Making the most of Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its extensive canal system, is a popular cruise destination with beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and a plethora of outdoor activities.
By air -- Access to the large cruise terminal is easy and only about 2 miles (5 minutes) from the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Taxi rides to the cruise terminal (Port Everglades) are about $17.
Cruise line buses meet inbound flights for transfer to the port if you make arrangements in advance. Port Everglades is only about 30 minutes north of the Miami International Airport, so that is an additional option for cruisers.
Port Everglades is conveniently located close to downtown Fort Lauderdale. The distance from the cruise terminal to downtown Fort Lauderdale is approximately 4.8 kilometers (3 miles), which is about a 10-15 minute drive.
A taxi is about the only way to get to/away from the cruise terminal.
Parking is $15 a day. Alternative companies offer lower prices and use shuttles to get you to the port. At the Port Everglades exit off I–595
Port Everglades' new Heron Garage is using solar power and moving walkways to transport passengers from their cars to Cruise Terminals 2 and 4.
The port itself is located in a large industrial area.
Webcam
Reinvented as a family-friendly resort town, Fort Lauderdale's golden sand beaches and Venice-like waterways are the backdrops to this South Florida city's charm of relaxed sophistication.
Known as the luxury yachting capital of the world, mega yachts line the Intercoastal Canal and winding waterways, where astonishing wealth can be glimpsed by the casual explorer.
Its glittery neighbor, Miami, with its hot Latino beat has nothing on this waterfront showcase. Greater Fort Lauderdale extends 37km (23 miles) from Palm Beach in the north to Miami in the south, one continuous strip of beautiful beaches and over 480km (300 miles) of inland waterways.
Visit: Billie Swamp Safari on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.
Butterfly World is located in Tradewinds Park, Coconut Creek, Florida, United States. It opened in 1988, and is the largest butterfly park in the world, and the first park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The facility houses around 5000 live butterflies.
Getting around
Water taxis are a great way to get around, whether shopping or finding the best restaurant (all day passes just US$20).
Activities are centered around the beach, Riverwalk and Las Olas Boulevard are either walking or cruising distances apart. The city is safe and family-friendly.
Local buses and trains serve greater Fort Lauderdale and South Florida. To explore up or down the state's beautiful coastline and beaches, or take a day trip or longer to the Florida Keys, a hire car is needed.
Nearby places
Fort Lauderdale's 5km (3-mile) strip of pristine sandy beach blends with the urban streetscape of highway AIA known as Beach Boulevard, where open air cafes and bistros overlook waving palms and the sparkling Atlantic. Combine this with kilometers (miles) of lagoons and a city built around winding waterways connected by bridges and water taxis, and you'll understand its appeal to water lovers. Since the spring break crowd was banned in the 90s, the promenade is a magnet for runners, walkers, and cyclists, and the beach is one of Fort Lauderdale's foremost attractions. Energize with kite surfing, waterskiing, scuba diving offshore wrecks…
Food and shopping
Fort Lauderdale's downtown chic shopping street is the broad avenue of Las Olas, lined with fashion boutiques, art galleries, memorable restaurants and sidewalk cafes as it runs its elegant course parallel to the river. Here window-shoppers chat in a dozen languages while others rest their feet and watch the passing parade from the shady cafes.
For more frenetic shopping action head off about 10 miles (16km) west to Sunrise Boulevard and you can plunge into the Swap Shop Circus where more than 12-million shoppers a year sift through the goods at 800 open-air canopied vendor stalls selling brand name items at bargain prices. The circus also actually features circus shows and boasts the world's largest 13-screen drive-in movie theater.
Right nearby is Florida's largest retail and entertainment center, Sawgrass Mills, with almost two miles (three km) of mall housing more than 400 stores and kiosks. The Oasis food court here holds more than 30 popular eateries.
Antique-collectors enjoy the treasure-trove of the Dania Beach Historic Antique Shopping District, home to dozens of antique shops and the Antique Center Mall.
Money
The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.
Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.
Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.
Tipping in America is widely used and expected. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:
- Full-service restaurants: 15-20% (Often this is the only income of the wait(ress). Tips are either left in cash or you can add it to the credit card slip) Note: Few restaurants add an automatic service charge, in which case it is up to you how much you tip extra. Check your bill!
- Taxi drivers, hairdressers, other personal services: 10-15%
- Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
- Bellhops: $1-2 per bag ($3-5 minimum regardless)
- Hotel doorman: $1 per bag (if they assist), $1 for calling a cab
- Tour guides: Depending on tour length, size, and overall quality of guided tours; for half day tours or less $5-10 per person, for longer tours $10-20 per person.
- Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
- Housekeeping in hotels: $1-2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
- Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, possibly more for very large orders
Staying connected
Terminal 18 is the largest cruise terminal in Port Everglades and offers free WiFi.
Broward County hosts several free wireless Internet "hotspots" the section of Las Olas Boulevard between Andrews Ave and 10th Ave., all of the county's libraries and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Emergency 911
Opening Hours and
In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays - generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open (with the exception of the most important holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day where stores are generally closed)