Cruises from Fort Lauderdale

Port Everglades feels like the premium-leaning sibling of PortMiami. Royal Caribbean and Disney run big family ships here, but the port is also a winter base for Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Viking and Silversea, so you see more variety in ship size and style on a single morning than at most U.S. ports. Celebrity's Edge-class ships use Terminal 25, which the port renovated for them, and Disney has its own terminal at Terminal 4.

Itineraries run from short Bahamas trips to seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean loops, plus longer Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal voyages on the premium and luxury lines in the cooler months. It is also a common starting point for spring transatlantic crossings when ships head to Europe for the summer.

The big practical advantage is the airport. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International sits right next to the port, so even a morning flight on embarkation day is a short ride, though a night-before arrival is still the safer plan. Port Everglades is a secured port with gate checkpoints, so everyone in the car needs ID ready.

Where cruises from Fort Lauderdale go

• Bahamas The quick escape: short cruises from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines' private islands.
• Caribbean Warm water, short flights and the widest choice of ships and itineraries anywhere in cruising.
• Eastern Caribbean Beach-hopping through the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico, with some of the calmest sailing in the region.
• Western Caribbean Maya ruins, barrier reef snorkeling and jungle adventures in Mexico, Central America, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
• Southern Caribbean The far islands: Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, with more port days and drier weather in the south.
• Panama Canal A full day rising through the locks between two oceans, with Caribbean and Central American ports along the way.
• Transatlantic A week or more at sea between North America and Europe, with island stops on many routes.

Cruise lines sailing from Fort Lauderdale

• Royal Caribbean International Giant resort ships where the ship itself is the destination.
• Celebrity Cruises Modern premium cruising with design-led ships and a serious food focus.
• Disney Cruise Line Family cruising built around Disney storytelling, characters and top-tier kids' clubs.
• Princess Cruises Classic, comfortable cruising with tech-smart service and an Alaska specialty.
• Holland America Line Mid-size ships, classic service and long, port-rich voyages, with deep roots in Alaska.
• Viking Small, adults-only ocean ships with Scandinavian calm and a culture-first, mostly inclusive fare.
• Silversea Cruises Ultra-luxury small ships with butlers in every suite and expedition voyages to the ends of the earth.

Line schedules change by season. We confirm which ships sail from Fort Lauderdale on your dates when we quote.

Cruise terminals

Getting there

There are three gated entrances: SE 17th Street at Eisenhower Boulevard, State Road 84 at Spangler Boulevard, and I-595 East at Eller Drive. At the checkpoint, every passenger and visitor 18 or older shows a government-issued photo ID, and cruisers also show cruise documents, so have them out before you reach the gate. From FLL it is a short taxi or rideshare ride. From Miami, allow 30 to 45 minutes on I-95, more in traffic.

• FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: about 3 miles
• MIA Miami International Airport: about 27 miles

Parking

Broward County's Port Everglades runs the garages and lots. The Heron Garage serves Terminals 2 and 4, the Palm Garage serves Terminals 19, 21, 25, 26 and 29 (with a shuttle to Terminal 29), and surface Lots A through D cover the rest, including Lots B and C for Terminal 18. The port does not take reservations or prepayment; the clock starts when you pull a ticket. As of October 2026 the port lists a maximum daily rate of $25. Both garages have a 7-foot clearance, and limited spaces for RVs and trailers up to 24 feet are available by calling the port's parking office.

Where to stay the night before

Hotels along the 17th Street Causeway and near the convention center are closest to the terminals. Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Las Olas area are a short drive and better for an evening out. Many airport-area hotels run shuttles to the port.

Season: Year-round. Disney and Royal Caribbean sail all year; premium and luxury lines concentrate their Fort Lauderdale departures in late fall through spring.

Embarkation-day tips

• Every adult in the car, including the driver dropping you off, needs a photo ID at the port gate.
• Match your garage to your terminal number: Heron for 2 and 4, Palm for 19 through 29, surface lots for Terminal 18.
• Pick-up drivers can wait in the port's free cell phone lot instead of circling the terminals.
• If you are flying out after your cruise, FLL's proximity makes a midday flight realistic, but leave time for customs and terminal traffic.
• Parking cannot be reserved in advance, so arrive within your check-in window on busy days.