PortMiami is the busiest cruise port in the world, and on a turnaround day it feels like it. Ten terminals line Dodge Island, the drop-off lanes run one way, and there is no shuttle between terminals if you are let out at the wrong one. ApexBCS runs a private, chauffeured car service to and from PortMiami built around your ship and your sail time: one chauffeur, one vehicle, your party only, with room for cruise-length luggage and a chauffeur who chooses between the Port Boulevard bridge and the PortMiami Tunnel based on how the morning is moving.
We pick up at Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, at hotels from Brickell and downtown to South Beach, and from homes across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, so the port is the easy part of the trip.
From the airport to the ship
MIA is close, FLL is not, and both are busier than cruisers expect on a Saturday. Your chauffeur tracks the flight, meets you curbside (or inside at baggage claim with Meet & Greet, by request), and times the drive so you reach your terminal inside your boarding window with a buffer for the port bridge or tunnel and the porter line.
| From | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Miami International (MIA) | about 9 miles | 20–35 minutes |
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) | about 26 miles | 45–75 minutes depending on I-95 |
| Palm Beach International (PBI) | about 75 miles | 90 minutes or more |
| MiamiCentral Brightline station | about 2 miles | 10–15 minutes |
| South Beach hotels | about 4 miles | 15–25 minutes via the MacArthur Causeway |
If you are flying into FLL for a PortMiami sailing, book the earliest flight you can live with; the I-95 stretch between the two is the least predictable part of the day.
Terminal by terminal
PortMiami’s terminals run the length of Dodge Island, from the newest ones at the east end near the tunnel to Virgin’s Terminal V at the west end. Each terminal has its own drop-off lane on a one-way road, and there is no shuttle between them, so getting the terminal right matters. Give us your ship’s name when you book; our dispatch team matches it to the terminal, and your chauffeur reconfirms the ship with you at pickup.
| Terminal | Typically used by |
|---|---|
| AA | MSC Cruises (the port’s newest and largest terminal), with some Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sailings while Terminal G is rebuilt |
| A | Royal Caribbean, including Icon-class ships |
| B | Norwegian Cruise Line |
| C | Shared and overflow use: MSC, Norwegian, Disney Cruise Line |
| D | Carnival Cruise Line |
| E | Carnival Cruise Line |
| F | Carnival Cruise Line |
| G | Closed for rebuilding; future home of Royal Caribbean Group ships |
| J | Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Azamara and other smaller luxury ships |
| V | Virgin Voyages |
Assignments change by sailing. The port posts any change on its signage, and your chauffeur reconfirms where your ship is docked from those signs on the way in.
Bridge or tunnel
There are two ways onto Dodge Island. Port Boulevard is the bridge from Biscayne Boulevard downtown, closest to Brickell, downtown and the MiamiCentral Brightline station. The PortMiami Tunnel runs under Government Cut from the MacArthur Causeway and connects straight to I-395 and I-95, which is usually the better route from MIA, FLL and South Beach. Your chauffeur will determine which approach to use based on your pickup point and the morning’s traffic, and knows which lane serves your terminal.
Embarkation day
Your chauffeur drops you and your luggage at your terminal’s curb, where cruise-line porters take tagged bags straight to the ship. Keep passports, medications, electronics and anything you need before dinner in a carry-on. Most lines hold guests to an assigned boarding window, so we aim to arrive just before yours opens rather than an hour early.
The trip home
Disembarkation at PortMiami rarely runs on the ship’s listed time. Customs lines and the gangway queue can push your exit later, and on days when several large ships turn around, the terminal roads fill up fast. Our dispatch team knows how each terminal runs and will help you choose a realistic pickup time based on your ship’s scheduled arrival, your debarkation group, and any flight you need to make.
If the port runs seriously late, call our office as soon as you can and we will rearrange the pickup.
Where we pick up
Brickell, downtown and the MiamiCentral station, South Beach and Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Doral and Miami Springs near MIA, Aventura and Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County, and Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. We also handle private aviation at Miami-Opa Locka Executive (OPF) and Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE).
The right vehicle for cruise luggage
A couple with two large bags rides comfortably in a sedan or SUV. Families and groups with full sets of luggage are placed in a Sprinter or larger vehicle so nothing rides on a lap. Rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats are available by request for the drive to or from the port. The full lineup is on our fleet page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from MIA to PortMiami?
About nine miles and 20 to 35 minutes in normal traffic, longer on weekend mornings and when the tunnel backs up. We time the pickup to your boarding window, not to a fixed departure time, so an early landing does not leave you waiting at the terminal.
Can you take us from Fort Lauderdale airport to PortMiami?
Yes. FLL to PortMiami is about 26 miles and usually 45 to 75 minutes on I-95. We track the flight and plan for the slower end of that range on sailing days.
Which terminal is my ship at?
Your cruise line assigns the terminal and prints it on your boarding documents. PortMiami’s terminals are spread along the island with no shuttle between them, so getting it right matters. Give us your ship’s name when you book, our dispatch team matches it to the terminal, and your chauffeur reconfirms the ship with you at pickup.
Do you pick up at hotels the morning of the cruise?
Yes: Brickell, downtown, South Beach and Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Aventura and anywhere else in South Florida, timed to your boarding window.
Our ship docks at 7am. When should the car be there?
Almost never at 7am. Our dispatch team will help you pick a realistic time based on your debarkation group, whether you are carrying your own bags off, and any flight you need to make. Pickup times are not adjusted automatically, so if customs or the gangway runs seriously late, call our office as soon as you can and we will rearrange the pickup.
How much wait time is included at the port?
Thirty minutes at cruise ports, the same as at airports. After that, wait time is billed in 15-minute increments as described in our Booking Terms.
Will all our luggage fit?
Yes, as long as we know what is coming. Give us an accurate count of passengers and bags when you book, including large suitcases, carry-ons and anything oversized like golf clubs or a stroller, and we assign a vehicle with room for all of it. Families and groups with full sets of bags are placed in a Sprinter or larger vehicle. If the count changes before your trip, let us know so the right vehicle still shows up.
Can we stop in Miami on the way to the airport after the cruise?
Yes. Tell us when you book so it is built into the schedule, or ask the chauffeur on the day; unscheduled stops may be added when time allows and are covered in our Booking Terms.
Do you go to Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach too?
Yes. See our Port Everglades car service page, and our cruise transportation page for the Port of Palm Beach and long-distance transfers to Port Canaveral, Port Tampa Bay and JAXPORT.
Do you provide child car seats?
Yes. Rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats are available by request for an additional fee per seat, so tell us the ages of the children when you book. Chauffeurs do not install seats; you secure the seat yourself at pickup, which takes only a minute.
Ready to book your PortMiami transfer?
Share your sail date, ship’s name and flight or hotel details and we will build the pickup around them. Book online, call (954) 890-2739, or open a corporate account for your travel team.