Port Everglades Upgrades for Record 4.9 Million Cruise Guests

Port Everglades is upgrading cruise facilities and expanding parking as it prepares for a projected record 4.9 million cruise guests in the 2026-27 season. Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas is scheduled to begin homeporting at the South Florida port in November 2026.

The seasonal guest forecast is separate from the port’s fiscal-year passenger-movement tally, which exceeded 5.38 million in fiscal 2026. That was its third consecutive annual record, up from a preliminary 4,773,873 passenger movements in fiscal 2025.

Joseph Morris, CEO and port director, attributed the growth partly to an increase in three- and four-day cruises and the port’s proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. “There are also larger vessels being deployed by our cruise line customers and an uptick in the additional ships our partners are berthing,” he said.

Readying the port for a record season

The port has added more than 850 parking spaces beside Cruise Terminal 18, which will serve the Icon-class Legend of the Seas, bringing its total to 6,386 across two multistory garages and several surface lots. The ship will accommodate 5,610 passengers at double occupancy and up to 7,600 at maximum capacity.

Port Everglades has recently redeveloped two of its eight cruise terminals. At Terminal 18, which opened in 2009 for Oasis of the Seas, improvements include a more open embarkation hall, refreshed waiting and VIP lounge areas, new furniture and artwork, and updated wayfinding signs. The work also includes changes to the suite-guest experience.

Morris said the infrastructure investment is “improving the guest experience and attracting more people to our port.” He also credited cruise line partners’ itineraries and onboard and shoreside offerings with contributing to demand.

The port’s announced seasonal lineup comprises 40 ships from nine cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Crystal, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Viking. New arrivals include Orient Express Corinthian, while Crystal Symphony will homeport with public spaces refreshed during its 2025 dry dock.

Port Everglades has also created a Cruise Services Division, appointing former assistant director Martin Jackson to lead it following approval of Broward County’s fiscal 2027 budget. Jackson joined the port in January 2025. Morris said the restructuring is intended to support daily service for cruise lines and passengers while accommodating growth from existing and new cruise brands.

“Operational consistency earns trust, both internally and with our guests and customers,” Jackson said.

Longer-term terminal redevelopment

“We have a major capital improvement project underway; over the next five years, we plan to invest in additional parking and our roadways,” Morris said.

Other work includes improvements to rideshare staging, terminal projects ranging from exterior repainting and art installations to extensive remodeling, and a bulkhead replacement already underway.

The port’s 2024 Master/Vision Plan identifies more than $845 million for major cruise-terminal projects. Its longer-term portwide capital program exceeds $3 billion over 20 years.

Among the proposals is a $321 million redevelopment of Cruise Terminal 29, combining a replacement terminal and VIP facilities with a ground-transportation area, parking structure, bulkhead upgrades and a pier extension. A separate $307 million proposal would redevelop Cruise Terminal 21 at Berth 21, with the potential to serve Berth 19 as well.

A further $217 million program covers improvements across the eight cruise terminals, organized into phases involving two terminals at a time. All three remain planning proposals.

Longer-range priorities include faster passenger processing, berths adaptable to different ship classes and phased shore-power installations. The port’s planning outlook anticipates annual cruise demand exceeding 6 million passengers by 2044.

See cruises departing Port Everglades on Cruise Lookup.