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Carnival cruise brawl caught on camera broke out over alleged cheating, passenger says

Carnival magic passenger says nearly 60 people were involved in the melee.

Carnival cruise brawl caught on camera

A brawl broke out on a New York City-bound Carnival Cruise ship Tuesday. Credit: Theresa James.

An all-out brawl that broke out between dozens of passengers aboard the Carnival Magic cruise ship was sparked over allegations of cheating while on the trip, according to an eyewitness passenger who shared video of the fight with Fox News Digital.

Theresa James, who said she is a travel agent, told Fox News Digital that the fight started just before 2 a.m. on the ship’s fifth floor, where a dance club and casino are located. 

An alleged threesome between passengers had upset their significant others when they learned of the rendezvous, according to James, who said she witnessed the fight from her door.

Beer bottles were smashed, and a woman may have been cut during the chaos, James said.

DANCE FLOOR BRAWL ERUPTS ON NYC-BOUND CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP PROMPTING COAST GUARD RESPONSE

The brawl lasted about an hour, according to the travel agent, and took the parties involved from the fifth floor to the ship’s first floor, which James described as a huge distance. She said the altercation wasn’t physical the whole time, and an estimated 60 people may have been involved.

In this handout provided by Carnival Cruise Lines, the Carnival Magic is seen departing from port, after a nine-day inaugural cruise, May 3, 2011, in Dubrovnik, Croatia.   (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines via Getty Images)

James credited Carnival and its security team for jumping in and bringing the situation under control. 

She described the guests involved in the fight as "ignorant fools acting stupid" and said the situation could have been worse if not for security.

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Security had to  call in the Coast Guard  to help escort the ship to shore, according to the New York Post. 

A brawl broke out on a New York City-bound Carnival Cruise ship Tuesday.  (Courtesy: Theresa James)

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The ship arrived Tuesday morning with New York police waiting as it docked. Carnival said the ship docked in Manhattan as scheduled. 

It's unclear if  anyone was arrested  or if New York or New Jersey authorities would handle it or another jurisdiction since it may have happened over international waters. 

Meanwhile, James said that while the cruise got intense toward the end, it was an overall great vacation, and she has already booked another one with Carnival for August.

Fox News' Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Ashley is a Digital Editor for Foxnews.com.  Email her at [email protected]

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Carnival cruise brawl broke out after alleged threesome sparks cheating accusations: witness.

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This threesome rocked the boat.

A wild brawl that erupted on the dance floor of a Big Apple-bound Carnival cruise ship was sparked by jealousy over a ménage à trois, according to a report.

The chaotic fight broke out between roughly 60 people near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on Tuesday when significant others accused their partners of cheating in a threesome, passenger Theresa James told FOX News Digital.

The skirmish started in a nightclub on the fifth floor of the Carnival Magic ship at around 2 a.m. after the angry lovers confronted their respective partners for two-timing on the seven seas, according to James, a travel agent who watched the fracas from her room.

The brawlers then began shoving each other and smashing beer bottles, and a woman may have been sliced during the melee, which quickly spiraled out of control, James said.

“Ignorant fools acting stupid,” she said.

The dust-up lasted roughly an hour and spilled into the casino area on the same level of the ship, she said.

The scrum of fighters eventually moved from the fifth floor to the first, and the altercation wasn’t physical the whole time, James said.

The ship’s security team tried to break up the fight, James said, and eventually called the US Coast Guard.

‘Out of nowhere’

She credited security guards with finally getting the unhinged passengers under control.

Another passenger, tweeting under the handle @nyeem0, said he was “at the bar listening to my own music sipping a Shirley Temple, then the brawl broke out of nowhere!”

He said some passengers were “injured and cut up from glass” and that “most if not all’” of the ship’s security guards rushed to the club to stop the violence.

“It was the last night so i guess they wanted to go out with a bang,” he added.

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Massive cruise brawl captured on video, requires coast guard intervention

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U.S. law enforcement is investigating a massive fight that broke out early Tuesday morning on a Carnival Magic cruise ship that involved around 40 to 60 passengers.

The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted to the brawl at 4 a.m. and deployed a vessel to escort the cruise ship through the New York Harbor.

“After that, a boarding team from USCG Sector New York assisted NYPD and (Customs and Border Protection) with crew processing,” the coast guard told People magazine .

Video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

Massive brawl breaks out in nightclub of Carnival cruise ship just off New York harbor. It started because someone got jealous over a “threesome”. The Coast Guard was summoned to escort the ship back to New York. pic.twitter.com/2Xnljgi3O9 — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 30, 2022

The NYPD learned of the dispute around 5:20 a.m. and told People the fight broke out on the dance floor of a nightclub located on the ship.

At the time of the incident, the cruise ship was near the Verrazano Bridge that connects Brooklyn and Staten Island, but authorities are unsure if the brawl began in international waters, in New Jersey or in New York — leaving the issue of whose jurisdiction the incident falls under unclear, according to the NYPD.

“Security onboard the boat attempted to de-escalate the situation and subsequently called for the Coast Guard,” the NYPD said. “The Coast Guard escorted the cruise ship to Pier 88, confines of the MTN Precinct. Uniformed personnel and Traffic Agents met the ship and the ship disembarked passengers without further incident.”

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PIX 11 , a local outlet, reported that the fight began with two people but quickly grew in size as more people joined in, police said.

The NYPD told PIX 11 the cruise was escorted into New York for an emergency docking, but Carnival Cruise Line contends that the stop was already scheduled.

“Last night while Carnival Magic was returning to New York, a number of guests were involved in an altercation in a nightclub. Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened,” Carnival’s statement to PIX 11 reads. “The ship arrived as scheduled this morning and shoreside law enforcement authorities were notified and met the ship to interview suspects and witnesses and conduct an investigation.”

Fox News interviewed a witness who was on board at the time.

Theresa James, a travel agent, said the fight started just before 2 a.m. on the fifth floor of the cruise ship, where the onboard dance club and casino can be found.

James says an alleged threesome is what sparked the dispute, with passengers becoming riled up after learning that their significant others had engaged in the ménage à trois.

James, who witnessed the hour-long fight from her door, saw beer bottles smashed and said a woman may have been cut during the brawl.

She said the guests were “ignorant fools acting stupid” and praised the cruise ship’s security for how they handled the fight, saying the dispute could have been a lot worse.

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VIDEO: Florida Man (Or Woman?) Starts Massive Brawl on Miami Based Carnival Sunrise Cruise

The Carnival Sunrise Cruise , based out of Miami Florida, was just wrapping up a five-day, round-trip cruise in the Western Caribbean when the real entertainment started. Not on the stage, but poolside. There’s no official accounts of what exactly happened, but according to posts it appears that the Florida Man brawl started with an argument over a chair.

As reported by  The Orlando Sentinel ,  one passenger commented on one of the videos and claimed that up to 30 people got involved in the fight. “All I know is, I was filling my cup up with lemonade then, boom, they were knuckin’ and buckin’! Whew, you just had to be there,” another TikTok user commented. One woman was seen repeatedly kicking someone on the bottom of the pile. Pretty weak move there.

Because it was on a cruise ship, we don’t know if there were any injuries or arrests. Even the date of the fight, September 9th, is in question. By one posters account it does look to be about 30 people involved in the fight, one Carnival employee looks to be in the middle of it , trying to deflect some of the blows. There’s no way that’s in his job description. At one point someone blew a whistle (maybe a lifeguard) to try to slow the fight. it didn’t help. Florida Man brawl (or Florida Woman) could not be stopped. We don’t even know for sure that the people in the fight are from Florida. But it’s probably a safe assumption.

Brawl on Carnival cruise ship. Fight was over a lounge chair. pic.twitter.com/wksyHc6Qr4 — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 16, 2022

As one commenter stated “When you offer weeklong cruises for $200 with a daily drink upgrade package for $59/day this is what happens on board.”

Another angle

A fight between cruise passengers sailing on the Carnival Sunrise is caught on camera pic.twitter.com/DUyNSKci2J — Parker Branton (@ParkerBranton) September 11, 2022

It’s really upsetting just how normal this behavior is becoming.

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Dance Floor Brawl on NYC-Bound Cruise Sparks Coast Guard Escort, NYPD Probe

"thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened," carnival magic said in a statement, published june 28, 2022 • updated on june 28, 2022 at 1:26 pm.

Police are investigating after an all-out brawl erupted on a cruise ship as it headed back to New York overnight, authorities confirmed Tuesday after it safely arrived. Up to 60 people were ultimately involved in the fray over international waters, cops said.

The eight-day cruise aboard the Carnival Magic left its New York City-New Jersey hub on June 20, stopping in Dominicana, Turks and Caicos and a private island in the Bahamas before turning around and heading back toward the East Coast.

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It's not clear what sparked the fight, but PIX 11 reported it started between two people on a dance floor and intensified as others joined in the fray. Anywhere from 40 to 60 people were involved in the fight by the time it was broken up, officials said.

Cruise officials notified the Coast Guard, which launched a small boat from Staten Island to escort the ship the rest of the way to its Pier 88 dock. Members of the NYPD, which the Coast Guard had notified, were standing by when it arrived.

There was no immediate word on possible arrests. Jurisdictional questions around where the ship was at the time of the altercation -- was it in international waters? New Jersey waters? New York waters? -- have yet to be answered so it's not entirely clear just yet which department or agency will lead the investigation.

Carnival Magic acknowledged the incident, saying, "a number of guests were involved in an altercation in a nightclub" as the ship returned to Manhattan.

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"Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened," the cruise line's statement continued. "The ship arrived as scheduled this morning and authorities were notified and met the ship to interview suspects and witnesses and conduct an investigation."

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No injuries were reported and no weapons were involved, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Neither the Coast Guard nor the NYPD boarded the vessel, officials said. Passengers disembarked without further incident upon their NYC arrival Tuesday.

The Carnival Magic was built in 2011 and is registered in Panama. It is more than 1,000 feet long and sails to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Caribbean, from Port Canaveral, Norfolk, Miami and New York, on cruises that run anywhere from two to nine days. It can accommodate up to 3,690 guests.

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Dance floor brawl involving 60 people breaks out on cruise ship

Vessel escorted by us coast guard after fight breaks out involving up to 60 people, article bookmarked.

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A cruise ship was escorted into port by the US Coast Guard after a brawl involving up to 60 people erupted in a night club onboard.

Security staff aboard the Carnival Magic asked the US Coast Guard for assistance in the early hours of 28 June as 40 to 60 passengers became embroiled in a dance floor fight at around 5.20am. It’s unclear what caused the incident, though it is said to have started as a fight between two passengers.

The Coast Guard launched a small boat from Staten Island to escort the cruise ship to its home dock in Manhattan, according to NBC . Members of the NYPD were on stand by when the ship docked.

Passengers disembarked from the ship as normal at the end of an eight-day cruise that included stops in Dominica, Turks and Caicos and a private island in the Bahamas.

No statement has been released on whether anyone involved in the brawl has been arrested, nor have officials released information on which authority will be investigating the incident as it is unclear at this stage whose jurisdiction it falls under – the NYPD, New Jersey police or another authority, if the fight occurred when the ship was still in international waters.

In a statement, Carnival said: “Last night while Carnival Magic was returning to New York, a number of guests were involved in an altercation in a nightclub. Thankfully no serious injuries were reported and our onboard security team intervened.

“The ship arrived as scheduled this morning and authorities were notified and met the ship to interview suspects and witnesses and conduct an investigation.”

The Carnival Magic has a capacity of 3,690 guests and a crew of 1,367. It measures 1,004 feet in length and features the world’s first at-sea ropes course as well as a waterpark and spa. A five-day Bermuda cruise aboard the Carnival Magic costs from $284 (£233) per person per night.

This is not the first time that tensions have run high on cruise ships. In February 2018, several fights broke out on board the Melbourne-bound Carnival Legend , forcing it to make an unscheduled stop in Eden, New South Wales. Twenty-three members of a Melbourne family were removed from the ship following the incident that involved up to 30 people.

In 2019, a row broke out at a buffet aboard the P&O cruise ship Royal Britannia as it travelled through the Norwegian fjords. Three men and women were assaulted in the fray, which began after a family objected to the course language used by a fellow passenger. The incident went to trial in 2021 and Paul Evans was convicted of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sentenced to 21 months in prison.

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VIDEO: Multiple people involved in altercation…

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8 years later, orlando remembers 49 victims of pulse mass shooting, news florida news, video: multiple people involved in altercation on carnival sunrise cruise.

Passengers shared footage of the altercation that involved a handful of people punching and beating on each other by the pool on Sept. 9.

A man wearing a lanyard attempted to diffuse the violence by using his body to block the punches.

A passenger who claimed to be on the ship commented on the video and said that at least 30 people were involved in the fight.

“All I know is, I was filling my cup up with lemonade then, boom, they were knuckin’ and buckin’! Whew, you just had to be there,” another TikTok user commented.

It is unclear if any arrests were made or if anyone involved was injured, according to media reports.

The Sunrise was on the tail end of a five-day, round-trip cruise in the Western Caribbean.

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Watch: Another Fight Breaks Out On Carnival Cruise Ship, Multiple Injuries Reported

Another brawl has broken out onboard a Carnival cruise ship , where multiple injuries were reported, including innocent bystanders.

Based out of Jacksonville, Florida, the Carnival Elation ship was at the end of a five-day sailing when the fight erupted late Wednesday night, First Coast News , a Fox affiliate out of Jacksonville, reported.

The brawl was captured on video aboard the ship as it was sailing toward Jacksonville for disembarkment, the news outlet said. The video reveals at least eight people involved in incident.

Multiple injuries were reported by the local news outlet, including one woman from Atlanta who told First Coast News that both of her grandparents, who were bystanders, were injured. One suffered a concussion and the other a swollen hand.

At one point in the video, a woman can be seen trying to intervene before being knocked to the ground by the crowd. Security guards can also be seen in the video trying to break up the melee.

This is the second reported fight on a Carnival cruise ship in just over a week, as a 40- to 60-passenger brawl broke out on the Carnival Magic ship on June 28. The fight occurred in the ship’s nightclub between two people who were fighting over cheating allegations .

The Carnival Magic requested assistance from the Coast Guard, which escorted the cruise ship to its home dock in Manhattan. The NYPD was onsite as the ship docked and passengers disembarked.

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Twin Cities travelers left behind in Miami on overbooked cruise

Minnesotans stranded after cruise booking mishap.

Dozens of Twin Cities cruise passengers were left stranded in Florida after cruise ship booking issues with a travel agent and Carnival Cruises. FOX 9's Karen Scullin has the story.

(FOX 9) - A group of Twin Cities cruise passengers were left at the terminal last Sunday, watching as the ship left without them.

They blame the travel agent, who blames Carnival Cruise Lines. But Carnival puts it back on the agent. In any case, it was chaos for those who just wanted to sail away for a week.

One of the passengers, Cherie Goudeau, said she had been planning this cruise for a year as she was being treated for thyroid cancer. Then, when two family members passed away during that time, the trip with her sister, Dee Dee Richardson, became even more important. 

But it all unraveled in a matter of minutes on the day they were supposed to leave.

A week ago, the sisters were on their way to Miami, excited about boarding the Twin Cities Takeover '90s Throwback Cruise on the Carnival Horizon for a much-needed spring break.

"I was looking forward to hearing some Juvenile, reliving some 90s music, the fresh food that was going to be on the boat, the burgers that were going to be on the boat, just hanging out with people," said Goudeau.

But when the pair went to the cruise terminal to board the ship last Sunday, their excitement quickly turned to confusion, anger, and disbelief. They were not going to be able to board.

"Then the next morning, we wake up, we get to the port, and they can’t find my name anywhere, I’m not tied to that room, somebody else is in that room," explained Goudeau.

They say their travel agent passed by and said she would fix things but did not and then disappeared.

"She comes back, she walks all past us assuring that we’re gonna get a room. This is what she tells us. She goes back on the ship, never comes back out, never says anything to us," said Goudeau.

Richardson added, "I feel like it’s unethical. How could you just leave that many people standing out there and everybody that was standing out there was booked under her."

Goudeau says she’s out $2,800 that she paid in June, along with the 50 people she was standing with on the pier.

"When she never came out to address people, and that boat was sailing off, and we were sitting on that port, people were in tears, people were upset, they were angry," said Goudeau.

In a statement on social media Thursday night, the travel agent, Monica Faulkner, said: 

Faulkner is currently on the cruise, but FOX 9’s Karen Scullin spoke to her by phone. She says Carnival canceled a number of bookings on Feb. 21. She tried to re-book them the following day, but the ship sold out. She did not explain why the money was not returned then or why the clients were not notified.

Faulkner said their money is being held by Travel Joy, a company that independent agents use to collect payment for bookings. She said the money would be returned, but Richardson and Goudeau aren’t buying it.

"If you were gonna refund you would have refunded already. You would have been on that ship refunding people their money," said Goudeau.

The sisters stayed with family in Florida for the week. But they said some people tried to fly back and couldn't because of the snowstorm. Meanwhile, others said they sat outside booked hotels waiting for a cancellation. FOX 9 saw a couple of people on social media supporting Faulkner, who again, says she'll refund the money upon her Saturday return. 

FOX 9 reached out to Travel Joy, but did not yet hear back.

The Morning Show Blog

By stephen diener | september 16, 2022, watch: wild fight breaks out on carnival cruise line heading to south florida.

Check out the whole story and the unedited video at the link below…

Viewer Discretion is advised.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11218443/Shocking-video-shows-man-brutally-pummel-woman-mass-brawl-Carnival-Cruise-ship.html

Watch CBS News

Carnival to probe "all aspects" of cruise ship brawling

February 19, 2018 / 8:21 AM EST / CBS/AP

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Carnival Cruise Line has said "all aspects" of a series of incidents on a South Pacific cruise that was interrupted by brawls will be investigated, including the response of security personnel whom some passengers say made matters worse by using heavy-handed tactics. The violence was apparently caused by a 23-member family, members of which threw punches at other passengers.

Some of the passengers said they locked themselves in cabins to escape three days of violence on the Carnival Legend, which arrived in its home port of Melbourne on Saturday, a day after a family was offloaded in an unscheduled stop in Eden, New South Wales in Australia.                 

Police said they were investigating the incident and the operator apologized for the "disruptive behavior" by the group that was removed from the cruise liner. One passenger told  9 News Australia  the brawl was a "bloodbath." 

The "big Italian family" spent days attacking Australians aboard the ship, with people "getting strangled and punched up," passenger Lisa Bolitho told reporters.

"Very violent, they were full-on attacks," she said.

She also questioned the ship's management, quoting the captain as saying, "'What do you want me to do about it -- throw them overboard?'"

Cellphone video footage purportedly of the brawl on Friday shows security guards fighting and trying to separate passengers amid shouting and kicking.

The Reuters news agency reported Monday that Carnival had released a brief statement, saying "all aspects including the security response" would be investigated. The statement did not provide a timeline for the company's investigation.

Videos posted online from inside the ship appear to show Carnival security personnel beating an individual on the ground and attempting to grab cell phones from other passengers as they recorded the events.

Bolitho's son Jarrah said he was among those targeted and fled and locked himself in the cabin with his mother.

"I was watching the fight and one guy came up to me and said 'Do you want to go too bro?'" he said, adding the offenders were in their late teens and early 20s. "My mum had to drag me away from it all. They were trying to pick on any Aussie they could find."

Carnival Cruise Line said it was offering guests a 25 percent future cruise credit as a "goodwill gesture" but some passengers criticized the offer.

"I won't be travelling Carnival ever again so a 25 percent off a future cruise in my eyes is unacceptable," Mark Morrison said.

The cruise liner with more than 2,000 passengers was on a 10-day trip from Melbourne to New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific.

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Mother says $15,000 family cruise was canceled after she posted booking details on Facebook

• A Kentucky woman said her family's cruise was canceled after they fell victim to identity theft.
• Tiffany Banks said the incident occurred after she shared booking information on Facebook.
• Banks and her family spent a year planning a trip on the Carnival Celebration ship.

A Kentucky mother said her family's booking on a cruise was canceled just 48 hours before the ship was due to set sail after they fell victim to identity theft .

Tiffany Banks, her husband, and their children had spent a year planning their trip on the Carnival Celebration ship , which Carnival Cruise Line operates.

But in a post on Tiffany's TikTok account, she said she received an email from Carnival saying that two excursions she had booked had been canceled.

When she called the company to find out more, she said she was told that her entire cabin had been canceled.

"Full-blown panic," Tiffany Banks says in the video. "We'd been planning this vacation for a year, we booked on the Presidential Excel Suite," which she says is the biggest room on the Celebration ship.

Banks said a "lead" at the company told her the "online system had been logged into and it had been canceled."

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She said that after talking with the employee for almost two-and-a-half hours, they offered two interior rooms in place of the suite.

"I just can't even fathom how that they think that that's right," Banks said, adding that the family had invested almost $15,000 into the vacation — $12,000 to $13,000 for the room and the rest for flights and excursions.

Nevertheless, The family decided to head to the port on the day the ship set sail, but they had to rent an Airbnb in Miami as the booking was still canceled.

Banks later posted an update to TikTok in which she said the family had been "victims of identity theft" after an apparent scammer targeted one of their Facebook posts that contained booking information.

She said the person opened a fake Carnival profile, added the family's booking to their account, and then canceled the family's cruise.

Banks said that Carnival offered her $10,000 in onboard credit.

She said that she refused the offer and that the family was not interested in booking with Carnival again while also sharing what she claimed to be audio clips of conversations with a Carnival employee.

Business Insider approached Banks for comment but received no response.

In a statement to BI, a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said: "While we are not going to comment about any specific incident, most cyber and consumer experts consistently advise that it is never a good idea to post personal information about your travel plans, including a confirmation number for a booking, which could allow a bad actor or identify thief to use that information in inappropriate or even illegal ways."

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

• Main content

Carnival considers megaship change Royal Caribbean already made

Royal Caribbean intends to break tradition when Utopia of the Seas begins sailing in July. 

Normally, a new megaship sails seven-day sailings to maximize revenue. Icon of the Seas, for example, the cruise line's current newest ship, has been sailing week-long trips out of Miami since it launched. That has helped maximize Royal Caribbean's  ( RCL )  revenue as demand has been very strong.

Related: Carnival considers main dining room change Royal Caribbean made

Carnival Cruise Line has followed the same strategy with its largest-in-the-fleet Excel-Class ships: Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee. Those three ships have been exclusively sailing seven-day trips. That makes sense given the scope and scale of Carnival's Excel Class, and Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon classes.

You can't fully experience these ships in a short sailing, but despite the success of this model, Royal Caribbean intends to break the mold when Utopia of the Seas begins sailing out of Port Canaveral in July.

Chief Executive Jason Liberty spoke about the success of Icon of the Seas and its plans for Utopia of the Seas during his company's first-quarter-earnings call.

"New hardware has been a great differentiator for us," he said. "Since Icon of the Seas joined the fleet a few months ago, it is already exceeding our lofty expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance. 

"We are also excited for the arrival later this year of Utopia of the Seas, a ship that is positioned to be another game changer for our short Caribbean product."

Utopia of the Seas will sail exclusively three- and four-day trips for its inaugural season. That's a massive change in strategy regarding new ships.

Carnival considers shorter Excel-Class sailings

Liberty and Royal Caribbean are betting that exposing new-to-cruise customers to its best hardware will help convert them to frequent cruisers. Based on advertised pricing for Utopia versus Icon, that does mean taking lower per-night rates for Utopia, although it's not entirely fair to compare the sixth Oasis-Class ship to the first Icon-Class ship.

Royal Caribbean clearly believes in using some of its best hardware for short sailings given that it's moving Wonder of the Seas to three- to four-day sailings in 2024. That will put Wonder and Utopia, the two newest Oasis-Class ships, sailing short trips out of Miami and Port Canaveral respectively, 

Carnival has not used its Excel-Class ships for shorter sailings, but Brand Ambassador John Heald entertained the idea on his Facebook page.

"Do you think an Excel-class ship, Mardi Gras or Carnival Celebration should consider doing 4 or 5-day cruises? So many people ask me if that would ever happen. Is 4 or 5 days enough time to truly enjoy everything these ships have to offer?" he wrote.

He also asked his followers to share their thoughts and more than 700 of them responded.

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Carnival customers weigh in on short Excel-Class sailings

Opinions were mixed, as they generally are, on the idea of using Carnival's megaships for shorter sailings.

"The Excel class should not be any shorter than 6 days. With the cost of flights, etc., I want more time on the ship, and the time is needed to experience it due to the size," wrote Nina Anderson. "No one wants to pay thousands of dollars to be on a short cruise. Carnival should consider upgrading their smaller ships with some of the newer amenities so the shorter sailing can take advantage of those as well."

Using some of its best ships for shorter sailings is Royal Caribbean betting that new-to-cruise customers will have such a great experience that they'll come back. The cruise line also hopes to capture experienced cruisers who want a quick getaway.

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Many of Heald's followers balked at the idea of having less time to experience the Excel-Class ships.

"No way! You can barely enjoy it in 7," posted Sara Rose Curry. "I get people's schedules might not allow but it’s totally worth taking your full vacation time. There’s far too much to eat, do, and see." 

Some took a more pragmatic approach as to why Carnival should consider shorter Excel-Class sailings. 

"As an agent and avid cruiser, I think so. But also keep the longer itineraries. A short cruise will give them a taste and they won’t be able to see the entire ship so they’ll probably book another cruise on the same ship to see the rest or just to spend more time," Belinda Rucker Little shared.

Other travel agents share that view.

"Yes, definitely as a nurse and travel agent, I have many clients who can only do a max 4-5 days due to work. However, can we keep some of the options the longer cruises have?" Angela Valentine wrote.

Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals, and news on the ships from our expert cruiser

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Find the best cruise for you

Featured cruise deals, cruising guide, why take a cruise vacation.

If you have a place on your bucket list, chances are, a cruise will get you there – provided the destination is along a coastline or inland waterway. Cruises cover the world, taking millions of passengers each year to regions such as the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean and even Antarctica. Cruising offers a tremendous value, with trips that include your lodging, meals and entertainment – all rolled into one. Some luxury cruise lines even offer fully inclusive vacations, which cover drinks and tours ashore. And best of all, cruising means seeing the world conveniently after unpacking only once.

Cruises also provide a wonderful option for families, with many ships offering things like waterslides, mini-golf courses and fun clubs for kids, tweens and teens. While most are free, nursery programs can cost extra. Planning is easy: Pick your destination and the right ship (and line) for your travel style. The cruise line makes it simple, offering packages to help you save on extras like alcohol, shore tours or even airfare.

Travelers say they choose to cruise because cruising often costs less per night when compared with land vacations at a hotel, where they'll have to book -- and pay for -- every extra.

What are Tips for Finding Cheap Cruises?

If you're a flexible traveler, you'll have a better chance of finding cheap cruises. Take a cruise that doesn't sail over the summer or holidays, when prices are highest. Book an inside cabin, or take your chances with a "guarantee cabin," ideal for passengers who aren't picky about their stateroom location but really want the lowest price available. Book cabins on lower decks, which often come with lower prices than those rooms on higher floors – that is staterooms over suites.

Cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International offer rates that might drop as low as $75 per person per night -- and sometimes even lower.

If you want a real bargain, consider a transatlantic or repositioning cruise. These cruises are one-way or open-jaw trips, that start in one port and finish at another. You can score a deal sailing from Florida to Europe, for example, or even from New York to Florida. Just be aware, you'll probably have to pay a bit more for airfare to return.

What are Tips to Finding Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

While being flexible date wise will always get you the best last-minute cruise deals, it's particularly helpful if you live near a cruise port and can quickly drive there. That way you'll probably be able to jump on those deals that might pop up just a week or two before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Or if you don't have flexibility with either departure dates or embarkation locations, be willing to compromise on exact destinations. This will allow you to find a wider range of last-minute deals traveling to locations in their off-season or so-called shoulder season.

Do plenty of research and know what your ideal cruise is and costs on average, so both are already on your radar. When you see it drop, pounce! (Many cruise lines update pricing several times per day, so preparation is crucial.)

Best cruises in 2024

There's truly a cruise style and ship for everyone, and that has never been more the case than in 2024, as vessels continue to come in an array of sizes – from riverboats and expedition vessels to the largest-ever mega ships. And it's not an exaggeration to say some are loaded with so many activities that you couldn't possibly enjoy them all in a single sailing.

Families will find plenty of options and activities onboard big ships, which have transformed cruising, making the vessels as exciting as the destinations themselves. The Caribbean is always a great option for families, offering lots of sunshine, great beaches and culture. Alaska, famous for its incredible vistas and abundant wildlife, is also a solid family cruise option. Consider cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and even Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line for a great multi-generational voyage.

Or on the smaller side, by comparison, river cruising remains a hot ticket item this year, with exciting routes that send eager guests down the Danube or Rhine rivers in Europe or to lesser-frequented locations, like the Mekong River in Cambodia or Vietnam, or soon the Magdalena River in Colombia. Popular river cruises embark in timeless cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Lisbon. River cruise lines to consider encompass Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, Tauck, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Riverside Luxury Cruises, as well as American Cruise Lines for a domestic alternative.

If you're an adventurer at heart, an expedition cruise might be best for you. These voyages, often onboard small ships (only a few hundred passengers tops), offer an intimate experience that brings passengers right up next to glaciers, whales, penguins and iguanas. Ships visit tiny spots all over the world – from pole to pole – including the Arctic, Alaska, Australia, Greenland, the Galapagos and, of course, Antarctica. Passengers will spend their time zodiacing, kayaking, hiking, biking and exploring with expert guides and knowledgeable naturalists. Expedition travelers love cruise lines such as Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, UnCruise Adventures, Silversea, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), Ponant and Quark Expeditions, as well as an ever-expanding list that now even extends to Seabourn and Viking.

But for the most decadent form of travel, luxury cruises offer all-inclusive experiences onboard small to median-sized ships (usually under a thousand passengers) with perks like butlers, high-end amenities and personalized, intuitive service, not to mention the finest dining at sea. Ships often feature luxury touches like marble and crystal decor, intimate spaces and beautiful spas. Because luxury ships tend to be on the smaller size, they can often reach off-the-beaten-path destinations bigger ships simply cannot access -- ports like St. Tropez or Guadeloupe. If you're looking for a luxury cruise, consider Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and upcoming Four Seasons Yachts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Port Everglades cruise port: A guide to cruising from Fort Lauderdale

With 10 cruise lines sailing out of Port Everglades (and more to come) and 3 million-plus passengers annually, Fort Lauderdale's cruise port is the third busiest in the country — behind PortMiami and Port Canaveral (near Orlando).

Ships sail from Port Everglades mainly to the Bahamas , Mexico and the Caribbean , but many travelers choose to make Fort Lauderdale's world-famous beaches and waterways part of their vacation plans with pre- and post-cruise stays.

Arguably one of the best aspects of flying into and sailing out of Fort Lauderdale is the fact that Port Everglades is conveniently located less than 2 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). In fact, it's the closest cruise port to any airport in the country, which makes it easy to access for out-of-towners who want to fly in and cruise out on the same day.

Port Everglades is also an easy port to depart from on debarkation day because passengers can use Global Entry and the Mobile Passport Control app to skip long customs queues at the terminal.

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If you've booked a cruise sailing out of Port Everglades, this is your guide to everything you need to know about cruising from Fort Lauderdale. Discover which airport is best, which hotels to book and where to park, eat, shop and explore with your extra time in Fort Lauderdale.

All you have to worry about is enjoying the vistas of Fort Lauderdale's sandy shoreline as your ship sails out to sea.

Port Everglades cruise port overview

Port everglades cruise terminal information.

Address : 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Number of terminals : 8

Each cruise terminal is fully accessible, and parking fees are waived at all Port Everglades lots and garages for disabled persons driving their vehicles to the port.

Luggage storage is not available at the port.

Cruise lines sailing from Port Everglades

Terminal 2 : Princess Cruises Terminal 4 : Disney Cruise Line Terminal 18 : Royal Caribbean Terminal 19 : Holland America Terminal 21 : Holland America and Princess Cruises Terminal 25 : Celebrity Cruises Terminal 26 : Holland America Terminal 29 : Celebrity Cruises, Holland America and Royal Caribbean

Other cruise lines sailing out of Port Everglades include Azamara, Crystal, Cunard, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Silversea and Viking. These ships are slotted to sail out of available terminals.

To access the cruise schedule, download the CruiseSchedule Port Everglades app .

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Airports near Fort Lauderdale cruise port

Cruisers sailing out of Port Everglades have two major South Florida airport options when booking flights: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Miami International Airport (MIA).

Most travelers prefer to fly into FLL because it's so close to Port Everglades, making transfers much quicker and cheaper than from MIA. In fact, it's possible to book a same-day flight and get to your ship within an hour of your flight landing.

MIA offers more daily flights on the whole. If you're flying in from overseas, MIA also offers more international flight options. Miami's airport might also be more appealing if you're a member of an airline loyalty program or a cardholder who wants to prioritize lounge access.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the nearest airport to Port Everglades. Only 1.8 miles away, it's the closest airport to a cruise port in the country. Major carriers, including Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines, all fly into Fort Lauderdale's airport.

If you need to kill time between the cruise disembarkation and your flight time, the airport offers a United Club Lounge and a Delta Sky Club for passengers of those airlines, as well as an Escape Lounge in Terminal 3 that's open to all travelers in that terminal for a fee. FLL does not have a Priority Pass lounge , but Priority Pass members with restaurant perks get a dining discount at the Kafe Kalik restaurant in Terminal 4. (This perk might not be available to travelers with a membership through certain credit cards.)

Related: Best airline credit cards

Miami International Airport

About 40 minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale cruise port (often longer during rush hour), Miami International Airport (MIA) serves ​​most major airlines, including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country Airlines and United.

At MIA, lounge options include an American Airlines Admirals Club and a Flagship Lounge, a Delta Sky Club, an Amex Centurion Lounge for holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and a Priority Pass lounge called Club America. To get access, you can buy a Priority Pass membership or hold a credit card that offers a membership, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

How to get to the Fort Lauderdale cruise port

Cruise line transfers

Cruise lines often offer transfers from the airport to the cruise port, but they're usually only available on the day the ship departs. A cruise line transfer wouldn't be an option for guests flying in earlier.

Cruise line transfers are priced per person, so if you're traveling with a group from nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, it would be cheaper to split a taxi or an Uber or Lyft instead.

Transportation from FLL to Port Everglades through Disney Cruise Line, for example, is $45 per person each way. The cruise line doesn't offer transfers from MIA.

Hotel shuttles

Several hotels in the area offer shuttles to the airport for $8 to $15 per person, with select hotels offering complimentary shuttle service to the cruise port.

For more information on hotel options with free or paid shuttles, see the hotel section below.

Independent airport shuttles

Private shuttle companies like Go Airport and South Florida Shuttles offer shared rides from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port Everglades from $15 to $27 per person. Shared shuttles to the Fort Lauderdale port are not typically available from Miami International Airport.

Independent van and car services

Companies like South Florida Elite Shuttle, Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle and Go Airport also offer private cars or vans to Port Everglades from both FLL and MIA.

Transportation from nearby FLL ranges from $65 for three people and three pieces of luggage to $105 for up to 10 passengers and 10 bags with Go Airport. Pricing starts upward of $120 from MIA.

Taxis and ride-hailing services

The average taxi fare from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port Everglades is $20. To take a cab from the airport, exit your terminal on the arrivals level and follow the wayfinding signs to the nearest taxi stand.

Ride-hailing services from FLL, like Uber and Lyft, are typically slightly cheaper, often starting as low as $10. This rate can spike during periods of surge pricing, such as when everyone is disembarking the ship and calling for cars at the same time.

If you're heading to the port from Miami International Airport, the taxi fare to Port Everglades can run upward of $100 one-way. Exit baggage claim to find a taxi on the ground arrivals level.

Uber, on the other hand, can start around $55 for UberX, $70 for Comfort and $100 for Uber XL if you need to fit up to six people and more luggage. Pickup zones for ride-hailing services are stationed outside doors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15, 20 and 23 on the ground arrivals level. Stand and wait at the middle median.

Related: Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you

Public transportation from nearby airports

From FLL : Broward County's Route 1 bus service from the Fort Lauderdale airport stops at the Northport section of Port Everglades on SE 17th Street. The bus stop is located at the Rental Car Center, Stop G, at the airport.

From MIA : You can take the Tri-Rail train from Miami International Airport to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport station, with free shuttle buses to the airport terminals. Continue on the bus route above to Port Everglades.

Port Everglades cruise port parking

On-site parking

Port Everglades has two on-site parking garages and three parking lots providing more than 5,500 parking spaces for cruisegoers.

Heron Parking Garage serves Terminals 2 and 4 (with an air-conditioned elevated passenger bridge on the fifth floor that leads directly to Terminal 2), while Palm Parking Garage serves Terminals 19, 21, 25, 26 and 29 with shuttle service to Terminal 29.

Additionally, Lot A serves Terminals 19 and 26, Lot B serves Terminals 18 and 19, and Lot C serves Terminal 18.

Port Everglades' on-site parking costs $20 per day or $25 for oversized vehicles. If you're parking for less than a day, it's $4 for the first hour and $8 for up to five hours.

Park-and-cruise

Beyond the port, several private parking lots provide shuttle service to the cruise port. One of the cheapest park-and-cruise lot options is Park by the Ports, which offers parking rates starting at $9.99 per day. The shuttle is free for the first four passengers and is only about a 10-minute ride to the port.

Park 'N Go is another reliable option only a few blocks from the port. It has 24-hour staff and free on-demand shuttles to the port that will meet you at your vehicle. This lot starts as low as $10 per day if you reserve online in advance.

With both of these options, reservations are the only way to guarantee yourself a parking spot, but they do accept drive-ups as well.

Tropical Airport Parking is a unique option that lets you park your car at hotels with unused parking spaces. Their prices start at only $7.45 per day, and you must reserve a space in advance. The shuttle to the cruise port costs extra depending on which hotel you choose, so compare the total price to other options when you're deciding where to park.

Various hotels also offer park-and-cruise arrangements where you can keep your car at the hotel for the duration of your cruise if you stay for at least a night. SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port currently offers a hotel package that includes a complimentary round-trip airport shuttle and up to 14 nights of parking for one vehicle (the shuttle to the cruise port is extra).

In other cases, the price for parking is separate from the overnight hotel rate but is usually much cheaper than parking at the cruise port and makes the most sense if you already were planning a precruise hotel stay. Hampton Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport North Cruise Port and Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port, for example, offer post-checkout parking for hotel guests for only $5 to $10 per night and a paid shuttle to the cruise port.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Hotels near Port Everglades cruise port

Hilton hotels

Some of the closest hotels to Port Everglades are located along the 17th Street Causeway, such as the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street.

The all-suite Embassy Suites hotel (starting around 42,000 Hilton Honors points per night) is a great family-friendly choice because of its spacious rooms and free made-to-order breakfast. It also offers a complimentary evening reception with snacks and drinks.

For more of a resort experience without sacrificing proximity to the port, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina (starting around 31,000 points per night) covers transportation to the beach and beach towels in its resort fee. It also offers a rooftop restaurant with views of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a heated outdoor pool and pool bar, and a lobby lounge and coffee shop. A third-party company offers transportation between the hotel and Port Everglades for $11 per person.

Related: Best Hilton credit cards

Marriott hotels

If you're looking for a more upscale stay on the beach before or after your cruise, check out one of Marriott Bonvoy 's luxury hotel options on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The elegant Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale (starting around 59,500 points per night) offers luxurious amenities, such as oceanfront dining at Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits and a serene beachfront spa. The chic and ultra-modern W Fort Lauderdale (starting around 42,000 points per night) is famed for its Wet Deck pool five floors above the ocean and nightlife at Living Room.

Hyatt hotels

The Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport — South & Cruise Port (starting around 9,000 points per night) is a great value hotel option within five minutes of Port Everglades. The family-friendly hotel provides free continental breakfast, an outdoor pool, a gym and a shuttle to the cruise port for $9 per person.

Related: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to find the winner

Non-points hotels

If you're looking for an affordable, no-frills place to stay overnight before your cruise, Red Carpet Inn Airport/Cruise Port Fort Lauderdale is a budget-friendly hotel about 10 minutes from Port Everglades that offers free shuttles to and from the airport and cruise port.

The free shuttle runs to the airport from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and you can schedule your shuttle to Port Everglades at check-in. The hotel also offers complimentary parking during your stay and a park-and-cruise rate of $10 per day of your cruise.

Another popular value hotel with a free airport and cruise shuttle, Rodeway Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port also offers complimentary breakfast with your stay.

For an extended beach escape, book a stay at the secluded Pelican Grand Beach Resort, the only resort that's located directly on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. This luxury boutique hotel on the quieter end of the beach offers relaxing amenities like an oceanfront zero-entry pool, a lazy river and its own private stretch of shoreline.

Restaurants near Port Everglades cruise port

Fort Lauderdale's most popular dining destination, Las Olas Boulevard, is known as downtown's main drag of sidewalk cafes, bars, shops and art galleries. You'll find everything from seafood and steakhouses to tacos, burgers and American bar food. A personal favorite is Louie Bossi's Ristorante, a high-energy Italian spot for handcrafted pastas, Neapolitan pizzas and an impromptu round of bocce in the outdoor courtyard.

For the local experience, you might enjoy breakfast on the beach at Casablanca Cafe, a restaurant and piano bar in a restored historic home. If it's lunch or dinnertime before the sun goes down, grab a seafood-centric meal at a waterfront institution along the Intracoastal Waterway, like Coconuts or Boatyard, or head to Boathouse at the Riverside for a view of the New River.

Looking for evening drinks or a morning coffee before boarding your ship? Flagler Village is a trendy neighborhood in a former warehouse district with several local breweries and artisan coffee shops.

Related: Best dining credit cards

Things to do in Fort Lauderdale before or after your cruise

Visit the beach

Most visitors to Fort Lauderdale come for the beach, and Fort Lauderdale Beach along state Road A1A is sure to impress — whether you want to soak up some sun from the sand, take a splash in the Atlantic or drive along state Road A1A for views of the ocean right from your car.

About 15 minutes south, you can explore Hollywood Beach, which feels like a small beach town with a 2.5-mile stretch of pedestrian promenade called the Broadwalk. Watch the joggers and cyclists go by, or join in yourself.

Related: The best beaches in Florida

Ride the Water Taxi

With an extensive system of canals and waterways, Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America for good reason. The Water Taxi will take you along the Intracoastal Waterway on a route behind some of Fort Lauderdale's most stunning waterfront mansions.

It stops along the way at popular attractions, hotels and waterfront restaurants. Hop off at 15th Street Fisheries or Shooters Waterfront for a classic South Florida seafood meal.

Hit the slots

If you want to continue gambling after your cruise, Broward County is home to a few major casinos that attract tourists and locals alike.

About 15 minutes west of the port in Hollywood, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and its adjacent Guitar Hotel feel like two Las Vegas resorts in the middle of South Florida, with a casino connecting the two properties. Across the two music-themed luxury hotels, guests can enjoy the spa, various shops, a lagoon-style pool with cabanas, more than a dozen restaurants and multiple nightclubs, bars and lounges. The Hard Rock Live entertainment venue often hosts concerts and other acts like comedians.

Stay for the nighttime light show from the Guitar Hotel that's choreographed to different songs. Six beams of light project 20,000 feet into the sky, representing the strings of a guitar neck. The Guitar Hotel's grand entrance also features a 35-foot-tall central waterfall called The Oculus with another musical light show that runs every 20 minutes.

Farther south in Hallandale Beach (about 30 minutes from Port Everglades), Gulfstream Park is a horse racing track and casino that's home to equestrian events like the Pegasus World Cup. The complex also has an array of shops, restaurants and entertainment like nightclubs and a karaoke venue.

Shopping near Fort Lauderdale cruise port

If you're looking for last-minute cruise necessities like sunscreen or snacks, visit a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS near Port Everglades on U.S. Highway 1 or 17th Street Causeway. The Harbor Shops is also a convenient nearby shopping plaza with a Publix Supermarket and a Total Wine if you want to grab a bottle of wine to bring on board.

Las Olas Boulevard is an outdoor shopping and entertainment district with boutique shops, art galleries, sidewalk cafes and bars. It stretches from downtown Fort Lauderdale to the beach on state Road A1A, and it's the perfect place to stroll for the afternoon, shop after you disembark or wander the evening before you board.

For a more traditional shopping mall experience, head to The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, an upscale shopping center with more than 100 retail shops, including Macy's, Michael Kors, H&M and Free People.

Farther away but a worthwhile destination for bargain hunters, Sawgrass Mills is one of the world's largest outlet malls. The sprawling shopping center with more than 400 shops and restaurants is about a 20- to 30-minute drive from the cruise port.

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