Cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean

Which lines sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean?

• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Disney Cruise Line
  Polished, family-first and full of Disney magic; character moments by day, Broadway-quality shows by night.
• Holland America Line
  Gracious and unhurried; live music at night, a good book by day and plenty of ocean views.
• Princess Cruises
  Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.
• Silversea Cruises
  Quietly elegant and well-traveled, with butler-level service and a strong sense of place.
• Viking
  Quiet, elegant and intellectually curious; think a stylish Nordic hotel where the evening entertainment might be a history lecture.

Ships recently or currently deployed on this route include Allure of the Seas, Celebrity Xcel, Disney Destiny and Oasis of the Seas. Deployments change season to season, so we confirm the ship for your dates when we quote.

When to go

1. January: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Jan 84°74°
2. February: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Feb 84°74°
3. March: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Mar 85°74°
4. April: Best time, average high 86 degrees F Apr 86°76°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F May 87°78°
6. June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°79°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Jul 90°79°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Aug 90°80°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Sep 89°80°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 88 degrees F Oct 88°78°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F Nov 87°77°
12. December: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Dec 85°75°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Sailings run year-round. December to April is the dry season and peak demand. The islands sit in the main Atlantic hurricane track, so June through November, and especially mid-August to mid-October, carries the highest chance of itinerary changes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the Virgin Islands and Leeward Islands lie in the path of many storms that form off Africa in late summer. Most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. Expect possible port swaps in those months. Winter trade winds can make sea days a little bumpy on the open-ocean leg from Florida.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Eastern Caribbean cruises most often visit:

• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: Magens Bay, duty-free shopping, the Skyride viewpoint and ferries to St. John's national park beaches.
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Sint Maarten: Beach right off the boardwalk, plus quick trips to the French side, Orient Bay and Maho Beach.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (US): Old San Juan's forts and colorful streets are a short walk from the pier, and evening departures leave time for dinner ashore.
• Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands: Boat trips to The Baths on Virgin Gorda and to some of the best sailing waters in the Caribbean.
• Basseterre, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis: Brimstone Hill Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a scenic railway and a short boat ride to Nevis.
• St. John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda: Many beaches close to port and the restored Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour.

Before you sail from Fort Lauderdale

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.

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.

• 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.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail. St. Thomas, St. John and Puerto Rico are US territories, but your other stops are foreign countries with their own entry rules.

More detail: our full Fort Lauderdale cruise port guide and our Eastern Caribbean cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Fort Lauderdale: Bahamas, Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Panama Canal, Transatlantic.

Eastern Caribbean from other ports: Baltimore, Miami, Port Canaveral, San Juan.