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Reviews from Cruisers (3) Review Marina

1. William Lawrenson -  June 4, 2013 - 2:45 pm

   Stayed a night – planned on two, but decided not to stay. The marina facilities are OK, but needed a good clean when we were there. The help was fine. Access to South Beach is great, and that is a fun place. Access to the ocean is also great, and the ride from the ICW past the cruise ships is very interesting. Police security is active around the cruise ships, so keep your distance from both the patrol boat and the ships.
   We were located on the south end of the marina, and had constant surge from (I believe) the ocean and tides, as well as wakes from boats. It was awful. You are right next to a ship’s channel at the entrance to the Port of Miami. The two boats next to us were long term live-aboard residents, who had all types of mooring lines from their boats (8 on one and 9 on the other I recall – I ended up with 6) all to no apparent avail. They said they loved the location, and you get used the constant surge, wakes and currents. We felt that at the prices they charged, there had to be a better place to stay.

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2. Jeff and Michele Prahm -  July 29, 2010 - 4:19 pm

   On Thursday, July 15th, we bid farewell to our dockmates and took Hawks Channel northeast. We were going to run to Government Cut at Miami Beach, but the seas kept getting sloppier. So we headed west to Angel Fish Creek and took that across to Biscayne Bay. We took the ICW north to Dodge Island and ran east along the south side of the island toward Government Cut and Miami Beach Marina.
   Soon we were in our slip. Michele promptly left the marina and jumped aboard the local bus to purchase supplies for when we would be on the hook at the regatta. I cannot say enough about Miami Beach Marina. The location is unbeatable. It is located at the southernmost point of Miami Beach, right at the mouth of Government Cut. Upon leaving the marina you can be on the Atlantic Ocean beginning your crossing of the Gulf Stream to Bimini and the Bahamas. South Beach is a short walk from the marina. Ocean Drive with the restaurants, clubs, and fun nightlife are a good walk or a short taxi ride. At the Marina, the restroom and laundry facilities are clean and well-maintained. There is a gourmet market, a ship’s store, a dive shop, and a restaurant and tiki bar with a pool. It doesn’t get much better than this for a cosmopolitan marina.
   Now the negatives. It is VERY expensive. It is $3.50 a foot plus electricity. If they put you in a slip south of the dockmaster’s office, your boat gets rocked all night by the surge from cruise ships and freighters entering and leaving the harbor. Most transients get put on these docks. Sometimes you can beg for a slip north of the dockmaster’s office.
   Jeff and Michele Prahm

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3. Paul Dunn -  January 12, 2010 - 11:19 am

   We stayed here for 3 nights in early Jan 2010. We will never stay there again! The rates are exorbitant. The bathrooms were cold. The laundry had only 2 machines.
   Worst was the heavy current and the incessant rocking back and forth at the dock. We have a 42 foot sailboat and had out multiple lines, yet we slammed the dock pilings and could barely sleep for the motion and the noise of water slapping against the hull 24/7. We had one line that had chafe gear break during the night.
   The fuel dock is handy, and that is the only service that we will use here again. This marina is just too exposed to the winds and currents and boat traffic of the heavily used Government Cut Channel.
   It is an easy walk to the heart of South Beach, Publix grocery, Staples, Best Buy, Post Office, Church, and the south point park is beautiful for walking or jogging.
   If you stop here, have a big wallet and be ready to open it wide.
   Paul Dunn

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