By
Alice Chambers |
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is set for a milestone year in 2025. In addition to welcoming three new cruise ships, the port will open a new luxury hotel and an elevated roadway designed to ease traffic. With a projected 4.7 million guest visits in its 2026 financial year, which begins in October 2025, the port is also preparing to break records and raise the bar for Caribbean cruising.
From November 2025, Port Everglades will become the homeport for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny and Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, three new cruise ships that will all sail Caribbean itineraries during their maiden seasons.
“Cruising is more popular than ever, and the cruise lines are exceeding guest expectations every time a new ship comes into the marketplace,” says Joseph Morris, CEO and port director at Port Everglades. “The new ships that are coming to Port Everglades have more entertainment and dining options and offer some of the latest technology with greener fuels and impressive connectivity.”
Additionally, representatives from Broward Country Commission (Fort Lauderdale’s government office) will officially open the new Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, an expanded convention centre and a bypass road through the port.
Located at the northern entrance of the port, the 801-room Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel has begun accepting reservations. This 29-storey property is adjacent to two cruise terminals and the newly expanded Broward County Convention Center in Greater Fort Lauderdale and has been built to offer luxury and convenience to both business and leisure travellers. The hotel will also provide shuttle service to the eight cruise terminals at Port Everglades.
The bypass road through Port Everglades will facilitate public access from two major arterial roads to the convention centre and new hotel. The bypass is designed to reduce traffic congestion on the adjacent segments of U.S. 1 and SE 17th Street and vehicles coming into the port from those two thoroughfares. This will help create a smoother, less stressful arrival experience for cruise guests, making it easier and faster to reach the terminal.
Discover more insights like this in the Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. Don’t miss out – subscribe for FREE and get the next issue delivered straight to your inbox.