The 2010-2011 cruise season at Broward County’s Port Everglades will once again bring an array of new ships, new itineraries and new passenger services to South Florida.
Port Everglades is destined to make international news again when it welcomes the second of the world’s largest cruise ships. Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s second Oasis-class cruise ship, will be named at her homeport, Port Everglades, and begin sailing every Sunday year-round on December 5, 2010.
In addition, four other newly built cruise ships will debut at Port Everglades this season. Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam will be homeported at Port Everglades through the winter beginning November 7, 2010. Seabourn Cruise Line will celebrate the United States’ debut of the Seabourn Sojourn on November 15, 2010. Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth will call at Port Everglades on January 16, 2011. And, P&O Cruises will have three cruise ships calling at Port Everglades for the first time, including the line’s new Azura, which is scheduled to arrive on December 20, 2010. The other P&O Cruise ships coming to Port Everglades for the first time are Aurora, arriving on October 26, 2010, and Ventura, arriving January 4, 2011.
Watch Us Grow
Port Everglades is already one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and is expected to take the lead in the next few years. Since 2001, Port Everglades has grown from 1.6 million multi-day cruise passengers to approximately 3.5 million expected this year (fiscal year 2011 from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011). An ongoing capital improvements program and planned expansion effort ensures the Port’s ability to maintain a level of superior service.
Getting cruise guests where they want to go smoothly is something Port Everglades has down to an art. On March 20, 2010, Port Everglades set a world record with 53,365 cruise guests sailing in and out of the Port in a single day. This year, there will be seven days where nine cruise ships will be in Port, with more than 50,000 cruise guests expected to pass through the Port each day. The Port’s experience and on-going planning ensures smooth sailing even on our busiest days.
Commitment to Guest Service
Customer service and first-class facilities have been the driving force behind Port Everglades’ success.
The cruise lines that call Port Everglades home benefit from access to two full-time Cruise Service Managers who serve as on-site liaisons between port operations and cruise lines. No other port provides this service.
People picking up returning cruise guests now have a free, convenient place to wait for their friends and family members who are returning from a cruise. The new cell phone waiting lot is located at the Port Administration Building at 1850 Eller Drive (first building on the right side past the security checkpoint at the main entrance to the Port off of I-595) on Saturdays and Sundays.
Free Internet service, WiFi, is now available in all cruise terminals as a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. This WiFi service is especially useful for guests arriving early to board their cruise ship and for those who want to research things to do in the area upon returning from their vacation.
Port area maps are located outside cruise terminals, by elevators and along walkways to help guide you to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the beaches, nearby restaurants, grocery stores and other conveniences.
Electronic directional signs are located at all Port entrances and cruise terminals, in addition to printed signs along the roadways.
In addition, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has a new iPhone application to help visitors plan their vacation on-the-go with searchable dining and attraction listings, maps, real-time events and deal updates. Download iVisitLauderdale.
