Miami accommodations

[Ky Cruisin]

We have always cruised from Port Canaveral, this next one we are going out of Miami. What accommodations are closest to the port and do any offer park and cruise

 

[sparklinducky]

Following I would love to have some info on this too.

 

[DLM1980]

I will let other more experienced folks give ya a better list, but for our first cruise, which was out of Miami, we arrived a day ahead of time, stayed at the Hilton Miami Airport. It was across the freeway. Our trip was done a little wonky. We ended up renting a car to the hotel and for exploring for the day (though we didn't do much exploring, I gave up with the crazy *** traffic) then the next day drove back to the airport to take the disney transport to the cruise terminal.

Be prepared for nobody to know anything. Because we arrived a day before the cruise there were no disney cruise line people out, but there also was no signs saying "this is where disney cruise line transportation is" When we went to baggage claim we had seen a Carnival desk but no DCL desk. So when we returned to the airport the next day we didn't know where to go but I figured I'd ask airport employees, nobody knew, one person said busses meet over there, but that was shuttle service different from DCL. I ended up calling DCL and they said there should be people near carousel 3 and/or 22. So I went back to baggage claim and finally found people holding DCL clipboards where they eventually walked us out to a motor coach. When I told the CM's our trouble their response was basically "sorry" and "this is Miami, Orlando gets all the money"

It is all entirely possible it was in my cruise documents and I missed it, but I believe it was not as we didn't add the transfers till after the documents were printed and mailed.

We never asked if the hilton had a shuttle to the port, but they did have a shuttle to the airport.

 

[DizneyNutz]

We have only sailed out of Miami once and it was this past December. We stayed downtown near the Rail System. You can ride the rail from and to the airport and to shopping. So I cant answer about the parking. But as the OP experienced, we also returned to the airport the morning of our cruise to catch the Disney transport. It is a motorcoach not a Magical Express bus. We were told a video would be shown on a TV near the driver but he never even cut it on. The ride was not long anyway. The port building is contracted also not Disney Owned so a little less Disneyish. We arrived early and had to wait outside about an hour which turned out to be a blessing. We were in shorts and short sleeves and it was warm outside, but the lady wearing the coat just inside the door should have been a sign. Once we went upstairs it was freezing. Kids had their faces buried it parents necks trying to get warm. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[wanderlust7]

We stayed at the Comfort Suites Miami North. There is a free shuttle to the port, which was super efficient and well run. The airport to hotel shuttle is another story, but you wouldn't need that. The also offer a port back to hotel shuttle, I think it's $10/person, not too sure since we didn't need it. I think they have park and cruise packages or maybe parking is just free, I'm not really sure since we didn't have a car. The hotel is pretty nice and new and breakfast is included.

 

[surran12]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn Coconut grove/ Coral Gables. They offer a stay and cruise package with transfer to the port and it worked well for us.

 

[MunFam]

We stayed at the Homewood SUites Blue Lagoon at Miami Airport. It was a great experience. They were offering Park and Sail last year when we were there. They offered free wifi, dinner (with wine and beer) and breakfast. We used the free airport shuttle to get from the airport to the hotel. We rented a car from Enterprise at the Hilton? next door. We toured around for 2 days and then returned the car and used an Uber to get to the port. It was less than $25 at rush hour.

 

[kem717]

We just stayed at the Comfort Suites Miami Airport North a few weeks ago. No complaints, other than the rooms weren't available early (we flew in at 10 am). They just stored our luggage and we walked to a nearby restaurant for lunch and swam in the pool.

 

[anricat]

We stayed in October at the Intercontinental downtown. We got a great rate through Hotwire and it was nice to be right downtown to walk easily to restaurants and shopping (the latter of which I ended up needing due to forgetting a couple of key items). We took a taxi to port in the morning and I think we paid $10-15 including tip. Easy!

 

[Skrabadoo]

We also stayed at the Intercontinental. When we woke up the morning of the cruise we could see the Wonder at the port. There is a free elevated train that you can take to an area called bayside or portside that had a ton of shopping and restaurants. There is also a playground and park directly across the street.

We took taxis from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the port. It was really easy and great

 

[hanscarlet]

We stayed at the JW Marriot Marquis and it was insane, nicest hotel I've ever stayed at.... but I think parking was expensive, I would go with something others recommended for the parking situation... our cab was a flat rate of $20 so it wasn't too much of an advantage to stay at the JW except to say that we used our marriot points so it worked out

 

[DLM1980]

We stayed at the JW Marriot Marquis and it was insane, nicest hotel I've ever stayed at.... but I think parking was expensive, I would go with something others recommended for the parking situation... our cab was a flat rate of $20 so it wasn't too much of an advantage to stay at the JW except to say that we used our marriot points so it worked out

And that's why we stayed at the airport Hilton

 

[DisneySisters]

Last year we stayed at Holiday Inn Port of Miami. The great thing was the shopping center across the street and all the convenient restaraunt said and outdoor bars along the water. The hotel was ok, staff sort of blah. Great view of the ship when we woke up, but be sure and ask for a view. This year we stayed at the Intercontinental, and this will be my first choice next time. The rooms were really nice, great view, and staff friendly and helpful. It's very close to the port.

 

[Shea&Van]

Agree with some of the PPs...we also stayed at the Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (657 Minola Drive, Miami Springs, FL, US, 33166). It was $200 for the night with a AAA rate (including all taxes fees). It was more than we planned to spend but it was Spring Break. I remember the breakfast being pretty good. The hotel was clean and kid-friendly. Lots and lots of cruisers. We had read some reviews about the hotel shuttle to the port, so we opted to get a large passenger van to take us to the port. It was a party of 8 and the ride to the port was $125 (including taxes and fees). We used Larry's Limos. No complaints and we were wrangling four really excited kids and a ton of luggage. I'm sure the hotel shuttle would have been fine, even though the line looked really long. We just wanted the ease of arriving together...well that, and we would have taken pity on any families traveling with our wild bunch. ;-)

Have a super trip!

 

[TexasGirl]

Agree with some of the PPs...we also stayed at the Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (657 Minola Drive, Miami Springs, FL, US, 33166). It was $200 for the night with a AAA rate (including all taxes fees). It was more than we planned to spend but it was Spring Break. I remember the breakfast being pretty good. The hotel was clean and kid-friendly. Lots and lots of cruisers. We had read some reviews about the hotel shuttle to the port, so we opted to get a large passenger van to take us to the port. It was a party of 8 and the ride to the port was $125 (including taxes and fees). We used Larry's Limos. No complaints and we were wrangling four really excited kids and a ton of luggage. I'm sure the hotel shuttle would have been fine, even though the line looked really long. We just wanted the ease of arriving together...well that, and we would have taken pity on any families traveling with our wild bunch. ;-)

Have a super trip!

We sailed earlier this month and stayed pre cruise at Comfort Suites as so many are mentioning. It was seamless. Free shuttle from Miami Airport to hotel...waited 10 minutes...easy..nice van..courteous driver. Room was updated and nice. Free breakfast the next morning. Free bus to cruise port the next morning. We got our first choice in time slots...10:30 am. We had to wait awhile for bus to leave but seemed organized. Would definitely do again. Price was about $200, but that's Miami! That was with a AAA discount. Recommend.

 

[TexasGirl]

The day after the cruu

We sailed earlier this month and stayed pre cruise at Comfort Suites as so many are mentioning. It was seamless. Free shuttle from Miami Airport to hotel...waited 10 minutes...easy..nice van..courteous driver. Room was updated and nice. Free breakfast the next morning. Free bus to cruise port the next morning. We got our first choice in time slots...10:30 am. We had to wait awhile for bus to leave but seemed organized. Would definitely do again. Price was about $200, but that's Miami! That was with a AAA discount. Recommend.

se we took a cab to Holiday Inn -Port of Miami/Bayside. Definitely recommend as a post cruise stay. Not as much as pre cruise. Also unsure on parking options as we didn't have a car.
I picked it due to Location, Location, Location.

It is directly across the street from Bayside Marketplace which is a great place on the water for Eating and Shopping. Our view was to die for, perfect view of the bay and ships.

The main reason I selected it was the Hop on & Hop off busses initiate from there! You can buy your tickets from hotel concierge, or directly from their main office across the street. The hub is right there across the street from hotel! We took the narrated tour of the beach area of Miami, "hopping off" to swim and play in the surf for a couple of hours and hopping on to continue the tour. We also took the included tour of the city seeding Coconut Grove, etc "hopping off" in Little Havana to grab a drink! Fun! Bring sun screen and hats though! We sunburned up their on the open top double decker!

We also loved strolling around bayside marketplace that evening. There was live music and it was GREAT!!! We stopped in Hard Rock Hotel, inhaled a delicious dinner at Mambo of Cuban Food...and enjoyed delicious mango ice cream as we strolled the boardwalk and looked at all the boats, ships and sights!

Little pricy at $276 but worked out well. Transport not included. We taxied from port to hotel...cheap and taxied again from hotel to airport. It was easy peasy.

 

[Stratus22]

We stayed at the Hilton by the airport and it was a wonderful Hotel. Just beautiful. There is a great restaurant on the premises and it was to die for. The food and the atmosphere is just terrific. In the evening they set out a buffet/Wine tasting for the guests...another awesome treat we were surprised to. They came to the airport to pick us up and had a shuttle van to drive us to the Port. We plan on staying there again in January.

 

[egesicki]

View attachment 157732 We also stayed at the Intercontinental. When we woke up the morning of the cruise we could see the Wonder at the port. There is a free elevated train that you can take to an area called bayside or portside that had a ton of shopping and restaurants. There is also a playground and park directly across the street.

We took taxis from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the port. It was really easy and great

View attachment 157730 View attachment 157731

Hi, can you elaborate on tbe playground? Across from Intercontinental or across from Bayside? TIA!

 

[Skrabadoo]

Right across Chopin where the intercontinental is there is a huge park. It actually connects to bayside.

It's in this green space. When we were there they were setting up for a huge music festival so the entire park was fenced off but we could see it from the lobby. It would be less than a 2 minute walk with a toddler.

 

[Skrabadoo]

You can see the intercontinental on the right side of the above photo.