Cruise ship ports in Florida are plentiful, with major ports in three of the state’s largest cities—Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral. These three ports serve as the starting point for many of the most popular Caribbean cruises. In addition to these larger ports, there are smaller ports throughout the state providing access to a variety of destinations from the Bahamas and Mexico to Bermuda and beyond.
The Port of Miami is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Located on Dodge Island in Biscayne Bay, it serves more than five million passengers each year on more than 200 ships from 40 different cruise lines. Most of the major cruise lines have large fleets that operate out of Miami, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line. The port offers easy access to nearby attractions like South Beach and Coconut Grove as well as convenient transfer services to Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral.
Fort Lauderdale is home to Port Everglades—the second busiest port in Florida—and is a major hub for cruises departing from Florida’s east coast. Cruise ships depart from here for all types of destinations including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, and Bermuda. Passengers disembarking at Port Everglades can take advantage of nearby attractions such as Las Olas Boulevard with its shops and restaurants or explore downtown Fort Lauderdale with its beachfront promenade.
Port Canaveral is located on Florida’s east coast about an hour’s drive from Orlando and is a popular departure point for cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands. Both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International have large fleets operating out of this port with many 3-5 day trips available as well as longer voyages up to 14 days long. Passengers disembarking at Port Canaveral can take advantage of nearby attractions such as Kennedy Space Center or Cocoa Beach Pier before or after their voyage.
Conclusion:
In total, there are three major cruise ship ports in Florida – Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral – plus several smaller ports throughout the state providing access to a variety of destinations around the world. With so many options available, travelers can easily find a cruise that works best for them when departing from one of these Florida ports!