Miami

Miami sits on the southeastern coast of Florida, where the city meets the warm waters of the Atlantic. Its cruise port, PortMiami, has long been known as the Cruise Capital of the World, and it is one of the busiest cruise ports anywhere. It is mainly a turnaround port, the place voyages to the Caribbean and the Bahamas begin and end, though ships do sometimes call in during a cruise.

The port sits on Dodge Island, just off the downtown waterfront, lined with a row of modern cruise terminals. Several are landmarks in their own right. The terminals are lettered and each tends to be used by a particular cruise line, so your boarding documents will tell you where to go. One, built for the largest ships afloat, is shaped like a crown, and other lines have their own striking terminal buildings along the quay.

Dodge Island itself has an unusual story, as it did not exist much more than a century ago. It was formed from material dredged out of the seabed when Government Cut, the deep channel that links the harbour to the open ocean, was carved through the sandbars in the early 1900s. Today the island is reached by a causeway and by an underwater tunnel, which lets traffic get to the terminals without crossing the centre of the city.

Miami has a warm, tropical climate. Winters are mild and sunny, which is the peak season for cruising, while summers are hot and humid with frequent afternoon downpours.

Beyond the port there is a lot to enjoy. South Beach and its famous Art Deco district are a short hop away, with pastel buildings, wide sands and a lively promenade. Little Havana offers a taste of the city's Cuban heart, with strong coffee, hand-rolled cigars and live music, and it is worth trying local favourites such as Cuban sandwiches and stone crab in season.