I was skeptical at first, but for $62/night in Miami with a free airport shuttle and a paid ($12) cruise port shuttle, I figured I’d take the risk. It turned out to be a fantastic pre-cruise stopover.
After arriving at MIA, I called the hotel and was told to wait between doors 8–18. Expecting chaos, I hustled to door 8… only to find the Clarion shuttle pleasantly uncrowded. Quick 7-minute ride to the hotel.
Check-in was smooth. Note: $100 deposit and a $3.39 non-refundable “property fee” — no big deal. My room was dated but clean and comfortable, with two double beds (one for me, one for my suitcase). Toilet ran a bit, but I just jiggled the handle and moved on. The bed? Surprisingly comfy — slept great.
Restaurant on-site was open late and reasonably priced. My chicken Caesar salad and hummus were genuinely tasty. The next morning, I walked 0.9 miles to Airport Cafe & Liquors — a hidden gem with Cuban food, wine, cigars hand-rolled by Cubans, and a $3 ATM (cheaper than the ship!).
Best surprise: the hotel refunded my cruise shuttle fee and arranged a private SUV/Limo since only 3 guests were going to the port. That’s customer service.
This place is clean, convenient, and a bargain. It’s now my go-to pre-cruise hotel when sailing from Miami.