Where to watch ships leave in Ft. Lauderdale

We are booked on the Allure in November and are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the day before. We would like to watch the Oasis and all the other ships leave port the night before we leave. What is a good spot to go and watch?

We are booked on the Allure in November and are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the day before. We would like to watch the Oasis and all the other ships leave port the night before we leave. What is a good spot to go and watch?

The 17th St. bridge.

We are booked on the Allure in November and are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the day before. We would like to watch the Oasis and all the other ships leave port the night before we leave. What is a good spot to go and watch?

The beach/rocks along the north shore of the channel :)

We are booked on the Allure in November and are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the day before. We would like to watch the Oasis and all the other ships leave port the night before we leave. What is a good spot to go and watch?

The most comfortable place is John Lloyd Park..there is a $6 charge to get in ( per car, not pp), but , you get to see the ships go RIGHT by you & you can wave at all the passengers from their balconies or from the top decks..also there is a nice beach there & facilities..you can bring chairs & a cooler...ships leave at 5 ( at least both RCI ships do..)..after you get thru the gate, go to the LAST area called the "jetty"..they have just finished a long jetty you can walk on last year ..it is VERY cool..you can walk 200-300 yards all the way down and watch the ships go by...GREAT PLACE to see the ships, relax & enjoy the beach...just do GOOGLE search for John Lloyd Park in Dania Beach...make sure you go to the last beach access area, if not, your view will be minimal ....

Big Al

North side of the inlet by the rocks is preferable to John U Lloyd park. New buildings were erected that spoil the park view until the ships are passing you. You have a better vantage point from the north side of the inlet. Also, you are more likely to be staying closer to north side of the inlet than in Dania Beach. You CAN walk to Fort Lauderdale side, getting to Dania is a problem without a car.

Beach access is free on the north side; you will have to feed a meter for parking. Parking is South Ocean Drive/SE 20th street. Public beach access is APPROXIMATELY 2120 S Ocean Blvd. The walk from car to the rocks should be about 15 minutes.

You end up at the rocks/basin in the lower part of the right side of this photo. The new NOVA Research buildings that spoil the view from John U Lloyd are not shown in this photo.

We like John LLoyd as well. No rocks to climb and you're really close.

Here is a shot of the jetty you can walk out on.

Here is Liberty

And Oasis

Here is how to get there from 17th St. We stayed at the Hyatt 66.

This is a good walking route, all sidewalks.

Very close to 1.0 miles.

We ate dinner at the Oasis Cafe and all 3 ships that were in port sailed close that we got a great view from our outdoor table.

We like John LLoyd as well. No rocks to climb and you're really close.

 

Here is a shot of the jetty you can walk out on.

 

 

And Oasis

 

 

 

 

I too love watching the ships leave from the park on the south side of the channel, but have not tried the beach on the north side as of yet. I was surprised by how nice the little beach was on the south side with the boardwalks and interpretive centres for the kids. Tons of shells for the kids to search for on the beach too.

If you are interested in taking photos of the departing ships, I would do the south side. If you do the north side, the sun will be directly in your eyes at sailaway (at least is was during March).

John U Lloyd Allure first arrives from Europe, you almost feel like you can touch the ship

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Here is how to get there from 17th St. We stayed at the Hyatt 66.

 

 

This is a good walking route, all sidewalks.

 

Very close to 1.0 miles.

Did not know they would let you in past the gate shack, we always walk one block further east on 17th, then head up se25th ave. Its like a dead end where it meets 17th street, kinda blocked off for cars , but not by foot.

We like John LLoyd as well. No rocks to climb and you're really close.

 

Here is a shot of the jetty you can walk out on.

 

Here is Liberty

 

And Oasis

 

 

We like the park also restroom are handy if the ships are a little late leaving once the ships go by it's only a two minute walk to the car.

We have always loved watching the ships from the North side, are thinking of trying the South side next January ... variety is the spice of life!

And if you are an early riser, you might want to consider going out in the AM and watch the ships come in. Kind of eerie to be there on the beach in the early morning and see the lights of the ship heading in then the ship itself in the channel. Amazing how quiet they are as they enter the channel. Has become a tradition for DW and I to go out and watch the ship that we will be on coming in. We prefer to go to the breakwater but that is just us.