October 23, 2026 — Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale handled more than 5.38 million cruise passenger movements in fiscal 2026, a record for the third year running.
What happened
The total rose from 4.77 million in fiscal 2025. The 2026–27 season opened in October with nine cruise lines and 40 ships. Lines sailing from the port include Celebrity, Cunard, Crystal, Disney, Holland America, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Viking. Baleària Caribbean’s fast ferry Jaume II also uses the port.
| What’s new | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legend of the Seas | Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class ship (up to 7,600 guests) arrives in November to homeport for the 2027 season |
| Orient Express Corinthian | Billed as the world’s largest sailing ship; joins this season |
| Crystal Symphony | Returns with refreshed spaces after its 2025 dry dock |
| Terminal 18 | Repainted; redesigned, more open embarkation hall; refurbished VIP lounge |
| Parking | 850+ new spaces next to Terminal 18; 6,386 spaces in total |
Martin Jackson has been promoted to lead a new Cruise Services Division. He said “operational consistency earns trust” with guests and customers.
What it means for airline travelers
- The busier the port, the busier embarkation days will be. Fly into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Miami (MIA) the day before your cruise, especially once Legend of the Seas starts sailing.
- If you plan to drive and park, the 850+ new spaces at Terminal 18 should help on days when Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships are in port.
- The report does not mention any effect on travel-industry or interline rates.
Sources
- Seatrade Cruise News: Port Everglades achieves record 5.38m passenger moves
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