Why we chose SpringHill Suites for our Disney Cruise departure from Fort Lauderdale. Pre-cruise hotel.
SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale: Pre-Cruise Hotel Review
Finding the perfect pre-cruise hotel near Port Everglades
Why We Chose SpringHill Suites
For our Disney Cruise departure from Fort Lauderdale, we needed a hotel that checked several boxes: convenient location to Port Everglades (less than 10 minutes), comfortable rooms for our family of four, reasonable price, and amenities that would make the pre-cruise evening stress-free.
SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port ticked all these boxes and more – and at approximately $180/night during our travel dates, it offered excellent value for a pre-cruise stay.
Location & Getting to the Port
Located at 900 N. Federal Highway (US-1), SpringHill Suites is approximately 1.5 miles from Port Everglades – about a 5-minute drive. For Disney Cruise departures, this proximity is ideal. The hotel offers a shuttle to the port at $10 per person, which runs every every hour. We utilized rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) for the short trip to the cruise terminal.
Distance to key locations:
- Port Everglades (cruise terminal): 5 minutes
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 10 minutes
- Fort Lauderdale Beach: 10 minutes
- Las Olas Boulevard (downtown dining): 15 minutes
The Rooms
SpringHill Suites uses a studio-style room layout that works exceptionally well for families. Our suite featured:
- Two queen beds – Comfortable and spacious enough for families
- Separate living area – With a sofa bed, giving parents and kids their own space
- Mini refrigerator – Essential for storing snacks and drinks
- Microwave – Handy for heating up late-night snacks
- Work desk – Useful if you need to catch up on work before vacation
- Flat-screen TV – With premium channels
The room was clean, modern, and reasonably sized for a family of four. The bathroom had adequate counter space – a crucial detail when getting ready for a cruise departure.
Amenities
- Complimentary breakfast – Extensive hot and cold options. Eggs, bacon, waffles, yogurt, fruit, and pastries. Coffee was solid – important for pre-cruise mornings!
- Free WiFi – Throughout the property – fast and reliable
- Outdoor pool – Heated and clean. Perfect for kids to burn off energy before the cruise.
- Fitness center – Basic equipment for maintaining workout routines
- Business center – With computers and printing (useful for boarding passes)
- Port shuttle – Complimentary, runs on a schedule
- On-site parking – $15/night – reasonable for Fort Lauderdale
Our Experience
Check-in: Smooth and efficient. We arrived around 3:00 PM and were in our room within 15 minutes. The front desk staff was friendly and knowledgeable about Disney Cruise Line departures.
Evening before: We took advantage of the pool – the kids loved it. Then we walked to a nearby restaurant (about 10 minutes) for dinner. The location is surprisingly walkable, with several dining options within a mile.
Departure morning: The complimentary shuttle was a lifesaver. We loaded our luggage, boarded the shuttle at 10:30 AM, and were at the cruise terminal within 10 minutes. No stress about parking or navigating traffic.
What We’d Do Differently
- Book an earlier shuttle time – The 10:30 AM shuttle was fine, but 9:30 AM would have given us more time at the terminal.
- Request a room away from the highway – Some rooms face US-1 and can be noisy. Ask for a pool-facing room if available.
- Bring earplicks – The rooms are reasonably soundproofed, but highway noise can seep in on lower floors.
Comparison to Other Options
We considered several other Fort Lauderdale pre-cruise hotels:
- Hyatt Regency Pier 66 – More expensive (~$250/night), but larger property with more amenities. Worth it for a longer stay.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton – Offers kitchenettes, which is nice for longer stays. Comparable price.
- Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale – Budget option but further from the port.
For a one-night pre-cruise stay, SpringHill Suites offered the best balance of location, price, and comfort.
Final Verdict
Rating: 4/5 stars
Pros:
- Excellent location – minutes from Port Everglades
- Port shuttle – stress-free departure
- Spacious rooms for families
- Solid complimentary breakfast
- Good value for the price
Cons:
- Some highway noise in road-facing rooms
- No on-site restaurant (breakfast is the only meal)
- Basic fitness center
Book It
SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port is an excellent choice for families embark on a Disney Cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Book directly on Marriott.com or through your favorite travel site.
Have you stayed at SpringHill Suites before your Disney Cruise? Share your experience in the comments!
You May Also Like…