Ahoy there Jan! Welcome aboard planDisney! Thanks for sailing my way with your question about what to do with your luggage for the day when returning to Miami!
It never fails, you hop off a Disney Cruise Line vacation and all of a sudden you're back in the real world, luggage in hand, with nothing to do for 10 hours or so until the one direct flight back home. I know that situation all too well, as unless we are the absolute first Guests off the ship, we can never make the early flight back to Missouri, and do our best "The Traveler" impersonation more often than not at the Orlando International Airport.
So what's a despondent, post-Disney-Cruise guest to do?
Well, if you ask me there is one good thing that has come from the number of Guests who have experienced this same issue: baggage storage at airports! If you search "Airport Baggage Storage at Miami International Airport," you should find several options for storage at or near the Airport! Since you'll be returning there for your flight, it's way more convenient than trying to drive around a city you may not be as familiar with in a rental car!
Since the Miami Cruise Port is only 8 miles or so from the Miami International Airport, my suggestion would be to snag a rideshare to the airport, and use one of the baggage storage options before your flight! From there, you have the entire city at your fingertips! I suggest using the available public transportation options to find your way to Calle Ocho (in "Little Havana") or "Little Haiti" to spend the day taking in the
culture and delicious food available in Miami! While South Beach and Miami Beach might be a draw for some, having just disembarked a Disney Cruise Line vacation, you'll probably be all "beached out," and can spend your time exploring the ciy
Once you've had your fill, simply head back to the airport with plenty of time to collect your baggage and make your flight!
While that's not an exhaustive list of how to spend your day in Miami, I hope it gives you a feel for how accessible most of the city is using the airport as your home base - and how you can treat it like another port day on your Disney Cruise! Thank you so much for your question, Jan! If you come up with any others as you finalize planning, please drop me another line here at planDisney!
Until then, fair winds, following seas, and happy planning!
Andrew