The biggest isn’t always the best, but in this case, it just might be. I sailed from MSC Cruises’ brand-new terminal at PortMiami, and it offered the fastest embarkation I’ve ever experienced.
In fact, it rivaled even those of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, which are known for having some of the most efficient check-in procedures in the industry.
So, what makes the new terminal and its process so great? Here’s what you need to know if you plan to cruise with MSC from Miami.
It’s built to handle lots of people
MSC’s PortMiami terminal – constructed by Fincantieri Infrastructure, a division of Fincantieri Group, which also operates shipyards that have built several MSC vessels – was designed to accommodate up to three ships from MSC’s largest World, Seaside, and Meraviglia Classes simultaneously. It will also accommodate ships from MSC’s luxury sister brand, Explora Journeys.
Specifically, the terminal can process as many as 36,000 passengers per day. That roughly accounts for up to 6,000 passengers from each of the three vessels. The line then doubled that number so that the facility can serve guests who are both embarking and disembarking at the same time.
To deal with that many people, the massive 492,678-square-foot terminal offers a large waiting area with plenty of seating that’s divided into two sections by a long center aisle.
At the front of the waiting area, on each side, are vending machines and bathrooms. (The building also houses a private lounge for MSC Yacht Club suite guests.)
But first, you have to reach the waiting area. (If my experience was any indication, though, you won’t be doing much waiting, if any at all.)
You’ll be inside quickly
If you’re driving and planning to park at the terminal, you can reserve a spot ahead of time on the line’s website or the MSC for Me mobile app.
For cruisers who will be dropped off, their drivers can pull up close to the terminal entrance under a covered drop-off area. Once out of their cars, passengers can easily find a porter with whom to leave their large bags before heading inside.
You only need your passport
When you walk through the main terminal doors, the first thing you’re likely to notice is how vast the space feels. As you make your way to check in, be sure to peek at the views of Biscayne Bay through the floor-to-ceiling windows that give off a light and airy ambiance.
You’ll move through the terminal the fastest if you opt to check in ahead of time online or via the app and if you’re traveling with a passport.
There are two sets of digital kiosks. At the first set, you’ll scan your passport so the system can verify your identity via a biometric facial scan and pull up your reservation if you’ve already checked in.
If you choose not to have your biometrics captured or if you’re traveling with a birth certificate and photo ID instead of a passport, there are attendants available to manually verify your identity.
Everyone then proceeds through a standard security screening before either proceeding to the second set of biometric kiosks or to one of several large manual check-in counters.
At the second kiosk, if you’ve agreed to share your biometrics, your face will be scanned again to double-check your identity before you’re allowed to proceed to the gangway.
If you choose to go the biometric route, the photo taken at the first kiosk will be attached to your account and used as your onboard security photo.
Glitches happen
Ultimately, I made it from curb to ship in less than 10 minutes, which is just as fast as or faster than any experience I’ve had with other cruise lines. And for MSC in particular, it’s a vast improvement, as the line’s operations at many other terminals are often sluggish with long lines and analog verification methods, even if you’ve already checked in.
However, as with all new technology, there are always wrinkles to iron out. On the day I disembarked after my sailing, it took 30 minutes – about 20 of which was spent simply standing in line – because the kiosks malfunctioned, and all passports had to be checked manually.
I was traveling only with a carry-on, but I stopped to check out the luggage claim area for passengers who opted to leave their larger bags outside their cabin doors the night before. Everything was organized neatly by tag and numbered group, similar to how other cruise lines do things at their terminals.
When I finally exited the building, port employees directed me to where I was able to wait for my Uber. Traffic flowed nicely for passengers who were waiting for rides.
Caveats to consider are the fact that, when I was there, it was for MSC World America’s inaugural sailing and naming ceremony. It was a special three-night cruise, and the ship was only at about half capacity, roughly 3,200 cruisers.
Because it was the only ship in port at the time and there were no previous passengers to disembark, the facility processed only about 10% of the number of people it’s designed to accommodate in a given day.
One other item to note is that, because the terminal is so large, I found myself walking down quite a long walkway to reach the gangway to board. This could be problematic for travelers with mobility issues or those who use assistive devices like canes or walkers.
The terminal does have wheelchairs for use during embarkation and disembarkation, but they cannot be borrowed for the duration of the voyage. Passengers needing wheelchair assistance at the terminal should request it in advance by emailing MSC at specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com.
With all of that in mind, the process may take a bit longer when multiple ships are docked and tens of thousands more passengers are coming and going. It's also possible that the facility will be difficult for people with limited mobility to navigate due to its sheer size. More information will be available as MSC breaks in the new facility.
Bottom line
MSC Cruises’ new PortMiami cruise terminal is humongous and beautifully designed. It afforded me one of the quickest embarkations I’ve ever had, and if it can keep up that level of efficiency amid larger passenger numbers, it will not only be the largest terminal building in the world but also one that offers some of the fewest pain points for guests.
Read more: 31 cruise ship embarkation tips and tricks
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than 20 years ago and never looked back. Her experience encompasses nearly 100 sailings across every major cruise brand, as well as niche luxury, river and expedition lines. She has written thousands of cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles for The Points Guy, Cruise Critic and other publications. She has been quoted as an expert by outlets that include The New York Times, CNBC, Fox Business, Forbes, Good Morning America and others.
