Port Everglades Clears the Way for DCL Terminal
After a Broward County Commission vote on Tuesday night, Disney Cruise Line can now enter formal discussions to build a second permanent port in southern Florida at Port Everglades.
Finding a Southern Florida Port
Image Credit: Disney Cruise Line
Port Everglades, located in Fort Lauderdale, became a front-runner recently for the new port. Previously, DCL sailed from Port Miami in Miami-Dade County for the past nine years.
“They have the opportunity to establish this as home. … They are looking for a new home in South Florida and we have the opportunity I think to negotiate a very solid deal financially, but I think it goes a little bit beyond that,” Port Everglades CEO Jonathan Daniels told the commission Tuesday night, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Image Credit: Disney
Disney Cruise Line hopes to build their own terminal in Port Everglades, rather than share with another cruise line as they do at PortMiami. The commission also voted unanimously to waive the competitive selection requirements that a cruise line usually goes through in order to acquire a terminal.
Port Everglades found itself in a position to offer the deal to Disney Cruise Line following its acquisition of Cruise Terminal 4 from Carnival Corporation during the pandemic.
“Beauty and the Beast” stage show on the Disney Dream
Image Credit: Disney
“Because of what we’re able to offer Disney Cruise Line as a whole from docking to parking facilities to the fact that hopefully what they’re going to do is bring down their cast and crew members and make them a part of the community as well, and I think that goes beyond just what it means to the port. Ultimately it spills out to what it means for the county and the community,” Daniels said in the Sentinel article.
The terminal sits near the Fort Lauderdale International Airport and already has a hotel and an enormous parking garage for the nearby convention center.
Which Disney ship may call Port Everglades home?
Image Credit: Disney Cruise Line
Because Port Everglades cannot harbor ships that use liquefied natural gas, only the four existing DCL ships could call Port Everglades home. These ships include the larger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy as well as the comapny’s first two ships: Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The current talks involve seasonal sailings of four- and five-night itineraries.
Already, the Disney Dream is set to move to PortMiami next summer for sailings while Disney Wish makes its debut out of Port Canaveral. Disney Cruise Line will continue to sail from PortMiami through 2024 based on a current contract.
Photo Source: Go Port Canaveral
Also not changing due to the Port Everglades conversations: Disney’s commitment to Port Canaveral. With its close proximity to the Walt Disney World resort area as well as Orlando airports, Port Canaveral offers extraordinary convenience for Disney Cruise Line. Currently, DCL is in a 20-year contract with the port to use the newly renovated Cruise Terminal 8 for both year-round sailings as well as seasonal itineraries.
Image Credit: Disney
Other seasonal ports for Disney Cruise Line include Galveston, New York, and New Orleans as well as many throughout Canada, Europe, and Alaska.
Image Credit: Disney
Want to learn more about the amazing new dining, entertainment and accommodations features on the brand-new Disney Wish? Simply search for Disney Wish on MickeyBlog! Personally, I cannot get enough of all of the Marvel magic onboard.
