All About Cruise Ports in Florida

Cruise boarding is possible from several destinations across the world. From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, a cruise can take you to all seven continents.

It’s fascinating to note that the United States of America is home to not just one of the busiest cruise ports in the world but also one of the top three.

If you’re one of the million travelers who go on a cruise each year, you might depart from one of Florida’s five main ports.

With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, it’s easy to board a cruise anywhere from Florida, hence making it one of the most visited ports.

This blog is solely dedicated to the different ports of Florida. From the sailing cruise lines to booking your journey from these ports, every detail would be covered below.

If you’re budgeting your cruise from any Florida port, here’s a detailed look at how expensive cruise travel really is.

Florida Map For Cruise Ports

Here’s a map of Florida’s cruise ship ports, in which you can see where they are located and how they are related to each other:

Port Count of Florida

Currently, there are seven ports in Florida, which are as follows:

The first six are departure ports and the home of several cruises from well-known lines, whereas the last one is a port of call where ships visit for a day.

Among the names above, there is a largest port, the most popular port, as well as the worst port.

Below, I have added every detail about each Florida port for your information and understanding:

Port of Miami

It is the largest port, yet not the busiest one, though many passengers board cruises from here every year. It is located in southern Florida and on the outskirts of Miami.

It is known as the “Cargo Gateway of the Americas” and the “Cruise Capital of the World” due to its cargo and cruise ports.

The port is well-equipped to support the largest ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Icon classes.

Passengers find it convenient to board the ship and take a flight back to their home country because of the Port of Miami’s easy proximity to Miami International Airport.
It is home to several cruise lines, like:

If you’re cruising from Florida, here’s a breakdown of the largest Carnival cruise ships sailing from major ports.

Small yet luxurious, foreign cruise lines like Azamara, Hapag-Lloyd, Hurtigruten, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and more also visit the port.

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Port Canaveral

Approximately 7 million passengers boarded from this port last year, making it the busiest while not being the largest.

It is run by the Canaveral Port Authority and is situated in Cape Canaveral, close to Cocoa, on the eastern Florida coast.

Additionally, it is home to some of the biggest cruise ships from well-known cruise lines like:

Apart from carrying passengers, this port has played a crucial role in connecting commerce and supporting U.S. military operations, government, and military.

The port has direct connectivity through roadways and the nearest airport, Melbourne Orlando International Airport.

Orlando offers fantastic activities for an adventure before or after a cruise. Additionally, Disney World and Universal Studios are about an hour’s drive from the harbor.

Port Everglades

It is the third busiest port in the world, located in South Florida, popularly known as Florida’s Powerhouse Global Gateway.

The port can accommodate over 3.5 million passengers a year and receives about 850 ships each year. This port is visited by very few of the cruise lines listed below:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is just 4 miles away from the port. Do visit Fort Lauderdale beaches before or after your cruise, and don’t forget to explore nearby restaurants and shops.

Port Tampa Bay

This port is included in the list of the top 30 ports in the world and has a typical number of around 1 million passengers visiting the port every year.

It is the most famous and liked port due to many attractive and interesting sites in Tampa.

Though the port is smaller in size, it serves as a center for major cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International.

The port is only ten miles from Tampa International Airport. To explore the city, you can visit the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, Big Cat Rescue, or Busch Gardens amusement park either before or after your cruise.

Jaxport

Located along the St. Johns River, the Port of Jacksonville, also known as Jaxport, was opened in 1963.

It serves as a hub for seaport traffic, including cargo ships, cruise lines, and ferry services.

An estimated 350,000 passengers visit this location each year, and 75 ships sail from it annually.

The majority of visitors are small cruise line ships, such as American Star, MS Independence, and Carnival Elation.

It is a major hub for cargo, carriers, and container ships in addition to cruise ships. Jacksonville has entertaining places to visit, such as the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and the Museum of Science and History.

Port of Palm Beach

The location of this full-service port is Riviera Beach, Florida. It serves very few cruise lines and is a smaller port than others.

The port mostly services American Queen Voyages’ small ships, which make stops at lesser-known locations along the US coast.

With 2.5 million tons of cargo, it supports both cruise and cargo activities. Every year, 400,000 cruise passengers board from this location.

There aren’t many tourist attractions, but you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit some of the local beaches.

No matter which Florida port you sail from, getting there is usually straightforward, though it can depend on your starting point.

Travelers from Europe, for instance, might find Miami or Orlando more convenient due to direct flight options, while other ports may require a bit more planning.

In the end, the cruise experience depends upon your ship and the final destination.

Unless you’re set on spending time in a specific city before or after your trip, it makes sense to choose your port based on the cruise that excites you most. Reaching the port is the easy part.