Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades keeps breaking its own records. For the third year running, the south Florida port hosted a record number of cruise passengers, with more than 5.38 million guests passing through during 2026 — numbers that put it firmly among the busiest cruise ports on the planet.
Behind the scenes, there's a new structure too. With Broward County commissioners approving the FY27 budget and the season now underway, the port has created a dedicated Cruise Services Division led by Martin Jackson, previously assistant director of the Cruise Services Section and a Port Everglades staffer since January 2025. Port CEO Joseph Morris says the restructuring is meant to keep the cruise business focused on day-to-day guest service while planning for growth from both existing and new cruise brands. Jackson's own pitch is simple: operational consistency earns trust.
There's also some art to go with the ships. The port has released its 2027-28 Cruise Guide, with cover artwork called Florida Paradise by Romero Britto, the Brazilian-born pop artist and South Florida resident known for his bold, colourful style. A print of the piece has gone up on the southeast side of the Palm Garage, so you may see it before you even board.
The upcoming season looks busy. In November, Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas arrives to homeport for the 2027 season, while Orient Express Sailing Yachts makes its Port Everglades debut and Crystal Symphony takes up homeporting duties as well. In total, nine cruise lines and 40 different ships will sail from the port this season: Celebrity, Cunard, Crystal, Disney, Holland America, Orient Express, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Viking Ocean Cruises. That's a genuinely wide spread — from Disney's family ships and Royal Caribbean's mega-resorts at sea to Cunard's more traditional ocean-liner style and Viking's adults-only, destination-focused sailings.
Cruisers departing from Terminal 18 will notice changes. The terminal has been repainted ocean blue, with the embark hall and VIP lounge refreshed, and the port added more than 850 parking spaces next door, bringing the total there to 6,386. If you're driving to the port, that's useful — Terminal 18 parking has historically filled up fast on peak turnaround days.
Why does this matter if you're planning a cruise? Homeport choice shapes the whole trip. Port Everglades sits right next to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, making fly-in embarkation unusually painless, and it's a short drive from Miami's attractions and the beaches of Fort Lauderdale itself. With new ships arriving, more parking, and a refreshed terminal, the practical side of sailing from here should be smoother than ever. It's worth watching fare levels too — heavy competition from nine lines based at one port often means deals, especially on repositioning sailings at the start and end of the season.
Whether you're after a big-ship family holiday or a quieter luxury voyage, chances are a ship sailing from Port Everglades this season fits the bill.
Story via Cruise Industry News.
