🌴48 Hours in Miami With Kids Before Our Cruise
After a whirlwind week in New York City, a massive travel day flying to Orlando, squeezing in Disney, and then road-tripping down to Miami, we finally arrived late on Thursday evening. Miami was our breather before the next big adventure: boarding the Icon of the Seas for a 7-night Caribbean cruise.
We had two nights and one full day here, and our goal was simple, balance a little exploring with downtime, good food, and last-minute cruise prep. Here’s how we made the most of our stopover with two kids under five.
🏨 Where We Stayed
We based ourselves in South Beach so we could easily explore during our short stay. On embarkation day, it was only about 25 minutes to the port, super manageable with kids in tow.
🌙 Thursday Evening: Arrival in Miami
After a full-on day of travel and driving, we finally rolled into Miami. Dinner was as simple as ordering delivery straight to the hotel, followed by quick showers and early bedtimes. Everyone was more than ready to crash.
💡 Tip: If you’re arriving late with kids, don’t try to squeeze anything in. Get food, get showers, and get them into bed. You’ll thank yourself the next morning.
🌞 Friday: Full Day in Miami
Morning: Slow Start & Big Breakfast
We kicked off the day with a huge breakfast at the hotel restaurant, delicious and exactly what we needed after the hustle and bustle of NYC. It felt so good to slow down, sit together, and just enjoy being in the moment without rushing anywhere.
Mid-Morning: South Beach Cruise & Trolley Tour
After breakfast, we went for a drive along South Beach before dropping off our rental car. Then we jumped on the free South Beach trolley… except we hopped on the wrong one 😅. What was meant to be a short ride turned into a full loop through both South and North Beach. Honestly, it was a happy accident, the kids loved the novelty of the trolley, and it gave us a sightseeing tour without the walking.
Afternoon: Pool Time & Snacks
By the afternoon we were ready to slow down again. We spent hours at the hotel pool, with the kids swimming while we snacked on goodies we’d picked up earlier in the day. That big breakfast had kept us full, so poolside snacks worked perfectly instead of lunch.
Evening: Quiet Night In
By late afternoon we were all winding down. We ordered another simple dinner to the hotel, got the kids showered and into pyjamas, and had a cosy night packing up for embarkation. My husband did a quick run for last-minute supplies (water, snacks, cruise essentials) while I kept things calm with the kids.
💡 Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a quiet night in before embarkation. It keeps everyone rested and makes the next morning so much easier.
🌅 Saturday Morning: Embarkation Day
We woke up buzzing with excitement and got the kids ready. Before checking out, we treated ourselves to one last big hotel breakfast (too good to pass up!) knowing we’d be eating lunch on the ship later.
Because we’d prepped the night before, our suitcases were already tagged with printed cruise luggage labels and ready to go. Our embarkation slot was 11am, so after breakfast we had plenty of time to do a final check, gather the kids’ essentials, and make our way to the port.
By 1:30pm our luggage had been delivered to our stateroom, but we were glad we’d packed a carry-on with swimsuits and a change of clothes for everyone. The kids were desperate to jump in the pool, and being able to start the holiday straight away was a lifesaver.
We were officially cruise ready! 🚢✨
💡 Tip: Print and attach your cruise bag tags before embarkation morning. Always keep a backpack or carry-on with you for essentials, since your suitcases might not arrive until later in the day.