What to Do Before or After Your Cruise from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades

By Janet K. Keeler

Nearly 4 million cruisers come to Port Everglades cruise port in Fort Lauderdale every year to see the world. There’s not a continent untouched by at least one of the 40 ships that homeport in Port Everglades.

Cruise itineraries range from three-day Bahamas jaunts to 100-plus-night cruises around the world. In between there is a multitude of Caribbean, European and South American itineraries plus ships that traverse the Panama Canal bound for Seattle, sojourns to Africa and expeditions to the Antarctic.

Besides the broad range of cruise itineraries out of Port Everglades, South Florida is busting with things to do for travelers who arrive a few days early or want to stay a bit after the cruise ends. Extending a cruise vacation is never a bad idea.

And what a place to do that. The 22 miles of Broward County beaches are beautiful, there are plenty of accommodations and the weather is cooperative year-round. There’s a two-mile paved promenade adjacent to the sand in Hollywood Beach for walkers, bicyclists and runners. Deerfield Beach is the spot to build sand castles and the iconic fishing pier that juts 975 feet into the Atlantic lures visitors for fishing, views and people watching. Pompano Beach is a prime snorkeling and scuba site.

If you’ve arrived at Port Everglades by car, then you can easily get to all the things-to-do places on your list. If not, car rentals (at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport just four miles from Port Everglades), taxis and rideshare transportation are available.

The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi makes 10 stops through the city along the Intracoastal Waterway. Riders can hop-on-and-off to explore, get food and drink or stay on board for the ride. It’s a convenient way to see some of the glittering hotels and high-rises. Port Everglades has eight terminals and Nos. 2 and 4 are walkable to the Convention Center Water Taxi stop (No. 4) but a taxi ride is probably in order for most cruisers. The cruise port is that big. The free Fort Lauderdale Community Shuttle is another way to get around though there is no stop at the cruise port.

Here are five more things to do before or after a cruise from Port Everglades.

Make a Bet on a Good Time

Sometimes you’ve just got to roll the dice and you can actually do that at Harrah’s Pompano Beach and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Harrah’s, which is north of Everglades cruise port, has 1,200 slot machines and other digital games plus more than 40 tables for poker. Try your luck with other hopefuls playing three-card stud and Texas hold ’em, among other poker games. Need a break from the tables? Check out the fine dining at Farraddays Steakhouse or grab something more casual at Myron’s Delicatessen. Myron’s specializes in New York deli fare such as mile-high pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Seminole Hard Rock has slots and poker tables but also offers live blackjack, craps, roulette and “mini-baccarat.” Because it’s part of the global Hard Rock family, the Hollywood facility has a robust entertainment schedule. There is live music in bars, lounges, nightclubs plus a concert venue, which books top-name acts such as Heart, Diana Ross, Blake Shelton and Ed Sheeran. There are plenty of bars and restaurants offering sports bar fare to fine dining. Consider booking a couple of nights at the Hard Rock before or after your cruise, especially if a favorite act is on the schedule.

Enjoy Nature in the Big City

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a natural oasis amid the high-rises and busy streets of Fort Lauderdale and for that reason it gets the nickname “Central Park.” It’s nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway and a paddle along the mangrove canal will kick off your relaxation journey. Or maybe be a respite after a busy cruise itinerary. Kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards can be rented from the park concessionaire, The Grove is adjacent to the A1A highway, the state’s main East Coast thoroughfare—you can often see the waves as you cruise AIA. A paddle through the canal is a good way to spy some of Florida’s showy birds and even 4-foot iguanas! The Grove also offers guided full-moon and sunset tours. Other activities include biking, fishing, camping and hiking. Want a less active visit? Pack a lunch and have a picnic, the perfect activity if you just have a few hours to spare.

Retail Therapy on the Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard is the main east-east drag through Fort Lauderdale. It’s a 2.3-mile stretch that runs from high-rise condos and businesses through a pedestrian-friendly shopping-dining-entertainment district to the white sand of Fort Lauderdale Beach. If you’ve got an afternoon available and shopping is on your mind, walk the shopping district and stop in one of the many boutiques, including Lily Pulitzer, and eat at one of the many restaurants serving breakfast through dinner, many of them with pet-friendly sidewalk dining. In addition, there are art galleries and lots of clubs with tropical drinks and live entertainment. If outlet malls are your thing, the sprawling Sawgrass Mills on the edge of the actual Everglades boasts 350 stores and 16 full-service restaurants. Arrived for your cruise still in search of trendy cruise wear? You’ll find it at Sawgrass. Do some in your party want to shop and some don’t? The non-shoppers can check out the latest movies at the Regal Sawgrass IMAX 3D theater.

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