Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades is a popular starting point for many cruises, and with good reason! However, navigating transportation options to the port can feel overwhelming. This guide simplifies things, laying out all your choices to get you to your cruise ship with ease.
Whether you’re driving your own car and need parking, flying in and require an airport shuttle, or considering a hotel with parking options, we’ll cover all the bases. This way, you can compare and choose the most convenient option for your upcoming adventure.
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Fort Lauderdale is located about 30 miles north of Miami on interstates 75 and 95 (I-75 and I-95) and these are the routes most drivers will use to get to the port area. Only if you are coming in from further south will you come in on the famous Highway 1 from Key West.
Driving times from nearby major cities are:
- Fort Myers: 2.25 hours (140 miles)
- Orlando: 3.5 hours (220 miles)
- Jacksonville: 5 hours (325 miles)
- Tampa: 3.75 hours (265 miles)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (Code: FLL)
Just 3 miles from Port Everglades, if you can fly into here, your transit to the cruise terminal will be quick and easy.
Miami International Airport (Code: MIA)
The biggest airport close to Fort Lauderdale is in Miami. An American Airlines hub, Miami International is located in the centre of Miami and thirty miles south of the cruise terminal.
Public transport is not really an option from Fort Lauderdale Airport. Whilst you can catch a bus from the rental car
Public transport can take you from Miami to Fort Lauderdale Airport, reducing the cost of one of the options below.
The fastest option is the RedCoach which leaves regularly and takes about 45 minutes to get from Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale airport. It costs between $21 and $41 depending on the time you need to travel. Click here for more information.
For Fort Lauderdale Airport, a taxi will not be expensive as the port is just a few miles away. Picking up a taxi from the taxi stand at the airport is probably easiest.
For Miami Airport, we advise smaller groups of cruise passengers to use one of the cheaper options available. But if you are a larger group, prices can be competitive with other options. If you want the luxury of a private transfer, the companies below can accommodate you.
Offering minibuses for up to 14, Airport City Transfer should be able to meet your transport needs.
Kiwi Taxi can provide private transfers for between 1 and 16 cruise passengers
READ MORE: Looking for more information to plan your visit to Fort Lauderdale? Check it out here!
With the Fort Lauderdale Airport so close to the cruise terminal, a shuttle probably won’t be your best option. Super Shuttle can sell you a return transfer for around $60, but it will actually be in a taxi!
From Miami Airport Metro Shuttle Service can get 2 – 9+ passengers to Port Everglades for between $14 and $25 each way.
Renting a car for just a few hours is our favourite way to get to the cruise terminal from the airport. Once we discovered the option and tried it, we found it to be the perfect solution. As long as you don’t mind driving, possibly on the “wrong” side of the road for you, it gives you a private transfer that leaves on your schedule and can be surprisingly competitive with other transportation options.
Given the proximity of Fort Lauderdale Airport and Port Everglades, we would only recommend hiring a car if planning to head out and see the sights, otherwise, it probably doesn’t make sense to use this option. If you do rent a car, you could pay as little as $37 for less than a day’s rental.
But, if you are flying into Miami, this option could make a lot of sense. A small car can be rented for as little as $55 for less than a day, allowing you to drive yourself to the port.
Check out the best deals with our car hire partner Skyscanner.
With the cruise port right in the heart of the city and Fort Lauderdale airport just minutes away, it’s worth looking at a hotel which is close to one and provides a shuttle service to the other. Check out our Fort Lauderdale hotels section for more information.
Paying the cruise company to get from the airport to the ship is rarely good value, especially if more than one or two people need a transfer. But, it does make the transfer easier as you’ve booked everything through the cruise line and therefore can rely on them to get you to and/or from the airport.
Looking for more information to plan your visit to Fort Lauderdale?
You may find these articles helpful.
Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Guide
Where to Stay in Fort Lauderdale with ‘Park & Cruise’ Deals
Fort Lauderdale Cruise Parking Options
Things to See and Do in Fort Lauderdale
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