Like many southeast Florida neighbors, Fort Lauderdale has long been revitalizing. In a state where gaudy tourist zones often stand aloof from workaday downtowns, Fort Lauderdale exhibits consistency at both ends of the 2-mile Las Olas corridor. The sparkling look results from upgrades both downtown and on the beachfront. Matching the downtown's innovative arts district, cafés, and boutiques is an equally inventive beach area, with hotels, cafés, and shops facing an undeveloped shoreline, and new resort-style hotels replacing faded icons of yesteryear. Despite wariness of pretentious overdevelopment, city leaders have allowed a striking number of glittering high-rises. Nostalgic locals and frequent visitors fret over the diminishing vision of sailboats bobbing in waters near downtown; however, Fort Lauderdale remains the yachting capital of the world, and the water toys don’t seem to be going anywhere.
Allow about 15 min each way from the terminal to the city center. Average time in port: 9 hours. 21 places to explore.
Ships calling here
35 ships
Upcoming sailings
1,343 sailings
Average time in port
About 9 hours
Lowest fare
From USD 233
Photo: Photograph by Karina Carvalho
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Fort Lauderdale cruise terminals. Allow about 15 min each way from the terminal to the city center.
3 cruise terminals
The assigned dock is one of Cruise Terminal 2, Cruise Terminal 4, Cruise Terminal 25 and varies by sailing.
Carry Photo ID and Boarding Documents for Port Security Gates
Port Everglades is an active security zone. When entering the port access gate by vehicle or on foot, all passengers aged 18 and over must show a government-issued photo ID (passport or driver's license) and cruise boarding pass.
About 10 Minutes from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood Airport (FLL)
Port Everglades cruise terminals are only about 4 miles (10–15 minutes by car) from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Uber, Lyft, or taxis provide a very quick transfer.
Water Taxi Pass for Stops Along the Intracoastal Waterway
Buy a 1-day Water Taxi pass linking downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach to hop on and off freely at about 10 major stops along the canals, including Las Olas, Riverwalk, and the beach.
About 9 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Ride-hailingAbout 15 minUSD 15~USD 25
Port Everglades Cruise Terminal → Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Request a ride at the designated ride-share (Uber/Lyft) and taxi pick-up area outside the terminal. Reach the airport terminals in 10–15 minutes via Eller Dr or Federal Highway (US-1).
TaxiAbout 15 minUSD 16~USD 24
Port Everglades Cruise Terminal → Las Olas Boulevard (Downtown)
Take a taxi or ride-share vehicle in front of the terminal via 17th St Causeway to Las Olas downtown to the north.
FerryAbout 30 minUSD 35
Fort Lauderdale Beach (Las Olas Marina) → Historic Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale
Board at a water taxi stop near the beach (such as Stop 7) and travel upriver on the New River to the Riverwalk stop in the city center.
Fort Lauderdale places to explore
Explore 20 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Sights
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
A contemporary art museum designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, exhibiting a large collection of works by William Glackens and postwar avant-garde art from the CoBrA movement.
A state park between the coastline and Intracoastal Waterway, with mangrove trails and opportunities for kayaking or paddleboarding in a freshwater lagoon.
South Florida's largest interactive science museum, with Florida ecosystems, a hurricane simulator, a large otter habitat, and a huge AutoNation IMAX theater.
A beach with soft white sand and emerald Atlantic waters, with a breezy pedestrian promenade along the white Wave Wall.
Visit
about 1 hr 30 min
Admission
Free
Sights
Historic Stranahan House Museum
Broward County's oldest building, built in 1901 and used as a Seminole trading post, post office, and residence; a landmark of Fort Lauderdale's founding history.
Visit
about 50 min
Admission
USD 12~USD 15
Interior visits are conducted only through guided tours, so check tour times in advance.
A historic beach mansion built in 1920, preserving a Florida barrier-island ecosystem, a lush orchid greenhouse, and gardens inhabited by wild squirrel monkeys.
Like many southeast Florida neighbors, Fort Lauderdale has long been revitalizing. In a state where gaudy tourist zones often stand aloof from workaday downtowns, Fort Lauderdale exhibits consistency at both ends of the 2-mile Las Olas corridor. The sparkling look results from upgrades both downtown and on the beachfront. Matching the downtown's innovative arts district, cafés, and boutiques is an equally inventive beach area, with hotels, cafés, and shops facing an undeveloped shoreline, and new resort-style hotels replacing faded icons of yesteryear. Despite wariness of pretentious overdevelopment, city leaders have allowed a striking number of glittering high-rises. Nostalgic locals and frequent visitors fret over the diminishing vision of sailboats bobbing in waters near downtown; however, Fort Lauderdale remains the yachting capital of the world, and the water toys don’t seem to be going anywhere.
Cruise lines calling here: 4 places
Celebrity CruisesHolland America LinePrincess CruisesRoyal Caribbean International