hi all,

I'm sailing out of Miami on April 19th on Freedom and was wondering what hotels (close to the port) would you recommend? Looking for a decent standard. Also are there any car rental agencies at the port for pickup's / drop off's etc?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi,
We sailed out of Miami a couple of years ago and stayed the night before we set sail at the Holiday-Inn Port of Miami. It was a decent hotel ... no complaints from us. It is right across the street from the Bayside Market so we spent the evening walking around there.

As for rental car agencies we rented a car from National on our return to Miami. I was told that they picked up at the Port. I checked before our cruise and was told that National picked up at the Port. When we got off the ship the RCCL staff told me that National picked up at the port. After waiting for 30 minutes and not seeing any National buses I finally called them only to be told that no they do not pick up at the port.... we just took a cab. I do recall several other car rental buses passing us including Avis and Hertz. That was a couple of years ago so I would check with them again.

Barry

I've heard about the Holiday Inn-Port of Miami from several others on this site. Sounds like just what I'm looking for also. Question; is walking to the RCCL ship from this hotel an option, or is it too far a walk? A couple blocks walk is not out of the question for us, but further would be a slight pain-we pack light, so one suitcase (small) each is our limit. Silly thought on our part, or an option?

Not a silly thought as I considered it also, but realized after looking it up on a map it is further than it looks including a trek across a rather long bridge.

It's too far to walk. Cabs are easy to catch right outside the Holiday Inn.