Miami tips?

[dskib]

Hey there!

I just booked 4/2018 out of Miami, and I've only ever sailed out of Port Canaveral. Do you recommend flying down the day of or the night before? Any of the hotels work with Disney transportation-wise? Is it a good area to explore either before or after the cruise?

What have your experiences been?

Thanks!

 

[Dug720]

ALWAYS recommend at least the day before.

I cruised out of Miami last week. Fell in love with Miami and Miami Beach!! I did my own hotel thing and a Lyft to the port - super simple. Lots of stuff to do depending on what you want - bus tours, boat tours, Duck tours, Segway tours (that one's in Miami Beach), a zoo, a seaquarium, Little Havana, the Design District... It all depends on what you're into.

 

[MunFam]

We flew in two nights before. I would never fly in the day before.

We stayed at the Homewood Suites Blue Lagoon-Airport. They had a free shuttle from Airport to the hotel. The next day we went to Everglades National Park and did an airboat tour first thing in the morning. Then we stopped at the Speedway in Homestead since I do travel for a race team, I wanted to see the track...then we continued on to Biscayne National Park and had dinner in the Keys at Islamorada...then returned to our hotel. The next day we ran to Costco and the grocery store before returning the rental car to the hotel next door (Enterprise inside) and then took an Uber to the Port for a 12:30pm PAT.

 

[NS8VN]

You can get Disney ground transportation from Miami International if you fly in on the day of and plan to travel directly to port. If you fly in a day early (I also highly recommend doing so) you can get a hotel and transportation from there to port by booking through Disney. I can't tell by the following whether they will transport you from MIA to the hotel, you would have to ask them.

Hotel Information
Are you planning on arriving before or staying a few days after your cruise?

Disney Cruise Line offers convenient packages that include hotel accommodations before and after your cruise. If you have not yet confirmed your hotel stay, please be sure to check if rooms are still available by calling (800) 951-3532. Guests under age 18 must have a parent or guardian permission to call. Don't forget to add a hotel transfer option and leave the driving to us!

The following hotels may be arranged through Disney Cruise Line:

Conrad Miami – The Conrad is located on Brickell Avenue in the heart of Miami's financial district downtown.

Marriott Stanton South Beach – The Stanton is located on the oceanfront of Miami's South Beach.

Traveling from Your Hotel to the Cruise Ship – If you arrange a hotel stay through Disney Cruise Line, you may add optional ground transfers from the hotel to the Port.

About one month before your sail date, you will receive a Guest Travel Booklet that has important transfer instructions.

Upon check-in at your hotel, you will be given an information letter with luggage pick-up instructions and the departure time to the Port. Your luggage will be picked up from the hotel and delivered directly to your stateroom. We advise you carry a day bag with any items that you need prior to arriving in your stateroom, including all your check-in documentation.

If you view your reservation on the DCL site and click on "View Travel Options" at the bottom you can view the information on all of it. Personally we are likely going to book another hotel and take care of our own transportation because we would rather stay downtown, but neither of these hotels are bad (or cheap).

 

[Dug720]

We flew in two nights before. I would never fly in the day before.

We stayed at the Homewood Suites Blue Lagoon-Airport. They had a free shuttle from Airport to the hotel. The next day we went to Everglades National Park and did an airboat tour first thing in the morning. Then we stopped at the Speedway in Homestead since I do travel for a race team, I wanted to see the track...then we continued on to Biscayne National Park and had dinner in the Keys at Islamorada...then returned to our hotel. The next day we ran to Costco and the grocery store before returning the rental car to the hotel next door (Enterprise inside) and then took an Uber to the Port for a 12:30pm PAT.

I did say "at least" the day before. I was in Miami for 3 days before boarding last week, but due to teaching and it being highly frowned upon to take the day prior to or directly after a break off for a 7-night any earlier than the day before is sometimes not possible. So I book the earliest possible flight the day before when earlier is not.

I'm debating what to do for my Wonder cruise next year which leaves on a Sunday. I don't really want to do park time it's hard to justify the price of an on-property hotel, but since I don't drive (I *can* but I haven't in 11 years, and a rental car is NOT the time to get back behind the wheel) it's kind of hard to get anywhere and I don't want to hang out at the hotel all day (I usually stay at the Hampton Inn Gateway). The earliest I could fly out anyway is Friday evening, so I'm thinking I'll just go for the earliest flight on Saturday. And then figure things out from there.

 

[MunFam]

I did say "at least" the day before. I was in Miami for 3 days before boarding last week, but due to teaching and it being highly frowned upon to take the day prior to or directly after a break off for a 7-night any earlier than the day before is sometimes not possible. So I book the earliest possible flight the day before when earlier is not.

I'm debating what to do for my Wonder cruise next year which leaves on a Sunday. I don't really want to do park time it's hard to justify the price of an on-property hotel, but since I don't drive (I *can* but I haven't in 11 years, and a rental car is NOT the time to get back behind the wheel) it's kind of hard to get anywhere and I don't want to hang out at the hotel all day (I usually stay at the Hampton Inn Gateway). The earliest I could fly out anyway is Friday evening, so I'm thinking I'll just go for the earliest flight on Saturday. And then figure things out from there.

I made a mistake in my OP...I meant I would never fly in same day. Sorry!!

 

[Dug720]

I made a mistake in my OP...I meant I would never fly in same day. Sorry!!

No problem! If I could fly in earlier than the day before, I generally would TBH. Especially for a winter cruise coming out of the northeast.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

Yes definitely not worth the risk flying in the same day I've heard some horrible air stories not worth missing your cruise. Were also doing Miami for the first time. As much as I'd like to do the beach hotels/ Disney transport it's just pricey. So far I think comfort suites is our choice $180 a night with free airport and port shuttle can't beat that.

 

[dskib]

Perfect! Thanks! I think Comfort Suites is what I'm looking for! Anyone know if there's much to see in walking distance from the hotel?

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

I heard from other reviews there is nothing near by, but the hotel has a restaurant

 

[OKW Lover]

Do you recommend flying down the day of or the night before?

We recommend that for any cruise port that you have to fly to. We've sailed on 20+ cruises and didn't follow our own advice last year on a Greek Isles cruise from Venice. Almost miss-connected in ATL on the way because of weather issues, which would have meant us missing the first two days of the cruise and trying to find transportation to the ship's first port. Won't make that mistake again.