Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you book through them at no additional cost to you. Everything here is based on how I actually travel between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, including the options I use myself.
Updated November 2026: I make the trip between Fort Lauderdale and Miami pretty regularly, so I’ve updated this guide with what I’m actually doing now, including our latest Lyft ride, my love of Brightline, and when I’m perfectly happy to pay a little more for convenience.
I regularly fly into Fort Lauderdale and cruise out of Miami, and vice versa.
Honestly, they're close enough that I don't automatically choose my airport based on which cruise port I'm using.
I'm looking at the whole trip: airfare, points, flight times, hotel prices, how many people are traveling and how much luggage we're dragging along.
Sometimes I take Brightline. Sometimes I'll use public transportation.
And sometimes the Lazy Girl answer is simply:
Pay the $80 and get in the SUV. 😂
On my most recent cruise, there were three of us traveling from Miami to Fort Lauderdale with cruise luggage. We booked a larger Lyft SUV and paid about $80 total, including tip.
Could we have done it cheaper? Absolutely.
Did we care? Nope.
We wanted comfort and enough room for three people plus our luggage.
That's really the point of this guide. There isn't one "best" way to get between Fort Lauderdale and the Miami cruise port.
There's the best option for that particular trip.
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FLL to Miami Cruise Port: My Quick Answer
If you just want the Lazy Girl version:
Easiest: Uber or Lyft
My favorite: Brightline
Good for solo travelers: Shared shuttle
Cheapest: Public transportation
Would I rent a car just for this? Absolutely not. 😂
What I choose changes from trip to trip.
Uber or Lyft: What I Use When I Want Easy
Sometimes I don't want a travel hack.
I want someone to pick me up, put my luggage in the back and take me where I'm going.
That's exactly what we did after my most recent cruise.
There were three of us heading from Miami to Fort Lauderdale with luggage, so we ordered a larger Lyft SUV.
Total cost: about $80, including tip.
For three people with cruise luggage, I was perfectly happy with that.
This is a perfect example of my travel philosophy:
I save where it doesn't matter so I have room to spend where it does.
After a cruise, having enough space for three people and our luggage and getting easy door-to-door transportation mattered more to me than finding the absolute cheapest option.
Sometimes the travel hack really is paying the $80 and getting in the SUV. 😂
Rideshare is usually my choice when:
We're traveling with several people
We have quite a bit of luggage
I want door-to-door transportation
We're tired after a cruise
I simply don't feel like making transportation complicated
Obviously rideshare prices change, so I wouldn't plan your budget around my $80 example. Check the app for your particular trip and compare.
Brightline: My Favorite
If I have a little more time, Brightline is my favorite way to travel between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
I've taken it myself and would happily do it again.
One thing to know: Brightline isn't going to deposit you beside your cruise ship. You'll arrive at MiamiCentral and need to handle that final little piece of transportation to your terminal.
That doesn't bother me.
Train to Miami. Short ride to the port. Cruise.
Done.
I like that the transportation itself feels like part of the trip instead of another drive through South Florida traffic.
→ Read My Full Brightline to Miami Review
Shared Cruise Shuttle
A shared shuttle can also make sense, especially if you're traveling solo or as a couple.
I've stayed at the Hyatt Place near Fort Lauderdale Airport, where I've been able to arrange cruise transportation at the hotel.
That's exactly the kind of setup I like when I'm flying in before a cruise.
Hotel? Handled.
Transportation? Handled.
Now where's dinner? 😂
→ Read My Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Review
If you're planning to use a hotel shuttle, verify the current schedule, availability and price directly with the hotel before your trip. I never assume something I used on a previous trip will work exactly the same way on the next one.
Public Transportation: Yes, I've Done It
You can also make the trip using public transportation.
And yes.
I've done this. 😂
But there's one pretty important detail:
I was carrying a backpack.
That's very different from dragging a large suitcase, carry-on, personal item and everything else I've decided I absolutely cannot survive without for seven days.
Tri-Rail's Miami Airport Station connects with Metrorail, buses and trolley service.
Would I personally use public transportation again with just a backpack?
Sure.
Would I do it with a giant pile of cruise luggage?
No thank you.
At that point I'm suddenly very willing to spend money.
What About a Rental Car?
You could rent a car.
I won't. 😂
A rental car could make sense if you're spending a few days exploring South Florida before or after your cruise.
But solely to get me between Fort Lauderdale and Miami?
I personally don't want to pick up a car, drive it, return it and then still get myself to the ship.
You lost me at "drive the rental car."
I know myself.
Should You Fly Into FLL for a Miami Cruise?
I do it regularly.
And I do the reverse too.
I don't automatically pay more for a flight into Miami simply because I'm taking a cruise from Miami.
I'm looking at:
Airfare
Points availability
Flight times
Hotel plans
Transportation costs
Who I'm traveling with
How much luggage we have
Then I look at the trip as a whole.
That's how I make most travel decisions anyway.
The cheapest airfare isn't necessarily the cheapest trip.
But if Fort Lauderdale gives me a much better flight and I can easily get down to Miami?
I'll book FLL.
Flying In Before Your Cruise? Find a Hotel
I'm a big believer in giving myself some breathing room before a cruise.
If I'm staying around Fort Lauderdale, I've personally stayed at the following locations
→ Read My Fort Lauderdale Hotel Reviews
If I'm heading toward Miami instead, I'd rather pick a hotel that makes embarkation morning easy.
🏨 Find a Hotel Before Your Cruise
→ See My Miami Cruise Port Hotel Guide
So What's My Favorite Way From FLL to PortMiami?
🥇 Brightline
My favorite when I have the time and want the transportation itself to feel easy.
🥈 Uber or Lyft
My pick when I want door-to-door and done.
It's especially attractive when I'm traveling with other people because we can split the cost.
And sometimes three people + cruise luggage + $80 including tip = money well spent.
🥉 Hotel or Shared Shuttle
Worth considering if I'm already staying overnight and can conveniently arrange transportation through the hotel.
Public Transportation
Backpack Julie says yes.
Three-suitcase Julie would like an Uber. 😂
Rental Car
Still no.
Ready to Book Your Cruise?
If you're figuring out how to get from Fort Lauderdale to PortMiami, hopefully there's a cruise involved somewhere. 😂
Already booked?
Head over to my Cruise Hub for cruise reviews, port guides, casino cruise deals, packing lists and shore excursion reviews.
And once we've figured out how you're getting to the ship, we can start figuring out what you're doing when you get off it:
→ Read My Viator Review & How I Book Cruise Excursions
About the Author
Hi, I'm Julie Davis, the travel-obsessed blogger behind No Point Left Behind.
I cruise multiple times a year and regularly use both Fort Lauderdale and Miami for my South Florida cruise trips. I share the flights, points, hotels, transportation and cruise deals I actually use, not just what looks good on paper.
My travel philosophy is pretty simple:
Save where it doesn't matter so you have room to spend where it does.
Sometimes that means taking public transportation with a backpack.
Sometimes that means paying $80 for a big Lyft SUV because three people and a pile of cruise luggage would really like some room.
Both count as traveling smarter.
