Really need help with MIA port and rental cars!

[tee11]

I am still trying to work out the pre-cruise and post-cruise transfers in regards to the Miami Port. I've tried to read as many old threads as possible, but I'm still unclear what's best for the Port of Miami.

I need to know, if it is better to drop OFF the rental car at MIA airport or some downtown location (and get a cab) pre-cruise...

... and how to best get a rental car post-cruise from the port of MIA - take a cab to a downtown location? Take a shuttle to MIA airport and get the car there?

Our pre cruise hotel will be in Pompano Beach (north of FLL), and I would be open to a shuttle or private transfer, but I don't think anyone shuttles from there to Port of Miami (I know SAS doesn't, right?)?

Our post cruise hotel will be close to the Miami port, but then we need to go to FLL airport the next morning! (We are meeting friends in Miami that day, so we need a car.)

I really hope you guys can help me and give me some insight!
Thanks so much!!!

 

[gzmtlock]

I'm in a similar situation. Subscribing to thread.

 

[CamColt]

When we cruised from Miami we used Dollar Rental. We flew into Ft Lauderdale 2 days early and rented there, by taking a complimentary shuttle to the car rental facility.

We then returned the car at the Downtown location in Miami the morning of the cruise. When booking online one of the options showed "With shuttle to the port" (something like that). Be sure to choose that option, but the location is the actual Downtown location. It is just a short ride from the port on the complimentary shuttle.

Upon disembarking we used SAS to take us back to Ft Lauderdale AP.

 

[mmouse37]

We were on the 10/27/13 Magic (2nd sailing after drydock).

Here is our experience. Probably more info than you asked for but thought it may help others doing a similar plan.

We picked up a car in MCO and spent a few days at WDW. We arrived at MIA the morning of the cruise at 9:30 to drop off our rental car. We dropped off the car with no problem and were directed upstairs to the Alamo shuttle pick up area. If you book with Alamo/Enterprise you can ride their shuttle to the port of Miami for free. There was absolutely no one around at 9:40 while we were waiting for the shuttle. We waited about 15 minutes and a shuttle arrived and dropped some DCL passengers off who just got off the 2 night cruise. The driver asked us for our Alamo paperwork and checked it before he let us on the bus. The ride to the port was about 20 minutes with no traffic (on a Sunday). Porters were waiting for us and we handed over our luggage right away. The shuttle drops you at the other end of the port area so we had a bit of a walk along the port building to get to where DCL was. We got to the port about 10:20 and there about 50 people already milling around the outside the doors waiting to be let in. There were 2 doors for entry with no difference on which you waited at. People started forming lines on their own so we lined up in front of the left door. Port staff said they were still debarking passengers so it would a bit before we were let in the terminal. I can't remember exactly but we were let in shortly after about 10:40 or so. We entered and had to go up an escalator where they had the x-ray machines for carry on luggage. After we got through that we continued through the terminal to the check in area. There are some DCL signage around and they did break the line down into the different CC levels. Silver/Gold together and Platinum/Concierge. We checked in fairly quickly and waited to board. There did look like a Concierge lounge area. The entrance to board was at the opposite end of the terminal from the Concierge lounge but they may have had their own entrance to the upper level of the terminal. At about 11:35 they finally called the family of the day and then boarding group 1 (after I was told 5 minutes before by a port worker that boarding would be at 1:00). We went up another escalator and walked on the upper level of the terminal a ways to the gangway. We entered the ship on Deck 4 and our names were announced.

Here are some pics of the car rental center Alamo shuttle pick up drop off area and outside the airport area waiting to be let in. If you are driving your own car there is a parking garage right there at the terminal. Can't vouch for its safety factor but many cars were parked there.

Waiting area for Alamo shuttle at the Miami Car Rental Center...we were the only ones there!!

View from the shuttle as we were getting close to the port.

After drop off and walking toward the entrance for DCL part of the terminal. I believe it was terminal F. At the end of this sidewalk we made a left under the blue roof.

People waiting outside for terminal to open

Door to the left. there was one to the right as well

Some signage

Inside terminal before it got crowded. It did get very crowded before boarding started.

Check in station in the back of pic. Front of pic is where boarding starts and then you make a left and go up the escalator.

they had a separate room for character meet and greet in the terminal and her is a pic of Goofy arriving. He is on the upper walkway of the terminal at this point but came down to check level

Once onboard we were directed to either Carioca's or Cabanas for lunch. We went up to Cabanas.

When we got off the ship we walked to the Alamo shuttle and showed them our paperwork for our rental (we were picking up a car at MIA and driving to West Palm Beach for the day and flying home from there). We hopped on the shuttle and were brought back to MIA. Once there we picked up our rental and headed out. Very easy!!!

MJ

 

[tee11]

Thank you, mmouse37 (I love the pictures! Thanks - there can NEVER be too much detail!) and Camcolt (this is really helpful for dollar rent-a-car!)

I should have added that we're with young kids, and lots of luggage and gear... so that makes me wonder, if it is easy to hop on the airport shuttle with everything vs. my husband dropping us off at the port and then returning the car??

... (however, I did not want him to be gone for over an hour - and I'm wondering, if it could take that long to wait for a shuttle back from MIA airport to the Port of Miami... Mmouse 37 wrote 9:30 to 10:20, so that is very helpful to know!)

 

[muhliss]

I just booked a 5 night cruise out of Miami 10/26-31 and I am confused on what to do as well.

Pre-cruise we will actually be arriving the morning of the cruise at 600 AM. Should I just hang around at the airport for several hours and then take the DCL bus to the port of Miami for $20 each (just me and my husband). Our check in time to board isn't until 1. Or should we rent a car for a few hours to explore Miami and board a little later? I am leaning towards renting a car if we can drop off our car at a downtown rental car facility and take a free shuttle to the port.

Post cruise we will be staying one extra night to experience Halloween in Miami. I still haven't booked a hotel yet. Not sure if I should stay in downtown, beach area or near the airport since we have any early flight home. Are there any hotels that have free shuttle service from the port? We are debating if we should rent a car for one night.

Any help appreciated!

 

[poison ivy]

Thank you, mmouse37 (I love the pictures! Thanks - there can NEVER be too much detail!) and Camcolt (this is really helpful for dollar rent-a-car!)

I should have added that we're with young kids, and lots of luggage and gear... so that makes me wonder, if it is easy to hop on the airport shuttle with everything vs. my husband dropping us off at the port and then returning the car??

... (however, I did not want him to be gone for over an hour - and I'm wondering, if it could take that long to wait for a shuttle back from MIA airport to the Port of Miami... Mmouse 37 wrote 9:30 to 10:20, so that is very helpful to know!)

I would call the front desk and ask the rotation schedule for the shuttles.
We used SAS to the port from FLL but booked a 1 way rental thru Alamo at MIA and drove to WDW on our return.

We took the Alamo/National shuttle which picked us up curbside right outside the Disney terminal.

We opted for the early debarkation and were among the first guests to walk off the ship.

we walked out the doors - Terminal F



and turned right walking toward the shuttle stop.





you will see little signs on varios posts to direct you where to line up. The rental car pickup shuttle is the very last one all the way down at the end.



The shuttle bus was full size.





it dropped us off at the same pickup stop mmouse37 indicated in her post.



we opted to bypass the rental counter and use these really great kiosks for pickup. Very convenient, quick and easy!





Hope this helps.

 

[mmouse37]

I would call the front desk and ask the rotation schedule for the shuttles.
We used SAS to the port from FLL but booked a 1 way rental thru Alamo at MIA and drove to WDW on our return.

We took the Alamo/National shuttle which picked us up curbside right outside the Disney terminal.

We opted for the early debarkation and were among the first guests to walk off the ship.

we opted to bypass the rental counter and use these really great kiosks for pickup. Very convenient, quick a easy!





Hope this helps.

We also did Express Walk Off from the ship the last morning. And I completely agree about skipping the line and just using the kiosk at Alamo/National. We walked in and there were even more people in line than in your pic. Luckily a rep asked if we already had a reservation and we said yes so he directed us to the kiosk. A rep was there to help us with it and we were out there super quick in our rental and on our way.

Loved your pics!!

MJ

 

[poison ivy]

We also did Express Walk Off from the ship the last morning. And I completely agree about skipping the line and just using the kiosk at Alamo/National. We walked in and there were even more people in line than in your pic. Luckily a rep asked if we already had a reservation and we said yes so he directed us to the kiosk. A rep was there to help us with it and we were out there super quick in our rental and on our way.

Loved your pics!!

MJ

Thanks. I loved yours as well. Wish we were cruising right now!

I actually have to thank MJ for our 1 way Alamo rental choice and that kiosk idea. We cruised in Dec 2013 and I was searching for any and all info on which car rental agencies worked best with shuttles from the port.

So we decided to follow MJ's lead from Oct.

There was a rep giving assistance at the kiosk for us too.
It worked perfect.

Hope others will consider this option as well.

 

[Angie_T]

we are having the same dilemma. We've never cruised before and can't figure out what is best to do. We are renting a car at MIA and spending a couple days at WDW before the cruise, returning the car to the airport the morning of the cruise. My husband has plans to drop us at the port and return to the car to a location near the port. That part is fine, I think. Our biggest issue right now is how we get back to the airport after disembarking. We are going to the airport for a late afternoon flight so time isn't a problem. I just don't know what to do to arrange transportation from the port to MIA. We talked about setting up a private transfer but not sure what time to tell them to pick us up or where to pick us up. Also, with luggage, do you carry it off with you or leave it and dig through thousands of bags somewhere on the port ? Any suggestions?

 

[bruinbeardisney]

I just don't know what to do to arrange transportation from the port to MIA. We talked about setting up a private transfer but not sure what time to tell them to pick us up or where to pick us up. Also, with luggage, do you carry it off with you or leave it and dig through thousands of bags somewhere on the port ? Any suggestions?

I thought that DCL provides transfer from port to MIA?

 

[poison ivy]

We talked about setting up a private transfer but not sure what time to tell them to pick us up or where to pick us up. Also, with luggage, do you carry it off with you or leave it and dig through thousands of bags somewhere on the port ? Any suggestions?

We took a private shuttle to the Port.
The cruise terminal looks like this when you arrive.



Passengers are easily dropped off and picked up curbside along that area.
There is signage marking the exact spot for prearranged ground transportation.



Since we did the early debarkation, I can only speak to that.
We were required to walk off with all our luggage.

Hopefully someone can attest to what the process is for bags collected the night before and picked up in customs.

But it's not mandatory that you put your luggage out the night before. It's offered as a convenience to assist with the overall debarkation process.
You can choose to walk off carrying all your bags no matter when you plan to leave the ship.

Since we rented a vehicle to leave, I don't know how the private transport co's pre-arrange pick-up times.

But here was our Early Debarkation experience to help give a sense of the earliest guests may be allowed to leave the ship.

We were on the 12/4/13 Magic.
6:30 am - we grabbed breakfast in Cabanas



6:50 am - we gathered in Studio D w/all our luggage.



7:05 am - we were walking off the ship down the escalator and proceeding to customs. (again, everyone has their luggage)







7:10 am - we were outside the cruise terminal
7:20 am - the national shuttle picked us up.

It worked so well, we'd do it again!

 

[amycockrum]

hi. glad this thread is here. i have only done cruises out of canaveral so was also concerned about these unknowns. mainly after the cruise. so from what i can tell, i should call alamo or national rental cars to make a reservatiin. then they will have a shuttle pick us up from port and take us to downtown locatiin. then i pick up the rental to use for tge day and then i can return it to mia airport. does this sound right? also about how much is a one day rental for 6? i havent rented a car in years! thanks for the help

 

[poison ivy]

hi. glad this thread is here. i have only done cruises out of canaveral so was also concerned about these unknowns. mainly after the cruise. so from what i can tell, i should call alamo or national rental cars to make a reservatiin. then they will have a shuttle pick us up from port and take us to downtown locatiin. then i pick up the rental to use for tge day and then i can return it to mia airport. does this sound right? also about how much is a one day rental for 6? i havent rented a car in years! thanks for the help

The free Alamo/National Shuttle is not prearranged. It runs a continuous loop between the Port and MIA ONLY - picking up and dropping off passengers at any and all the cruise terminals. (Very similar to an airport long-term parking shuttle.)

Because we were off the ship so early, we happened to catch the first shuttle coming around and it was empty.
Also, the driver did asked to see our rental confirmation.

If you are planning to pick up a vehicle from a downtown rental location, you would have to hail a cab to get there.

 

[racingfandj]

Some info for those doing one-way rentals from Orlando or elsewhere. I've price compared our rental from SFB and it has been as cheap or cheaper to keep the car for a week and park downtown than do two one-way rentals. It is definitely worth looking into. Search for parking at "port of Miami cruise parking" and it's about $6/day.

The lot is right across from the Heat's American Airlines Arena. I parked it Saturday night and walked back to the Intercontinental hotel (about 1 mile). We taxied to the port Sunday am for about $15. After disembarkation, I walked about a mile for the car and came back to pick up the family and luggage. They waited about 20 minutes for me.

To me, it's a lot easier than shuttling back and forth between airports I don't need to be in. YMMV.
Jill

 

[mmouse37]

Poison Ivy is correct. There is no shuttle from the downtown car rental locations. Taxi it is.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

hi. glad this thread is here. i have only done cruises out of canaveral so was also concerned about these unknowns. mainly after the cruise. so from what i can tell, i should call alamo or national rental cars to make a reservatiin. then they will have a shuttle pick us up from port and take us to downtown locatiin. then i pick up the rental to use for tge day and then i can return it to mia airport. does this sound right? also about how much is a one day rental for 6? i havent rented a car in years! thanks for the help

Why can't you just rent the car for the day from the Alamo airport location and then return it later in the day to the airport location.

I got a great rate from Alamo through Costco.

MJ

 

[cedricandsophie]

I just booked a 5 night cruise out of Miami 10/26-31 and I am confused on what to do as well. Pre-cruise we will actually be arriving the morning of the cruise at 600 AM. Should I just hang around at the airport for several hours and then take the DCL bus to the port of Miami for $20 each (just me and my husband). Our check in time to board isn't until 1. Or should we rent a car for a few hours to explore Miami and board a little later? I am leaning towards renting a car if we can drop off our car at a downtown rental car facility and take a free shuttle to the port. Post cruise we will be staying one extra night to experience Halloween in Miami. I still haven't booked a hotel yet. Not sure if I should stay in downtown, beach area or near the airport since we have any early flight home. Are there any hotels that have free shuttle service from the port? We are debating if we should rent a car for one night. Any help appreciated!

Would definitely suggest south beach. Great people watching. But it mite be too late for a hotel at this point.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were on the WBPC this past May. We rented a 1 way car from Car Care Center from Alamo. They have a free shuttle to the port from the drop off location.

We did not have unlimited miles, but did not have a Miles charge in the end so the amount of free miles was enough.

Bobbi

 

[poison ivy]

Some info for those doing one-way rentals from Orlando or elsewhere. I've price compared our rental from SFB and it has been as cheap or cheaper to keep the car for a week and park downtown than do two one-way rentals. It is definitely worth looking into. Search for parking at "port of Miami cruise parking" and it's about $6/day.

The lot is right across from the Heat's American Airlines Arena. I parked it Saturday night and walked back to the Intercontinental hotel (about 1 mile). We taxied to the port Sunday am for about $15. After disembarkation, I walked about a mile for the car and came back to pick up the family and luggage. They waited about 20 minutes for me.

To me, it's a lot easier than shuttling back and forth between airports I don't need to be in. YMMV.
Jill

This isn't as easy as it sounds.
I always found a visual to be so much more helpful in weighing decisions.

We are talking about the City of Miami.



here's a map to get a feel for the area.



the cruise terminals are separated by water from downtown Miami.

these next 2 photos were taken off the stern of the Magic.
Notice the distance from the port to the various downtown hotels.

The intercontinental (Alamo's downtown rental location) is left of the tallest bldg. in the 1st photo.



Also, you can see the Miami Heat Arena in this 2nd photo.



It's that white round stadium situated left of the red smokestack (above photo) and right of this landmark building.



In any event, you must cross the bridge to get to the port.





Also on that map, you could see the beach areas. This is a good indication of how far they are from the port. (photos again taken from the ship)





these were taken as we approached during the sailaway.
So beautiful at sunset!







Take a close look at the congestion leaving that area heading toward the city across the bridge. (I'm assuming it's commuter traffic and probably heavy in the opposite direction in the mornings)





Here's 1 beach shot we managed.
We hope to visit this area pre-cruise someday when we have more time.