Cruise Day at PortMiami
Swinging on a bright cruise ship deck at PortMiami before setting sail in May 2025.
Bright colors, sea air and a swing chair with a view: cruise life at PortMiami in May 2025.
Sailing from PortMiami
PortMiami calls itself the Cruise Capital of the World. Miami-Dade County, which owns and runs the port, reports 8,564,225 cruise passengers in its 2025 fiscal year (October 2024 through September 2025). The port sits on a man-made island of about 520 acres in Biscayne Bay, created by joining Dodge, Lummus and Sam's islands.
Each cruise line sails from its own terminal, so check your boarding documents for your terminal before you head to the port. The county runs parking at each terminal, and shuttles connect the port with Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale airport.
Embarkation day tips
- Arrive at the check-in time your cruise line gives you. Each line sets its own arrival times.
- On a closed-loop cruise, one that starts and ends at the same US port, US citizens can return with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID. US Customs and Border Protection notes that the countries you visit may still ask for a passport, so bringing one is the simplest choice.
- Keep documents, medication and anything you need on day one in your carry-on bag. Checked bags are delivered to your stateroom later in the day.
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Sources: PortMiami, Miami-Dade County, PortMiami cruise passenger information, US Customs and Border Protection. Checked October 2026.