Cruise Passengers

Welcome to the Cruise Capital of the World

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Port Everglades work together to ensure that you have a pleasant experience before and after your cruise. Here are some tips on how to make your travel experience as pleasant as possible.

Hotels

Finding a Hotel

If you want to stay at a hotel, go to Visit Lauderdale for an extensive listing of hotels. There are many economy hotels within five miles of the airport, and several offer free shuttle service to both the airport and the seaport.

1. Select Hotels in the left menu
2. Select Airport Hotels under the “Filter Your Search” box
3. Select any other options you would like to use

Another option is to use MapQuest to find hotels.

1. Enter our address (100 Aviation Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315)
2. Click on the lodging icon
3. Click on the lodging type (hotel/motel, B&B, etc.)

At The Seaport

Baggage Transport From the Port to the Airport

Some airlines have arrangements with baggage companies to transport your baggage directly from your cabin to your airplane. Contact your airline for additional information. The advantages of using this service include:

Freedom to explore the area, go shopping, or relax on a nearby beach before your flight
More mobility and time, especially for those with departures later in the day
Peace of mind so you won't worry about your luggage while waiting for your flight

Remember 3-1-1

Any liquids in bottles more than 3.4 ounces, including alcohol and perfumes, are not allowed in carry-on baggage. TSA requires that liquids, gels, and aerosols be less than 3.4 ounces in a one-quart plastic zip-top bag. Place liquids over 3.4 ounces in your checked baggage and ensure they are safely packed. Visit the TSA website for more information.

Declare Larger Liquids

TSA will allow medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces. These are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. TSA Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.

Shore Excursions

Avoid arriving at the airport too early for your flight. Take advantage of the shore excursions offered by your cruise line. The earliest some airlines will check baggage is two to three hours before a departure. You may experience longer than normal check-in lines, especially with morning departures. Contact your airline for check-in times.

At FLL Airport

Checking Baggage

Due to peak cruise travel activity with multiple ships in South Florida ports, airlines at FLL may only be able to check your bags up to two hours before your scheduled flight. This is necessary to ensure that all passengers receive their luggage at their final destination. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding.

If you have several hours to spare before your airline’s required check-in time, consider exploring nearby points of interest in Greater Fort Lauderdale to avoid arriving too early at FLL.

Earlier Flights

The airlines discourage passengers to “standby" for earlier flights on cruise days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) because flights are booked to capacity. On cruise days, many returning passengers arrive at FLL at 8:30 a.m. for flights scheduled throughout the day. This may result in crowded terminals and limited seating at the airport.

Baggage Storage

Public Baggage Storage is available in all terminals. For more information, call 954-359-5505.

For cruise passengers, some airlines offer baggage check-in at the port for the return flight. This gives you the freedom to explore the greater Fort Lauderdale area or the airport. Contact your airline to see if they offer this service.

Car Rentals

If you have a late departure, consider renting a car and exploring beautiful South Florida instead of spending the day at the airport. The Rental Car Center (RCC) is conveniently located across from Terminal 1. These car rental companies are located in the RCC:

When To Go Through Security

You must have a boarding pass and your baggage checked in with your airline before you can go through security. The earliest some airlines will check baggage is two to three hours prior to the scheduled departure. Contact your airline for specific check-in times.

Leaving The Airport During A Layover

Depending on the time of your layover, you may leave the airport. Remember to leave enough travel time back to the Airport and time to go through the security checkpoint.

Consider renting a car and exploring beautiful South Florida. The airport’s Rental Car Center is conveniently located across from Terminal 1 with 12 rental car companies. Another option is to take a taxi to the beach, mall, or gambling location. For more information on local attractions, go to Visit Lauderdale.

Transportation to Port Everglades

Shuttles

There are no free shuttles to the port.

Travel Time to Port Everglades

It's about a 10-minute ride from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port Everglades.

Transportation Options to Port Everglades

If you pre-arrange for the cruise line’s transportation, a cruise line representative will meet you in the baggage claim area. You cannot use the cruise ship’s transportation unless you made a reservation prior to arriving at the airport.

If you didn’t pre-arrange transportation, there are two options: shared ride and taxi cab.

Visit the Ground Transportation Desks near the baggage claim area of each terminal to find out about door-to-door, shared-ride, and other transportation options from FLL.
Taxi Cab - Taxi cabs are also available at $12 (estimated) based on the meter reading. Cabs accept up to five people for the fare stated on the taxi’s meter. They also accept credit cards. Please note: Taxi fares are regulated by law in Broward County.

Read a more detailed description of the transportation options, wait times, rates, and where to find the transportation podiums.

Transportation to PortMiami

Travel Time

Travel time to the PortMiami is about 45 minutes without traffic. We recommend allowing at least 90 minutes for travel, especially during morning and evening rush hour.

Transportation Options to the Port of Miami

There are three transportation options from FLL to PortMiami: ride-share, taxi cab, and Tri-Rail commuter train.

1. Visit the Ground Transportation Desks near the baggage claim area of each terminal to find out about door-to-door, ride-share, and other transportation options from FLL.

2. Taxi Cab - Taxi cabs are also available from FLL. The fee will be about $67. Cabs accept up to five people for the fare stated on the taxi’s meter. They also accept credit cards. Please note: Taxi fares are regulated by law in Broward County.

3. Train - Tri-Rail (commuter train) does not offer direct service to the PortMiami but gets you close. You would have to take a taxi from the Miami train station to PortMiami. For more information, call 800-874-7245.

Tri-Rail provides free shuttle buses from the FLL terminals to the Tri-Rail station just a few miles from the airport.

Shuttle bus stops are located on the lower level:

At the west end of Terminal 1
At the east end of Terminals 4