Hotel picks
Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Area: Brickell (1435 Brickell Ave.)
Why stay: It has a two-acre seventh-floor pool deck, and the hotel says its concierge can arrange luggage storage and transportation.
Ask me about this hotelEAST Miami
Area: Brickell, inside Brickell City Centre
Why stay: It has four pools and the Sugar rooftop bar, and it puts shopping and dining downstairs, per the hotel.
Ask me about this hotelNot sure which Miami hotel fits your trip? Tell me your dates, who's coming and what matters most, and I'll suggest a short list and book the one you pick.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Area: Mid-Beach, Miami Beach
Why stay: It's an oceanfront stay for after the cruise, with a private beach club, the Tierra Santa Healing House spa and the Faena Theater, per the hotel.
Ask me about this hotelBook with the Captain isn't an official partner of, or endorsed by, any hotel brand. Hotel details come from each hotel's own website and can change, so I confirm everything before you book.
Getting to the ship: shuttle & parking
Here's what the port and hotels say on their own sites. No prices here, since rates change.
- PortMiami has parking for each cruise terminal on both the north and south sides of the port, and its parking page lists a garage per terminal, with Garage A for Royal Caribbean. Source: PortMiami, parking information.
- PortMiami says its parking areas are patrolled by security and that a complimentary shuttle runs on cruise days. Source: PortMiami, parking information.
- Flying in on boarding day? PortMiami says that if you come straight from Miami International Airport, most cruise lines offer a shuttle to the port. Source: PortMiami, directions and parking.
- Hotel shuttles: I couldn't verify a cruise shuttle on the official sites of the hotels on this page. Ask me and I'll confirm current shuttle and parking options for your dates.
Planning more than a hotel night? See first-cruise basics or a full vacation package.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Hotels near PortMiami and Port Canaveral before a cruise
- Why it pays to arrive a day early for your cruise
- All hotel and resort ideas
More hotel cities: Fort Lauderdale · Galveston · Port Canaveral & Orlando · Austin
FAQ
Should I stay in Brickell or Miami Beach before a cruise?
For the night before, I usually lean Brickell or downtown, because it's a short ride to PortMiami on boarding morning. Miami Beach works better after the cruise, when you have time for the sand. If you want both, split the stay. I'll map it around your flight and sailing times.
Can a Miami hotel hold my bags after checkout?
Many downtown hotels can. Four Seasons Hotel Miami says its concierge can arrange luggage storage and transportation. Policies change and vary by hotel, so I confirm luggage storage, late checkout and transfer options with your hotel before you book. Then you know where your bags will be all day.
Do Fora hotel perks cost extra?
No. Fora describes its partner perks as coming at the same price as booking direct. In most cases you pay the same rate you'd see booking directly with the hotel; member-only or app rates can differ. Perks depend on the hotel and program, vary and aren't guaranteed, so I tell you what's listed for your specific dates before you book.
Ready to book your Miami stay?
Book with the Captain is an independent travel advisor with Fora Travel. Send me your dates and I'll come back with hotel options that fit, check what Fora lists for each one, and handle the booking. One point of contact, start to finish.
Free quote. Book with the Captain may earn a commission from the hotel if you book, at no extra cost to you. No Book with the Captain fees and no markup on hotel bookings: you pay the hotel's rate. Perks vary by hotel, aren't guaranteed and are confirmed before you book.
Sources
- Four Seasons Hotel Miami, official site (read Oct 24, 2026): https://www.fourseasons.com/miami/
- EAST Miami, official site (read Oct 24, 2026): https://www.easthotels.com/en/miami/
- Faena Hotel Miami Beach, official site (read Oct 24, 2026): https://www.faena.com/miami-beach/hotel
- Fora, "Fora Preferred Partners" (same price as booking direct) (read Oct 24, 2026): https://www.foratravel.com/partners
