The port of Miami in Florida, USA, is one of the busiest in the world in terms of cruises and has regular departures to destinations around the world. Below are some of the best cruises from Miami to choose from.BahamasThe Bahamas is a group of small islands just to the south east of the coast of Miami. The journey from Miami to the Bahamas is only a short one and makes this an ideal option for people who are looking for a short trip. Two night trips are common on this route but the short travel time leaves plenty of time to enjoy the wonders of the Bahamas including the gorgeous waters and stunning beaches. There is also time to venture into the largest islands and explore the culture.Transatlantic Transatlantic cruises are amongst the longer journeys available from Miami. A common route is to head past Bermuda before heading up to the Canary Islands and along to mainland Spain. The return option for this journey would require a few weeks, so a single journey with a flight home from Spain is a common option.Caribbean The Caribbean is another group of small islands just south of Miami and represents another short ...

Just a few miles off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida, is the exclusive Fisher Island, known as the residential retreat for wealthy Americans. Until the mid twentieth century this island belong to the Vanderbilt family, who used as a winter residence. Today the population of Fisher island has risen to five hundred people. Being in close proximity to the famous Miami beaches, Fisher Island enjoys the same exquisite weather and conditions, only with significantly less people. There are stunning beaches to enjoy as well as fantastic views of the ocean from the intriguing landscape. Arguably the main attraction on Fisher Island is the Fisher Island Club, which is an exclusive club boasting top class facilities including a golf course, tennis courts, a marina and a spa amongst various other features. The dining facilities here are five star quality, with the views from the restaurants truly incredible. Travel from Miami Beach to Fisher Island is only available via private boat or ferry. The ferry journey to Fisher Island from Miami Beach only takes seven minutes and runs twenty four hours a day. Departures occur every fifteen minutes from a specific terminal just down the road from Miami Beach. You will ...

South Beach in Miami has so much more to offer than the beaches and weather, and that includes the vintage shopping opportunities, for which the area is renowned. Miami is an absolute haven for shoppers, with street after street packed with stores of all different types to explore, including street markets, department stores and, of course, its famous vintage boutiques. A day shopping in the vintage boutiques in South beach is like spending a day traveling through time, with many shops specialising in past fashion-eras. Start your vintage journey at C. Madeleine's, a large vintage shop which sells items dating back to the 1920’s through to more modern eras. Then head for the shops on Bird Road and don't miss the famous Miami Twice that sells "everything and anything" and even does clothe rentals.Vintage shop Fly Boutique on Lincoln road has a great reputation for reproducing women wear from the 50s. Recycled Blues Inc on Washington Avenue has a great selection of classic men's vintage clothing (think Levis jeans). It is likely that you will have planned a jam packed itinerary for your visit to Miami, but the late opening hours of the majority of the vintage shops in ...

Although a little rough around the edges, Downtown Miami is a fascinating district, where modern skyscrapers jostle for position with Spanish colonial-style architecture and ‘Little Havana’ bursts with Cuban culture. Downtown Miami’s most enduring landmark is the Freedom Tower (600 Bicayne St.), built in 1925 yet modeled after the Giralda, the famous Gothic-Baroque bell tower of Seville’s cathedral (itself remodeled from a minaret). Once the headquarters of a newspaper, it was here in mid-1950s that thousands of fleeing Cubans were received into the USA, forever changing the demographic makeup of this part of the States. Another Mediterranean-revival relic is the Gesu Church (118 NE Second St.), the largest Catholic church in Miami. Lovers of kitsch should head to Flagler St., the heart (or some would say underbelly) of Downtown Miami. Here the Olympia Theater (174 E) has retained its OTT, orientalist interior (it’s worth buying a ticket to see it). Miami’s Cuban presence is centered on and around Calle Ocho. Here you’ll find fabulously tacky botánicas (shops selling lotions, potions and magical santería spells) the most famous being El Aguilla Vidente at 1122 SW Eighth Street. Almost next door is El Crédito, a small cigar factory and shop. For more ...

Miami has its fair share of mansions, villas and stately homes, but none quite live up to the grandness of the Villa Vizcaya.Dating from the early 1900s, but encompassing much earlier styles, it was originally the private home of James Deering, a rich industrialist who had a passion for antiques, the Renaissance, northern Italian architecture and the flora of southern Florida. Now open to the public, the villa is perched on the edge of a mangrove swamp, more popularly known as Coconut Grove. Whilst the villa’s sheer size and pretentiousness is easy to criticise, the craftsmanship, collection of antiques and furniture inside and beautiful French and Italian-inspired gardens are at times breathtaking. The real credit for the Villa Vizcaya lies with Paul Chaflin, a curator who had studied fine art in Paris and Florence. He assisted and advised Deering throughout the entire project, lending his highly–refined aesthetic sense to every polished and embellished nook and cranny. For most visitors however, the gardens are the highlight of the visit. Deering was a passionate conservationist and insisted that the lush, native plant and tree life be uses in the extensive Renaissance gardens (species such as Palms and Philodendrons has not been used ...

Whilst Miami is known for its glass and steel skyscrapers, the city’s singular, vernacular style is art deco. Distinguishable by bright, gelato-coloured facades and details and nautical forms, Miami has some 800 preserved buildings in the so-called Art Deco district of South Beach. In the USA and Europe, art deco was an architectural and aesthetic movement that combined functionalism and modernism with highly stylised motif. It reached it peak in the nineteen-thirties and phased at the beginning of WW2. In Miami, art deco developed a playful, ‘Mediterranean’ feel as the city established itself as an America’s premier resort. Art deco style was used in apartment buildings and private villas, but the ‘ocean-liner’- inspired hotels of the period is where the movement really shone. Many of these can be seen along Ocean Drive, then, as now, Miami’s beach-facing epicentre. To dig deeper into deco in Miami, the highly-active Miami Design Preservation League (tel. 305 672 2014) organises a variety of tours of the district, from self-guided cellphone tours to jaunts on segways. Every mid-January, the ‘Art Deco Weekend’ draws some 400,000 people to two days of art and antique fairs, free theatre and dance and parades, all celebrating the heady ...

Because one week of my life spent there is not enough for me. This city is where my dreams came true, the city where I forgot all my worries and problems; the city of lights, sun, fun and love.Actually, I have five main reasons to visit Miami once more:Meridian Street. There I broke up with my ex-boyfriend and found my true love. An hour of shedding tears on a small bench I met HIM, the beginning of today’s happy life. This street changed my life, but I noticed that all a lot of things happened here. Who knows what will happen when I will walk down it next time? Inspiration. Beaches with hot, white sand, blue and sometimes emerald-green ocean and deep-blue sky inspired me to write a very moving story which helped me to win a competition, the prize for which was a journey to Edinburgh. Edinburgh also means a lot to me, but that is another story Aviator sunglasses. My favourite sunglasses, that I have lost somewhere in Miami. In fact, it is rather strange to have hope of finding them again, but it’s happened before. I left them on a seat of the plane when I arrived ...