Port Everglades - How busy is busy?

[nicman71]

I am sailing out of Port Everglades on January 14th, and when I mentioned to a co-worker that the hotels seem very booked up, she showed me the cruisecal site. They show 10 ships ( 3 of HALs) in port that day. Will this cause traffic/taxi problems or just another day at Port Everglades. Is there a 'good' time to plann on arriving?

[LolaWiz]

To me, port everglades always seems busy and the hotels usually do book up pretty quickly, but even when there were many ships in port, things are pretty well organized.
Traffic might be a bit more congested, but even then, its never BAD.
I would suggest getting there around 11:45-noon. We have found its a good time because most folks leaving are already gone and the line to the terminal, etc is not so bad then.
Others have told me they got there later and it was even less crowded.

[ArtM]

10 is on the high side for Fort Lauderdale. However, the place is pretty well organized.

However, the number in port on the day you [B]return[B] might be more of a concern. Even then, it is not Port Everglades so much as transportation to the Ft Lauderdale airport and check-in congestion there.

Art

[amusea]

I have sailed from Port Everglades more than a dozen times and have never experienced a day when there were ten ships in port. I checked the cruise calendar site. The preceding Sunday there are six ships leaving and the following Sunday there are seven ships leaving. I would guess that ten is absolute maximum and would put a strain on all facilities.
Since the initiation of increased security, there are manned booths at all entrances to the port and they check passports and tickets. At first this created huge traffic jams but things are more efficient now. If you are driving to the ship to drop off luggage you might encounter long lines at these security points. If you are on a shuttle bus from a satellite parking lot, hotel or rental car company, these busses seem to know the shortest lines and the access to the port is easier.
I would think that the height of congestion is from 11 AM to noon. You might try arriving at the port a few hours later to avoid the crush.

[bepsf]

Pretty much just another day at Fort Lauderdale - they know how to deal w/ that kind of traffic, tho if you don't like long lines, etc. I'd suggest leaving the hotel for the ship @ 1pm...

[Randyk47]

We typically don't try to go the port in Ft Lauderdale until after 12 AM. Partly because as antsy as I am to get to the ship my wife is every more resistant about getting up early her first day of vacation. :o Anyhow, that usually means we arrive at the terminal between 12:30 and 1:30 PM. I can't remember the last time we waited to get on a ship, we normally walk right on having let the early morning crowd get checked in and on board. One of things I do actually enjoy about a crowded port is what I call the parade of ships in the late afternoon/early evening. It's quite something to see 7-10 major cruise ships leave Port Everglades one ship after another. :)

[nicman71]

It sounds like the consensous is that I have nothing to worry about. I do think it will be fun to see all of the other ships. I'll be on the Westerdam but I see the Amsterdam and Maasdam will be there too.

I think ArtM is probably right in that it will be a bigger deal for the people returning and disembarking that day. Getting to and thru the airport could be a zoo.

[bepsf]

We typically don't try to go the port in Ft Lauderdale until after 12 AM. Partly because as antsy as I am to get to the ship my wife is every more resistant about getting up early her first day of vacation. :o Anyhow, that usually means we arrive at the terminal between 12:30 and 1:30 PM. I can't remember the last time we waited to get on a ship, we normally walk right on having let the early morning crowd get checked in and on board. One of things I do actually enjoy about a crowded port is what I call the parade of ships in the late afternoon/early evening. It's quite something to see 7-10 major cruise ships leave Port Everglades one ship after another. :)


Your wife has the right idea...
...there's always something left to eat in the Lido.
;)