How To Get From Fort Lauderdale Airport to Port Everglades
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) sits about 1.8 miles from Port Everglades, which makes it one of the shortest airport to cruise port transfers in the country. A taxi from FLL averages $18 to $21, according to the port, and the ride itself is a few minutes once you are in the car.
The catch is everything around the ride: baggage claim, the taxi or rideshare line, and the security gate at the port entrance. The port tells cruise passengers to allow 45 minutes to an hour from FLL. If you are flying into Miami (MIA) instead, the trip runs 27 miles and costs several times as much. This guide covers every realistic way to get from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the cruise port, plus the Miami option.
Fort Lauderdale Airport to Cruise Port: Key Facts
| Option | From FLL | From MIA |
| Distance to Port Everglades | About 1.8 miles | About 27 miles |
| Time the port says to allow | 45 minutes to 1 hour | 2 to 3 hours |
| Taxi (metered) | $18 to $21 on average | $80 to $159 |
| Van on Demand (groups of 3 or more) | $11 per person | $25 per person |
| Uber or Lyft | Varies with demand | Varies with demand |
| Cruise line transfer | Sold per person by the line | Sold per person by the line |
Fares in that table come from the port's published estimates as of October 2026 (the Van on Demand and MIA figures are from its Terminal 18 page) and change with traffic, time of day, and the terminal you are heading to.
Taxi From Fort Lauderdale Airport to Port Everglades
A taxi is the simplest choice for most couples and small families. The port puts the average fare from FLL at $18 to $21, before tip, and taxis wait at the ground transportation curb outside baggage claim. Port Everglades taxis run on the meter, and the port specifically says flat rates are not allowed for its Terminal 18 trips.
The driver will stop at one of the port's three security gates, where everyone 18 and older shows a government-issued photo ID and cruise documents. Have those in hand before you get in the car. If you need to move between terminals once you are on port property, the port lists a flat $8 taxi fare.
Pro Tip: Tell the driver your terminal number, not your ship's name. Port Everglades has eight cruise terminals spread from Northport to Midport, and the number on your boarding pass gets you to the right curb the first time.
Uber and Lyft From Fort Lauderdale Airport to the Cruise Port
Rideshare works well from FLL, but the fare moves with demand, so compare the app's quote with the port's taxi estimate before you book. Weekend mornings, when several ships sail on the same day, are when I would expect prices to climb. Order an XL if you are traveling with more than two large bags, since a standard sedan trunk fills fast with cruise luggage.
Rideshare cars go through the same security gate as taxis, so the ID rule applies here too. My Port Everglades embarkation guide lists all three gates and which terminal each one is closest to.
Van on Demand Shuttle to Port Everglades
The port's Terminal 18 transportation page lists a shared ride service called Van on Demand for groups of three or more. As of October 2026 that page shows fares of $11 per person from FLL, $25 per person from MIA, and $45 per person from Palm Beach International (PBI). The port notes it does not run on every sailing day. Look for a gray and blue booth with a dispatcher in a blue shirt.
For a family of four coming from Miami, four shuttle seats can come in under the top of the port's taxi range. From FLL, one taxi for four costs less than half of four shuttle seats and leaves when you do.
Cruise Line Transfers From Fort Lauderdale Airport
Most major lines sell airport transfers in their online planner or at booking, priced per person. The advantage is that the line's staff meet you at the airport and the bus delivers you to the right terminal. The disadvantage, at FLL specifically, is cost: with the port less than two miles away, a family of four paying per person usually spends more than one taxi would cost.
Where cruise line transfers make more sense is the return trip. On disembarkation morning the line's buses load at the terminal and take you straight to departures, which saves a wait in the taxi line when several ships finish at once. My cruise disembarkation guide covers how that morning works.
Getting From Miami Airport to Port Everglades
Plenty of people fly into MIA because the fares or nonstops are better, then sail from Fort Lauderdale. The port lists the drive at 30 to 45 minutes via I-95, but its own planning advice is to allow two to three hours from Miami, which accounts for I-95 traffic and the airport itself. The port's Terminal 18 page estimates a metered taxi at $80 to $159 as of October 2026.
For that trip I would book a cruise line transfer or Van on Demand for a group, or a rideshare XL for a family, and I would fly in the day before. If your ship actually leaves from Miami, you want my guide on getting from Miami airport to the cruise port and my PortMiami embarkation guide.
Brightline Train to Port Everglades
Brightline lists its Fort Lauderdale station as its connection point for Port Everglades cruises, alongside stations in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. That makes the train a real option for travelers coming down from Orlando or West Palm Beach. Brightline asks cruise passengers to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to check bags, and its Premium fare includes one standard checked bag. Brightline also advertises 25 percent off for groups of three or more and up to 50 percent off for kids.
The Brightline station is downtown, so you still need a short ride from the station to the port. If you are already landing at FLL, the train adds a step without saving time.
Hotel Shuttles, Public Bus, and Rental Cars to the Cruise Port
Some hotels near the airport and the port run their own cruise shuttles on a fixed schedule, and some charge for them. If you stay the night before, ask the hotel when you book whether it runs to Port Everglades on your sailing day. My roundup of hotels near the Fort Lauderdale cruise port notes which properties make the morning easiest, and my review of Le Meridien Dania Beach covers a good option close to FLL. For a resort stay first, there is also my Guitar Hotel review.
Broward County Transit buses stop in the Northport section of the port on SE 17th Street, which works if you travel light. Rental cars are available at FLL, and the port lists licensed rental firms that operate on port property, which helps if you are driving one way and dropping the car before you board. If you are driving your own car, my Fort Lauderdale cruise parking guide compares the port garages with off-site lots.
How Much Time To Leave Between FLL and Your Cruise
The port asks for at least 45 minutes between your flight landing at FLL and your cruise check-in time, and it cannot store luggage at the terminals. I treat that 45 minutes as the bare minimum. A delayed flight or a slow bag carousel eats it quickly, and the ship will not wait. I tell everyone sailing from Fort Lauderdale to fly in the day before, and when I book the flight, hotel, and cruise together, it comes at no extra cost to you.
Once you are at the terminal, my embarkation day tips cover what to do in the first hour onboard.
Things To Do in Fort Lauderdale Before Your Cruise
A day-before arrival leaves time for the beach, Las Olas Boulevard, or an airboat ride in the Everglades. Since the port does not hold bags, plan sightseeing for the day you land rather than sailing morning. You can compare Fort Lauderdale tours and water taxi passes and book this on Viator.
Fort Lauderdale Airport to Cruise Port FAQ
How far is Fort Lauderdale airport from the cruise port? About 1.8 miles. The drive is short, but the port suggests allowing 45 minutes to an hour from landing to check-in.
How much is a taxi from FLL to Port Everglades? The port lists an average fare of $18 to $21 as of October 2026. Taxis run on the meter.
Can I take Uber from Fort Lauderdale airport to Port Everglades? Yes. Rideshare cars use the same security gates as taxis, and every passenger 18 or older needs a photo ID at the gate.
Is it cheaper to fly into Miami for a Fort Lauderdale cruise? Sometimes the flight is, but the ground leg adds up. The port's Terminal 18 page estimates a taxi from MIA to Port Everglades at $80 to $159, so compare the total, not the airfare alone.
Does Brightline go to Port Everglades? Brightline lists its Fort Lauderdale station as the connection for Port Everglades cruises. You still need a short ride from the downtown station to your terminal.
Book Your Port Everglades Cruise and Transfers Together
My pricing is the same as booking direct. On top of that you get access to group rates and promotions that do not always appear on the cruise line's site, and a person to call when a flight is delayed on the way to Fort Lauderdale. Send me your dates, and I will price the cruise, the hotel the night before, and the transfer as one trip.
