From $385 per vehicle: a private, one-way ride from Port of Miami to Matanzas Inn in a chauffeured SUV or van.
The fare is locked per vehicle for the one-way journey, and it already covers the tolls, the fuel and the driver’s time.
The driver is outside the PortMiami terminal when you come through, plans around the ship’s real arrival time, and loads the bags. The curbside greeting is covered by the fare and the Meet & Greet at the terminal is offered for $40. Then it is one private vehicle straight to the destination.
Matanzas Inn sits on Estero Island, the long barrier island that forms Fort Myers Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast. This is the opposite side of the peninsula from the cruise terminal, a genuine cross-state destination reached by road, and the inn places you within walking distance of the shoreline rather than out on some distant stretch of highway. Arriving here means trading the deck of a ship for the quiet of a Gulf-side beach town, and it makes a natural landing spot for travelers who desire the water close at hand.
Step outside and Fort Myers Beach opens along seven miles of shallow, warm Gulf water — the kind of gentle, gradual shoreline that suits a slow afternoon more than a hurried one. The pier district gathers around Times Square, the walkable heart of the island where the beach, the shops, and the water all meet in one place. From the inn you can drop the bags and merely walk to the sand.
The surrounding coast rewards anyone who wants to keep exploring. Matanzas Pass lies close by, and Lovers Key State Park spreads its wilder, undeveloped beaches just next door — a quiet contrast to the busier stretches near the pier. Travelers frequently reach the inn after a cruise and settle straight into the island’s rhythm, with the Times Square district, the pier, and the calmer Gulf beaches all within simple reach. Matanzas Inn works as both a resting place and a base for the rest of Estero Island once you have arrived.
The ride to Matanzas Inn is a single door-to-door leg from the Port of Miami. Your chauffeur is staged and waiting as you clear the terminal, loads every bag at the curb, and drives straight to the inn with no detours along the way. The luggage rides inside the vehicle with your group, so there is nothing to wrangle between the ship and the coast.
The route runs about 157.4 miles by way of I-595, and the drive normally takes 166 to 178 minutes depending on the day. Because it is one direct run across the state, the pace stays in your hands — your own climate, room to stretch, and stops only when you ask for them. You settle in once at the curb and step out again at Matanzas Inn.
From the Port of Miami, plan on about 2 hours 44 minutes and 157.0 miles to reach Matanzas Inn via I-595. Prices are per vehicle, not per seat: $385 for the Black SUV, $505 for the Van, $615 for the Van XL. Pickup is at your cruise terminal curb at PortMiami.
| Road distance | 157.0 miles |
|---|---|
| Black SUV, 1-5 | $385 |
| Drive time | 2 hours 44 minutes |
| Van, 6-9 | $505 |
| Main roads | I-595 |
| Van XL, 10-14 | $615 |
| Back from Matanzas Inn | $385 / $505 / $615 |
Going back works the same way. The driver meets you at the main entrance of the inn and takes you to your cruise terminal at PortMiami, 157.0 miles away, in about 2 hours 44 minutes with light traffic. Fares for the return from Matanzas Inn are $385 (Black SUV), $505 (Van) and $615 (Van XL). The booking box below opens with the two points swapped. Book the return
Matanzas Inn is 157.0 miles by road from the Port of Miami. In light traffic the drive takes about 2 hours 44 minutes via I-595; rush hour can add time, but it is a fixed fare, no traffic or surge charges: $385 for the Black SUV.
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 Matanzas Inn then takes about 2 hours 44 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 Matanzas Inn.
Count people and big suitcases together: up to 10 fit the Black SUV at $385. Larger groups going to Matanzas Inn take the Van at $505, for 9 passengers and 9 cases, or the Van XL at $615, for 14 and 14. One carry-on each is included.
On sailing day the ride from Matanzas Inn to your terminal is $385 for the Black SUV, $505 for the Van and $615 for the Van XL. The 157.0 miles take about 2 hours 44 minutes in light traffic, so leave early enough for boarding.
Every policy in full: FAQ
We got off the ship with the kids worn out after the cruise, and a private van there at the terminal made the run to Matanzas Inn so easy. We’ve already saved them for our next cruise out of PortMiami.
Easiest disembarkation I’ve had — driver at the curb, bags handled, straight to the door of Matanzas Inn.
Our group of friends rode together straight from the port to Matanzas Inn, and it worked out great. Booking was easy, we got clear pickup details, and everything matched what we were told. The ride from the terminal to Matanzas Inn was easy the whole way, and we could just unwind after the cruise.
For a smooth disembarkation, my husband and I had a private driver meet us at the cruise terminal to run us over to Matanzas Inn. The fare was locked in at booking, no surprise on a busy disembarkation morning. It was a private car for our party alone — no side pickups — exactly right for the morning. Would book again for the next cruise.
We cruised with a big crew and wanted all of us and the bags in one private ride to Matanzas Inn after disembarking. For a reliable way to get from the ship to Matanzas Inn, it was well worth it. The fare was fixed when we booked, no surprise on a busy disembarkation morning.