There are six cruise ports in Florida where you can board a big-ship cruise: PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT (Jacksonville) and the Port of Palm Beach. Port Canaveral was the world’s busiest cruise port in fiscal year 2025 with about 8.6 million passenger movements, just ahead of PortMiami at 8.56 million. Key West and, now and then, Pensacola get port-of-call visits, but you can’t start a mainstream cruise there.
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Below you’ll find a quick map table with coordinates and Google Maps links, the latest passenger numbers, which cruise lines sail from each port, the nearest airports, daily parking rates and our pick of which Florida cruise port suits which kind of traveler.
Florida Cruise Ports Map: Where Each Port Is
Florida’s cruise ports are spread along three coastlines. Four sit on the Atlantic (Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Palm Beach and the South Florida pair of Fort Lauderdale and Miami), and Tampa is the only major embarkation port on the Gulf side. Use the table as a text map. Each link opens the port in Google Maps so you can plan the drive from your home or hotel.
| Port | City / region | Approx. coordinates | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAXPORT Cruise Terminal | Jacksonville, Northeast Florida | 30.41 N, 81.55 W | Open map |
| Port Canaveral | Cape Canaveral, Space Coast (Central East) | 28.41 N, 80.63 W | Open map |
| Port of Palm Beach | Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County | 26.77 N, 80.05 W | Open map |
| Port Everglades | Fort Lauderdale, Broward County | 26.09 N, 80.12 W | Open map |
| PortMiami | Downtown Miami, Dodge Island | 25.78 N, 80.18 W | Open map |
| Port Tampa Bay | Downtown Tampa, Gulf Coast | 27.94 N, 82.45 W | Open map |
| Key West (port of call only) | Florida Keys | 24.56 N, 81.81 W | Open map |
Coordinates are rounded and meant for orientation only. Always put the exact terminal number from your cruise documents into your GPS, because the bigger ports have many terminals that can be a few miles apart.
How Many Cruise Ports Are in Florida?
It depends what you count. If you mean ports where ships begin and end cruises (homeports), Florida has six: Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville and Palm Beach. Some lists say eight because they add Key West and Pensacola. Key West is a busy stop on Bahamas and Western Caribbean itineraries, with ships docking near Mallory Square and the Truman Annex, but it doesn’t run regular embarkations. Pensacola gets only occasional calls from smaller or repositioning ships.
Busiest Cruise Ports in Florida: Passenger Numbers Compared
The three busiest cruise ports in the world are all in Florida. Here are the most recent full-year figures each port has published.
| Port | Latest annual passengers | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Port Canaveral | About 8.6 million passenger movements | FY2025 (to Sept. 30, 2025) |
| PortMiami | 8,564,225 | FY2025 (Oct. 2024 to Sept. 2025) |
| Port Everglades | About 4.77 million (preliminary) | FY2025 |
| Port Tampa Bay | About 1.66 million (record) | 2025 |
| JAXPORT | Much smaller, roughly a few hundred thousand | Varies with ship deployments |
| Port of Palm Beach | One ship, sailing year-round | No large published total |
Port Canaveral took the top spot from Miami in fiscal 2025 after growing about 13% in one year. The gap is small, though, and the two ports don’t count passengers in exactly the same way, so expect the “busiest” title to keep changing hands. Tampa says it is on track for around 1.8 million passengers in 2026.
Each Florida Cruise Port at a Glance
Port Canaveral (Orlando / Space Coast)
Port Canaveral hosted seven cruise lines and 16 homeported ships in fiscal 2025: Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity and Princess. Several of the world’s largest ships, including Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, sail from here. Typical trips are 3- to 4-night Bahamas getaways (often with a private island day) and 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruises. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about 45 miles away, roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car. Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) is closer, and you can compare all the options in our guide to airports near Port Canaveral cruise port. Official parking was listed at $20 per day plus tax at the time of writing.
PortMiami
Miami has the widest choice of ships and lines of any Florida port: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity and Virgin Voyages, plus Disney and premium and luxury brands such as Oceania and Regent Seven Seas on some sailings. MSC’s large Terminal AA opened in 2024. Itineraries run from 3-night Bahamas trips to 7-night Caribbean cruises and longer voyages to South America and through the Panama Canal. Miami International (MIA) is about 8 miles away, usually 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Garage parking is around $28 to $35 per day, depending on the garage.
Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)
Port Everglades is the closest major cruise port to its airport. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is only about 2 to 3 miles away. It’s a favorite with Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC and Disney, and luxury lines also call here, so it has a big choice of longer Caribbean, Panama Canal and world-cruise segments. Port-run garages charge a $25 daily maximum. If you’d like to arrive the night before, see our list of top-rated hotels near Fort Lauderdale cruise port and airport.
Port Tampa Bay
Tampa is the only big Gulf Coast port in Florida, so it’s the natural pick for Western Caribbean routes to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman and Belize. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity and Margaritaville at Sea (Islander) all sail from Tampa, and luxury lines such as Oceania and Regent run a few seasonal sailings. Many ships are older and mid-sized because they have to pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Tampa International (TPA) is about 9 miles away. Parking was around $18 per day plus a booking fee.
JAXPORT (Jacksonville)
Jacksonville is a small, drive-to port popular with travelers from Georgia, the Carolinas and the Southeast. Carnival homeports a ship here year-round on 4- and 5-night Bahamas cruises, and Norwegian added seasonal sailings on Norwegian Gem from October 2025, the line’s first homeport at JAXPORT. Ships stay small because of a bridge over the St. Johns River. Jacksonville International (JAX) is about a 20-minute drive. Parking is $17 per day, tax included, credit cards only.
Port of Palm Beach
Palm Beach is home to one ship: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which sails year-round. Its short cruises (2 to 5 nights) go to Grand Bahama, Nassau, Bimini and Key West, and the line has announced new calls such as Puerto Plata and Grand Turk for 2027. Palm Beach International (PBI) is only a few miles away. It’s the easiest port in the state for a quick, low-cost weekend at sea.
Which Florida Cruise Port Is Best for You?
There’s no single best Florida cruise port. The right one depends on where you live, how you’re getting there and what kind of cruise you want.
- Families combining a cruise with theme parks: Port Canaveral. It’s about an hour from Walt Disney World and Universal, and it’s home to Disney’s newest ships. Our guide to shuttles from Orlando airport to Port Canaveral covers the transfer.
- Flying in on the day you sail: Port Everglades. Its airport is closer than any other big Florida port’s, though flying in a day early is always safer.
- Most choice of ships and nightlife: PortMiami, with the most lines, the newest ships and a vibrant city to explore before or after your cruise.
- Western Caribbean and Mexico: Tampa, which saves you a sea day each way compared with sailing from the Atlantic coast.
- Luxury, long voyages and world cruises: Fort Lauderdale and Miami, where most premium and luxury lines base their Florida sailings.
- Driving from the Southeast: Jacksonville. Easy interstate access and the lowest parking costs in the state.
- Short, budget weekend getaways: Palm Beach or Jacksonville, with smaller terminals and quicker boarding.
Florida Cruise Ports Compared: Airports and Parking
| Port | Nearest airport | Approx. distance | Port parking per day* |
|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami | MIA | 8 miles | $28 to $35 |
| Port Everglades | FLL | 2 to 3 miles | $25 max |
| Port Canaveral | MCO (also MLB, SFB) | 45 miles | $20 + tax |
| Port Tampa Bay | TPA | 9 miles | About $18 |
| JAXPORT | JAX | About 12 miles | $17 |
| Port of Palm Beach | PBI | About 8 miles | Check with port |
*Rates are from official port pages at the time of writing and change often (Port Canaveral, for example, has been considering an increase). Check before you go. For a 7-night cruise, port parking can add $120 to $250 to your trip, so it’s worth comparing with off-site lots that include a shuttle, or a rideshare.
Driving times between ports
If you’re flexible on where you sail from, a wider search can turn up much better fares. Miami to Fort Lauderdale is only about 25 miles. Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach is about 45 miles. Orlando sits between Port Canaveral (about an hour east) and Tampa (about 90 minutes west), and Miami to Port Canaveral is roughly 3 hours on I-95 or Florida’s Turnpike. Before you book, compare which lines offer the cheapest 7-day cruises out of Florida, then check the prices from every port within a reasonable drive.
If you are driving to Miami for your cruise, our Port of Miami parking guide compares garage rates by terminal with cheaper off-site lots.
FAQs
What ports in Florida do cruise ships leave from?
Cruise ships leave from PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT in Jacksonville and the Port of Palm Beach. Key West is a port of call only.
What is the busiest cruise port in Florida?
Port Canaveral was busiest in fiscal 2025 with about 8.6 million passenger movements, narrowly ahead of PortMiami’s 8.56 million. Both rank as the busiest cruise ports in the world.
How many cruise ports are in Florida?
Florida has six embarkation (home) ports. Lists that say eight usually add Key West and Pensacola, which ships only visit.
Which Florida cruise port is closest to Orlando?
Port Canaveral, about 45 miles east of Orlando International Airport and around an hour from the theme parks. Tampa is the next closest, about 85 miles west.
Which Florida cruise port has the cheapest parking?
Jacksonville’s official parking is $17 per day, tax included, the lowest of the major ports. PortMiami is the most expensive at up to $35 per day.
