An upcoming cruise from Miami shouldn’t be a cause for stress. Yet when you see the number of cruise hotel options that are available to you, your head can start to spin!
As a tourist haven, there are literally hundreds — if not thousands — of hotels in the Miami area for you to stay and they can stretch all over the city. So what’s the best place to stay?
When it comes to finding the best hotel for you, first you will want to determine the area that best fits your needs. To be sure you can stay anywhere in South Florida; with the availability of Uber, Lyft, and taxis, getting to the Miami port is pretty simple on cruise day.
Still, most people will choose to stay in one of a few areas, depending on what they are looking for during their trip. All have pros and cons, and we highlight hotels from each below.
Staying near the airport: Flying in for your cruise? It may not be what you picture when you think of Miami, but staying near the airport can be convenient and affordable. You have a wide variety of hotels that are usually at more affordable prices compared to staying near the ship. In addition, hotels near the airport often have free shuttles between the hotel and your flight. So you can fly in an be at your hotel in minutes with little fuss.
Staying near the cruise port: Staying near the port is also popular. While prices here are likely more expensive than what you’ll find by the airport, you are also near the heart of Miami’s downtown, with all that it has to offer. As well, come cruise day you are right near the cruise terminals. That makes it easy to get to your ship within minutes.
Staying near trendy areas (South Beach, Brickell, etc.): Of course, picture Miami and you no doubt imagine places like South Beach. The trendy Brickell area is also popular. The good news is that these spots aren’t that far from the cruise port. So you can stay here, enjoy the Miami scene and still be convenient to the ship. However, expect to pay more for the location.
Note: This article contains affiliate links to Kayak. We earn a commission for clicks made on their website, at no charge to you. Review ratings come from Google and are rounded to the nearest half point.
You can start your search for your hotel using the search box below for Kayak. We think it’s one of the best tools for finding a Miami cruise hotel as it searches across all your options. After that, we highlight some of our top picks for cruise hotels in the city.
Search Miami cruise hotels below. Our suggestions follow.
Top Places to Stay for a Miami Cruise
Below we’ve listed what we consider our great cruise hotels for passengers staying in Miami. This comes from a mix of amenities, name brand, review ratings, and location. Click each hotel name to read reviews on Kayak. Review ratings come from Google and are rounded to the nearest half point.
DoubleTree Biscayne Bay (Cruise port area)
If you want to make your hotel stay memorable, then this spot could be your top choice. It sits on Biscayne Bay, looking out over the water to Miami Beach and the cruise terminals. From here you are just minutes to the cruise ships.
The DoubleTree name is known for a high-end experience, and this hotel doesn’t disappoint. It’s rated a strong four out of five stars. You’re also near the Perez Art Museum and the Miami Heat’s arena. Keep in mind, however, that this is one of the pricier spots to stay near the cruise port.
- Price: $$$
- Distance to Port: 2 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Marriott Stanton South Beach (South Beach)
South Beach is known for its beautiful people, art deco architecture, and nightlife. This spot allows you to experience it all while staying beachfront and just a few miles from the cruise port.
Highly rated, this hotel is a few blocks south of the more crowded spots of South Beach, giving you a chance to enjoy everything without being in the middle of it. It’s also near the famous Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant. If you’re wanting a stay that is very “Miami,” then it’s hard to top this hotel. One more thing — you’re just blocks from the channel out of the port where all the cruise ships pass as they depart.
- Price: $$$
- Distance to Port: 5 miles
- Review Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Miami Airport Marriott (Airport area)
Wanting a “Miami-style” stay with neon lights, beach, and a wild time? Then the Miami Airport Marriott might not be for you. Have a flight into the city and want a highly-rated hotel that offers a free ride to the airport and the cruise port? This fits the bill.
Marriott is always a well regarded brand-name, and this hotel is just minutes away from the airport meaning you don’t have to fight a ton of traffic to get to your room after a long flight.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 7.5 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon (Airport area)
This hotel makes our list because of how unique it is. It’s located just south of the airport (which you can access via the hotel’s shuttle). But what makes this spot unique is that it’s located at the end of a peninsula that juts out into Blue Lagoon. In other words, you are right near the airport, but surrounded by water.
For those wanting the convenience of staying close to Miami International but a feeling that’s more secluded, this spot is ideal. From here you are about 20 minutes from the cruise terminals via Uber/Lyft.
- Price: $$
- Distance to Port: 9.5 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Novatel Miami-Brickell (Brickell/cruise port area)
Brickell is a trendy area just south of downtown and near the cruise port. There are restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Staying in this area you have a lot of options, and most fall in the category of luxury stays. After all, what else would you expect from the heart of Miami?
The Novatel Miami is in the Brickell area that’s just south of the cruise port. It’s a mid-rise hotel with a rooftop lounge area that overlooks the water and the skyline. Meanwhile, it’s one of the highest-rated hotels in the area. Coming from the airport? The Orange Line train drops you off right near the spot. When it’s time to get to your ship you can walk the short distance to the Coral Way trolley stop that heads directly to the port for free.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 3 miles
- Review Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The Guild Downtown | X Miami (Downtown/cruise port area)
Dubbing itself “an oasis of calm in downtown Miami” this high-rise hotel sets the bar for cool. First, the location. Here you are right by Bayfront Park and just over the causeway to the Port of Miami. It will only take you minutes to get to your ship.
The hotel itself is modern and trendy, complete with unique designs like a wall full of flamingos in the room. There’s a rooftop pool with tons of loungers and you are also in the heart plenty to see and do before your cruise.
- Price: $$
- Distance to Port: 5.5 miles
- Review Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (Airport area)
One of the ironic things in hotels is that the more affordable places to stay often offer better amenities. This Comfort Suites near the Miami airport gives free rides back and forth from the airport, has free wi-fi, and breakfast. For your cruise, there’s even a complimentary shuttle to the Port of Miami each day. Simply register at the desk when you arrive for check in. Meanwhile, the hotel gets strong reviews and can be had for under $150 a night on many dates.
- Price: $$
- Distance to Port: 8 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Eurostars Langford (Downtown/cruise port area)
Forget best Miami hotels for cruise passengers, this might be one of the coolest in the city. It’s in the converted Miami National Bank building, taking the bones of something old and updating it with modern touches. That means it has a ton of style and a great location as well.
From here you could walk to the port if you wanted (it’s still a bit of a trek), but instead you’re right next to the Coral Way trolley that will take you there for free. It’s also surprisingly affordable many nights given the location.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 2 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Holiday Inn Port of Miami (Downtown/cruise port area)
This hotel makes our list for its location alone. It’s literally the closest hotel to the cruise port. From your room you could see the cruise ships, as well as be right at Bayside Marketplace — a park and mall that’s right across the street. If you want to be by the ships, it simply doesn’t get any closer. You could literally walk over the causeway to your cruise ship if needed. Prices are also relatively affordable given the location.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 1 mile
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown (Brickell/cruise port area)
Sitting in the heart of Brickell, which is only a few minutes from the cruise ships, this Hampton Inn is one of the best reviewed hotels in the area, earnings 4.5 out of 5 on Google.
Of course, being in the heart of Miami, having a great pool area, and offering a clean and modern hotel is a great recipe for success. And if you’re thinking a bland chain hotel, this one has some unique touches that are very Miami (check out the pink pool table). You can ride the free trolley to the terminals on cruise day.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 2.5 miles
- Review Rating: 4.5 out of 5
YVE Hotel (Downtown/cruise port area)
Just a block south of the Holiday Inn, YVE is also across from Bayfront Park and the shopping center. It’s also a short couple of minutes to get to the cruise ships. If your room is facing that way, you can even see the ships across the causeway. The hotel itself gets great reviews thanks to its location as well as the hip and modern atmosphere — making it perfect for downtown Miami.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 1 mile
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Fairwind Hotel (South Beach)
Does it get anymore Miami than staying in South Beach in an art-deco hotel that features a rooftop pool? This hotel has exactly that, while sitting right on Collins Avenue and just a block from the famous Lummus Park and the beach.
Despite all that, rates are decent. We were able to find prices under $200 a night most days of the week, although prices are higher for Friday/Saturday stays. The boutique spot is highly rated and right in the heart of it all for a memorable stay before your cruise.
- Price: $$-$$$
- Distance to Port: 5.5 miles
- Review Rating: 4 out of 5
How Much Are Miami Cruise Hotels?
Of course the price of a hotel depends on a lot of factors, including the location, type, and brand of the hotel. In general, however, we’d suggest budgeting about $200 per night for a hotel room before your cruise. Some hotels will be more (some MUCH more!) while you can also find lower priced options. But for a solid hotel in a decent spot, around $200 per night is a good rule of thumb. Prices can be less if staying on a weekday night. However, most cruises depart on the weekend.
What About Resort Fees?
Resort fees are the extra charges you pay at some hotels. These fees often run $30-40 and include things like w-fi service, welcome drinks, newspapers, and more. Unfortunately, they have popped up in tourist destinations like Miami to extract more money from visitors and can be widespread.
In our experience, hotels that are near hotspots like South Beach often charge these extra fees while hotels in other spots (e.g. near the airport) do not. Any resort fee should be fully disclosed before you purchase; not sprung on you at the last minute. Just be prepared that your hotel could have one if looking in a touristy area.
What About Staying Outside of Miami Before a Cruise?
The entire South Florida area offers lots to do and see, from Boca Raton to Coral Gables. Plus, with Uber/Lyft, taxis, trains, and more, it’s relatively easy to get around the city, though traffic can be bad.
In other words, it’s no big deal if you want to stay somewhere outside of the port area before your cruise. Just keep in mind that it will take you a bit longer (and be more expensive) to get to the port on cruise day.
More Miami hotel ideas:
