Has anyone left from Miami yet? Just curious if it is as easy as Fort Lauderdale was. And hopefully, we can still board early!

Not on Regent Karen, but we've embarked and disembarked in Miami for an Oceania cruise in 2011.

If you're coming in by air, Miami Airport is a good bit further away from the port and the taxi or transfer is likely to be more expensive. Not sure about hotels if you come in the day before. We rent a car to go back and forth to Miami (airport or cruise port) and that is a bigger hassle than in Ft. Lauderdale, where the nearby car rental places and those on the 17th Street Causeway have free shuttles to Port Everglades. In Miami you have to pay a cab - no shuttles!

Also, there is some kind of a tax or toll to get to the port that the cab may try and make you pay. The cab driver we had going never mentioned it, but on the return the driver advised us about it, both as we left the cruise port and again when we arrived at the car rental office. Because there was no mention when we boarded, I asked a rental company guy there about it, and he said it was supposed to be included in the fare. The driver got all huffy over it, so I just paid the fare and "toll" and tipped just the change to the next higher dollar. Some others I asked about it later had been hit up for the "toll", but at least one hadn't. It wasn't a lot of money; $5.00 or so I think.

When we debarked the Mariner in Miami last month we saw Budget & Avis shuttles driving around in the port.

Thanks Mike, it sounds like I will miss the ease of FLL! I just checked and our hotel is 1.4 miles from the port, the toll will probably be more than the cab fare

Do you know if transfers are included if using Regent Air? We took a hotel credit though

Miami has a set taxi fare to/from the port and the airport - $24.00. Where are you staying prior to your cruise Karen? It will probably only be around $15 to get to the port.

I disembarked the Marina in 2011 and remember it was a nightmare waiting for a cab at the terminal. They weren't sending enough over from the waiting area or something. I think I waited in line 45 mins or so. Luckily I wasn't trying to get to the airport.

Andrea, I got the Holiday Inn Port of Miami with Priority points. I just picked the closest to the port and that was it.

Karen, often hotels will include transfers to port or airport or a modest charge that could be lower than cab fare plus toll etc. and less hassle!

Have a wonderful cruise - wish I was on it.

Ted, just find a good hiding spot and don't get off your cruise I hope you can find time to check in while you are gone. If you notice who the maitre d' is, I would love to know and maybe you can tell me who is the Captain and GM. I will also be curious if any of our fav waiters are on board. Seems every cruise I take no matter what ship, Franco the head D is on board but I don't think I will luck out yet again.

We did a round-trip Miami cruise on NCL a couple months ago, and I had some of the same concerns you did prior to the cruise (I thought the port would be slammed) - but it was even easier than what I remember from our cruises out of FLL. Both embarking and disembarking. And the NCL Pearl that we were on, is a mega ship so I would imagine Regent would be a piece of cake.

Both Dollar & Thrifty have shuttles to the port. In the drop off location enter MIA and than click on the Port of Miami. Read the details and it gives the airport address and says that there is a shuttle to the port. I assume they want you to click on the port option so they can schedule shuttles.
Jim

We left the Port of Miami on the Navigator in January. Absolutely no problems whatever. We overinghted at the Marriott Marquee which is right across the bridge form Dodge Island(Port of Miami). Easy in-Easy out. Cab fare from port to MIA with tip and four pieces of luggage $30.00. The building thatRgent uses has been completly re-done is very nice. Again no problems and is very user friendly.

Thanks Bill, that is good to know that you had no problems! We are overnighting in the same area that you did.

Karen, if you are looking for something to do in the late afternoon/early evening, I would recommend taking a walk to Bayside Marketplace. They have a lot of interesting shops, and reaturants. We only wanted something light the night we were there and ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Good seafood, very good service, and the best part, dinner for two, drinks, tax and tip, about $48.00.

Thanks Bill, we will check it out! And since Forrest Gump is Mark's favorite movie, a stop at Bubba's sounds like fun!

We sailed from Miami in January on Oceania which uses the same, dedicated terminal as Regent. Previously we had sailed several times on Regent from Port Everglades. Can't comment on taxis etc because our hostess in Miami drove us to the port (!). However the embarkation process was incredibly smooth compared to FLL. No computer "glitches". We embarked absolutely at the time we were told we could. And there were about 10 check in lines open. All very smooth. But the best thing is the terminal itself. Very nice. Freshly painted. Nice seats in the waiting area. And plenty of staff to "move" you in the right direction.
Miami, to me, is a huge improvement over the "cargo sheds" in FLL.