Today, November 13, 2023, Disney celebrated their new terminal at their permanent cruise port location at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Disney Cruise Line’s Port Everglades Terminal
When guests arrive at the terminal, they are immersed in cool, underwater tones and come face to face with familiar characters from Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo.
The colorful murals surround guests in the newly-opened building. The new terminal has the same mouse-ear archway that guests embark through on their big adventures from the permanent terminal at Port Canaveral.
Once they pass into the 104,000 square-foot repurposed building, the new Disney touches are prevalent. The bubbles and waves of the whimsical world under the sea with Nemo and friends line the walls to create a nautical scene before boarding the Disney Cruise Line ships.
The grand opening of our new dedicated terminal is an incredible milestone as we embark on the largest expansion in our cruise line’s history.
Now our guests will have even more options to experience the magic of a Disney vacation at sea and can begin creating lifelong memories with their loved ones from the moment they arrive.
Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line
Attending the opening of the new terminal, Broward County Mayor Lamar P. Fisher lauded the economic impact for the area. “Dream vacations start here in Broward County. The addition of Disney Cruise Line in our community provides travelers with more vacation options at Port Everglades, while boosting our local economy and creating more than 1,100 direct local jobs,” he said.
In addition to the direct and indirect benefit that the new terminal will bring to the Broward County community, Disney announced that it would be investing in Junior Achievement South Florida and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County as part of their community outreach initiatives. These donations will support initiatives through both programs to encourage storytelling, innovation, and career exploration.
The cast and crew of the Disney cruise ships that come to the new terminal at Port Everglades will also be able to volunteer as mentors with these organizations, both at sea and back on land.
“Community partners, like Disney Cruise Line, play a pivotal role in empowering the youth of today, shaping their futures for tomorrow. This support is not just a financial contribution, it’s an investment in the next generation,” said Laurie Sallarulo, president & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA).
This contribution will include specific funding for the JA Career Bound and JA Pre-Apprenticeship programs, including a special marine service technician track that educates students about the maritime industry, marine basics, and engine fundamentals.
This directly ties into Disney Cruise Line’s mission to empower youth to enter maritime careers; Disney Cruise Line has been offering scholarships since 2019 to LJM Maritime Academy in The Bahamas for female cadets who aspire to be ship captains and shipboard leaders. Disney Cruise Line also offers STEM activities in their kids’ clubs aboard the ships in the fleet to inspire children to pursue maritime careers.
Will you be taking a trip on a Disney cruise through the new terminal in Port Everglades? Let us know in the comments.
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