Parking at Port Everglades

[island visitor]

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions regarding parking at Port Everglades.  Was wondering if most used a private company or do you actually parked at the port?

[jalves]

The few times I've sailed from there I just parked at the port.  Will be doing the same when I sail in January.

[jsf]

We'll be parking at the port in a couple of weeks and I was wondering the same thing. I read it can be very busy with incoming and departing at the same time. Also can you drop off luggage and then proceed to park? We'll be sailing from Pier 18.

[RocCruisers]

Drop and park is doable.  Park and carry is just as easy.  

[renza]

The one port I would actually not park at port is Port Everglades. Park N Go is awesome. We live only 40 min from it and always park there for cruise or airport. They are very quick at getting you to port and take you right to car when you return. Give you a bottle of water on your way out. 
Now if you are parking in Miami I would definitely stay at port. 

[Ret MP]

I am a retired Parking Facilities General Manager of the parking at Port Everglades and I was also the past General Manager of the FLL Parking facilities.  I can tell you that I find that the Park N Go is awesome like @renzasaid.  I don't know anybody there now, its been since 2005 since I retired from the Port.  But, even when I knew the General Manager and I could park for free, I would go to Park N go, for many reasons.  If you decide to use the Park N Go, I'd highly recommend you make advance reservations as there is a discount involved.  If you are a 2nd Amendment person, Port Everglades is a "NO-GO" facility, even in their parking locations.  So, Park N Go is a great option.  Great shuttle service and easy to get to.  

 

I have no affiliation with Park N Go.  This is just my own personal opinion and based upon considerable experience.

 

BTW, the only way I would not park at Park N Go is if the hotel I stay at the night before embarkation offered truly flexabe shuttle service and decent rate for parking a car while on the cruise.  That hasn't happened yet.  

Edited December 18, 2022 by Ret MP

[capriccio]

Port Everglades is our home port and we always park in one of the two garages.  It is safe and convenient.  Many posters very highly recommend Park N Go citing the lower cost.  This past month is the first I've seen posts of Park 'N Go charging the same as Port Everglades if a reservation had not been made far in advance.  So don't wait until the last minute to make a reservation if you decide to use them.

[Ret MP]

I did a ghost reservation for Park N Go for this coming January on a 7 night cruise.  This is what it comes up with.  The ports rate is $15.00 a day and doesn't accept early reservations.  When I was there, that included tax.  Park N Go is $15.00 per day, not including tax.  Early booking is $12.50, not including tax.  Just providing info here.  We still have the right of choice, I think .

 

 

[shoptom]

6 hours ago, island visitor said:

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions regarding parking at Port Everglades.  Was wondering if most used a private company or do you actually parked at the port?

 

 

Before cruising last week I received an RC email to park in a certain garage of theirs at the port.  I did and the shuttle took us to the terminal.  It was $15/day without being charged extra for the exit.  They accepted cash.  The pay before you get back to your car machines were on.  All of those mentions were different than Canaveral and Miami this year.

[island visitor]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

I did a ghost reservation for Park N Go for this coming January on a 7 night cruise.  This is what it comes up with.  The ports rate is $15.00 a day and doesn't accept early reservations.  When I was there, that included tax.  Park N Go is $15.00 per day, not including tax.  Early booking is $12.50, not including tax.  Just providing info here.  We still have the right of choice, I think .

 

 

Thank you for the info.  I made reservations there today.

[Ret MP]

17 minutes ago, island visitor said:

Thank you for the info.  I made reservations there today.

I sure hope it works out well for you and I look forward to reading your review of it.  

[Ret MP]

Unlike Port Canaveral who charges you for the whole day on the first day, no matter what time you enter and the last day, no matter what time you leave, Port Everglades starts the clock from the time you enter and stops at the time you exit.  For that reason, I wouldn't pre-pay as you enter Port Everglades parking facilities, if, in fact, that is an option, and I have no idea what there policy is and how they calculate when they anticipate your exit. A call to the parking office might clear that up: 954-468-3680.

 

If you park in the ports parking facilities or any parking facility, for that matter,  that starts the clock when you enter and then the clock stops when you exit, try to exit before the time you entered on day one.  If you exit the parking facility after the time you entered on day one, that starts another day.  It appears that the hourly rate at Port Everglades is $3.00 per hour.  If it is like it used to be, you reach the maximum daily rate of $15.00 in 5 hours, you are only paying for the first 5 hours, the other 19 hours are free or at no extra charge for that 24 hour period.  But, if you leave 10 minutes after the time you entered on day one, the second and any subsequent days, restarted the clock and now your bill will be $18.00 +.  And so on and so on.  

 

[Dwarfbunny]

We've used Park By The Ports several times and been happy every time. I did the same mock booking as Ret MP and it came to $73 for the week.

 

[horseymike]

Thanks for the advice 👍

[Ret MP]

15 hours ago, Dwarfbunny said:

We've used Park By The Ports several times and been happy every time. I did the same mock booking as Ret MP and it came to $73 for the week.

 

I have never used "Park by the Ports" so I can't comment on their service with first hand knowledge.  However, as a retired parking facility manager, I can offer my experience and expertise about certain lots, locations, advantages, disadvantages, and policies.  In this case, my advice is just about location, time/travel time, and shuttle service.

 

I grew up, literally, within a few blocks of that parking facility, which is in the Casino parking lot.  The casino was once the "Dania Jai Alai and still has Jai Alai in it (worth visiting!).  The parking facility was once a portion of the Dania Jai Alai parking lot, I'm sure it is leased out. The lot is several miles from the port.  The shuttles must travel west on Dania Beach Blvd (A1A) (yes, there are a few possible variations that can be had) to US 1 and then north to the port, which can't be avoided. Depending on the time of day and season, that can be very very busy and slow going.  Also, shuttles and drivers are a finite item.  So, the farther away from the cruise terminal, the longer the wait for the next shuttle to come, especially if traffic stacks up, which is very possible.  Yes, their may be 5 or 6 shuttles running but the distance and congestion to and from is a major factor.  If you are embarking on a weekend, this isn't much of an issue, though.

 

The blue circle at the top right is the RCCL terminal, the blue circle at the top middle is the Park N Go lot, the blue circle at the bottom center is the Park by the Ports lot.  

 

 

My intent with this post is not to try to persuade anybody from using Park by the Ports.  Just that if time is an issue, make sure you plan accordingly.  If saving a few bucks is important and time isn't an issue, go for it.  It's the right choice for you. 

[jsf]

Okay I got reservation at Park n Go should I drop off luggage at pier and go back to lot or will the shuttle bus take care of the luggage

[Saturngrl]

17 hours ago, jsf said:

Okay I got reservation at Park n Go should I drop off luggage at pier and go back to lot or will the shuttle bus take care of the luggage

The ParknGo shuttle bus will take all of your luggage with you to the pier.  They drop you off where you can check your large baggage, just outside of the port entry.  

 

I've parked at the port once.  Since then, it's been ParknGo for me every time! 

[Ret MP]

20 hours ago, jsf said:

Okay I got reservation at Park n Go should I drop off luggage at pier and go back to lot or will the shuttle bus take care of the luggage

I always drop off my luggage at the terminal along with other members of my party to stay with the luggage.  And the RCCL terminal is very easy to access the luggage drop-off locations, that's my experience.  This makes it much easier and faster to hop on the shuttle for me, it doesn't necessarily make the shuttle ride any faster, though.  But, you are very very close to the terminal(s), anyway.

 

EDITED IN:  Just to clarify, if you want to keep your party with you when you go to the Park N Go lot (which can be fun as there are wild monkeys, sometime, to see sitting on top of the security fencing wanting to be feed but don't do it) you can give your luggage to the porters at the terminal and be done with it or take them with you to the parking lot, it's up to you.  

 

NOTE:  If you are traveling Star Class, do not give your luggage to the PORT's porters.  If you drop off your luggage at the terminal, do not give your luggage to the PORT's porters.  Wait until you contact your Genie and he/she, or designated representative, will meet you outside of the terminal and have a SHIP's crew member take your luggage from curbside, process it through security, without you, and deliver it straight to your suite.  Make sure you TIP that crew member in advance because you won't see him/her after they take your luggage from you outside the terminal.  

Edited December 21, 2022 by Ret MP

[Ret MP]

Just found the picture I have of the Monkeys sitting on the security fence at Park N Go.  They are really fun to watch.  

 

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Ret MP

[SRQbeachgirl]

We were looking at Park n Go, but they have just changed to valet only now and I have read that they leave your key in the car. You can no longer park in a space yourself and take your key with you. Several recent reviews have stated that cruisers have come back to their cars to find the battery dead because the electronic key fob tried to communicate with the car all week, which can drain the battery. Many repeat customers are not happy with the change to valet-only.

[Saturngrl]

On 12/21/2022 at 9:57 PM, SRQbeachgirl said:

We were looking at Park n Go, but they have just changed to valet only now and I have read that they leave your key in the car. You can no longer park in a space yourself and take your key with you. Several recent reviews have stated that cruisers have come back to their cars to find the battery dead because the electronic key fob tried to communicate with the car all week, which can drain the battery. Many repeat customers are not happy with the change to valet-only.

Thanks for this info.  I've always used the valet function at ParknGo without problems.  I hope the above info doesn't happen to us.   

[SRQbeachgirl]

1 hour ago, Saturngrl said:

Thanks for this info.  I've always used the valet function at ParknGo without problems.  I hope the above info doesn't happen to us.   

 

We just bought a new car and she is very...shall we say, nit-picky...about leaving the key fob in the car. If we turn the car off and open the door she starts telling us we've left the key in the vehicle. I can just imagine her repeating that every few seconds for 7 days. 🤦‍♀️ 

 

It might stop at some point, but I'm a natural worrier and that's stress I don't need while on vacation.

[Michele035]

On 12/18/2022 at 11:29 AM, renza said:

The one port I would actually not park at port is Port Everglades. Park N Go is awesome. We live only 40 min from it and always park there for cruise or airport. They are very quick at getting you to port and take you right to car when you return. Give you a bottle of water on your way out. 
Now if you are parking in Miami I would definitely stay at port. 

Hi there, live in Clearwater and heading out in March from PE.  We were thinking that the P N Go would be best with a shuttle taking us directly to the Pier.  Can  you recommend any good/quick/efficient Park and Gos?  TIA!