The cruise capital of the world — Port Everglades handles over 4.7 million passengers a year, FLL airport is three miles from the gangway, and Fort Lauderdale's beach, 300+ miles of navigable canals, and vibrant Las Olas dining scene are right on your doorstep.
⚓ Docked (Port Everglades — no tendering)🕒 Embark/disembark homeport💵 US Dollar (USD)🗣️ English (Spanish widely spoken)
Docking
Port Everglades — pier dock, 12+ active terminals
Airport
FLL — 3 miles, ~10-15 min Uber
Best For
Beach · Everglades · Las Olas dining · Water Taxi
Don't Miss
Fort Lauderdale Beach + Water Taxi hop-on/hop-off
📄 Take this port with you
A printable port guide — key info, things to do & tips. Includes an editable “My Day in Port” box for your ship times & booked excursions.
Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise homeports on earth — most visitors are embarking or disembarking, not just calling in. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is 3 miles away, and the port itself is not walkable to any attractions.
Arriving and departing Port Everglades
1
From FLL airport to the portFLL is 3 miles from Port Everglades — about a $15–20 Uber/Lyft or taxi (10-15 min outside peak traffic). Hotel shuttles along SE 17th Street commonly serve the route. Miami International Airport (MIA) is 30+ miles away in traffic — avoid it on embarkation day.
2
Know your terminal before you arrivePort Everglades has 12+ active cruise terminals numbered 1–29. Disney uses Terminal 4 (Finding Nemo-themed), Celebrity uses Terminal 25, Royal Caribbean uses Terminals 18 & 19, Princess uses Terminals 2 & 21, and Viking uses Terminal 26. Confirm your terminal on the Port Everglades ship schedule at porteverglades.net — terminals are spread across the port.
3
Getting to Fort Lauderdale BeachThe beach is about 2 miles east of the port — a $10-15 Uber/Lyft or a Broward County Transit bus toward A1A. The beachfront promenade, hotel strip, and casual restaurants are all easy to reach once you get there. Walking from port is not practical or safe.
4
Returning to port / embarkation timingOn embarkation days (typically Saturdays), the port entrance on Eisenhower Blvd queues 30–45 minutes in the early-to-mid afternoon. Arrive before noon or after 4 PM when possible. A new bypass road (Convention Center Connector) now streamlines traffic from US-1 and SE 17th Street.
💡 Pro move: Port Everglades has no pedestrian access to the city. Budget $10–20 each way for rideshare to the beach or Las Olas. The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is the only on-port accommodation.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
Port Everglades has 12+ cruise terminals spread across the port — confirm your terminal from your cruise line before arrival, as they can be far apart.
Fort Lauderdale is ideal for beach days, wild Everglades airboat rides, the famous Water Taxi canal network, upscale Las Olas dining, and outlet shopping — all within easy reach of the port.
Relax
Fort Lauderdale Beach
A wide, clean Atlantic beach stretching for miles just east of the port — the classic Florida turnaround day. Walk the beachfront Promenade along A1A, grab breakfast at a beachside cafe, and swim before your ship boards. For a quieter stretch, head north to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which has nature trails and a pedestrian tunnel to the beach.
The real Florida is 30–45 minutes west — Everglades Holiday Park and Sawgrass Recreation Park both offer airboat rides through the sawgrass, alligators up close, and wildlife shows. A thrilling half-day that fits neatly into a turnaround day. Book with an end time 3+ hours before your boarding window.
Fort Lauderdale's dining, gallery, and boutique strip runs from downtown to the beach. Browse independent boutiques, catch brunch at a sidewalk cafe, or linger over lunch at Louie Bossi's Italian or Eddie V's Prime Seafood. Combine with a stroll along the New River Riverwalk and a stop at Stranahan House — Fort Lauderdale's oldest building, dating to 1901.
Hop-on/hop-off boats crisscross Fort Lauderdale's 300+ miles of inland canals. The all-day pass (~$30) lets you ride between the beach, Las Olas, Riverwalk, and waterfront restaurants while seeing mega-yacht mansions lining the Intracoastal Waterway. Rideshare to a Water Taxi stop near the 17th Street Causeway to board.
The New River Riverwalk links the Museum of Discovery and Science (interactive exhibits + IMAX), the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and historic Stranahan House Museum — built in 1901 and Fort Lauderdale's oldest surviving structure. All walkable from a Water Taxi stop and easy to combine in a half-day.
One of the largest outlet malls in the USA, about 35 minutes west of the port with 350+ stores. A dedicated shopping excursion for those who prefer retail therapy to beaches. Pair with an Everglades stop on the way back for a full day.
Fort Lauderdale's port is not walkable to attractions — rideshare to the beach or Las Olas first, then explore on foot from there.
Fort Lauderdale Beach Promenade
~3 km · 1 hr · easy · flat
The paved beachfront Promenade along A1A runs from the Las Olas intersection north toward Sunrise Blvd — wide, flat, and palm-shaded. Beach access is open the entire length. Continue north into Hugh Taylor Birch State Park for a quieter, more natural stretch with a pedestrian tunnel to the beach.
Walk Las Olas Blvd from SE 6th Ave toward the beach — galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and canal-front vibe. Stop at Stranahan House Museum for a quick historical visit, then continue east to the beach for a swim.
The paved Riverwalk follows the New River from downtown past the Broward Center, Museum of Discovery and Science, and Stranahan House, with restaurant patios and docked yachts at every turn. Water Taxi stops let you continue further without walking back.
Climate normals for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
74°F / 23°C
62°F / 17°C
10
7:09 AM
5:50 PM
Feb
77°F / 25°C
66°F / 19°C
11
6:56 AM
6:13 PM
Mar
79°F / 26°C
67°F / 19°C
9
7:29 AM
7:29 PM
Apr
82°F / 28°C
70°F / 21°C
12
6:57 AM
7:44 PM
May
83°F / 28°C
73°F / 23°C
16
6:34 AM
7:59 PM
Jun
85°F / 29°C
76°F / 24°C
24
6:28 AM
8:14 PM
Jul
87°F / 31°C
77°F / 25°C
25
6:38 AM
8:14 PM
Aug
87°F / 31°C
77°F / 25°C
25
6:53 AM
7:56 PM
Sep
86°F / 30°C
76°F / 24°C
24
7:06 AM
7:24 PM
Oct
83°F / 28°C
74°F / 23°C
18
7:19 AM
6:52 PM
Nov
79°F / 26°C
69°F / 21°C
13
6:39 AM
5:30 PM
Dec
77°F / 25°C
66°F / 19°C
11
7:00 AM
5:31 PM
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Insider Tips
✈️
Fly into FLL, not MIA. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL) is 3 miles from Port Everglades — a $15 Uber. Miami International (MIA) is 30+ miles in South Florida traffic. That's the difference between a relaxed boarding day and a stressful one.
🏨
Arrive the night before. Pre-cruise hotels cluster on SE 17th Street (Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton) and at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Many offer Park and Cruise packages. The Omni Fort Lauderdale is the only hotel actually inside the port.
📋
Check your terminal the day before. The Port Everglades ship schedule at porteverglades.net shows terminal assignments. Terminals 4, 18, 19, 21, 25, and 26 are all in different areas of the port — don't assume you know where your ship is.
🐊
The Everglades fit a turnaround day. Everglades Holiday Park and Sawgrass Recreation Park are 30–45 minutes west. Book a tour ending 3+ hours before your boarding time and you'll be back easily.
⛵
Try the Water Taxi. The all-day pass (~$30) covers the canal network between the beach, Las Olas, and Riverwalk. Way more fun than an Uber, and you see the mansions and mega-yachts up close. Rideshare to a stop near the 17th Street Causeway to board.
🚗
Port traffic backs up on embarkation days. Typically Saturday afternoons, the Eisenhower Blvd entrance queues 30–45 minutes. A new bypass road from US-1 and SE 17th Street helps — arrive before noon or after 4 PM to avoid the worst of it.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
🚗 Ride-share: ✅ Uber, LyftBoth Uber and Lyft operate at Port Everglades. No dedicated rideshare pickup zone — request your ride then walk slightly away from the terminal entrance to meet your driver. Drivers may need to show credentials at the port security gate.🚍 Hop-on hop-off: ❌ No HOHO bus
🚕 Taxi
$28–$35
Regulated Broward County taxis from Port Everglades to downtown Fort Lauderdale. Flat rates may be available; ask before boarding. Ride takes about 15–20 minutes.
📱 Uber / Lyft
$10–$20
Both services are widely available in South Florida and work well from Port Everglades. Typically cheaper than taxis for 1–2 passengers; request from the terminal exit area.
🚌 Shared Shuttle
$15–$30/person
Pre-booked shared-ride shuttles connect the port to Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels and downtown. Good value for solo travelers; book in advance through services like GoPort or local operators.
⛵ Water Taxi (All-Day Pass)
$38/adult
Fort Lauderdale's famous Water Taxi hops stops along the Intracoastal Waterway and New River, visiting Las Olas, Riverwalk, and beach areas. A fun and scenic way to explore the city's waterways.
🚗 Private Van Shuttle
$100–$120+
Private door-to-door van service for groups of up to 14. Typically includes luggage, tip, and tolls — good value split among a group, book ahead through local shuttle providers.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
