to reach PortMiami from the airport is? Or to what to do if your flight lands late at night? Read on for more advice about flying to Miami for your cruise.

If your flight arrives in Miami during the evening, your best option is to stay in a hotel the night before your cruise. We also recommend pre-booking a taxi to meet you from the airport, although taxis do service Miami International throughout the night.

If you think you’ll need a night in a hotel, either before or after your voyage, we’d be happy to book you in with one of our vetted local hotel partners. All hotel stays arranged through us include breakfast (unless otherwise stated), luggage porterage, service charges, and local taxis. Just give our customer contact centre a call to discuss your options.

What is the cheapest way to get from Miami’s airports to PortMiami cruise terminal?

Taking a combination of Metrorail and Trolley offers the cheapest way to get to PortMiami from Miami International or Fort Lauderdale airport. If you do opt for this route, bear in mind that the service may be busy on embarkation day and luggage storage is minimal.

The fastest and most direct option would be to travel by private shuttle or taxi directly from the airport to the cruise terminal. This will cut down your journey time considerably and get you closest to your Cunard Queen in port.