Disney Cruise Line has several Ports of Call, including Miami, Florida. For those unaware, a port of call is simply a stop on the itinerary of your cruise.
The length of your stay in port varies, but usually your ship docks for anywhere from a half-day to a full day. Be sure to check the itinerary pages for estimated onshore and reboarding times for your cruise.
There should also be updated information about your port of call in your daily Personal Navigator Newsletter and Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
As for Miami, Florida, it’s not only a port of call, but it’s also a Disney Cruise Line home port, meaning it serves as a departure port. We discuss more about the Miami departure port on another page. (Coming soon!)
When you embark on a Disney cruise from Miami, you’ll head to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Keep reading to learn more about Miami as a port of call and what you can expect during your cruise!
In this article (click for table of contents)
What is Miami known for?
Located between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean in Southeast Florida, Miami is known as the “Magic City.” Perfect for a Disney cruise, right?
The city is recognized for its New World of “Floribbean” cuisine, music community, cultural, history, eclectic shopping, and for having sunshine more than 300 days of the year. Of course, one of its biggest draws is South Beach, aka SoBe.
Formerly a Spanish settlement, Miami is predominantly bilingual and has a big Cuban culture, where you can experience Cuban food and music. There’s a lot to see and enjoy during both the daytime and nighttime.
What travel information should I know?
From maps, to weather, to currency, to language, there’s different pieces of information you may want to know prior to visiting the Miami.
Port Map
Here’s a map of Miami for you to browse (courtesy of Google Maps).
Average Weather
Courtesy of Weather.com
Here is a chart of the average annual weather for Miami. Typically, the month of August is the warmest month and January is the coolest month.
Language
English and Spanish are both spoken.
Currency
The U.S. dollar is used as currency.
Port WebCam
You can visit PortMiamiWebcam.com for real-time footage of Port Miami.
Which ships sail here?
The Disney Magic sails in and out of Miami, Florida.
How do I get around?
There are several forms of transportation, including renting a car, grabbing a rideshare (Uber and Lyft are available), and others. Check out how you can get around Miami below.
Taxi
At the Port of Miami, there are usually taxis lined up at the dock, which makes for an easy way to get around the city. Here are a few cab companies (rates vary depending on destination):
- Yellow Taxi Miami: (786) 830-6253
- USA Taxi: (305) 897-3333
- Central Cab: (305) 532-5555
Here is a full list of taxi services in the Miami area.
Water Taxi
The Water Taxi in Miami is yet another way to explore the city — and take in gorgeous views along the way. TheWater Taxi operates daily between Miami, Miami River, Miami Beach, and Sea Isle Marina.
These are some of the locations you’ll see along the way: Port of Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Star Island, Monument Island, Jungle Island, Perez Art Museum, and American Airlines Arena.
Ticket prices are (children ages 3 and under ride free):
- Adult All Day Pass: $30
- Child (4-12) All Day Pass: $15
- Local All Day Pass: $20
- Local All Day Pass (when you live in zip code 33130, 33131, 33132, or 33139): $5
- Military/Senior (ID required): $25
Rent A Car
You can also choose to rent a car. Here are a few place to rent from (be sure to search for you location for contact information and to make a reservation):
The above rental car companies have offices close to the Port of Miami, so you don’t need to go all the way to the airport to rent one. But, if you do choose to rent an office at the Miami International Airport, you can always take a taxi or use rideshare.
Some car rental companies even have shuttle buses that will transport you between the car rental depot and the cruise port. They include: Sixt, Enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget, and Supreme Rent a Car.
Trolley
There is also the Miami Beach Trolley, which not only provides transportation throughout the city but is FREE.
What are the port must-dos?
There are several areas that you should consider exploring during your stop. These are the most popular.
- Biscayne Bay: The bay was discovered by explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 and now houses the Port of Miami. There are many areas to explore, different cuisines to try, and even fun activities, like golfing and deep sea fishing.
- Jungle Island: For an additional cost, Jungle Island is described as a “contemporary theme park” featuring animals from around the world, including rare twin orangutans and over 300 birds.
- Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM): The Pérez Art Museum Miami is a modern and contemporary art museum that displays international art of the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Little Havana: A Cuban neighborhood that offers all kinds of culture, authentic cuisine, and entertainment. It’s really not to be missed.
- South Beach: Known for it’s active nightlife and, of course, beaches, South Beach is an extremely popular spot in Miami.
- Coral Gables and Coconut Grove: These are two historic communities in Miami. Coral Gables is known for the Biltmore Hotel and Coconut Grove is Miami’s oldest section with construction that began all the way back in the 1870s. Both places also have fun boutiques and eateries.
What are the port adventures?
There’s only one Port Adventure in Miami that you can book through the Disney Cruise Line website. Note: it does cost extra.
Hop-On Hop-Off Miami, Classic Ticket with Airport Transfer & Luggage Storage (Onboard Bookings Only) [MI06]
- Price: $59 (ages 10 and up), $39 (ages 3 to 9), Free for ages 0 to 2
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 3 to 3.5 hours
- Experience Type: Sightseeing
- Age: All ages
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes (guests should notify the Port Adventures team when booking the tour at least 48 hours prior to debarkation so they can reserve a lift-equipped vehicle; guests with collapsible wheelchairs must be able to climb one step onto the bus)
This open air double-decker bus not only offers great views of the city, but a fun way to explore Miami. You can choose between two hop-on, hop-off routes (the Miami Beach Loop and the City Loop). You can choose between an English-speaking tour guide and a multi-lingual audio tour in six different languages.
All loops will return to the Big Bus Central Station at Bayside Marketplace, where you can also choose to store your luggage. Once you’ve completed your tour, you can even hop on board the bus and head to the Miami International Airport or Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
