port of miami arrival

[vawalkers]

How early can you arrive at the port of Miami on your departure day. I was told that traffic is not allowed into the port until 11:00 am.

[Langley Cruisers]

That is not true; we have arrived there earlier than that BUT, having said that, the port area is congested with taxis, buses, and commercial traffic. Plus, ships are still being cleared at 10 am, so I would not go much before 10:30 am or so.

[Keith1010]

You can arrive as early as you would like.

 

I would recommend around 10:30 AM if you want to be positioned to get on board around the time embarkation signs although I realize some of the procedure ranges by cruise line.

 

Keith

[eandj]

I agree that arriving before 10:30 really puts you in a mess with cruisers leaving the ships, lines for cabs headed out, buses loading, car pick ups...just a mess. Your bags might not even be accepted for check in depending on the ship.

Wait till 10:30 or later and things will be less confusing and move smoothly. At least then everyone else will be moving TOWARDS the ship with you.;)

We like to leave the hotel an hours or so after the initial crowds. Let them fight it out at the port. There seems to be a little break in the check in lines between when the early birds check in and the day-of -flights and cruise transfers begin arriving around 1. At least that's what we have experienced.

Edited November 17, 2013 by eandj

[Waterloomarc]

We got there at 10 once and we got in the building okay. I wouldn't recommend it and it wasn't intentional on our part, however I was shocked at the number if folks already there!

 

We flew in the morning of and we intended to kill time at MIA before leaving but didn't realize that there wasn't anywhere to kill time after baggage claim (well maybe there is but it was our first time and we didn't see anything). So instead of sitting around the airport and drinking coffee as we'd planned we just grabbed a cab and headed to the port. It was boring waiting at the port but they had more chairs than MIA baggage claim :)

 

 

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[aurelius180]

10:30am seems to be the sweet spot for us as well. The arriving cruisers have mostly departed and there are only a few of us trickling in. Boarding seems to start at 11am so at that point we have a good spot in line before the mad rush a couple of hours later.