More Ships Coming To Get Crew Vaccinated
Meanwhile, more Royal Caribbean ships are coming to get its crew members vaccinated in preparation for cruises to sail.
The quick pace of approval with Floridas ports means ships are coming to various ports for brief stops to get crew members inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine.
Explorer of the Seas stopped in Port Canaveral on Wednesday to administer 210 vaccines, and Adventure of the Seas arrived on Friday morning to administer 1,050 vaccine doses. Explorer will return on Saturday for another 210 vaccines to be administered.
Cruises From Fort Lauderdale Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Venice Of AmericaPort Everglades Cruise Ship TerminalsNorthportMidportCruises From Fort LauderdaleThings To Do Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise PortRiverwalkStranahan HouseFort Lauderdale History CenterBonnet House Museum And GardensSouth Beach ParkGetting To Fort Lauderdale Cruise PortCruise Port MapCruise Port LocationPort EvergladesPort Authority
Dania Beach Ocean Park And Pier
Locals adore Dania Beach, a 20-minute drive from FLL or Port Everglades, because it’s one of the least-crowded stretches of sand in the area. Yet, it even has a marina and pier from which you can fish. If you just want to enjoy the views, grab a bite to eat at Quarterdeck Restaurant , which is right on the pier itself. At the beach, there’s a playground, restrooms with showers and lifeguards on duty. You can also rent kayaks from area vendors.
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Cruises From Fort Lauderdale
Ruby PrincessCaribbean PrincessCrown PrincessGrand PrincessOasis of the SeasAllure of the SeasCelebrity SolsticeCelebrity SilhouetteCelebrity EquinoxCelebrity ConstellationCelebrity EquinoxSeabourn SojournLiberty of the SeasCarnival FreedomCarnival Miracle Hot Fort Lauderdale Cruise Deal Ship: Allure of the SeasItinerary: 6-night Western Caribbean
Dropping Off/picking Up Passengers
If youre a cruise passenger, it doesnt get any easier than letting someone else worry about the driving and simply being dropped off or picked up after your cruise.
Unlike some other ports, Port Everglades has security checkpoints where those 18 years or older need to show identification/passenger ticket to get into the terminal area. Just be ready as you approach the checkpoint at the entrance to the port to make the line go faster.
Once inside the port, youll want to follow the signage to the appropriate cruise terminal for the ship. Keep in mind that there are a number of twists and turns in order to get around with so many terminals in a relatively small space. Meanwhile, if there are lots of ships in port, navigating can be stressful. It might be helpful to have one person navigate so the driver can focus on the road.
As you approach the port, youll see the signs for the passenger drop-off and pick-up areas. Pull up to the appropriate spot and youll be able to unload and load passengers.
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Getting There From The Airport
Getting to Port Everglades from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is a breeze. It’s less than three miles away, and there’s no shortage of taxis at the airport. Most cabs accept credit cards, but be sure to confirm that before accepting a ride.
Driving to Port Everglades from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood airport takes less than 10 minutes. When leaving the rental car area of the airport, follow signs toward U.S. 1 north. The road will loop around on the right-hand side, there will be signs for Port Everglades and Eller Drive, which leads directly to the port. Those cruising from terminals one through four can enter the port from the 17th Street Causeway, in which case you’ll stay on U.S. 1 north another mile or so before making a right onto 17th Street. Follow this road east, and just before the bridge you’ll spot clearly marked signs for the port.
At each airport terminal, the Go Airport shuttle has a pick-up location with a small stand in front, making it easy to identify. Shared rides in air-conditioned vans cost $11 and run every 15 to 20 minutes. Or, visitors can call to reserve rides in advance to avoid the wait.
Royal Caribbean’s Private Journeys Excursions
RCI passengers seeking personalized shore excursion experiences can take advantage of the company’s “Private Journeys” program.
The USD 100 concierge service enables passengers to book port calls tailored to their interests, travel style and budget. Private Journeys allow access to 1 of 9 professional Destination Insiders who help planning every detail of the shore excursion before the cruise starts. Activities can include private yachting, cooking with Michelin-starred chefs, food tasting. The USD 100 fee for Private Journeys is applicable to excursion’s final cost.
Private Journeys are offered as a 3rd excursion choice . The new choice offers direct booking through RCI . Booked passengers have to provide Private Journeys’ staff with their idea/basics of what they want . Then they work with local tour guides to design the excursion. The contact with Private Journeys is by email or phone.
“Private Journeys” RCI tour deals guarantee: priority disembarkation, sure return to the cruise ship , convenient access to private tour vehicles, quality of service .
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Subtropical Storm Impacting Multiple Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
At least 3 Royal Caribbean ships have already changed itineraries due to subtropical Storm Nicole, with more cruise changes expected to come.
A new tropical disturbance has formed in the eastern Caribbean and is already having an impact on multiple Royal Caribbean International cruise ships in the region.
The storm Nicole is forecast to strengthen over the next two days, and is likely to make landfall in Florida early on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Choose Fort Lauderdale If Youre Looking To Cruise To Europe Or Cross The Atlantic
Fort Lauderdale offers a few itinerary options not available from Miami. If youre looking for a cruise from Florida to the Continent , Holland America offers a few options that depart from Port Everglades and head to Europe . The line also offers a cruise to Canada and New England from Fort Lauderdale . While Miami does offer transatlantic journeys that stop in Europe, your options are limited our search results yielded just eight sailings, while Fort Lauderdale currently offers 41.
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How To Get To The Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
Port Everglades is conveniently located just 5 miles from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and 4 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale.
The address of Port Everglades is 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316.
Royal Caribbean ships primarily use terminal 18 at Port Everglades, although ships may dock at a different terminal if terminal 18 is in use. Passengers should follow the ports digital signage upon arrival to guide them to the correct terminal.
Unconstitutional Not Once But Twice
The other issue at play is the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which gives the federal government the right to regulate commerce among states and between the US and foreign countries and prohibits the states from interfering with that. Given that Norwegains cruise has an itinerary that includes visiting ports in US territories and foreign countries, it definitely includes aspects that fall under this clause.
Beyond that generality, Norwegian has made an agreement with the CDC in order to have approval to restart its cruise business that included vaccination plans. Many of the locations its cruises will be visiting also have entry requirements that include vaccination as an alternative to lengthy quarantines. So there are specific aspects of Norwegians national and international business that Section 381.00316 would interfere with.
That can still be constitutional if the law were to provide in-state benefits that outweighed the interference. But, as noted above, Williams was not persuaded that the Section 381.00316 provided any benefits, and the judge specifically indicated that the purported benefits offered by the state werent legitimate, as described just above.
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Passenger Shipping Pause 2020
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group suspended its entire fleet’s passenger shipping operations worldwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021.
Next are listed all RCI ships and their first departure dates/regions/homeports – ADVENTURE OTS , ALLURE OTS , ANTHEM OTS , BRILLIANCE OTS , ENCHANTMENT OTS , EXPLORER OTS , FREEDOM OTS , GRANDEUR OTS , HARMONY OTS , INDEPENDENCE OTS , JEWEL OTS , LIBERTY OTS , MARINER OTS , NAVIGATOR OTS , OASIS OTS , ODYSSEY OTS , OVATION OTS , QUANTUM OTS , RADIANCE OTS , RHAPSODY OTS , SERENADE OTS , SPECTRUM OTS , SYMPHONY OTS , VISION OTS , VOYAGER OTS , WONDER OTS .
All affected bookings received full refunds , including on prepurchased through RCI cruise packages and services. With rebooking are offered 125% refunds in FCC to be used on itineraries that depart up to September 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Full cash refund or changing the FCC to a monetary refund must be done by March 31, 2021. Within 45 days , all taxes, port fees and pre-purchased packages-amenities are automatically refunded to the original form of payment.
RCI’s Cancellation Policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure and receive an FCC. The policy was also enhanced with two new rebooking options – “Best Price Guarantee” and “Lift and Shift” .
Where To Shop Near Port Everglades
Fort Lauderdale is a major shopping destination with shops catering to any taste and budget. Port Everglades is a short drive from many of the citys top retail destinations.
Adjacent to the port area is 17th Street, offering convenient shopping if you are staying close to Port Everglades or if you want to make a last-minute shopping trip. Along with several hotels, 17th Street has several pharmacies, banks, restaurants, cafes and shops between Federal Highway and the Seventeenth Street Causeway Bridge.
Downtown is renowned for its shopping, and you will also find fantastic boutiques in Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hollywood Beach.
About a 20-minute bus ride or 15-minute drive north of the cruise port is The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. This world-class destination houses great shops and restaurants, offering one of the citys premier dining and shopping experiences.
Las Olas Boulevard is about ten minutes from the cruise port and is renowned for its independently owned boutiques, inviting cafes and acclaimed restaurants.
Both destinations are also accessible using the Greater Fort Lauderdales Water Taxi system.
To the south is Dania, home to Antique Row. You will find more than 100 dealers along one square mile of Federal Highway selling every conceivable collectible and antique.
The Design Center of the Americas is also in Dania. At the intersection of I-95 and Griffin Road, the 775,000-square-foot center boasts interior designer studios, furniture showrooms and more.
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Where To Stay Near The Port
Fort Lauderdale is a major vacation destination in its own right, so there are plenty of hotels from which to choose. There are a lot of points hotels — close to the port, near the beaches and at the airport — as well as other boutique-style and luxury resorts. Here are some of our favorite places to stay before after a cruise.
Lifeguards On Rci Ships
Since 2017, all RCI ships have onboard licensed lifeguards by the line’s “water safety program”, implemented fleetwide. By the new program, water safety signs are placed throughout the ship.
Ship’s lifeguards are dressed in special uniforms and stationed at every swimming pool, including the Solarium during the complex’s opening hours. All Royal Caribbean lifeguards are trained through the RCI’s partnership with StarGuard Elite .
- The water safety program includes a 15-min presentation . The instruction is for by both kids and parents and held during Adventure Ocean’s open-house session.
- Swim vests for all kids are readily available. Additional signage is added around swimming pool areas and in all cabins to encourage parents to use them.
- Kids under 12 require a parent or guardian to be present when swimming in any of the cruise ship’s pools.
RCI’s water safety program was rolled out fleetwide in 2017 . Next are listed all RCI boats and the itinerary dates when each implemented the new lifeguard service.
The news made RCI the 2nd major cruise company with shipboard lifeguards – following DCL-Disney and followed by NCL-Norwegian starting with NCL’s 4 largest vessels and employing onboard lifeguards fleetwide by 2018.
Shipboard poolside activities vary, but some of the common ones include watching movies , playing bingo, hosting fun competitions, games, classes .
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Royal Caribbean Debuts Worlds Largest Cruise Ship In Fort Lauderdale
- ANNA JEAN KAISERMiami Herald
Royal Caribbean debuted its latest, and largest, ship for its maiden voyage from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Friday: Wonder of the Seas.
The French-built ship is the worlds largest cruise ship, after Royal Caribbeans Symphony of the Seas. Wonder of the Seas has room for 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members. It weighs almost 240,000 tons.
The Miami Herald was denied access Friday to a media tour of the new ship. Royal Caribbeans website says the ship is 1,118 feet long and 210 feet wide. Its 18 decks hold 2,867 staterooms, rock climbing walls, waterslides, a carousel, laser tag, a mini golf course, an arcade, an outdoor movie theater and a zipline. The mega ship has nine complimentary restaurants, 11 specialty restaurants and 11 bars and lounges.
The ship is the newest in Royal Caribbeans Oasis class of ships. The five ships in the Oasis class are the five largest cruise ships in the world part of former CEO Richard Fains vision to create floating mega-resorts.
Cococay Island Refurbishments 2018
Since 2015, RCCL invests huge money in the corporation’s private Bahamian island CocoCay. In March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 200-million project for developing private land destinations in the regions of the Caribbean, Asia, and Australia-Oceania. As part of this project, on CocoCay will be built unique water attractions.
CocoCay has 3 new beaches. Chill Island Beach offers private cabanas and daybeds. South Beach is specifically designed for beachside activities and offers bungalows, daybeds, teepees . Coco Beach Club is an exclusive beach with overwater cabanas providing premium island vacation experiences. Coco Beach cabana rentals are inclusive of 1 hammock, 1 waterslide, dedicated service . The complex also has a freshwater infinity pool, full bar, restaurant.
In May 2018, RCI announced plans to build permanent accommodations on CocoCay allowing Suite passengers to stay on the island overnight . The concept includes premium cabanas serving passengers on any of the RCI ships calling at CocoCay.
In 2017-2018 was constructed a new pier , as well as a basketball court, bocce ball court, bowling court, volleyball nets, large-size pool table.
In 2016 the private island was upgraded with a swim-up bar at Barefoot Beach, new cabanas, new island dock , 35 beach bungalows at Barefoot Beach.
In 2015, the island was upgraded with new trams and was added a new / shorter tram route and a new freshwater shower .
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Rci’s Cruise Planner Packages & Prices
Cruise Planner is an online booking system for adding/pre-purchasing shore excursions, specialty restaurants, beverage packages, internet packages, photo packages, gifts and gear, onboard activities , The Key , as well as making wellness reservations .
Specialty restaurant dining packages currently offered by RCI include “Unlimited” , “3-Night” and “Chops+1” .
Drink packages include Deluxe , Refreshment and Soda .
The Key must be purchased prior the voyage and is priced US$20-35 per person per day.
Arcade Gaming credit packages via CruisePlanner cost less .
Royal Caribbean Cruises From Fort Lauderdale
Royal Caribbean offers cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean and Aruba and Transatlantic. The schedule of departures is below.
From sunrise to sunset, there’s something exciting for you to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. Take a swim or get a relaxing massage. Try your luck in the casino, attend an art auction, or dance in a nightclub. There are even supervised activities for kids.
The Royal Caribbean cruise terminal at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is terminal 18. If it’s in use, your ship may dock at another terminal. There are digital direction signs at the port that are updated daily to direct you to the correct place.
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Best Ways To Get Around Fort Lauderdale
With most of the citys attractions close to Port Everglades, getting around Fort Lauderdale is easy.
Taxis and ridesharing services are a quick and inexpensive options to travel between destinations, and most local trips cost less than $20. Many hotels also offer free shuttlers to and from the cruise port and the airport as well as major attractions.
If you plan to spend a few days in Fort Lauderdale, renting a car is a great way to explore the area. You have additional freedom and will not be limited by public transit schedules. You can also experience more of South Florida, including Miami and West Palm Beach.
Fort Lauderdales Water Taxi system is a unique way of seeing the city and getting around. Water taxis travel along the Intracoastal Waterways and the New River in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
They stop at 14 points of interest, including The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale and the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. You can hop on and off throughout the day and water taxis run every 25 to 35 minutes. Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for children aged 5 to 11, with reduced rates available for seniors and members of the military.
Sun Trolley connects downtown with the beach and Las Olas Boulevard. Most routes are free, although there is a $1 per ride fare for the Beach Link and Las Olas Link routes. A $3 day pass is also available for those routes.
Please contact us if any information is incorrect or not up-to-date.
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