Port Everglades Warns of Heavy Traffic as Seven Ships Dock Nov. 7

Port Everglades is advising cruise passengers to expect heavier-than-normal congestion on Friday, November 7, 2025, when seven cruise ships are scheduled to be in port at the same time in Fort Lauderdale.

The port urged motorists and arriving guests to allow extra drive time and use all available entrances to help keep traffic moving, noting that higher volumes can affect parking demand, drop-off zones, and terminal-area operations. The advisory was posted with travelers in mind, including those who check online for parking and embarkation-day logistics.

Why November 7 is expected to be especially busy

With multiple ships turning around in Fort Lauderdale on November 7, Port Everglades said the combination of baggage handling, ground transportation, and passenger processing around the terminals will make the day more crowded than usual. The port’s guidance applies not only to drivers parking on-site, but also to guests arriving by taxi, shuttle, or ride-share, since backups can slow terminal approaches and curbside circulation.

Where to enter the cruise port

Port Everglades is directing drivers to use any of its three cruise-port entrances and, where possible, choose the entrance closest to their assigned terminal.

• SE 17th Street and Eisenhower Boulevard: Near the Broward County Convention Center and closest to Terminal 2, this approach can be a practical option for guests assigned to that area.
• US 1 (Federal Highway) and Spangler Boulevard / SR 84: Located south of Terminal 2 between berths 7 and 9, this entrance offers another route into the terminal complex.
• I-595 and McIntosh Road: North of the airport and closest to Terminal 26, this entrance may be the most direct option for sailings operating from that end of the port.

Seven-ship lineup: who is in port on November 7

The November 7 lineup spans four cruise lines: Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, and Celebrity Cruises. Princess Cruises is expected to have multiple ships involved in the day’s operations, including Island Princess, scheduled to depart on November 7 on a Circle Caribbean itinerary that marks the ship’s first departure of the season from its South Florida base, and Caribbean Princess, also sailing that day on a longer Caribbean itinerary.

Star Princess is set to depart Port Everglades on November 7 on its first Caribbean voyage, a short three-night weekend sailing to Princess Cays. The sailing follows a November 6 naming and christening event for the ship in Fort Lauderdale, part of Princess Cruises’ rollout of its second Sphere-class vessel, after the ship arrived from the Mediterranean on November 5.

Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas are both scheduled to sail on November 7 on three-night itineraries. Liberty of the Seas is set to call on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, while Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to visit Bimini and Nassau.

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam is scheduled to begin a nine-night southern Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale on November 7, calling on Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba, along with a stop at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. The ship is scheduled to return to Port Everglades on November 16.

Celebrity Xcel is also expected to be in port during the busy day, but the ship is not scheduled to begin guest embarkation on November 7, as it prepares for upcoming operations, including short preview cruises beginning in the days that follow and a mid-November naming ceremony.

What passengers can do to reduce embarkation-day stress

Port Everglades has signaled that November 7 will require extra patience, even with traffic management plans and additional access routes around the port and convention district. The port’s guidance centers on timing, routing, and realistic expectations about curbside and parking conditions.

• Confirm your terminal assignment before departing: The port recommends choosing the entrance closest to your terminal to reduce internal driving and unnecessary circulation on terminal roadways.
• Build extra time into your arrival plan: Vehicle backups can develop near security checkpoints and terminal approaches, affecting both drivers and passengers arriving by hired transportation.
• Expect slower ride-share and shuttle flow: Congestion can affect drop-off and pickup zones, so travelers using taxis, shuttles, or ride-share may see delays similar to those in parking queues.
• Plan for fuller parking facilities: For drivers parking at the port, Port Everglades has warned to anticipate fuller garages and longer internal circulation on high-volume days.

Record passenger totals set the backdrop

The congestion advisory comes during a period of record cruise activity at Port Everglades. The port reported a new cruise passenger record for Fiscal Year 2025, with a preliminary total of more than 4.7 million cruise passengers from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, a 15% increase over the previous year.

Joseph Morris, Port Everglades CEO and Port Director, tied the rise to demand and the arrival of newer ships. “Cruising is more popular than ever, and the cruise lines are exceeding guest expectations every time a new ship comes into the marketplace,” Morris said.

Three new ships begin homeporting in November

November 2025 is also a transition month at the port, with three new ships beginning homeport operations for the winter 2025 to 2026 season: Star Princess, Disney Destiny, and Celebrity Xcel. Port officials have framed the arrivals as part of a milestone month that pairs high passenger volumes with new tonnage and continued investments intended to improve access for travelers.

Star Princess, the second Sphere-class ship from Princess Cruises, is powered by LNG and is entering its inaugural winter deployment from Port Everglades. After initial short cruises, it will rotate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries during its first season, and it is also scheduled for a later Panama Canal transit ahead of a summer 2026 Alaska season.

Disney Destiny, Disney Cruise Line’s next newbuild and third Wish-class ship, is scheduled to begin revenue sailings from Fort Lauderdale on November 20, 2025. Its inaugural season is built around four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean, including stops at Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point. Disney is using Cruise Terminal 4 at Port Everglades as its Fort Lauderdale base, and the terminal was reimagined in 2023 specifically for Disney travelers with a Finding Nemo theme.

Celebrity Xcel, the latest Edge-class ship for Celebrity Cruises, is scheduled for a naming ceremony at Port Everglades on November 16, 2025, presided over by Jannina Torres, named “World’s Best Female Chef 2024.” The ship is expected to operate Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale during the winter before repositioning to Europe in spring 2026, and the ship is expected to introduce features including upgraded pool and spa complexes, a neon-lit arcade lounge, and Celebrity’s first branded flagship store.

Infrastructure projects aimed at easing pressure around the port

Broward County officials have highlighted roadway and convention-area projects intended to reduce pressure on surrounding corridors during major cruise and event days. A key project is the elevated Convention Center Connector, also described locally as a bypass road, linking U.S. 1, State Road 84, and SE 17th Street directly to the port area, the Broward County Convention Center, and the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel expected to open by year-end.

County officials said the elevated route can reduce congestion by eliminating the need for vehicles to pass through port security checkpoints when traveling between key corridors and nearby destinations, including the convention center district and the 17th Street Causeway area. During a ribbon-cutting event for the connector and the expanded convention center, Broward County Commissioner Tim Ryan Furr said, “When you look at the big picture, this connector is a crucial piece of infrastructure that will ease congestion, improve access and support the continued growth of our Convention Center district. Today is a moment to celebrate but it’s also a moment to look ahead.”

The expanded Broward County Convention Center now has more than 1.2 million square feet of event space, an increase county officials have tied to broader efforts to strengthen the area’s year-round tourism and business-travel appeal alongside the port’s cruise growth.

Looking ahead: a larger ship scheduled for 2026

Port Everglades’ pipeline of cruise activity extends beyond the winter season. In November 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, a third Icon-class vessel, is scheduled to become the largest cruise ship to sail from the port, with a passenger capacity exceeding 5,600.

In the nearer term, Port Everglades has told travelers departing on November 7 to plan for a high-volume day, as multiple ships turn around and Star Princess makes its debut sailing from Fort Lauderdale, while Disney Destiny and Celebrity Xcel are slated to begin their Port Everglades operations later in the month.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is Port Everglades warning passengers about November 7, 2025?

Port Everglades expects heavier-than-normal congestion because seven cruise ships are scheduled to be in port that day, increasing demand for road access, parking, and terminal-area operations, including drop-off and pickup zones.

How many entrances can drivers use to reach Port Everglades cruise terminals?

Drivers can enter through three main access points: SE 17th Street and Eisenhower Boulevard; US 1 (Federal Highway) and Spangler Boulevard / SR 84; and I-595 and McIntosh Road. The port has advised using the entrance closest to your assigned terminal where possible.

Which cruise lines are sailing on November 7, 2025, and what are some example itineraries?

The seven-ship day includes Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, and Celebrity Cruises. Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas is scheduled for a three-night sailing calling on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, while Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to visit Bimini and Nassau, and Holland America Line’s Rotterdam is set to begin a nine-night southern Caribbean itinerary that includes Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba.

When do Star Princess, Disney Destiny, and Celebrity Xcel begin homeport operations from Port Everglades?

Star Princess is set to depart Port Everglades on November 7, 2025, on its first Caribbean voyage, a three-night weekend sailing to Princess Cays after a November 6 naming and christening event. Disney Destiny is scheduled to begin revenue sailings on November 20, 2025, offering four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean, including calls at Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point. Celebrity Xcel has a naming ceremony scheduled at Port Everglades on November 16, 2025, and is expected to operate Caribbean itineraries during the winter before repositioning to Europe in spring 2026.

How does the Convention Center Connector change access around Port Everglades?

The elevated Convention Center Connector links U.S. 1, State Road 84, and SE 17th Street directly to the convention center district and nearby port-area destinations, and officials said it can ease congestion by eliminating the need for vehicles to pass through port security checkpoints when using the bypass route.