Disney Cruise Line Approved to Build Second Cruise Terminal in South Florida
Disney Cruise Line will base two ships in Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, with one ship sailing year-round starting in fall 2023 and a second seasonal ship joining in 2025.
This is a master plan finally coming to fruition: 2 new cruise ships, a second home port in South Florida, a dedicated terminal designed and operated by Disney, and a high speed rail line connecting Orlando to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.
Brightline train service connecting Miami to Orlando will begin in 2022 stopping Orlando International Airport. A station at Disney Springs as been announced as well.
Brightline Railroad is actively constructing a new rail line that will connect Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, where Port Everglades is located.
There will be two stations in Orlando: Orlando International Airport starting in 2022 and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World in the near future.
Passengers will be able to travel between both regions in under 2 hours via the high speed train.
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is a massive sea port open to cruise ships and cargo ships from around the world.
Port Everglades is the 3rd largest cruise port in the world.
Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Port Everglades is ranked third among cruise ports worldwide and has more homeported cruise ships than any other port.
Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess and Ritz Carlton Yachts also call Port Everglades home.
Disney said that adding Port Everglades as a second Florida homeport gives it a foothold in a market with one of the nation's fastest-growing airports, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Disney has a custom-designed terminal at Port Canaveral, a cruise port that is a gateway to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The Disney Wish will sail from Port Canaveral when it enters service next summer and the Disney Dream is expected to begin sailing from Port Everglades in 2023.
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Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 12 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.