In short
Miami gives you choice all year: short Bahamas cruises and Caribbean weeks, a direct flight from Amsterdam and 15–20 minutes to the ship. Fort Lauderdale, an hour north, is for long winter voyages: the southern islands, the Panama Canal, South America. Summer sailings there are few, and the club's choice is smaller than the port's schedule. Both need an ESTA.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec
- Where ships go
- Caribbean and Bahamas
- Usual length
- 2–5 / 6–9 nights
- Round trips
- almost all
Which port suits you
You want plenty of choice in any month
Short Bahamas cruises and Caribbean weeks leave all year, and from November to April there are also 10- to 14-night voyages to the southern islands. A direct flight of about 10 hours from Amsterdam, 15–20 minutes from the airport to the terminal, and South Beach, Little Havana and Wynwood before or after.
Miami port guide →You want a long cruise in the middle of winter
From November to March many sailings of 10–14 nights or more leave here: to the southern islands, through the Panama Canal and to South America. The town is calmer than Miami, with its beach, canals and Las Olas Boulevard. Bear in mind: summer sailings are few, and the club's choice here is smaller than the port's full schedule.
Fort Lauderdale port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Miami | Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | A direct flight from Amsterdam all year, about 10 hours. From Belgium, usually with a change in Europe or in the US. | No direct flights. Most people fly direct to Miami and drive 45–60 minutes to the port, or fly with one change straight into Fort Lauderdale airport. |
| Airport and train | Miami airport (MIA) is about 13 km away: 15–20 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app. From Fort Lauderdale airport, 45–60 minutes. | Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL) is about 5 km away, some 10 minutes. From Miami airport, about 50 km and 45–60 minutes; or the Brightline train from downtown Miami, about half an hour, and a taxi to the port. |
| Terminals | PortMiami on Dodge Island. The big cruise lines have their own terminals, each with a letter — you will find it in your boarding documents. | Port Everglades: eight terminals in the north and middle of the port; the number is in your boarding documents. ID is checked at the port entrance. |
| From the terminal to town | The port faces downtown: 5–10 minutes by taxi to the Bayside waterfront, 15–25 to South Beach. | The port sits on the edge of Hollywood and Dania Beach: 10–15 minutes by taxi to the beach and Las Olas Boulevard. |
| Season | All year, with the most sailings from November to April, especially in December and March; fewer in summer, but still a good choice. | November to April, busiest in January. From May to October there are few sailings, mostly short ones. |
| Typical itineraries | The Bahamas in 3–5 nights and a week in the Eastern or Western Caribbean; from November to April 10–14 nights to the southern islands, and crossings to Europe in spring. | The Bahamas in 2–5 nights and a week in the Caribbean; in winter many 10- to 14-night or longer voyages to the southern islands, the Panama Canal and South America; crossings to Europe in March and April. |
| The city before and after | A big city: Art Deco South Beach, Little Havana, the murals of Wynwood, museums on the bay. | Calmer: a wide beach, canals full of yachts and a water taxi, Las Olas Boulevard, the Bonnet House estate. |
| Where to stay | Downtown and Bayside (5–10 minutes to the port), Brickell, South Beach or near the airport. | 17th Street by the port entrance (5–10 minutes), the beach along the A1A, Las Olas or near the airport. |
| Disembarkation day | Off the ship by about 9–10 am; do not book a flight before noon. Direct flights to Europe usually leave in the evening. | Off the ship by about 9–10 am. If you fly home from Miami, allow an hour or more to get to MIA. |
Neighbours, not twins
Ships from both ports head for the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and almost all sailings are round trips: you leave the ship where you joined it. So unlike in the Mediterranean, choosing the port means choosing the cruise. The journey, on the other hand, is almost the same: Miami airport serves both ports, and they are about an hour apart. The difference lies in cruise length, season and choice.
- Short and week-long cruises: Miami. It is Florida's busiest cruise port, with 3- to 5-night Bahamas cruises and weeks in the Eastern and Western Caribbean all year — a good first short cruise. Fort Lauderdale has short sailings too, but fewer of them.
- Long winter voyages: Fort Lauderdale. From November to March many sailings of 10–14 nights or more leave here: to Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados, through the Panama Canal and to South America. You can string them together and spend several weeks of the dark season at sea — more in our guide to wintering at sea. Miami has 10- to 14-night cruises in winter too, but they make up a smaller share.
- In spring, to Europe from both. In March and April Atlantic crossings leave both ports one way: you fly to Florida and sail home.
- In summer, rather Miami. From May to October only a few sailings leave Fort Lauderdale, mostly short ones, while Miami has fewer than in winter but still plenty. June to November is hurricane season at both ports: routes can change, so take out good travel insurance.
- Choice in the club. 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 from Fort Lauderdale is smaller than the port's full schedule. From Miami, the club's choice is much larger. The bars above show the sailings available in the club.
Comparing Miami with the port near Orlando? See our comparison of Miami and Port Canaveral.
One flight, two ports
Fly direct to Miami the day before your cruise. If your ship leaves from Fort Lauderdale, you can spend the night there by the beach or on 17th Street and reach the terminal in 5–15 minutes in the morning. Allow an hour or more to get back to Miami airport — but direct flights to Europe usually leave in the evening, so there is time. And check the port in your booking: Port Everglades is Fort Lauderdale, not Miami.
Common questions
Can I fly into Miami and sail from Fort Lauderdale?
Yes, and plenty of people do. Port Everglades is about 50 km from Miami airport: 45–60 minutes by car, longer at rush hour. Another option is the Brightline train from downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale, about half an hour, then a taxi to the port. Arrive the day before your cruise.
Which port is easier if I am flying from the Netherlands or Belgium?
Miami is slightly easier: there is a direct flight of about 10 hours from Amsterdam, and the terminals are 15–20 minutes from the airport. But Fort Lauderdale is only about an hour from the same airport, so it makes more sense to choose the port by the cruise you want.
Which port is better for a long winter cruise?
Usually Fort Lauderdale: from November to March many sailings of 10–14 nights or more leave from there, to the southern Caribbean islands, through the Panama Canal and to South America. Miami also has 10- to 14-night cruises to Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados in those months, but most of its sailings are short or week-long. In spring, crossings to Europe leave from both ports.
Why does the club have fewer Fort Lauderdale sailings than the port's schedule?
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, while from Miami it is much larger. Check the sailing you want in the club's search, or ask us.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Miami and 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.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club, and in Fort Lauderdale this is especially noticeable. Check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Miami and 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.