In short
Fort Lauderdale is South Florida's second big cruise port: about 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL) to the terminals, 45–60 from Miami. There is no direct flight from the Netherlands; most people fly to Miami. Most cruises sail from November to April, many of them long voyages to the southern islands and Panama. You need an ESTA.
Port at a glance
Fort Lauderdale
USA · Florida
- Where ships go
- Caribbean and Bahamas
- Usual length
- 6–9 or 10–14 nights
- Terminal
- Port Everglades: eight terminals, the number is on your boarding documents
- Getting there
- About 10 minutes from FLL airport, 45–60 from Miami
Good to know: Dutch and Belgian citizens need an ESTA travel authorisation to enter the US — one for everyone, children included, at least 72 hours before you fly.
Pick a month in the cruise finder →Miami or Fort Lauderdale? →Why Fort Lauderdale
- The port is next to the airport. Fort Lauderdale airport is only about 5 km from the terminals — one of the shortest trips from plane to ship in Florida.
- Long winter cruises. Besides a week in the Caribbean, ships often leave here for 10 to 14 nights or more: to the southern islands, through the Panama Canal or to South America. A good way to spend a large part of the winter at sea.
- A relaxed city by the ocean. A wide palm-lined beach, Las Olas Boulevard and hundreds of kilometres of canals full of yachts — there is a reason Fort Lauderdale is called the "Venice of America".
- Miami next door. You can take a direct flight to Miami and be at the port within an hour, and spend a day or two in both cities before or after the cruise.
Where cruises from Fort Lauderdale go
Most sailings are round trips: you leave from Fort Lauderdale and come back to Fort Lauderdale. In spring some ships leave for good — to Europe or to the Pacific. The main options:
| Route | Usual length | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas and short cruises | 2–5 nights | All year, most in winter | Nassau, the cruise lines' private islands, Key West — a good first cruise or an add-on to a holiday in Florida |
| Eastern and Western Caribbean | 6–9 nights | November to April | To the east, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and St Maarten; to the west, Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Jamaica |
| Southern Caribbean and the Panama Canal | 10–14 nights | November to March | Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados and the Lesser Antilles, with a call at the Panama Canal on some sailings. If you want to start right in the southern Caribbean, look at cruises from San Juan too |
| Atlantic crossings and long voyages | 15 nights or longer | Winter and spring, crossings to Europe in March and April | Long voyages to South America, through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, and one way to Europe — you can sail home |
Based on cruise line schedules for 2026–2027. Ships, ports and dates change — always check the specific sailing.
Which season to choose
The season opens
From November there are suddenly plenty of sailings: Caribbean weeks, short trips to the Bahamas and the first long voyages. Christmas and New Year cruises sell out first.
Cruises in December →The peak and the long voyages
January has the most sailings of the year, and many of them are 10 to 14 nights or longer. Around 25°C by day, dry, with cool evenings.
Cruises in January →End of season and the way to Europe
The last Caribbean weeks, one-way Atlantic crossings and voyages through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. Fly to Florida and you can come home by sea.
Cruises in April →Summer: a modest choice
Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and only a few sailings — mostly short ones to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. June to November is hurricane season: routes can change.
Cruises in July →Getting to the terminal
Port Everglades lies where Fort Lauderdale meets the towns of Hollywood and Dania Beach. It has eight cruise terminals in two parts of the port, Northport and Midport, and some cruise lines always use the same one. Your boarding documents show your terminal number. The port is secured: at the entrance, staff check the ID of adult passengers, so keep your passport to hand in the car.
- From the Netherlands and Belgium. There are no direct flights to Fort Lauderdale from Amsterdam or Brussels. The easiest option is the direct flight from Amsterdam to Miami — about 10 hours — and then a taxi or transfer to the port. Alternatively, fly with one change straight to Fort Lauderdale. Arrive the day before: after the flight and US passport control, boarding the same day is an unnecessary risk.
- From Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL). The terminals are about 5 km away: roughly 10 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app. Many cruise lines also sell their own airport transfer.
- From Miami airport (MIA). About 50 km by motorway: 45–60 minutes by car, longer at rush hour. There is also the Brightline train: about half an hour from downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale, then a taxi to the port.
- By car. There are multi-storey car parks at the terminals, charged per day. If you hired a car, it is easier to return it at FLL and take a taxi to the port — it is only 10 minutes.
The night before: where to stay
After a long journey with a change and a six-hour time difference, a night in Florida is not a luxury but insurance: in the morning you head calmly to the port instead of watching the arrivals board.
The 17th Street area
Hotels along 17th Street by the port entrance, many with a shuttle to the terminals. In the morning the ship is 5–10 minutes away, with restaurants and shops nearby.
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Hotels along the A1A ocean road, a wide beach and evening walks by the water. The port is 10–15 minutes away by taxi.
Las Olas and downtown
A boulevard of cafés and galleries, the Riverwalk along the New River and canals lined with yachts. The port is 10–15 minutes away by taxi.
Near the airport
Plenty of hotels with an airport shuttle. In the morning the port is about 10 minutes away — handy if your flight lands late in the evening.
If you have half a day in Fort Lauderdale
Everything below is close to the port, so it fits in before boarding or after you disembark:
- The city beach. A wide strip of sand and palm trees along the A1A. From the southern end you can watch the ships sail out of the harbour into the ocean.
- Las Olas Boulevard. The city's main street for a stroll: cafés, shops and galleries, with the Riverwalk close by.
- The water taxi. The city is criss-crossed by canals lined with villas and yachts; the water taxi runs along them, stopping at the beach, restaurants and the Riverwalk.
- Bonnet House. A 1920s house museum in a subtropical garden between the ocean and a lagoon, a couple of minutes from the beach.
Disembarkation day
The ship arrives early in the morning. Every passenger goes through US border control on the way out — usually quickly, with a facial photo — and disembarkation in groups runs until about 9 or 10 am. Fort Lauderdale airport is only 10 minutes away, but do not book a flight before noon: the taxi queue and airport security take time. If you fly home from Miami, allow an hour or more to get to MIA — direct flights to Europe usually leave in the evening.
Practical tips
- An ESTA for everyone. Dutch and Belgian citizens do not need a visa, but they do need an ESTA travel authorisation, children included. Apply on the US government website rather than through an agency, and in good time: after certain trips, Cuba for example, you cannot get an ESTA and need a visa. If you hold another passport, check the entry rules for your passport. Documents and visas →
- Insurance with good cover. Medical care in the US is very expensive, and during hurricane season a sailing may be moved or changed. About travel insurance →
- Routes can change. If a storm is in the way, the cruise line sails around it and swaps ports — that is normal practice. When a port is cancelled →
- Winter at sea. Long voyages from Fort Lauderdale are easy to combine back to back, so you can spend several weeks of the dark season on board. Wintering at sea →
- Time difference. Fort Lauderdale is six hours behind the Netherlands and Belgium. Go to bed early the first evening — jet lag passes faster on a cruise than you might think.
Or start from Miami?
An hour's drive south is Florida's busiest cruise port. There is a direct flight from Amsterdam, and the terminals are 15–20 minutes from the airport. Cruises from Miami →
Common questions
Which cruises leave from Fort Lauderdale?
Mostly week-long Caribbean cruises and short 2- to 5-night cruises to the Bahamas. From November to March there are many voyages of 10 to 14 nights or longer — to the southern islands, the Panama Canal and South America — and in spring one-way Atlantic crossings to Europe.
How do I get to Fort Lauderdale from the Netherlands?
There is no direct flight. The easiest option is the direct flight from Amsterdam to Miami, about 10 hours, and then 45–60 minutes by road to the port. You can also fly with one change straight to Fort Lauderdale airport, which is about 10 minutes from the terminals.
Which terminal does my ship leave from?
Port Everglades has eight cruise terminals in the northern and middle parts of the port. Your boarding documents show your terminal number. Staff check ID at the port entrance, so keep your passport to hand.
Do I need a US visa for a cruise from Fort Lauderdale?
Dutch and Belgian citizens do not need a visa, but they do need an ESTA travel authorisation — one for everyone, children included. Apply in good time, at least 72 hours before you fly. If you hold another passport, check the entry rules for your passport.
Where should I stay the night before a cruise from Fort Lauderdale?
The hotels along 17th Street by the port entrance are closest. For the beach, choose a hotel on the A1A; for restaurants and strolling, Las Olas. If you land late, stay near the airport: the port is about 10 minutes away.
When is the best time to cruise from Fort Lauderdale?
November to April: dry, around 25°C by day, the most sailings, and the time when the long voyages leave. In summer there are few sailings, it is hotter with more thunderstorms, and June to November is hurricane season.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Fort Lauderdale that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Ships from many cruise lines sail from Port Everglades, and not all of them can be booked through the club, so the club's choice here is smaller than the port's full schedule. Check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Fort Lauderdale dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.