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Is your cruise leaving out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida? It wouldn’t be surprising if that were the case. Located in south Florida, Port Everglades is one of the three busiest cruise homeports in the world.
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser just leaving from this port for the first time, here’s what you need to know about the Port Everglades terminals, for the easiest embarkation and most thorough cruise planning possible.
Welcoming nearly 4 million passengers passing through eight cruise terminals, Port Everglades works with 10 cruise lines and one ferry service.
The cruise port proudly touts a few marks of distinction, including that it’s the only seaport in the United States adjacent to an international airport and it was also the first cruise port in the United States to resume sailings after the Covid-19 pandemic-related shutdowns.
Cruisers find lots to love about Port Everglades, like the free Wi-Fi in all terminals, as well as the convenient location. There’s also the free cell phone waiting lots for pick-up, and efficient drop-off areas, as well as multiple parking garages. However, cruise lines have a lot to love, too.
That’s probably why Disney Cruise Line is now sailing year-round from Port Everglades, with a second seasonal ship on the docket for 2025, and with a completely revamped, Disney-fied Cruise Terminal 4.
Additionally, Crystal Cruises plans to homeport from Port Everglades with Crystal Serenity starting in November 2024, and Viking and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are likewise extending their seasons at the port.
Know which terminal your cruise is departing from? Then here’s what you’ll need to know about the experience you can expect.
Updated in 2017 thanks to a multimillion-dollar investment from Princess’ parent company Carnival Corp., now, cruise passengers enjoy Ocean Medallion service both before and after their cruise, right from the terminal. The service’s capabilities can help speed up the embarkation and ship loading process.
Other new features added to the terminal in 2017 include Carnival’s MedallionNet WiFi access. The terminal also houses an OceanView cinema, which plays Carnival-produced travel programming, and the terminal’s second floor offers views of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway. Amenities include a VIP area and vending machines.
To reach the terminal, drive to 1801 SE 20th Street, Fort Lauderdale, for drop off, or park in the Heron Parking Garage and then head to the fifth floor, where you’ll find an elevated passenger bridge that will take you into the terminal.
The terminal, which Disney Cruise Line operates, just opened in 2023 and boasts a colorful “Finding Nemo” theme, with character murals and under-the-sea vibes.
The new-build terminal is also LEED Silver certified and, over the two stories, offers seating for more than 500 cruisers and a VIP experience on the second floor.
Other amenities include free WiFi, vending machines, and three sets of restrooms, including four family restrooms.
Located at 1800 SE 20th Street, Fort Lauderdale, there’s a covered drop-off area for those passengers not parking. For those who are, park in the port’s Heron Parking Garage.
Royal Caribbean exclusively uses Terminal 18. Terminal 18 is quite massive, with nearly a hundred check-in stations. Terminal 18 was expanded in 2009, to accommodate Oasis of the Seas and the following Oasis-class ships.
Before that, the terminal was just 67,500 square feet. At the time of completion, it was the largest cruise terminal in the world built to serve a single ship at a time.
What are some of the standout features of this terminal when it first opened, beyond its size? For starters, the 4,000-square-foot skylight in the ceiling.
Then, of course, there’s what the skylight illuminates: a 3,000-square-foot work of art inlaid into the terminal’s floor. Amenities here include free WiFi and vending machines.
Located at 1901 SE 32nd St., Hollywood, Florida, parking for Terminal 18 can be found in the port’s Parking Lot #18 and Parking Lot #19.
While there’s not much to say about Terminal 19 at the moment apart from it caters to Holland America Line, there are big plans in the works for this terminal.
As part of the Port Everglades 20-Year Master/Vision Plan, released in 2018, a new finger pier at the port’s Berth 19 will be created, which will lead to the redevelopment of Cruise Terminal 19.
The redevelopment will expand the terminal so it can serve two ships on the new pier. A new parking structure to serve the terminal will also be built. This construction project is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2038. For now, though, amenities include a VIP area, free WiFi and vending machines.
The terminal is located at 2019 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale. If you need parking, you can find it in Parking Lot #19, as well as the port’s Palm Parking Garage.
Terminal 21 is currently used by both Holland American Line and Princess Cruises (so, if you’re sailing with either one of these cruise lines, be sure to double-check your itinerary, so you know if you should go to Terminal 21 or one of the other terminals that these two cruise lines use). On a smaller scale, Balearia Caribbean also uses the terminal.
While nothing has been announced just yet, in early 2024, a spokesperson for the port said that they were in talks with Princess to revamp Terminal 21, creating larger, world-class facilities.
While currently, the cruise line can bring any of its vessels to the terminal, an upgraded terminal is required to fit larger ships. Currently, amenities in the terminal include free WiFi, a VIP area and vending machines.
The terminal is located at 2021 Eller Dr., Hollywood, Florida, and parking can be found right next door at the Palm Parking Garage.
Terminal 25 is exclusively used by Celebrity Cruises.
Originally built in 1992, in 2017, the port announced that it would invest $100 million-plus to renovate Terminal 25 as part of an agreement with Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises’ parent company. When the terminal reopened in 2018, it marked the port’s largest single investment in a cruise terminal to date.
Part of the reason why the port wanted to make this investment? So it could cater to newer, larger cruise ships, such as Celebrity Edge, which homeported at Port Everglades starting in late 2018. Royal Caribbean cruise brands enjoy preferential berthing rights until Sept. 2026.
Today, the cruise terminal still retains a lot of its modern feel, so it’s not nearly as outdated as some of the other terminals at the port. Amenities include free WiFi and a special VIP area for suite guests, where you’ll enjoy a lounge with refreshments as you wait to embark.
The terminal is located at 2025 Eller Dr., Hollywood, Florida, and parking is available at the Palm Parking Garage.
The terminal, which is mainly used by Holland America Line, was last renovated in the early 2010s, when a handful of terminals — 2, 19, 21 and 26 — were all being renovated as part of a $54 million project.
The changes included new capabilities for simultaneous embarkation and debarkation, larger luggage halls, covered outdoor waiting areas and aesthetic upgrades.
However, a lot can happen in a decade and, now, this terminal is a little lackluster. Still, amenities include vending machines, free WiFi and a VIP area.
The terminal is located at 2026 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, and parking is available at the Palm Parking Garage.
As of late 2023, the port noted that it was in preliminary discussions with Royal Caribbean to renovate Terminal 29 for Celebrity Cruises sailings.
If those renovations were to occur, they would include a parking garage next door and a new office building for port staff. As of now, amenities include free WiFi and vending machines.
The terminal is located at 2200 SE 35th Street, Fort Lauderdale, and parking is available at the Palm Parking Garage. Free shuttle service is provided between the garage and the cruise terminal.
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