Port Everglades Tops 5.38 Million Passengers, Establishes New Cruise Division

Port Everglades set a cruise passenger record for the third consecutive year, with more than 5.38 million movements recorded during fiscal year 2026, up from 4.77 million in fiscal year 2025. The Florida port, operated by Broward County, also announced the creation of a new Cruise Services Division and the appointment of Martin Jackson as its director.

Jackson, who joined Port Everglades in January 2025 and had served as deputy director of the Cruise Services Section, will lead the new division. The restructuring follows approval of the fiscal year 2027 budget by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and aims to strengthen the focus on passenger experience and growth of the cruise business with both existing and new lines. Port CEO and Director Joseph Morris highlighted Jackson's commitment to guest experience since his arrival, while Jackson himself stressed the importance of operational consistency and continuous improvement for the division.

For the season that began in October, the port expects to welcome nine cruise lines and 40 ships, including Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Crystal, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Orient Express, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Viking, along with Baleària Caribbean's fast ferry Jaume II. In November, the Legend of the Seas will arrive—Royal Caribbean's new Icon-class ship with capacity for up to 7,600 passengers—which will be homeported at the port for the 2027 season. The Orient Express Corinthian, described as the world's largest sailing yacht with capacity for 110 passengers, will also join the lineup, and the Crystal Symphony will return following its 2025 dry dock with renovated spaces.

Port Everglades also completed a renovation of Cruise Terminal 18, which opened in 2009 for the debut of the Oasis of the Seas, including repainting its facilities in ocean blue and expanding the boarding lounge with new furniture and design. The port added more than 850 parking spaces next to Terminal 18, bringing total capacity to 6,386 spaces across its two multi-level garages and various parking lots.