What to Do Before or After Your Cruise from PortMiami

By Janet K. Keeler

There’s always something new at PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world. If it’s not a new terminal, it’s a new cruise ship sailing from the world’s busiest cruise port. Some 7.3 million passengers boarded cruise ships in PortMiami in 2022-2023.

That's a lot of people roaming around Miami in anticipation of a cruise that could take them to the Southern Caribbean, South America, Antarctica or even around the world.

Rest assured, there are tons of things to do in South Florida to entertain any cruisers who arrive a day or two early or extend their vacation after the cruise. There’s world-class food, shopping, art and views at every turn. Plus the people-watching is first-rate. You never know who you might see in a Miami Beach club or shop, be it a pro athlete, a pop star or a reality show real wife from somewhere.

PortMiami is less than 10 miles from Miami International Airport and cars are easily rented there if you arrive in Florida with time to spare. And you really should plan on that because Miami is a cultural playground that will set the tone for whatever cruise itinerary awaits. Even if you don’t have access to a car, taxis and ride share options are easily had. Also, the Miami city trolley’s Coral Way route stops in three places at MiamiPort. The trolley is free.

PortMiami is on Dodge Island, which is adjacent to the state’s most exclusive residential islands, including Fisher and Star islands. Reported to own homes on Fisher Island are Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts and tennis great Boris Becker along with Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner. Nearby Star Island also has its share of celebs including Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal and Enrique Inglesias. Starstruck travelers won’t be able to get on the islands, but there are boating excursions that cruise past the stars’ backyards. Don’t care about stars? Check out the opulent architecture.

When it comes to dining, Miami serves the world on a platter. From Cuban and Latin American specialties to award-winning Japanese sushi and omakase experiences to local flavors that celebrate the sea, the city hums with good taste. Miami has one two-star Michelin restaurant and 11 restaurants that have been awarded one star, plus plenty more that get other recognitions. The Michelin Guide has just come to Florida and shined its light on Miami. If you want the two-star experience, check out L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Miami. Bring your wallet. Dinner is easily $200 a person, before drinks.

But there are other places to eat just a few miles from PortMiami, some with legendary status like Joe’s Stone Crab on Miami Beach and Versailles Cuban restaurant in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood. There’s not a major campaigning politician, presidential hopefuls included, who doesn’t stop into Versailles to court Miami’s powerful Latin vote. Want something low-key but supremely interesting? Head to the Wynwood arts district for a tasty something-something from James Beard honored Artisan Jewish baker, Zak Stern. His Zak the Baker bakery draws foodies from all over and reservations are a wise move.

There’s plenty more things to do before or after your cruise out of PortMiami. Here are five ways to add value to your cruise vacation in the vibrant city of Miami.

Explore Miami Beach

The beachside town is known for neon-lit nightclubs and trendy fashion, but it is also home to a string of Art Deco architectural jewels plus other landmark buildings classified as Mediterranean Revival or Miami Modern. The Miami Design Preservation League has self-guided (with app-based audio) and narrated walking tours, which take about two hours. Feel like taking in the sites on wheels? The free Miami Beach Trolley takes riders up and down the barrier island on the ocean-side road which lets you see the old Art Deco hotels that have been transformed into boutique accommodations with nightclubs, past the legendary Fontainebleau Hotel and even by the mansion where designer Gianni Versace was gunned down. The trolley is mostly transportation and is not narrated. Still, it’s free and you can hop off and get back on along the way. Another way to explore the area is the seven-mile Miami Beach Boardwalk which runs between the beach and the back of the buildings on the east side of Collins Avenue for about 40 blocks. The boardwalk is open to runners, walkers and skaters; some stretches are okay for bicyclists.

Read the Walls

The Wynwood Walls Arts District is an example of urban evolution. Empty warehouses north of downtown Miami have been transformed into an open-air art museum thanks to 35 murals and creative artists. The walls explode with colorful art, some of it making social commentary. The Cost is $12 (less for military personnel, seniors and kids) to wander around on your own. Guided tours are $20. The art district has spawned retail shops and places to eat and drink. After you’ve satisfied your taste for mural art, stop at J. Wakefield Brewery for a cold brew with a wicked fun name like Hops 4 Teacher American IPA or an Amber Waves red ale. Dasher & Crank has tropical ice cream for the kids. Two scoops of mojito for the adults, please. If it happens to be raining when you want to visit, consider ducking into the Museum of Graffiti just a couple blocks away from the murals.

Take an Historic Dip

The Venetian Pool might just be the most unusual place you ever swim and at least the most historic. Tucked into a neighborhood in Coral Gables, just south of PortMiami, it’s near the University of Miami and the tony Miracle Mile shopping and dining district. The pool was built in 1923 from a coral rock quarry and is fed by spring water from an underground aquifer. It looks like something out of a vintage movie with its Mediterranean Revival structures and a waterfall reminiscent of a South Pacific scene. But it’s thoroughly modern in many ways, hosting kids birthday parties and staffed with lifeguards. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Entry is $6.95 to $22 depending on age and season. The pool is closed December and January, and every Monday.

Bike on Key Biscayne

A few miles from MiamiPort is the barrier island of Key Biscayne, which for years has been the winter home of politicians, celebrities and anyone who wants to escape from the cold weather up North. Key Biscayne is lush with tropical foliage and boasts one of the nicest beaches in South Florida, the municipal Crandon Park beach lined with 13 lifeguard stands. It’s here that you can rent a bicycle or a four-wheel surrey for four to pedal the length of the four-mile island. Before you take off, hang out at Crandon beach for a while, maybe even rent a cabana. Crandon takes up about half of the key and a residential/hotel area separates it from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (party entry is $8). At the tip of the island is the Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825. This is a great place to take photos, including selfies. The intrepid can climb the 109-step spiral staircase to the top, and there are benches below where non- climbers can wait. Check before you go to make sure restoration work is finished. There are places to stop for food and drink along the residential portion of Key Biscayne. Another place to explore is Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, also called the Biscayne Nature Center. Around the center are four marked trails that can be hiked in 25 to 60 minutes.

Get a Little Culture

The Pérez Art Museum Miami is one of the city’s newest museums and it features contemporary art of the 20th and 21th century. It’s a quick free trolley ride (Coral Way route) from MiamiPort and you’ll be transported to a building as interesting outside as it is inside. The museum sits on Biscayne Bay and its iconic hanging gardens—seven columns of plants—create a living sculpture. The design of the building pays homage to “Stiltsville,” the stilted fish houses built in the ’20s and ’30s near Cape Florida now under the auspices of the National Park Service. Inside the museum, are lots of works by Latin American artists among the permanent collections plus special exhibitions. Entry to the museum is $18 for adults and free for teachers, active and retired military, and first responders. Within walking distance is the Frost Science Museum, Aquarium and Planetarium with occasional events and activities for kids.