Greetings, Antoinette, and welcome to planDisney!
Fort Lauderdale is a convenient departure port for many sailings to The Bahamas or the Caribbean. I like the idea of arriving a day early to explore the beautiful beaches and family-friendly attractions in the area before sailing away! You also wouldn't have to worry about the possibility of travel delays on embarkation day, which is another nice perk.
I have good news for you, Antoinette: If you book a
pre- or post-cruise hotel stay through Disney Cruise Line or your travel advisor,
transportation can be arranged between the airport, hotel, and cruise port for an additional fee. At the time of writing this, the participating hotels include Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, and Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Disney selected these hotels for their accommodations and quality. Plus, they are conveniently located not far from the port.
Departing from Fort Lauderdale, you must be sailing on either the
Disney Dream or the
Disney Destiny. Both are amazing ships, with comfortable accommodations, themed dining locations, pools, entertainment, activities, and more. The Disney Destiny is the newest ship to join the fleet, and there is so much to love. You'll notice special nods to heroes and villains throughout, from the theming of the lounges, to the stage shows and deck parties, to the Character interactions.
Once you're on board, make sure to use the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to see the entertainment and activity schedules for each day of your cruise. My planDisney pals and I love silent disco and trivia – check those out for sure! And if you are sailing with kids, the
Oceaneer Club is a supervised play area for them, but you can visit all together during Open House hours. If you are looking for a fun way to start your morning (or give yourself a pick-me-up in the afternoon), head to
Cove Café for a latte – ask if your drink can be topped with a Character design!
Antoinette, I hope this information is helpful as you continue planning your trip. If you think of any other questions between now and embarkation day, please reach out – we're always happy to help here at planDisney!
Bon voyage!
Kriss