Located along the southeastern coast of Florida, Port Everglades is a seaport tucked in between Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood that serves as the embarkation and disembarkation point for many Caribbean and Atlantic cruises. It’s one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, as well as one of the most active cargo ports in the US due to its access to shipping lanes.
From Port Everglades, travelers can easily explore Fort Lauderdale’s Venice-like string of canals and relax on the sandy beaches made famous in the spring break movies of the 1960s. Spend the afternoon at the beach, or take a walk or bike ride up the beachfront promenade. Stroll down the city’s Las Olas Boulevard, where you can window shop as you pass the many upscale boutiques. For those with more time, take advantage of the port’s southern Florida location with shore excursions to Everglades National Park or Miami.
The canal area and the most popular stretch of beach, starting at Las Olas Boulevard, is a 4-mile (7-kilometer) cab ride north from the cruise port. Many of the chain hotels offer shuttle service to and from the port, and many cruise lines offer transport to and from the nearby airports. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is adjacent to Port Everglades. But despite its proximity, travelers should still allot at least 45 minutes between flight arrival and cruise check-in time.
Since Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, allow yourself plenty of time before your ship’s departure to check in and pass through security. The currency is the US dollar. The upper level of the terminal offers electrical outlets and free Wi-Fi, and all eight terminals are air-conditioned.