From $395 per vehicle: a private, one-way ride from Port of Miami to Sunshine Island Inn 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.
On disembarkation morning the driver plans around the ship’s arrival and waits at the curb outside your terminal at PortMiami. The curbside greeting at the terminal is included; the Meet & Greet at the terminal, your driver holding a name sign, is available for $40. Luggage goes straight from the terminal into the vehicle and the ride leaves private and direct.
Sunshine Island Inn sits out on Sanibel, one of the barrier islands in the Sanibel and Captiva stretch off Florida’s Gulf coast. After the run across the state from the cruise terminal, you reach somewhere the shoreline is only steps from the door. Plenty of guests trade the ship’s pool for real sand the same afternoon they come ashore, and the inn is built for exactly that kind of easy landing.
Sanibel keeps its own quiet character. There are no high-rises here — just the lighthouse standing at the point, the mangroves of the wildlife refuge, and beaches that surrender more shells than anywhere else in Florida. Mornings tend to open with a slow walk along the water, eyes down, sorting through whatever the tide left overnight. It is a distinct rhythm from the deck of a cruise ship, and for travelers who have spent days at sea it tends to settle in speedy.
There is ample within reach once you have unpacked. Guests here often work in the Sanibel Lighthouse and Bowman’s Beach during their first days ashore, with Blind Pass and Captiva Village close by across the Sanibel and Captiva islands. Drop-off covers Sanibel, Captiva, and the streets right around your stay, so the ride ends at the inn’s own door rather than a stop somewhere down the road. For the hotel side of things — amenities, luggage holds, early check-in — the inn’s official page is the place to check.
From the pier it is one straight run to the island. The route follows I-595 for roughly 162.6 miles, and the terminal curb to the inn’s door commonly takes 171 to 179 minutes, depending on the hour and the traffic. Your chauffeur is staged at the terminal, timed to your ship’s actual arrival with room to spare, so there is no scramble once you walk off with your bags.
Your luggage goes into the vehicle at the pier and stays there until it comes out at Sunshine Island Inn — no shifting bags mid-trip, no extra stops for other parties. The vehicle is yours alone for the whole crossing, so you set the departure and the pace across the state. On a run this long, that difference shapes the entire day: you reach on the island rested rather than herded through a schedule cut to the minute.
Sunshine Island Inn in Sanibel is 162.8 miles from the Port of Miami by road, about 2 hours 51 minutes without heavy traffic via I-595. The fare is per vehicle: $395 for the Black SUV, $520 for the Van and $635 for the Van XL. Pickup is at your cruise terminal curb at PortMiami.
| Road distance | 162.8 miles |
|---|---|
| Black SUV, 1-5 | $395 |
| Drop-off address | 642 E Gulf Dr, Sanibel |
| Drive time | 2 hours 51 minutes |
| Van, 6-9 | $520 |
| Main roads | I-595 |
| Van XL, 10-14 | $635 |
| Back from Sunshine Island Inn | $395 / $520 / $635 |
Going back works the same way. The driver meets you at the main entrance of the inn (642 E Gulf Dr) and takes you to your cruise terminal at PortMiami, 162.8 miles away, in about 2 hours 51 minutes with light traffic. Fares for the return from Sunshine Island Inn are $395 (Black SUV), $520 (Van) and $635 (Van XL). The booking box below opens with the two points swapped. Book the return
Plan on about 2 hours 51 minutes for the 162.8 miles from the Port of Miami to Sunshine Island Inn via I-595 when the roads are clear. Peak hours can stretch the trip; it is a fixed fare per vehicle, no traffic or surge charges: $395 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 Sunshine Island Inn then takes about 2 hours 51 minutes.
Curbside at the terminal your ship uses. Leave the building with your luggage, send a message, and the driver comes to that curb. From there it is 162.8 miles to Sunshine Island Inn.
Count people and big suitcases together: up to 10 fit the Black SUV at $395. Larger groups going to Sunshine Island Inn take the Van at $520, for 9 passengers and 9 cases, or the Van XL at $635, for 14 and 14. One carry-on each is included.
On sailing day the ride from Sunshine Island Inn to your terminal is $395 for the Black SUV, $520 for the Van and $635 for the Van XL. The 162.8 miles take about 2 hours 51 minutes in light traffic, so leave early enough for boarding.
Every policy in full: FAQ
Los ocho bajamos del barco juntos y reservamos una van privada de la terminal de cruceros a Sunshine Island Inn. Llegar a Sunshine Island Inn a primera hora significó que pudimos dejar las maletas y arrancar el día. Sinceramente la parte más tranquila del viaje — el puerto quedó totalmente resuelto. Sin estrés alguno.
Reservamos una sola van para la comitiva entera de la terminal a Sunshine Island Inn para que hiciéramos el check-in todos juntos. La noche anterior recibimos un mensaje con el nombre del conductor y la placa, así que no hubo que adivinar en la acera al salir.
Private, punctual, and stress-free — so much better than fighting for a ride outside the terminal. The ride from the terminal to Sunshine Island Inn was smooth and steady, and we could just settle in.
Cruising with the family, we didn’t want any disembarkation-day chaos, so a private van straight over to Sunshine Island Inn was perfect.
Nuestra familia de cinco bajó del barco en PortMiami y el conductor cargó todas las maletas del crucero para el viaje a Sunshine Island Inn. La noche anterior recibimos un texto con el nombre del conductor y la placa, así que no hubo que adivinar en la acera al salir.