Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port

Port Everglades
Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
Magnificent Cruise Gateway

Fort Lauderdale. Once the "spring break" hotspot, famous for its beautiful beaches, Fort Lauderdale is also known as the "Venice of America" for its many miles of canals (see Water Taxi) and its huge and magnificent port, once hosting 15 cruise ships at once.

Oasis of the Seas behind Terminal 18, and
Port's Entrance Channel (see video)

Port Everglades. Gateway for international trade, Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades is one of the world's largest and busiest departure/ embarkation cruise ports (photo: Port Everglades).

With a dozen cruise terminals, Port Everglades is divided into Northport, Midport and Southport (with no cruise terminals) sections (see map).

Northport. Cruise terminals 1, 2 (Princess Cruises) and 4 (MSC Cruises) are located in front of the Northport parking garage and the Convention Center.

Midport. Cruise terminals 18 (Royal Caribbean with adjacent surface parking), 19 (Princess Cruises), 21 (Carnival), 22/24, 25, 26 (Holland America), 27 and 29 are located near the Midport parking garage.

Driving To Port. By car from I-95 (via I-195 from Miami airport), I-75 and the Florida Turnpike, take I-595 East (via Rt.1 from Ft. Lauderdale airport) onto Eller Drive, directly to Midport and left on SE 19th Ave. onto Eisenhower Blvd. to Northport. An alternate route to Northport from Fort Lauderdale airport takes 1/1A North, then right on 17th Street Causeway (1A) and right on Eisenhower Blvd. See Ground Transport to local Airports.

Accommodations
Airports
Caribbean Destinations
Cruise Lines
Cruises & Destinations
Driving To Port
Ground Transport
Oasis of the Seas
Port Everglades
Restaurants
Water Taxi

Cruise Lines. Cruise lines serving Port Everglades include Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Regent.

Cruises & Destinations. Departing from Port Everglades are a multitude of daily, multiday, weekly, monthly and longer cruises, available on about 40 individual cruise ships, carrying between 200 to 6000 passengers. Cruise destinations include the Bahamas, the Caribbean (see below), Trans-PanamaCanal, South American and Transatlantic (see rates and dates of all Fort Lauderdale cruises).

World's Largest Cruise Terminal & Cruise Ship. Renovated Terminal 18, pictured above, is the world's largest cruise terminal, serving the world's largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas and its sister ship, Allure of the Seas (cruises to Nassau, Jamaica and Cozumel). Designed to allow passengers to sign in and board in 15 minutes, curbside porters process check-in luggage through to staterooms. The separate, left-side embarkation terminal first screens passengers through security. Then a multitude of check-in counters lead to escalators and elevators to the large upstairs boarding hall, which connects to the ship via bridges at the fifth deck level. Boarding passengers can be held (usually until about 11:30 AM, although the recommended boarding time is 2 PM) until disembarking passengers are cleared through the other, separate side of the terminal.

Oasis of the Seas Cruises from Ft. Lauderdale

World's Largest Cruise Ship

The world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas uses its magnificent spaces to create seven unique interior experiences (photo: MSNBC). Its multi-deck, open-air atrium-promenades are mini "resort-like" destinations themselves.

Aqua Theater

The spectacular Boardwalk features an eight deck open-air atrium promenade that leads out to the stern to the amazing Aqua Theater, with its jaw-dropping Cirque-style shows.

Boardwalk

Modeled on a retro seaside resort, Boardwalk has a handmade carousel and eateries such as a 50's burger joint and a seafood shack as well as child-friendly shops, such as Pets at Sea, its popular "build-a-pet" store.

Loft Suite

The splendid new loft suites are among 37 choices of cabins and suites, many suited for families.

New features include the wade-in Beach pool, the Japanese Izami restaurant and an enlarged version of the popular top-of-the-decks Windjammer Cafe.

Entertainment Place has the musical 'Hairspray,' an ice show, casino, comedy club, nightclub and a jazz club.

Oasis of the Seas

See info, rates and
dates available.

Both 7 night round trips, the Eastern Caribbean cruise goes to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau. The Western Caribbean cruise goes to a private island, Jamaica and Cozumel.

Central Park

The overlooking balcony cabins are opened up to sunlight and sea breezes, and, at Central Park, to lavish landscaping with walls of climbing vines as well as chic metro cafes and upscale dining, such as old favorites Giovanni's Table and Chops Grille, and the new 150 Central Park.

150 Central Park

The centerpiece of dining among 24 choices on board, 150 Central Park is run by Miami restaurateur and award-wining chef Michael Swartz (see Michael's Genuine Food ...for People Who Love To Eat), with farm fresh fare, a seasonal tasting menu and two six-course dinners with wine pairings.

Royal Promenade, the star attraction of the previous Adventure of the Seas class of Royal Norwegian ships, appears with an updated classic opulence and includes giant arched skylights to see Central Park foliage above.

Children's H2O Zone

Family friendly Royal Norwegian has children's activities for all age groups, including 'Kids Avenue' interconnecting the Youth Zone, with the new 'Royal Babies and Tots' nursery (photo: OasisPhotosBlog).

Airports.
Fort Lauderdale and Port Everglades are served by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), about 2 miles away with many discount and other flights, and Miami International Airport (MIA), about 30 miles away with a much wider selection of flights, especially international flights.

Ground Transport. Taxis, rental cars (see Driving to Port), shuttle buses and luxury sedans, but not rail, are available at the airports. From the Fort Lauderdale/Miami airports, shuttle buses to the port cost about $12/$30 and taxis about $12/$68 (ask before boarding). Cruise lines typically offer shuttle bus service to/from both airports, by advance reservation, sometimes for an extra charge. The affordable SAS shuttle bus can be reserved ahead. Proper ID, such as a passport or driver�s license, is required to enter the port. Hotels often provide free shuttles.

Embarkation Process. Embarking on a cruise ship requires proper travel documentation, usually a passport and cruise documents, including a Final Departure Manifest prior to departure (which is best processed ahead). Port Authority Security replaces airport security with x-ray screening of carryon luggage (not exceeding 24"W x 16"H x 30"L). Other luggage is checked in. Helping its passengers embark/disembark en masse, the cruise line functions as a surrogate immigration and customs authority, not only for the US, but for the destination countries as well, and these authorities are often behind the scenes.

Caribbean Cruise Destinations. The Caribbean is the most popular cruise destination in the world (see overall Caribbean cruise info). Available cruise destinations from Ft. Lauderdale, known as Western Caribbean routes, include Montego Bay and Ocho Rios (Jamaica), George Town (Grand Cayman), Costa Maya, Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel (Mexico), Mahogany Bay and Coxen Hole, Roatan (Honduras) and Belize City (Belize). Often included also are Freeport and Nassau (Bahamas) and Key West (Florida).

Eastern Caribbean routes include Old San Juan (Puerto Rico), St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), Tortola (British Virgin Islands), St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barths, Antigua, St. Kitts and Guadeloupe in the Leeward Islands and Dominica, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada and Tobago in the Windward Islands.

Included also are the ABC Islands, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire in the Netherland Antilles off the coast of South America, now often called Southern Caribbean routes, along with any islands south of Grenada, the classic hurricane-free zone.

Restaurants.
Ft. Lauderdale has many interesting restaurants, both near the beach and along Los Olas Boulevard as well as on its numerous canals and nearer Port Everglades.

Water Taxi. A great way to travel, the Water Taxi (see map and video) stops near the port's Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Pier 66, 15th St. Fisheries, Los Olas Blvd. and the beach at Cortez St..

Fort Lauderdale Beach Cafe

Right on Fort Lauderdale's beautiful beach, H2O Cafe (101 S. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd., reachable by water taxi via Cortez St.), in front of an Art Deco hotel with sidewalk seating under tents for people-watching (see street view), has Italian influenced cuisine, such as antipasti, home made pasta and risotto and fine deserts (photo: Inside Fort Lauderdale).

Right on the port with great views and reachable by water taxi, 15th Street Fisheries (1900 S.E. 15th Street) is a landmark, award-winning seafood house with dishes such as Shrimp 'n' Grits (with bacon and Trugole cheese), Stone Crab Claws and Scallops and Risotto (photo: Every Day Eaters).

Shrimp 'n' Grits

Accommodations
Fort Lauderdale has a great variety of accommodations in all price ranges (see info and rates).

Just one block outside the port, the more affordable Holiday Inn Express Convention Center-Cruise (1500 S.E. 17th Causeway) offers complimentary breakfast and free airport shuttle (see info and rates).

Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Family-Friendly and right on the beach, Pelican Grand Beach Resort (2000 N. Ocean Blvd.) is an upscale, grand old beach hotel with a wide veranda and rocking chairs, an ice cream parlor and traditional room decor with all the amenities, including waterfront dining at its North Ocean Grille (see info and rates).

Hyatt Regency Pier 66

With views overlooking the port, Hyatt Regency Pier 66 (2301 S.E. 17th St.) is an upscale landmark resort centered around an "oasis" of pools lined by lanai rooms as well as 5 restaurants, Spa 66, golf club privileges and its own marina, aquatic center and water taxi stop (see info and rates).