Cruises from Fort Lauderdale 2027
Port Everglades: a few minutes from the airport, with Caribbean, Panama Canal and transatlantic sailings.
Photo: Port Everglades PIO, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort Lauderdale's cruise port is Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and the main rival to Miami, 30 miles to the south. It handles a wide mix of lines, from mass-market ships to premium and family brands, and it is a favorite for travelers who want a big choice of ships without Miami's crowds.
Its biggest practical advantage is the airport. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International sits right next to the port, so the transfer is short and a same-day arrival is easier than at most big ports. The sections below cover how to get there, where to park and where the ships go.
Getting to the Fort Lauderdale cruise port
Flying into Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is only a couple of miles from the port, usually about 10 to 15 minutes by car. Taxis, ride-hailing and cruise-line transfers run constantly, so this is one of the shortest airport-to-ship transfers of any major port.
Flying into Miami
Miami International (MIA) is about 30 miles south and normally takes 35 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. It is worth considering if flights are cheaper, and ride-hailing and shuttles serve the route.
By car or train
The port is reached from I-595 and I-95, and the drive is simple outside rush hour. Brightline trains stop in Fort Lauderdale, from where a short ride-hail reaches the terminals.
Terminals
Port Everglades has a number of terminals, and each cruise line generally uses its own. Your boarding documents name the terminal, so check it before you travel, because the terminals are spread across the port and assignments can change by season.
Parking
Parking garages at the port are charged by the day, and they are close to the terminals. Pre-booking is worth doing for busy sailings, and some hotels in the area offer cruise-parking packages. Our cruise port parking guide compares garages with off-site lots and shuttles.
What to do before you board
If you arrive the day before, these are the easy wins.
Las Olas Boulevard
A walkable street of restaurants, boutiques and cafés in the heart of Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Beach
A wide beach with a promenade along the sea, about 15 minutes from the port.
Riverwalk and the water taxi
A river walk through downtown, with water taxis that give a canal-side view of the waterfront homes.
Everglades airboat ride
A half-day trip to the Everglades, about 30 to 45 minutes from the port, for alligators and wetlands.
Where cruises from Fort Lauderdale go
The usual route styles, and what each one suits.
Eastern and Western Caribbean
7 nightsThe classic Florida routes, with Bahamas, Mexico and Cayman Islands stops.
Southern Caribbean
7 to 10 nightsThe southern islands, usually with extra sea days at the start and end.
Panama Canal
10 to 16 nightsPartial and full Canal transits sail from here, with a full transit usually ending on the west coast.
Transatlantic and Europe
12 nights or moreSpring and autumn repositioning sailings link Florida with the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
For season, booking timing and route choices, see Caribbean Cruises 2027, Panama Canal Cruises 2027.
Cruise lines sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Lines change their ships and seasons, so confirm the details with your line.
Celebrity Cruises
A large presence, with newer ships on Caribbean routes.
Royal Caribbean
Large ships on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.
Princess Cruises
Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings on mid-sized and large ships.
Holland America Line
A winter program of Caribbean and longer routes.
Disney Cruise Line
Family sailings with Disney's Bahamas private island.
Ports your ship may visit
Common stops on sailings from Fort Lauderdale, with our guides to each.
Nassau
Pink-sand beaches, colonial history, and Atlantis just a bridge away.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Royal Caribbean's private island playground with beach clubs, a giant waterpark, and clear Bahamian water.
St. Thomas
Duty-free shopping capital of the Caribbean — and a gateway to the world's best snorkelling at Buck Island.
St. Maarten / St. Martin
Two countries, one island — world-famous beach, duty-free shopping, and jet-blast thrills.
Cozumel
World-class reefs, turquoise water, and the best tacos al pastor in the Caribbean.
Grand Cayman
Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach, and the clearest water in the western Caribbean.
Colón (Panama Canal)
The Caribbean gateway to one of the great engineering feats on Earth — full transits, lock visits, and rainforest day trips.
Half Moon Cay (RelaxAway)
Carnival's private Bahamian island with powder-soft beaches, turquoise shallows, and laid-back beach-day energy.
Ships that sail from Fort Lauderdale
Ships our guides list as using Fort Lauderdale as a homeport. Deployments change each season, so confirm yours.
Celebrity Beyond
The most sophisticated Edge class yet — wider, refined, with the best rooftop at sea
Celebrity Ascent
Refined luxury meets cutting-edge design — Celebrity's finest ship yet.
Celebrity Edge
The ship that broke every design rule — and looked incredible doing it.
Celebrity Apex
Edge-class sophistication with exceptional dining and design.
Allure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's original Oasis-class icon, freshly amplified with $100 million in new thrills.
Sun Princess
Princess' most ambitious ship — incredible destinations, beautiful ship.
Nieuw Statendam
The second Pinnacle-class beauty — classic Dutch elegance across the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Disney Destiny
Disney's newest ship — a 'Heroes and Villains' theme with the line's biggest Marvel presence yet.
When to sail from Fort Lauderdale
Sailings run year round, with the busiest and most expensive period between December and April. Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms, and hurricane season runs June to November, when itineraries are more often changed. Many ships move to Europe or Alaska in the summer, so there is a smaller choice of ships then.
Cruising from Fort Lauderdale: questions
How far is Fort Lauderdale airport from the cruise port?+
Only a few miles, usually 10 to 15 minutes by car. It is among the shortest airport-to-port transfers of any major cruise port, which makes a same-day arrival practical, though an overnight stay remains the safer choice for long flights.
Is it better to cruise from Fort Lauderdale or Miami?+
Both are excellent. Fort Lauderdale is closer to its airport and usually quieter, while Miami has the largest ships and the very widest choice. The right choice is the sailing whose ship and route you prefer.
Which Fort Lauderdale terminal will my ship use?+
It depends on your cruise line and sometimes the ship, and it can change by season. Your boarding documents name the terminal. Check it before you travel, as the terminals are spread across Port Everglades.
Can I do a Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale?+
Yes. Port Everglades is a common starting point for both partial and full Panama Canal sailings. See our Panama Canal planning page for the difference between the two and the best months to go.
Other departure ports
Cruises from Miami
The biggest choice of ships and routes in the world, a short ride from the airport.
Cruises from Port Canaveral
The cruise port for Orlando: theme parks and Kennedy Space Center, then a Bahamas or Caribbean sailing.
Cruises from Galveston
Texas's cruise gateway: drive-to, easy from Houston, and built for the Western Caribbean.