Tag: miami

Flying into Miami vs. Fort Lauderdale for a cruise

Flying into Miami vs. Fort Lauderdale for a cruise

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After spending a night in the Fort Lauderdale airport, I can confidently say that it’s better to fly into Miami for cruises departing from either Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

I’ve flown into Miami International for a cruise previously and there are many hotels near the airport that are both cheaper and more convenient, especially for wheelchair users. For example, at MIA there is actually a hotel in the airport itself and several very close to the rental car / train / bus station.

Personally, I’d opt for that convenience because it saves the hassle of having to find wheelchair accessible transportation to a hotel. In addition, it makes the task of getting to the port on a cruise shuttle easier as well because you can catch it from the airport nearby.

The scoop about Miami

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I took one of my very helpful aunts to Miami (March 2019) because we couldn’t wait for winter to be over. Luckily we also found a great cruise price for a weekend overnight cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival.

Miami Summary

  • There’s downtown Miami and Miami Beach (North/Mid/South) and the beach is much less Miami Vice and GTA than you’d expect.
  • Beach hotels are consistently more expensive than most places I travel. Staying by the airport / downtown can save money
  • You can get day passes for beach hotels and pools.
  • Great people watching
  • Easy public transit from the airport station via the MIA Mover and Beach Express bus.

The Flight to/from Miami

I used some Delta frequent flyer miles for our tickets and we flew from Milwaukee to Atlanta to Miami on the way there, and via NYC-Laguardia on the way home.

Unfortunately the assistants struggled getting the aisle wheelchair actually down the aisle on the MD-90 plane from MKE to ATL. It’s a single-aisle plane but the transition from First class to economy is at an angle and the chair was too long. I got upgraded to First but bumped someone from their seat.

I had some chair damage on these flights but was able to complete the cruise without an issue, just an inconvenience. On the way home, my armrest fell off.

Miami Transportation

There are accessible taxis in Miami and if you find one, get the driver’s number. They will usually be happy to come and get you and this saves waiting time if they are available directly.

I don’t like the taxis as a primary mode of transportation in Miami however. The accessible ones are few and far between. They’re also expensive.

From the airport you can get to the beaches with the Beach Express bus for a few bucks. Read more here about cruise shuttles and arrival strategies for Miami.

Miami Hotels

On this trip we stayed at the Sheraton Miami Airport before the cruise and the Kimpton Surfcomber after.

  • Sheraton Miami Airport – We got a club level room and the club was fantastic. It’s on the top floor and had very nice staff and a wonderful view of the golf course. Breakfast and afternoon snacks were included. It’s across the street from the airport transit station which gets you right to the terminals and also the beach buses.
  • Kimpton Surfcomber – Located on the beach in South Beach, this was a nice boutique-style hotel with an art deco flare. The location was great for catching the Miami boardwalk and there were a lot of dining and shopping options nearby, including Lincoln Rd.

The Stuff to do in Miami

This was my second time in Miami and my first time leaving on a cruise from there. If you’ve been to Orlando or northern Florida, you’ll be surprised at how blue the water is in Miami compared to there. This time around I rolled up and down the beach, we ate, and hung out at South Pointe Park. We also checked out all the huge yachts and just enjoyed watching all the spring breakers.

I had planned to go to the Miami Open tennis tournament but decided to hang out at the beach that day instead since my favorite players weren’t playing.

I also ordered delivery from La Sandwicherie which has the most amazing croissant sandwiches. Make sure you get the secret sauce!

Or course, you can board your cruises at the port and head to the Caribbean. I really enjoy Miami as a cruise departure city because there is a lot to do.

My Miami Memories

The spring breakers were fun to watch. Packs of three or four girls or guys wandering around, trying to look all fancy in their skimpy swimsuits was highly entertaining.

The dumb paper straws at the Starbucks down there like to disintegrate into the drink and then stop working completely.

We saw Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht in the harbor when we got on our cruise ship. He probably doesn’t need any more money.

Why You Should Go to Miami Anyway

If you want to see some tropical-looking water without leaving the contiguous 48 states but also feel like you’re in the midst of everything, this is your place. There is a lot of eye candy from the people to the buildings to the beach. It’s easy to enjoy a relaxing time, but it is a little pricey here. The new transit options from the airport make getting to the beach much easier and less expensive.

Quickly explore Miami Beach and South Beach with your wheelchair

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A bicyclist rides down a paved path with palm trees.
This path goes for several miles along the beach and makes for fast access up and down South Beach.

All up and down the Miami Beach and South Beach areas is an exceptional paved path and boardwalk. Consider it your “wheelchair highway” while you are visiting Miami.

During my most recent visit (March 2019) I made sure I would cut over to the beach pathway every time I needed to move north or south along the beaches. There are no stop signs, no lights, and it’s not overloaded with people.

I used the path to get from the hotel to South Pointe Park and back in much less time than taking the roads. Of course if you haven’t gotten to see the art deco hotels and things along the street, you’re going to want to do that first!

The path felt safe even at night as it is well-lit and people meander along it at all times.

I highlighted the area in yellow on the map. I’ve taken it as far north as Indian Beach park where I believe it stops.

If you have to go anywhere along the beach or adjacent streets, the pathways are void of stop signs and lights and you can get there quickly in a power chair!

Getting from Miami International Airport to the Cruise Port

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Cruise ships in the port of Miami.
The view from the back of our Carnival Victory ship.

This strategy will work for anyone who wants to avoid taxis or Ubers, not just wheelchair users.

If your cruise line offers shuttle transportation from the airport but you are coming in earlier than the day-of the cruise, you can simply find your way back to the airport and pick up your shuttle there.

On a recent trip to Miami, I was concerned about arranging accessible transportation since it was difficult and expensive the last time I went there. I don’t like waiting for taxis or worrying about them canceling.

This time, however, I flew in a day before the cruise and got a room at the MIA Sheraton which is just a quick airport tram ride away. The MIA Mover takes you from the airport to the car rental, train, and bus station.

From there, the Sheraton was a block’s walk/roll which made our late night arrival much faster than trying to get a cab to a South Beach hotel. There are a few other hotels near the bus station that are slightly further walks. There is also a hotel right at the airport terminals.

Additionally, the beach bus from that station takes you right to Miami Beach down to South Beach for a few bucks. It’s accessible and air conditioned and takes only slightly longer than a car ride. This is also a great way to save $100 or more per night. The hotels near the airport are much cheaper than the beach hotels. So if you can deal with a 25-35 minute bus ride each way, you can still get to the beaches easily.

Here’s a link to all the MIA public transportation information.