Departure port · Port Everglades · Florida
Cruises from Fort Lauderdale
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale sends ships year-round to the Bahamas and the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, with Panama Canal transits, transatlantic crossings and world cruises in fall, winter and spring. Its biggest advantage is location: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is about 10 minutes from the terminals, closer than at any other major Florida cruise port.
- Bahamas
- Caribbean
- Eastern Caribbean
- Western Caribbean
- Southern Caribbean
Photo: Sandysphotos2009, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cruise port
- Port Everglades
- Location
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Main destinations
- Bahamas, Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean
- Cruise lines
- 14 lines sail from here
Sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Port Everglades straddles the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach, a deepwater harbor where cruise ships share the quays with cargo vessels and fuel tankers. It ranks among the busiest cruise ports in the world, and it leans more premium than PortMiami: Celebrity, Holland America and Princess all run big programs here, alongside Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney Cruise Line.
Itineraries range from three- and four-night Bahamas getaways to seven-night Caribbean weeks visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas or St. Maarten, and on to 10- to 14-night Southern Caribbean voyages reaching Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados. In fall and winter this is also the classic starting point for full Panama Canal transits to Los Angeles, and for the long world voyages that Holland America, Viking and other lines run each January.
Fort Lauderdale is easy for fly-in cruisers and for anyone who prefers a calmer pre-cruise base than Miami, with a beach, canals and Las Olas Boulevard close by. The port itself is a secure working harbor, so expect ID checks at the gates and traffic on Eisenhower Boulevard and the 17th Street Causeway on busy mornings.
Where cruises from Fort Lauderdale go
Bahamas cruises
Year-round; warmest dry weather March to May. Cooler water December to February; hurricane season June 1 to November 30.
Caribbean cruises
Year-round; driest and busiest December to April. Hurricane season June 1 to November 30, most active August to October.
Eastern Caribbean cruises
Year-round; best December to April. This route is the most exposed to Atlantic hurricanes, especially August to October.
Western Caribbean cruises
Year-round; driest December to April. Rainy season and hurricane risk June to November, peaking August to October.
Southern Caribbean cruises
Year-round; best December to April. The ABC islands stay a good bet even in hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).
Panama Canal cruises
Mainly October to April; driest mid-December to April. Few sailings in summer.
Transatlantic cruises
Repositioning March to May and October to December; Queen Mary 2 crossings for much of the year.
World cruises
Most depart January and return April or May; segments available throughout.
Cruise lines sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Port Everglades cruise terminals
Port Everglades has more than a dozen numbered cruise terminals spread around the harbor, from the northern basin near the 17th Street Causeway to the southern quays used by the largest ships. Terminal assignments shift by season, so check your boarding documents for the number and give it to your driver. Every vehicle stops at a security checkpoint at the port entrance, where all adults need government-issued photo ID and your cruise documents. Porters take checked bags at the curb, then you clear security and check-in inside. Arrive in your assigned boarding window; on winter weekends many ships turn around at once, and the roads inside the port slow to a crawl around midday.
Getting to the port
Flying in
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is about 2 to 3 miles (4 km) from the cruise terminals, usually 10 to 15 minutes by taxi or rideshare, which makes same-day flights more practical here than elsewhere. Miami International (MIA) is about 25 miles (40 km) south, 40 minutes to over an hour in traffic, and Palm Beach International (PBI) is roughly an hour north. Cruise line transfers run from FLL and MIA.
Driving
I-595 east ends right at the port’s southern entrance via Eller Drive, the simplest approach from I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. From Fort Lauderdale Beach or downtown, use the 17th Street Causeway or US-1 to Eisenhower Boulevard and the northern entrance. Have photo ID ready for the checkpoint.
Parking
The port operates large garages, including the Northport and Midport garages, close to the terminals, paid by the day when you leave. The garages near the busiest terminals can fill on peak holiday weekends, so arrive in good time. Off-site lots near the airport and along State Road 84 run shuttles to the terminals, and many airport-area and 17th Street hotels sell park-and-cruise packages.
Where to stay before a cruise from Fort Lauderdale
Hotels along the 17th Street Causeway are minutes from the port and a short walk to waterfront restaurants. Fort Lauderdale Beach, about 10 to 15 minutes away along A1A, offers ocean views and a promenade for a relaxed evening before you sail. Downtown and Las Olas Boulevard have boutique hotels, galleries and dining by the New River. The cluster of airport hotels near FLL is the most practical choice for late arrivals, and most run free shuttles.
Things to do in Fort Lauderdale before or after your cruise
- 1
Las Olas Boulevard
shopping
Fort Lauderdale’s main street for strolling runs from downtown toward the beach, lined with independent boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafés and restaurants under shade trees. Evenings are lively, and the eastern end crosses the Intracoastal Waterway close to the sand. It’s about 10 minutes from the port.
- 2
Water taxi on the New River and Intracoastal
scenery
Hop-on, hop-off water taxis loop through the canals that gave Fort Lauderdale its ‘Venice of America’ nickname, passing mansions, megayachts and the Riverwalk downtown. Day passes let you use the boat as transport between the beach, Las Olas and downtown. Captains narrate as they go, so it doubles as a sightseeing tour.
- 3
Fort Lauderdale Beach
beach
A wide, clean strand backed by a wavy white wall and promenade along A1A, with beach bars, rental chairs and lifeguard towers. It’s a good way to spend a pre-cruise morning, and from the southern end you can see ships heading in and out of the harbor entrance.
- 4
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
history
A plantation-style home built in the 1920s on 35 acres between the ocean and the Intracoastal, filled with the art and whimsical collections of its artist owners. Guided tours cover the house, and the grounds have an orchid display, a freshwater slough and coastal hammock trails. Allow about two hours.
- 5
Everglades airboat at Sawgrass Recreation Park
nature
About 30 to 40 minutes west of the port, airboat rides here skim across the sawgrass marsh of the northern Everglades, usually with alligators, wading birds and a small wildlife exhibit at the end. Many lines sell this as a post-cruise tour that drops you at the airport afterward.
- 6
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
beach
This barrier-island state park, formerly John U. Lloyd Beach, sits on the south side of the port’s entrance channel. It has quiet beaches, shady picnic spots and a jetty where you can watch cruise ships glide past at close range. It’s a local favorite for sail-away watching on the day you arrive.
When cruises sail from Fort Lauderdale
Cruises leave Fort Lauderdale year-round, but the port is busiest from October or November to April, when premium and luxury lines are based here before moving to Alaska and Europe for summer. That’s the window for Panama Canal transits, Southern Caribbean voyages and January world cruises. Summer brings mostly shorter Bahamas and Caribbean trips on mainstream lines. Spring transatlantic crossings head to Europe in April and May, and ships return in October and November. Hurricane season runs June through November.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 7423 | 7624 | 7825 | 8027 | 8228 | 8529 | 8630 | 8630 | 8530 | 8328 | 7926 | 7625 |
| Low °F (°C) | 6820 | 7021 | 7222 | 7524 | 7826 | 8127 | 8328 | 8329 | 8228 | 7926 | 7624 | 7222 |
| Rain in (mm) | 2.359 | 1.744 | 1.743 | 3.282 | 5.3135 | 8.3211 | 5.5140 | 6.8172 | 7.2183 | 5.1129 | 3.588 | 2.563 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Embarkation day tips
- Bring physical photo ID for every adult in the car. Port Everglades checks IDs at the entrance gates, and a driver dropping you off needs ID too.
- Because FLL is so close, many cruisers book same-day flights home. Choose one after midday and carry your own bags off the ship if you want an earlier departure.
- Several large ships often turn around on the same winter morning. Leave at least 30 extra minutes for the short drive from the beach or airport between about 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Ships leave through the harbor inlet within sight of the beach. Stay on an open deck for sail-away: crowds on the jetties wave, and you get a clear look back at the Fort Lauderdale skyline.
- If you’re renting a car for a pre-cruise stay, return it at FLL, where most rental companies run shuttles to the cruise terminals.
Cruises from Fort Lauderdale: FAQs
How far is Port Everglades from Fort Lauderdale airport?
About 2 to 3 miles, or 10 to 15 minutes by taxi or rideshare. It’s one of the shortest airport-to-cruise-terminal trips in the US, which is why many cruisers fly in the morning of their sailing. Still, allow a buffer in case of flight delays.
Do I need ID to enter Port Everglades?
Yes. Port Everglades is a secure port, and every adult in the vehicle, including the driver, must show government-issued photo ID at the entrance checkpoint. Passengers should also have their cruise boarding documents ready.
Can you park at Port Everglades for a cruise?
Yes. The port runs large garages near the terminals, including Northport and Midport, charged by the day. Off-site lots with shuttles and hotel park-and-cruise packages are common alternatives and often cost less for longer trips.
Is it better to cruise from Fort Lauderdale or Miami?
It depends on the ship you want. Both sail year-round to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Fort Lauderdale has more premium lines like Celebrity, Holland America and Princess and a closer airport, while Miami has more Carnival, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages sailings and a bigger city to explore.
Which cruise lines sail from Fort Lauderdale?
Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney Cruise Line sail from Port Everglades, along with seasonal departures from Viking, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn. Most premium and luxury lines are here between fall and spring.
Do Panama Canal cruises leave from Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Fort Lauderdale is one of the main starting points for full Panama Canal transits to Los Angeles or San Diego, typically 14 to 16 nights, mostly in fall and spring. Partial-transit round trips that sail into Gatun Lake and back also leave from here in winter.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.