Many people refer to Florida as the “Sunshine State.” However, with so many cruise ship ports in Florida, you could call it the “Cruise Ship State.”
Every year millions of tourists set sail to relax and make memories on the open seas. If you’re considering a cruise, choosing a cruise ship that leaves from one of the ports in Florida is a great option.
Today, we’re sharing everything you need to know about these ports.
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What Are Cruise Ship Ports?
Cruise ship ports function like airports but for luxury liners that float in the sea. These facilities are typically along the coast and handle the departures and arrivals of cruise ships. Depending on their location, they may be the trip’s start, a quick stop, or the ship’s final destination.
Many of these locations have the infrastructure and services to assist cruise lines in making embarkation and disembarkation as smoothly as possible. Like an airport, passengers use check-in counters, undergo security screening, and turn over their luggage before boarding the ship.
Additionally, these facilities often handle customer and immigration, parking, and transportation connections for those coming and going from the port.
How Many Cruise Ship Ports Are There in Florida?
Currently, six major cruise ship ports sit along Florida’s coasts. This makes it one of the most popular cruise hubs in the entire country. Every big name in the cruising industry sails out of at least one of these ports. These ships can easily access some of the most incredible and breathtaking spots worldwide.
If you’re not aware, Florida is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in the world. As a result, they have a tremendous amount of infrastructure established around the state.
Multiple massive airports make these cruise terminals incredibly easy to access. In addition, there’s plenty to see and do throughout the state if you want to extend your vacation.
What Is the Best Port to Depart from in Florida?
Port Canaveral and Port Miami are the two busiest cruise ship ports in the world. Each of these ports is responsible for transporting over four million cruisers annually. Both of these ports operate like well-oiled machines. They’ve established themselves and have the facilities to get millions of passengers on and off the ships quickly and efficiently.
When deciding the best port, you’ll want to consider the cruise itinerary, destinations of interest, and your travel plans. If you’re going to spend some time before or after visiting Mickey and his friends or riding coasters at Universal, Port Canaveral is just down the road.
However, if you want to sit on South Beach and enjoy the culture, Port Miami is for you.
Cruise Ship Ports in Florida
If you’re cruising out of Florida, you’ll likely choose one of these ports. As you’ll see, some are bigger and better than others. However, no matter which you choose, you’ll be setting sail on a relaxing cruise.
Port Miami – Miami, FL
Many refer to Port Miami as the “Cruise Capital of the World.” If you’ve ever visited Miami, it’s a vibrant, slightly chaotic city. However, this iconic port has been in service since the late 1890s, thanks to Henry Flagler.
Many cruises here set sail and head south to the warm waters of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and much more. However, with such a vibrant culture, you can visit world-renowned restaurants and entertainment before setting sail.
When it comes to state-of-the-art facilities, Port Miami is one of the best. It’s one of the smoothest operations in the entire country. You’ll find plenty of parking, and the whole process is efficient no matter which cruise line you sail.
Accessing Port Miami is best done by flying directly into Miami International Airport. It’s approximately 10 miles from the port. However, depending on your travel plans, Orlando is 230 miles away and a decent option if renting a vehicle.
Cruise lines sailing out of Port Miami include Azamara Club, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking.
You’ll find ships sailing all over the Caribbean, into the Panama Canal, Mexico, the Bahamas, and South America. Now and then, you can find some Transatlantic offerings too.
Port Canaveral sits along Florida’s east coast, nicknamed the Space Coast. The area is home to some of the largest cruise ships in the world and regular rocket launches from famous companies like SpaceX. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing a rocket launch, this could be your chance!
Accessing Port Canaveral is easy, especially if you fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). It’s a 45-minute drive from the airport to the port, but two other airports service the area. While smaller, Orlando Sanford International Airport and Melbourne International Airport are options worth considering.
Ships from Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean all sail out of Port Canaveral. Most have Western and Eastern Caribbean destinations, but some dip further into the Southern Caribbean.
Port Everglades – Fort Lauderdale, FL
The easiest way to access Port Everglades is to fly into Fort Lauderdale. The port is only six miles from the airport. However, you can also fly into Miami Airport, only 40 to 45 minutes away.
The port is home to 43 ships from Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea. This is home to the most ships of any port in the Sunshine State.
You can enjoy cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Panama Canal, and more. However, some of the longest and most exciting are the transatlantic offerings from multiple companies.
Port Tampa – Tampa, FL
Port Tampa is one of the smallest of all ports in Florida. Since it’s unable to accommodate the largest ships, there’s a noticeable difference in the traffic.
However, it still welcomes just over a million passengers each year. While a quarter of Port Canaveral or Port Miami, Port Tampa is still a respectable cruise port to consider.
The port is only 10 minutes from the Tampa airport. You can fly into Orlando International Airport, but it’s approximately an hour and a half away. However, Tampa is a fun city, and you’re close to the beach if you want to relax before or at the end of your trip.
Regarding cruise line options, Port Tampa doesn’t have many. Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean are the only cruise lines operating from this port. Additionally, there are only six ships in total. However, you can still find cruises to the Panama Canal, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, the Bahamas, and even transatlantic offerings.
This option is worth considering if you’re looking to escape the chaos of other busier ports. You can be in and out quickly without fighting traffic or hoards of people. If you ask us, both sound like great options.
Jaxport – Jacksonville, FL
Jaxport sits on the St. Johns River and is a much more intimate setting than the rest of the ports. However, this isn’t a fancy port with a lot of traffic. With only a single cruise line sailing a single ship, it’s the smallest in the state. However, it typically welcomes about 360,000 passengers each year.
Carnival offers four and five-day cruises out of Jacksonville that all sail to the Bahamas. It’s a popular port for locals and those looking for a quick getaway. This is one of the easiest ways to hop on board and sail to the Bahamas for a few days.
Port of Palm Beach – Palm Beach, FL
The Port of Palm Beach is another smaller port that welcomes more than 700,000 passengers annually. It sits on the north side of Miami and is most known for being the home of Margaritaville at Sea.
These cruises are three and two-night cruises to the Bahamas. As with other shorter cruises, these are perfect for those who want to get away from it all for a short period.
Many locals even try to time it right, so they can board the ship on a Friday and return for work on Monday morning. Is there a better way to spend a weekend?
One of the best features of this area is that it’s not overly touristy. There are beaches worth exploring and spots worth checking out, but you don’t have to battle traffic and crowds as much. If you want to enjoy a stress-free quick weekend getaway, this is the port for you!
Which Cruise Ship Port in Florida Should You Choose?
When it comes to choosing a cruise ship port in Florida, it’s entirely up to you. It’s best to focus on the itineraries or the specific cruise line you want to sail. This will help narrow down your options quickly and make it easier for you to choose.
However, no matter your choice, you’re still going on a cruise. You’ll enjoy delicious food, world-class entertainment, and lots of sun.
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