Cruises leaving from Ft. Lauderdale & Port Everglades Florida

Port Everglades was officially established as a deep water harbor in 1927. More than 5,300 ships call at Port Everglades in a year forming the basis of a diverse maritime operation that includes a thriving cruise industry and a reputation as the "world's best cruise port,".

Just used Port Everglades on a RCCL cruise in May of 2007. We drove and found that it is a very easy port to get around in. The luggage drop-off was easy and then the parking garage was within a block or two from pier 25. The parking garage was big and clean, well lit and protected. The parking fees are very reasonable for the convenience and it is both quick and easy to use.

The growing cruise ship and containerized cargo business that establishes Port Everglades among the nation's top seaports, a major petroleum storage and distribution hub, South Florida's primary bulk cargo depot and a favorite U.S. Navy liberty port.

The seaport is renowned for its commitment to ongoing capital improvements, environmental protection and convenient maritime operations with unbeatable connections through the adjacent Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and the direct links with all of Florida's highway system via I-595.

Where Exactly Is Port Everglades?

Its name somewhat misleading, Port Everglades is not a part of the wetland ecosystem known as the Florida Everglades. The seaport is, in fact, located on the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula within the three cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach, as well as unincorporated Broward County. It is approximately 23 miles north of Miami, 48 miles south of West Palm Beach and 312 miles south of Jacksonville.

Port Everglades’ jurisdiction encompasses a total of 2,190 acres (887 hectares) which includes 1,742 acres of upland and 448 acres of submerged land. Upland acreage falls within the following municipalities:

1,242 acres or 71.3% of Port Everglades is located within the City of Hollywood.
232 acres or 13.3% is located within the City of Fort Lauderdale.
234 acres or 13.4% is located within the City of Dania.
34 acres or 2% is located within unincorporated Broward County.

Port Everglades Administration Bldg. - 1850 Eller Drive. (6-story glass with red trim)

Port Terminals

Passenger/Cargo Terminal
Passenger/Cargo Terminal
Passenger/Cargo Terminal
Passenger/Cargo Terminal
Passenger/Cargo Terminal
Passenger Terminal
Passenger Terminal
Passenger Terminal
Passenger/Cargo Terminal

Northport Parking Garage - Next to Convention Center at Northport

Midport Parking Garage - Between Cruise Terminals #19 & #21 in Midport

Port Everglades Administration Bldg. - 1850 Eller Drive. (6-story glass with red trim)

Entranceways By car, the seaport can be accessed:

Main entrance. Take I-595 East straight into the port (I-595 become Eller Drive once inside the Port).

I-595 runs east/west with connections to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, U.S.1, I-95, State Road 7 (441), Florida's Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway and I-75.

North entrance. Take U.S.1 or A1A to 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale and turn south at the streetlight onto Eisenhower Blvd.

US1/Federal Highway entrance. At the intersection of State Road 84 East and U.S.1 (Federal Hwy.), turn east into the seaport.

Access to the large cruise terminal is easy and only about 2 miles from the Ft. Lauderdale airport.

Cruise line buses meet inbound flights for transfer to the port if you make arrangements in advance. If you choose to take a taxi from the airport to the pier, it should cost less than $10. Port Everglades is only about 30 minutes north of the Miami International Airport, so that is an additional option for cruisers.

By car - For those cruise passengers that might be arriving by car at the port, Port Everglades has 3 passenger entrances: Spangler Boulevard, Eisenhower Boulevard, and Eller Drive. There are two large parking garages that cost $10 per 24-hour period in December 2001. The 2,500-space Northport Parking Garage next to the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center serves terminals 1, 2, and 4. The 2,000-space Midport Parking Garage is closer to terminals 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, and 26. Both garages have controlled security, are well-lighted, and will accommodate recreation vehicles (RVs) and buses.

Port Of Entry-Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale
Port Information
Port Code: 5203
Location Address: 1800 Eller Drive
Suite 104
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Mailing Address: Same As Above
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
General Phone: (954) 761-2000
General Fax: (954) 761-2088
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

Description: A Port of Entry is any designated place at which a CBP officer is authorized to accept entries of merchandise to collect duties, and to enforce the various provisions of the customs and navigation laws

Port Everglades is in the middle of a South Florida population center consisting of over 5 million people, many of whom are the most avid cruisers anywhere. Little wonder the Port plays host to nearly 20 cruise lines, and more than 3,000 cruises annually. The world's most recognized cruise lines traditionally choose Port Everglades to debut their newest, largest and most spectacular cruise ships.

Port Everglades has down to an art. We're poised to handle a record 4 million passengers in 2004, and we're expecting as many as 7 million annually by 2020. One of the more memorable days in port history occurred on December 21, 2003. That's when Port Everglades broke all world records with 44,108 passengers.

With Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport less than two miles from the cruise ship docks, passengers can take advantage of the closest airport/seaport connection in the world. Easy access by road to three major interstates and the Sunshine State's highway system makes Port Everglades the preferred gateway for passengers cruising from South Florida. And it's a convenient port for cruise lines because it's a mere half hour from the turning basin to the sea.

Port Everglades' invites the industry and the cruising public to "Step Aboard the Future." Saying that is one thing. Living up to it is another. Yet Port Everglades is clearly doing just that as it sets new standards for how ports operate.

Visit the facilities and you'll find 11 full-time and one part-time modern passenger terminals with roomy facilities for check-in. Mobile Telescopic Bridge Systems maximize passenger loading and unloading efficiency. Passenger garages inside the port can accommodate 4,500 vehicles and will soon be expanded to 6,200.

There's also a strong presence for customs, immigration and security in place. What does the future hold? An overhead, programmable people mover between airport and cruise terminals.

The twenty cruise lines that call Port Everglades home benefit from access to two full-time Cruise Service Managers who serve as on-site liaisons between port operations and cruise lines. No other port provides that service. One call to the harbormaster takes care of requests for tugs, line handling and marine services.

As busy as the Port is, there's still plenty of room to grow, especially in mid-week slots. That's why the Port is aggressively seeking short-cruise operations as well as European ships not tied to the standard 7-day U.S. cruise rotation. Being the straightest and deepest port in the Southeast United States also has its advantages. It makes Port Everglades the gateway to a lot of places for a lot of people, and a Port with a vision in place that truly holds water.

Note: this information is un-official and not to be relied upon as actual or factual. Any and all of the above information can change daily and we will not be responsible for any information contained herein. Please contact the port authority, cruise line or your professional cruise agent to verify any and all Cruise Port information.