Watching Ship Departures?

[mevs904]

We will be in Fort Lauderdale a few days before our upcoming cruise and wondered if there is a restaurant, nice bar where we could have a cocktail or bite to eat while we watch the cruise ships leave? We thought it might be a nice preview to our own trip.

[jeraud]

The Dania location of Quarterdeck Restaurant

300 North Beach Road – Dania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 929-1400

We're locals & were there recently. I had no idea how cool it looked seeing a parade of cruise ships leave the port from that spot.

 

 

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[mevs904]

Thanks, Jerald! We especially appreciate the map!

[Flymia]

I am not sure about Port Everglades, the Quaterdeck is 3 miles away from where ships leave, and they will be a mile or more off shore going south, but you could still see them pretty well

 

For Port Miami you can get up close and personal with the ships at South Pointe Park. Smith and Wollensky is right there in the park and offers awesome views of the ships leaving. As long as its a busy day at the port Friday-Monday are of course the best days.

 

 

That is the view from the park and you can get something similar with the outside tables. The ships are right there next to you. Where by PE, you need to go to either side of the channel on the beach to get those views.

[debshomespun]

From PE, we have gone to the southernmost part of FLL beach and watched the ships leave from the rocks. It's really up close and provides a great view of the ships leaving. That's when you realize just how large the ships really are. The live web cam is at one of the high rises almost beside this area.

[jeffbrig]

We will be in Fort Lauderdale a few days before our upcoming cruise and wondered if there is a restaurant, nice bar where we could have a cocktail or bite to eat while we watch the cruise ships leave? We thought it might be a nice preview to our own trip.

 

Unfortunately, there's really nothing in the way of restaurants/bars right at the inlet. On the north side, you have residential condos for quite a ways. On the south side, the state park. The park closes at sundown, so for late ship departures, it won't even be open. You have to go miles south to find any development (starting with the Quarterdeck).

 

On the north, its residential - private homes and condos until Marriott Harbor Beach and B Ocean. The closest public parking is the beach lot just beyond these. Walking back to the pass is probably just over a half mile on the sand. But no restaurant or bar when you get there, so you have to bring your own. :D

 

The top floor of the Pier 66 used to be a rotating restaurant, but it's only used as a special event ballroom these days. From there, you can see the ships at the port and watch them leave. (I was there for a wedding recently)