From $89 per vehicle: a private, one-way ride from Port of Miami to First Class Resorts in a chauffeured SUV or van.
Pricing is by vehicle, not by seat: a solo traveler and a full car pay the same flat one-way rate.
Tell us the ship and the driver times the pickup to its arrival, then waits at your terminal’s curb at PortMiami. The curbside greeting there is included in the fare; the Meet & Greet at the terminal is a $40 add-on. From the port the ride is direct, with no other passengers.
First Class Resorts sits in Coral Gables, the mainland district known for its Mediterranean-revival architecture and its fountain-lined boulevards. This is a calmer, greener corner of the region than the waterfront you leave behind at the pier, with tree-shaded streets and low-rise elegance setting the tone. After days at sea, arriving here feels like stepping into a quieter register of the city, one built around gardens, courtyards, and unhurried afternoons.
The stay puts a lot within easy reach. Miracle Mile, the walkable heart of Coral Gables, runs a few blocks of shops and sidewalk tables nearby. The Biltmore Hotel, a landmark of the district, stands close by with its tower and grand grounds. The Venetian Pool, carved from old coral rock, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden round out the neighborhood, the kind of places you can fold into a morning or a slow afternoon without going far.
For travelers coming straight off a ship, the appeal is the contrast. You trade the crowded terminal and the luggage hall for a district that moves at its own pace, and your ride carries you the whole way rather than leaving you to sort out the last stretch yourself. The driver drops the group at the entrance, bags carried to the curb beside you, so the move from cruise to Coral Gables stays simple. For a few nights before flying home or a longer Miami stay, First Class Resorts gives you a base among the boulevards, gardens, and landmarks that define this part of the city.
Once your group clears the terminal, the ride is straightforward. Your driver meets you at the exact terminal your cruise line uses on Dodge Island, helps with every bag from the hall to the curb, and loads the luggage into the vehicle reserved for your party alone. There are no stops to arrange and nothing to sort out on your phone, the car runs straight to First Class Resorts, door to door.
The route follows SR-836 for the 7.7-mile hop between the port and Coral Gables, which commonly takes 24 to 26 minutes depending on the hour. Traffic on that highway is the only real variable, so the pickup is planned around your ship’s actual arrival rather than a fixed slot. A 60-minute courtesy wait absorbs the customs line and the luggage hall, so a slow disembarkation never costs you the ride within that time.
First Class Resorts in Coral Gables is 9.8 miles from the Port of Miami by road, about 27 minutes without heavy traffic via the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and SR 953. The fare is per vehicle: $89 for the Black SUV, $140 for the Van and $200 for the Van XL. Pickup is at your cruise terminal curb at PortMiami.
| Road distance | 9.8 miles |
|---|---|
| Black SUV, 1-5 | $89 |
| Drive time | 27 minutes |
| Van, 6-9 | $140 |
| Main roads | Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), SR 953 |
| Van XL, 10-14 | $200 |
| Back from First Class Resorts | $89 / $140 / $200 |
Going back works the same way. The driver meets you at the main entrance of the resort and takes you to your cruise terminal at PortMiami, 9.8 miles away, in about 27 minutes with light traffic. Fares for the return from First Class Resorts are $89 (Black SUV), $140 (Van) and $200 (Van XL). The booking box below opens with the two points swapped. Book the return
The 9.8 miles from the Port of Miami to First Class Resorts take about 27 minutes without heavy traffic via the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and SR 953. At busy hours, allow extra time. Each vehicle has a fixed fare, no traffic or surge charges: $89 for the Black SUV, $140 for the Van and $200 for the Van XL.
Book the time you expect to walk out of the terminal with your bags, not the docking time. The waiting rules for slow disembarkation days are on the FAQ page linked below. The drive to First Class Resorts then takes about 27 minutes.
At the curb outside your own cruise terminal (the terminals are listed below). Before the pickup you get the driver’s name, car and plate; when you are outside with your bags, message us and the car pulls up for the ride to First Class Resorts.
Count people and big suitcases together: up to 10 fit the Black SUV at $89. Larger groups going to First Class Resorts take the Van at $140, for 9 passengers and 9 cases, or the Van XL at $200, for 14 and 14. One carry-on each is included.
On sailing day the ride from First Class Resorts to your terminal is $89 for the Black SUV, $140 for the Van and $200 for the Van XL. The 9.8 miles take about 27 minutes in light traffic, so leave early enough for boarding.
Every policy in full: FAQ
We didn’t want to juggle the little ones and the bags looking for a ride at the port, so we booked a private van to First Class Resorts. The fare was set up front, no surprise on a busy disembarkation morning. No lot to comb through — we just walked from the terminal to a car that was already there.
There were nine of us stepping off at PortMiami, and one private transfer to First Class Resorts was the easy way. Booking was simple, we got a solid confirmation, and everything lined up perfectly.
My wife and I didn’t want the taxi scramble outside the terminal, so we booked a private ride to First Class Resorts before we even sailed. For a stress-free way to get from the ship to First Class Resorts, it was money well spent.
My partner and I had a great sailing and capped it off with a private car ready at the curb to take us to First Class Resorts — not one worry at the terminal. The night before, we got a message with the driver’s name and license plate, so there was no wondering which car was the right one on the way out.
Tirar a comitiva toda do navio e levar até First Class Resorts costuma ser dor de cabeça, mas uma van privativa reservada tirou todo o estresse. Sem brigar com aplicativo — andamos do terminal até um carro que já estava lá. Na noite anterior recebemos uma mensagem com o nome do motorista e a placa, então não sobrou nada para resolver na saída. Recomendo muito.