Fascinating twists, moves, and controversies played a critical role in the history of PortMiami. From finger piers in the Miami River to the world’s premier passenger
cruise port. The Port is, in many ways, a microcosm of Miami’s development.
It all started in 1895 when landowners Julia Tuttle and William and Mary Brickell persuaded Henry Flagler to extend his Florida East Coast Railroad south and build a port city.
Flagler immediately jumped on board. His first passenger train reached Miami a year later, in 1896, the City of Miami, with its whopping population of 300 residents, was officially incorporated.
But Flagler was just getting started. In 1897, he dredged a 12′ channel in this same
area and began regular passenger service between Miami and Key West. Flagler’s Peninsular and Occidental (P&O) Steamship Company soon started the first regular
shipping service between Miami, Grenada, and Nassau.
Located in the midst of beautiful but very shallow Biscayne Bay, no pioneer, not even Flagler himself, could possibly have envisioned what the Port’s future held.
Now a Florida Heritage Landmark, today’s PortMiami is world-renowned as the “Cruise Capital of the World” and welcomes more cruise passengers to its terminals than any other port in the world.
The Port accommodates the largest cruise ships in the world. It is one of an elite group of international ports that cater to both cruise ships and containerized cargo vessels.
The modern Port of today is also home to major cruise lines from around the globe, including Carnival, Celebrity Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, and so many more.
The city’s unique geographic position makes PortMiami extremely accessible to the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as to Asia and Europe, by way of the Panama Canal.
You can easily reach some of the most popular Ports of Call, including Key West, the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and beyond. Between the Port’s convenience and the incredible array of itineraries, PortMiami is a top pick with cruising aficionados.
If you’re ready for your next adventure, visit the cruise line of your choice for all the deets on cruise schedules, destinations, and more. More info at miamidade.gov/portmiami/cruise-lines.asp.
Smooth sailing!
