NORTH AMERICA: REPORT “ Hey Siri, find me my dream cruise from Port Everglades” The US port has launched Find-a-Cruise and an interactive parking map to support cruise guests with a seamless journey Port Everglades has launched two interactive tools on its website to help its cruise partners deliver a seamless journey for passengers More than five billion people worldwide now own a mobile phone, according to the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union. Recognising the importance of digital connectivity for cruise passengers, Port Everglades in Florida, USA, has introduced two new interactive, mobile-friendly features on its website to help its cruise partners’ goals to deliver a seamless passenger journey. The tools enable cruise guests visiting the world’s third-busiest cruise homeport to select a sailing and navigate the port’s parking options. Find-a-Cruise is a mobile-friendly, searchable calendar of sailings available from the port’s nine cruise line partners, which is designed to augment the planning process for the more than 4.7 million cruise guests expected to travel across the Atlantic Ocean or to the Caribbean from Port Everglades in the 2026 fiscal year. Users can search by cruise line, date, destination or duration. The search results also include information such as the ship’s name, the embarkation terminal and whether cruises are roundtrip or one-way. One click leads users directly to the cruise line’s website to make a reservation or learn more details. “We understand when determining whether to embark on a cruise, nearly 80 per cent of travellers turn to a travel agent, according to a 2024 survey from Cruise Line International Association,” says Joseph Morris, CEO and port director at Port Everglades. “Our Finda-Cruise feature is designed to process and assist our cruise line customers in marketing their voyages.” Additionally, the port has created an interactive map with parking and cruise terminal information. Cruise guests can preview the parking locations for their assigned terminals and get a visual guide showing where they can drop off accompanying passengers and luggage for porter service before parking. The interactive map also provides the street address for each of the port’s eight cruise terminals for guests using a ride-share or taxi service. Together, these digital tools underscore Port Everglades’ commitment to using technology to support its cruise line partners and simplify the experience for guests. “By making clear, real-time information conveniently accessible via a mobilefriendly website, the port is making strides in enhancing trip planning, reducing friction on embarkation day and reinforcing its role as a forward-thinking homeport” adds Morris. 182
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