Miami, where the ships line up.

Where the photos are in Miami

1. Bayfront Park

   A waterfront green space overlooking Biscayne Bay, next to Bayside Marketplace and only five to seven minutes from the port. It is the easiest place for a relaxed group picture with the water behind you before you board.

2. Bayside Marketplace

   A waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment area less than ten minutes from the port, right beside Bayfront Park. There is plenty of room to sit and take your time, and it is somewhere to wait if you have arrived early.

3. South Pointe Park

   At the southern tip of South Beach, with the turquoise Atlantic on one side and the white sand beach on the other. Its pier reaches 450 feet out and looks across Government Cut, the channel every ship uses to leave, so it is also where people stand to watch the ships go by.

4. The Beachwalk and Lincoln Road

   The Beachwalk winds along South Beach, and Lincoln Road, a pedestrian street of shops and outdoor cafes, is a short way west of the beach. It is about four miles from the port, roughly 15 to 20 minutes over the MacArthur Causeway.

5. Little Havana

   A few miles from the port, and home to Versailles, the Cuban restaurant local guides recommend before a cruise. The cafes and the street life are good for a candid picture and a strong coffee before you sail.

How the light works

Embarkation runs through the middle of the day, when the sun is high and hard on faces. Tip your group into the shade of the palms at Bayfront Park, or turn them so the sun is behind them and let the phone lift the shadows. The best light of the day is the sail-away: the ship passes South Beach on its way out of Government Cut, and the skyline and the beach glow together in the late afternoon.

Before you board

PortMiami is on Dodge Island, and its terminals are spread across the island, some of them nearly a mile apart. The port has been rebuilding terminals, so check your boarding documents for the exact terminal instead of trusting an older guide. From South Beach to the port is roughly four miles, 15 to 20 minutes by car, and longer at rush hour.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

How far is South Beach from PortMiami?

About four miles over the MacArthur Causeway, usually 15 to 20 minutes by car and longer in traffic.

Where can I watch the ships leave PortMiami?

South Pointe Park, at the southern tip of South Beach. Its pier looks across Government Cut, the channel the ships use, and they pass close enough to read the names on their hulls.

What do I type in the port box on the first card?

Miami, Florida. Your sailing details take the same words as the port you sailed from, typed once and kept, and every card after that gets the port where its photo was taken.