While the cost for tickets for a typical 3-5 day cruise won’t break the bank, the number of extra costs that come along with taking a cruise vacation can actually catapult you right over your budget. Plane tickets, port charges, shore excursions, driving, and even parking can end up costing more than your cruise tickets! The best thing you can do to save money is plan ahead.
By planning ahead, we mean: search for the deepest discounts on plane tickets (try Expedia.com), book your shore excursions well in advance (the longer you wait, the bigger the price tag), and call ahead to inquire about port charges, the shortest routes to the cruise terminal and parking fees. If you have already booked a Carnival Cruise from Miami, here’s a bit of information about getting to the Port of Miami and parking fees at Carnival Cruise Lines Port of Miami.
The Port of Miami is located at 1015 N. American Way, Miami, Florida 33132. You can contact the Port of Miami by calling 1.305.347.4800. The Port of Miami is around 8 miles from Miami International Airport. It is also only 25 miles from Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Northbound directions, Southbound directions, and directions from I-95 are as follows:
Directions From I-95: Take I-95 north or south to I-395. Follow the directional signs to the Biscayne Boulevard exit. When you get to Biscayne Blvd., make a right. Go to 5th Street which converts to Port Blvd. (Landmark: American Airlines Basketball Arena) Make a left and continue over the Port Bridge. Follow directional signs to designated
Southbound Directions: Take I-95 South to Exit 5A (NW 8th Street). Turn east onto NW 5th Street (turns into NE 5th Street). Follow signs with steamship logo to Biscayne Blvd. Port entrance is at Biscayne Blvd. and NE 5th Street.
Northbound Directions: Take US-1 North to I-95 North. Exit at Biscayne Blvd. Proceed north on Biscayne Blvd. to NE 5th Street. Port entrance is at Biscayne Blvd. and NE 5th Street.
Parking fees at Carnival Cruise Lines Port of Miami and parking for all cruise passengers is $12 per day. Parking for visitors to the port is only $5 per day. Forms of payment include: cash and credit cards (Visa or Master Card only). If you are driving an oversized vehicle, be prepared to pay higher parking fees at Carnival Cruise Lines Port of Miami. Depending on overall dimensions of your vehicle, you will pay no less than $24 per day for parking. Upon arrival at your cruise terminal, you will find postings for established parking rates. The meter starts the day you park your vehicle up until the time you leave. Keep in mind that Parking Garages 5 and 6 are the only garages that accept credit card payments.
The City of Miami welcomes roughly 10 million visitors per year via plane, train, car, and cruise. During fiscal year 2007, 3.75 million cruise passengers passed through the Port of Miami. Besides daily sailings through Carnival Cruises, the Port of Miami also has daily sailings through Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.