Port Of Miami

[Spackle75]

HI!
The last Disney cruise I went on was in May 2008 out of Port Canaveral. My wife and I will be going on our (delayed) honeymoon in May 2018 out of Miami. I was wondering if people had some pictures of the port and can describe the process for embarkation. I am a nervous person and when I don't know what I am looking for or the process, I get very nervous. Seeing pictures and hearing about the process helps me to mentally prepare. I know I will be fine when I get on the boat, but this part of the process is poking some of my anxiety buttons even this far ahead.

Thank you for any help and pictures that you can provide.

 

[BartmanLA]

Miami is a large port facility, if you're driving yourself there's a very large parking facility you can leave your vehicle at for the duration of the cruise, if you're taking public transportation, it will drop you off right out front of the Terminal facility. They will have plenty of staff to direct you into the correct entry point, there are porters that will take your luggage right at curbside so be sure to have your DCL luggage tags already on them, also be sure you have your Passports and cruise documentation ready when you enter the terminal, once you pass through you'll be directed to an escalator that will take you to the upper level where you'll pass through security and then enter the DCL check in and waiting area for passengers, you'll be directed to the appropriate desk to check in and get your KTTW card and boarding number. Once your number is called you'll go up to the boarding ramp (another escalator) and get on the ship right there. From there I'm sure you'll know what to do! Enjoy your cruise and have a magical time!

 

[lizabu]

I don't remember it being difficult or complicated in any way. We flew into Fort Lauderdale and stayed at a hotel there as it worked out to be cheaper for us. In the morning SAS transportation picked us up at the hotel at 9:30. We got to the port at about 10:30. The driver unloaded the bags and a porter put them all on a cart. There was a line forming outside the building as they hadn't opened yet. My parents are elderly so we just chose to sit on one of the many concrete benches outside. They opened the door and people started going in. They had lines roped off like they do at the airport or whatever and we got directed to one. We checked in at the counter and went to go sit down. We saw Mickey come in so we decided to go meet him. After a few minutes they called our boarding number and we took the escalator upstairs. There's a long hallway then the gang plank to enter the ship. Then they announce your family. Then you go eat.

 

[Laundress]

 

[NS8VN]

Congratulations on the delayed honeymoon, I hope it is a fantastic one!

Here are a couple more pictures from jrabbit: Miami port. Security isn't too keen on pictures in the terminal, people do have passports and other documents out after all, so the pictures you see will be pretty general like these. There will be plenty of people available to help guide you to where you need to go, when you feel overwhelmed just take a deep breath and remind yourself that you will get to where you need to go one way or another. I have similar anxieties, just saying "I'm in the terminal, I will get on the ship eventually" really is helpful to me at least.

Since you don't like surprises I will warn you about a quirk I have learned about the Miami terminal. At PC you enter the ship on deck 3, but Miami has you enter on deck 4. This means you don't have the grand entrance in to the Atrium like you had before. You will board on to the Promenade on deck 3, then walk over to a doorway where they will guide you down the hall overlooking the Atrium to the CMs who announce you and welcome you with applause.

 

[CamColt]

We didn't find anything unusually different about the check in process or boarding, other than we boarded a little later than we have in PC. I want to say they started right after noon in Miami, whereas we usually get on at 11:30 in PC. No big deal though.

One thing we weren't expecting is what a pretty city it is to sail out of.