About Port Everglades
The cruise port in Fort Lauderdale is officially named “Port Everglades,” and it technically straddles not just Fort Lauderdale but also Hollywood and Dania Beach. It’s only about 29 miles from Port Miami, and while small comparatively, Port Everglades accommodates nearly 3 million cruise passengers annually. There are eight terminals at Port Everglades, and they are numbered: Terminals 2, 4, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26 and 29. Cruisers can determine their departure terminal by consulting their cruise documents provided by the cruise line, but upon arrival at the port, signage will indicate where each cruise ship is docked.
There are three entrances to the port, and each terminal has a different address, but using the general Port Everglades address for their administrative office, 1850 Eller Drive in Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, will get you there. Signage at the port entrance will direct cruisers to their terminal.
Cruisers flying to Port Everglades should also search for flights to Miami, as the Port Everglades to Miami airport distance is only about 26 miles, or a 45-60 minute drive, depending upon traffic.
Getting to the Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
Port Everglades is only about three miles from FLL (Fort Lauderdale Airport), which is approximately an 8-15 minute drive, depending upon traffic. Getting from the FLL airport to Port Everglades is easy, and there are several options. Each cruise line will likely offer a transfer option, bussing guests from the airport to the pier, but I recommend rideshare like Uber to get from the airport to the cruise port because it’s much more convenient and cost-effective.
- Cruise Line Transfer: Most cruise lines offer transfer service, and Carnival’s service from FLL to port, as one example, is $25 per person. This is booked directly through your cruise line.
- Hotel Shuttle: Some Fort Lauderdale hotels offer an optional shared shuttle service for guests, which runs around $9-20 per person, depending upon the property (see my post here about hotels with shuttles)
- Rideshare: When it comes to getting to port, I typically recommend using Uber, which for this distance runs $15-25, depending on the time of day and other factors, but that is for up to four passengers.
- Private Transfer: Cruisers can book their own private transfer service, which is much more convenient than cruise line transfer service or hotel transfer services, which is typically on a bus or shuttle with other cruisers. Get Transfer offers transfer service for up to three people from MIA to Port Miami starting at $31, or cruisers traveling in a larger group can book a van for up to 8 people starting at $56 or a minibus for up to 16 people starting at $64.
Given the proximity of Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades to Miami airport, I always encourage cruisers to compare pricing of flying in to MIA when sailing out of Port Everglades, as there can sometimes be a significant difference if costs. If you find a cheaper Miami flight and are sailing out of Port Everglades, the cost of an Uber will run approximately $45-75.
Best Fort Lauderdale Hotels for Cruisers
This is an involved topic, so I wrote not one but two separate posts about this: 1) My recommendations of best Fort Lauderdale hotels with a shuttle to port, and 2) My top picks for beachfront hotels near Port Everglades.
Port Everglades Cruise Port Parking
Some nearby Fort Lauderdale hotels offer “park and stay” packages, including transportation from the hotel to the cruise port. While you can park your car at Port Everglades, budget-conscious cruisers may seek out an offsite parking option that shuttles them from the parking location to the cruise port. Airport Parking Reservations provides this service for Port Everglades cruisers at a uch lower cost, approximately $7-15 per day.
Port Everglades Schedule
The Fort Lauderdale cruise port ship schedule can be found directly on the port’s website.