Beach

Question

Hey, not a hotel question. We are coming to Miami in June for a cruise. Hotel is near the port. Cruise leaves Sunday and we are coming Friday. Is there a preferred beach area that rents chair/umbrellas. Also can you "drink" on the beach ?

Answer

Since you’re staying near PortMiami and arriving two days before your cruise, you’ll have plenty of great beach options that are easy to reach by rideshare or taxi. Miami Beach is organized into several zones, each offering chair/umbrella rentals and a slightly different vibe. Below is a full breakdown, plus details on drinking laws so you know what to expect.

Good news: Nearly every staffed beach area in Miami Beach offers chair and umbrella rentals. The main differences are atmosphere, crowds, and convenience.

About alcohol on the beach: Miami Beach (all public beaches) does NOT allow alcoholic beverages on the sand. This is a citywide rule. Many people don’t realize it, but police do check on busy weekends. You *can* drink at beachside bars, hotel bars, or restaurants on the boardwalk — you just can’t take it onto the sand.

Below are the best beach areas for a pre-cruise stay:

South Beach (Lummus Park / 5th–15th Streets)
This is the most iconic and active stretch of Miami Beach. Wide beaches, lots of rental stands, lifeguard towers, volleyball courts, and tons of restaurants within steps. Chair/umbrella rentals are available every day. It’s lively, busy, and great if you want people-watching and energy. About 15–20 minutes from the port.
Mid-Beach (around 24th–46th Streets; Collins Ave area)
Still convenient but noticeably calmer. The boardwalk is lovely here. Hotels like the Fontainebleau and others operate beach concessions, so chairs and umbrellas are easy to rent. It’s great if you want something a bit quieter but not isolated. Also 15–20 minutes from the port depending on traffic.
North Beach (67th–87th Streets)
Much quieter, more local, and more family-friendly. Still has chair/umbrella rentals, though not quite as many stands. Good option if you want breathing room, a more relaxed pace, and a less touristy feel. About 20–25 minutes from the port.

If you want the most convenient, simplest beach day:

Pick South Beach around 10th–14th Street. The rentals are frequent, the sand is wide, and you can easily walk off the beach to grab lunch or a drink legally at a bar.
Transportation from the port area is easy — Uber/Lyft typically take 10–15 minutes unless traffic is heavy.

Good to know about chair/umbrella rentals:

Most rentals run around $15–$25 per chair and roughly $20–$30 for an umbrella, depending on operator and day.
Credit cards are widely accepted at rental stands.
Rental hours usually run from late morning to late afternoon; stands close before sunset.

About alcohol rules:

No open containers on the sand — beer, seltzers, cocktails are all prohibited.
You can drink at bars, restaurants, and hotel beach bars behind the dunes.
You cannot carry your drink from the bar down to your beach chair unless it’s on private hotel property (and even then, rules vary — but rentals on the public beach are not considered private space).

Bottom line: South Beach is your easiest and most classic beach option with guaranteed chair/umbrella rentals and tons of food/drink choices steps away. Uber from your cruise-area hotel will be quick. Just remember that alcohol isn’t allowed on the sand itself, but plenty of beachfront bars are right nearby for a cold drink before or after.

Have a fantastic pre-cruise weekend in Miami!

Beach

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