Cruise ports in Florida - Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral

Florida is one of the country’s major jumping-off points for a cruise, but choosing where to depart is about more than finding the right sailing. Your homeport can affect how you get there, how much time you’ll want before embarkation and what you can fit into the days surrounding your cruise from Florida.

Princess® sails from three cruise ports in Florida. Here’s what to know about each one before you book.

Florida has several cruise ports, but Princess sails from three - PortMiami, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Here’s where each one is and what to know about getting there.

PortMiami

PortMiami sits along Biscayne Bay near downtown Miami, about 8 miles from Miami International Airport. Depending on traffic, the drive typically takes around 25 minutes. Because the port has multiple cruise terminals, check your Princess travel documents for your assigned terminal before heading out.

Guests driving to the port can find on-site parking at PortMiami, including garages and lots serving its cruise terminals.

See our current cruises from Miami.

Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)

Port Everglades is in Fort Lauderdale, about 2 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The short trip can take about 10 minutes by car, making this the shortest airport-to-port transfer of Princess' three Florida cruise ports.

The port operates multiple cruise terminals, so confirm your terminal before arriving rather than relying on the port name alone.

Here are our cruises from Fort Lauderdale.

Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral is on Florida’s Space Coast in Cape Canaveral, near Cocoa Beach. Orlando International Airport is about 45 miles away, with the drive generally taking 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.

For guests arriving by car, Port Canaveral has on-site parking facilities at its cruise terminals so that you can park close to your embarkation point.

Browse cruises from Port Canaveral.

If your schedule allows, arriving a day before embarkation gives you time to explore beyond the terminal. Each of Princess’ three Florida homeports offers a different way to spend that extra time.

Miami - art deco and island energy

In Little Havana, start with Cuban coffee and colorful street murals before heading toward Miami Beach. South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District is known for the geometric facades, pastel colors and neon details of buildings dating largely from the 1930s and early 1940s. Ocean Drive puts many of those landmarks within an easy stroll, while nearby Collins Avenue adds shops, restaurants and historic hotels.

If you have a full pre- or post-cruise day rather than just a few hours, Everglades National Park is worth the roughly hour-long drive west from the port — it protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Or keep the day local and make Miami’s neighborhoods, beaches and dining part of your pre-cruise plans. You can book a Miami excursion if you want to see some of these hotspots without worrying about timing or any other logistics.

Fort Lauderdale - waterways and easy access

Many things to do in Fort Lauderdale revolve around the water. The Intracoastal Waterway passes yachts, marinas and waterfront homes, while the nearby Everglades offer a completely different perspective from an airboat. Another option is Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary, where 60 acres include botanical gardens and a free-flight aviary.

If you have less time, Fort Lauderdale Beach and the shops, galleries and restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard are easier to fit into a pre-cruise stay. Guests with more time can browse Fort Lauderdale excursions for ways to explore farther before boarding.

Port Canaveral - Space Coast and theme parks

Few cruise ports come with rockets in the neighborhood. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings NASA history to life through spacecraft, rocket displays and interactive exhibits.

Closer to the coast, the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River are part of the diverse estuarine environment of Florida’s Space Coast. Cocoa Beach is just minutes from the port, offering a simple way to spend some time along the Atlantic before boarding. Depending on your schedule, Port Canaveral excursions can take your pre-cruise plans beyond the terminal, too.

Florida’s location makes it a natural starting point for the Caribbean and Bahamas. From Miami, Princess itineraries reach destinations including Princess Cays®, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and Celebration Key™ on Grand Bahama Island.

Port Canaveral also opens up several directions. Shorter Bahamas sailings can call at Nassau and the all-new Celebration Key™, while longer itineraries head into the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with ports ranging from St. Thomas and Grand Turk to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica.

Fort Lauderdale offers an especially broad itinerary mix. Along with Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean cruises, guests can choose longer voyages through the Panama Canal or sail on select Canada & New England and Transatlantic itineraries.

Wherever you begin in Florida, there are options for everything from a shorter Bahamas sailing to a longer journey beyond the Caribbean.

The right Florida cruise port for you may come down to what you want to do before you board. If you’re planning to add a city stay, Miami puts restaurants, beaches and distinct neighborhoods within reach. 

Port Canaveral is a natural fit if an Orlando theme park is part of the vacation. Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort sit about an hour away and are best paired with a full pre- or post-cruise day rather than a quick stop, while the Space Coast offers plenty to explore closer to the port.

All three homeports are accessible from major airports, so logistics don’t have to make the decision for you. Start with the Princess itinerary you want, then consider how you’d like to spend the time on either side of your cruise.

For more specific scenarios, consider these factors-

• For families- Consider Port Canaveral if you want to combine a cruise with time at Orlando’s theme parks. Miami is another option for families who would rather build a pre-cruise stay around beaches, dining and exploring the city.
• For couples or solo travelers- Miami offers plenty to fill an extra day or two, while Fort Lauderdale can suit a shorter pre-cruise stay when you want to keep the airport-to-port portion of the trip simple.
• For budget-conscious travelers- Compare the total cost of the trip, not airfare alone. Hotel rates, ground transportation and the number of nights you plan to stay before or after your cruise can all affect which departure port makes the most sense.
• For destination-focused travelers- Start with the sailing rather than the city. Princess itineraries vary among Florida homeports, so your preferred destinations, cruise length and travel dates may ultimately determine where you embark.

Florida seaports handled a record 22.4 million cruise passengers during the 2023–2024 fiscal year, accounting for nearly 60% of U.S. cruise passenger embarkations. PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades also rank among the world’s busiest cruise gateways.

That scale shows off Florida’s long-standing role as a launching point for cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas and beyond. For guests, it also means plenty of choice when deciding where a Florida cruise should begin.

Whether you add a few days before embarkation or head straight to the ship, Florida makes it easy to start your vacation your way. Once you’ve found the homeport and itinerary that fit your plans, explore cruises from Florida and start planning your time aboard Princess.